JP2003050765A - System and method for providing information, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program, an information provision system and its method capable of eliminating inconveniences caused by use of a frame function and providing various contents, without lowering display performance. SOLUTION: The program makes a computer realize the function of determining whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area for constituted by dividing a display area, has been acquired to be displayed on the frame area and a function of acquiring page data in which the frame area and the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area are defined when it determined that the frame page data is not acquired which should be displayed on the frame area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for providing information via the Internet or the like, and more particularly, it provides information by using a frame function for dividing one display area into two or more and displaying a plurality of pages. Regarding the technology to provide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, the number of sites providing or introducing their products and services via the Internet has increased. What is important for the creator of such a site is that even one user knows the existence of his / her site and actually accesses and uses the site.

In order to inform the users of the existence of their own site, the URL (Uniform Resource L) of the Web page is
ocator) can be placed in advertisements / magazines, or registered in so-called search engines. This is because it is not easy to find the target information from the vast amount of information on the Internet, and thus search engines are widely used among users.

A search engine inputs WWW (World Wide Web) by inputting a keyword required by a user.
The web page (hereinafter referred to as a "page") containing the keyword is searched out from the enormous amount of information developed in. More specifically, the search engine stores the content of the page and the URL of the page as a set in advance in the database, searches for this based on the input keyword, and returns the result (the page that hit The URL and the title) are displayed.

The types of such search engines are roughly classified into a directory type in which a person registers page information and a robot type in which page information is collected and registered by an automatic collection program called a search robot. be able to.

Now, the robot type search engine will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining how the robot-type search engine automatically collects Web pages by following links.

First, when the robot type search engine accesses page A (AAA.html), it collects the information of page A. Next, the robot type search engine
Follow the link described on page A to see page B (BB
B.html) to collect information on page B.
Then, in the same way, the robot-type search engine follows the link described in page B to page C (CCC.htm).
Go to l) and collect information on page C.

It is not easy to register the URLs of a huge number of pages published on the Internet in a database, but the robot-type search engine automatically circulates on the Web by following the page links in this way. Therefore, a huge amount of information can be stored in the database.

[0009] As described above, from the perspective of the operator of a site that provides information using the Internet, the fact that the information about the user's page is registered in such a search engine is intended to encourage user access. Is also important. Therefore, many site creators themselves apply for directory-type search engines, and robot-type search engines themselves by creating pages in consideration of collection programs. Strives to ensure that the information on this page is registered with the search engine.

[0010] Many site creators choose page contents (information distributed by the Web) and layout so that as many users as possible can actually obtain information by using their own sites. We are creative. For example, a so-called frame function is used to provide a user with a screen configuration that is easy to grasp and a neat navigation. The frame function refers to a function of dividing one window or display area into two or more and displaying a plurality of pages.

FIG. 15 is an example of a window using the frame function. In FIG. 15, the window is divided into three frames, and a frame (top) for displaying the title and
It is divided into a frame that displays the menu (left) and a frame that displays the content (right). The frame is
The entire frame is composed of a parent frame that specifies a file to be displayed in each frame and a plurality of divided child frames. The plurality of divided child frames can function as independent entities.

As an example of using the frame function, for example,
There is a method of displaying a navigation menu in the left frame. In each frame, the part where the site content menu is always displayed is called the navigation frame. If it is the main content within the site, you can jump directly to that content by clicking the menu of this navigation frame. be able to.

Therefore, the frame function has a merit in terms of navigation in that it makes it easy to move from page to page while presenting the entire menu structure to the user. There is also a layout advantage in that it can bring a sense of unity to the site.
Due to such merits, especially when the amount of information presented to the user increases, the frame function is often used to provide the user with a suitable operating environment.

[0014]

As described above, the site creation operator tries to acquire the user with a rich content and a screen configuration with good operability while making the information of his site known to the user. However, when using the above frame function or when enhancing the content,
There was a problem as described below.

The first problem is that the robot-type search engine described above is actually set so as not to refer to the information of the page displayed in the frame when the page is divided by the frame. That is almost all.

The robot-type search engine circulates on the Web according to an arbitrarily set rule and collects information from each page, but this rule is limited to the most useful information from the vast amount of information on the Web. Is set up to collect so that the database can be efficiently searched by the user.

Considering the frame here, the window in which the frame is set is created with the intention that the entire frame constitutes one screen. Therefore,
When the search engine collects the divided child frame pages and the user refers only to the child frame pages, the pages are displayed in a manner contrary to the intention of the content creator.

In addition, even if an attempt is made to register the entire frame, a parent frame corresponding to the child frame can be arbitrarily created by a third party regardless of the creator's intention. Can be one-to-many (effectively many-to-many). In such a case, if the desired parent frame cannot be known, the child frame may accidentally be placed under a different parent frame, and in such a case, the display form may cause a trouble such as intellectual property. is there.

Therefore, according to the rule of the robot type search engine, if a frame is set in the description of the display area, the page of the child frame (HTML file) is excluded from the registration target of the search engine database. In most cases, it is set.

FIG. 16 shows a robot-type search engine
It is a figure for explaining a mode that a page of a child frame is not referred to when a frame function is used for a page. First, when the robot type search engine accesses the X page (XXX.html), it collects the information of the X page, follows the link described in the X page, and accesses the Y page (YYY.html). On the Y page, the settings of the entire frame are described, and it is specified that the Z page (ZZZZ.html) is displayed in the child frame on the right side.

However, since the robot type search engine does not access the Z page displayed in the child frame,
As a result, information on page Z is not collected. Furthermore, since the links described on the Z page are not followed, the W page (WW
W.html) is also not accessed.

Since the main content is often displayed in the child frame on the right side, it is very important for the operator of the site to access the page of the child frame. Therefore, it is preferable to take measures so that the robot-type search engine registers even pages of child frames.

The second problem is that when the user tries to register a page displayed in the frame in a so-called "bookmark", a page different from the page intended by the user may be registered. "Bookmark" is a function provided by a Web browser,
When a page the user likes is registered in the "bookmark", the user can refer to the page only by selecting the name registered in the "bookmark" from the next time. This is because the Web browser stores the URL of the page that the user likes at the time of registration.

However, when a frame is set in the window, the UR of the parent frame is set due to the browser configuration.
UR of the parent frame because L becomes the URL of the window
L will be registered in the bookmark. Therefore, even if the user sees the content of the child frame and registers it in the bookmark, when the bookmark is called next, the URL of the parent frame is referred to, so that a page different from the page intended by the user may be displayed. Of. Therefore, it is preferable that the page intended by the user is correctly registered in the bookmark even when the frame function is used for the window.

The third problem is that the display performance decreases as the amount of information displayed on a page increases as the content increases. Site creators often need to include a large amount of information on one page while maintaining a sense of unity. As a result, the page display speed is reduced, and if the display time is long each time the page is moved from page to page, the user may feel uncomfortable and the usability and impression of the site may be deteriorated. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a high level of balance between a large amount of information and a screen layout and display speed that are unified and have high operability.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to allow the robot type search engine to register the information of the page of the child frame while appropriately maintaining the operating environment of the user by using the frame function. It is to provide an information providing system and a method thereof.

A second object of the present invention is to maintain a user's operating environment in a suitable manner by using a frame function,
An object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and method capable of correctly registering a page intended by a user as a bookmark.

Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system and a method thereof, which provide a wide variety of contents and which does not deteriorate the display performance.

[0029]

In order to achieve the first object, according to the present invention, a page for link describing a URL of a page displayed in a child frame (hereinafter referred to as "child frame page"). (Hereinafter, referred to as "relay link page") is provided, and a link to this relay link page is set on a predetermined page.

Since the frame function is not set, the link page for relay is configured to be a collection target of the robot type search engine. Further, the predetermined page for setting the link to the relay link page is a page created in consideration of the rules of the search engine,
For example, the page displayed at the beginning of the site (hereinafter referred to as "top page") corresponds to the page.

When the robot-type search engine accesses the top page, it follows the link on the top page to access the relay link page, and further acquires the URL described in the relay link page to access the child frame page. can do. As described above, the relay link page plays a role of relay when the robot-type search engine accesses the child frame page from the top page.

The link set on the top page must be set so that the user does not select the link and refer to the relay link page. Specifically, for example, there is a method of setting a link to image data of 1 dot size. Since it is usually difficult for the user to visually recognize the image data of 1 dot size, it is possible to prevent the user from mistakenly selecting the link to the relay link page.

Further, according to the present invention, even when the information of the child frame page is registered by the robot type search engine, the URL of the child frame page hits the search result and is directly referred to by the user. Take measures.

That is, when the URL of the child frame page is referred to by the user, only the child frame page is displayed on the window. But originally,
The child frame page is created with the intention of being displayed as a part of the entire frame including the menu and the like. Further, as the site creation operator, by constantly providing information in the entire frame, it is possible to emphasize the sense of unity of the site and maintain a suitable navigation environment. Therefore, even if only the child frame page is referenced, the parent frame (hereinafter,
It is called the "intended parent frame". ) Should be played to display this.

Therefore, in the present invention, when a page for a child frame is read, it is determined whether or not it is read as a page displayed in the frame (hereinafter referred to as "page in frame"), and the page in the frame is read. When it is not loaded as a page, the intended parent frame is played so that the child frame page is displayed in the frame.

Specifically, when the child frame page is read, it is determined whether it is read as an in-frame page, and if it is not read as an in-frame page, a step of reading the intended parent frame is performed. Described script (client side program)
Can be stored in the page for the child frame.

Further, in order to achieve the second object, in the present invention, the parent frame page is created in one-to-one correspondence with the menu. In general, when a menu is constructed using frames, a child frame page describing link destination information is often read and displayed in a predetermined frame (eg, right frame). However, in the present invention, when the menu is selected, the corresponding parent frame page can be read and displayed in the entire window.

Specifically, when a menu is selected, a script describing the steps of reading the page for the parent frame corresponding to the menu and passing the parameters related to the operation state of the user is stored in the page for the child frame. Also, in the page for the parent frame that is loaded,
It is decided to store the script that describes the step of passing the parameters inherited from the child frame page to the new child frame page displayed in the frame.

Therefore, when the user registers the page in the bookmark, the UR of the newly called parent frame is displayed.
Since L is registered by the browser, the page intended by the user is correctly registered. Further, since the parameters related to the operation state of the user are inherited from the child frame to the parent frame and from the parent frame to the new child frame, the entire window can be rewritten without impairing the operation environment of the user.

Further, in order to achieve the third object, in the present invention, the menu file can be divided. The division of the menu file means dividing the components of the menu into a plurality of files and storing them according to a preset pattern. Then, when a certain menu is selected, the menu associated with the menu is displayed by newly reading the corresponding menu file.

Specifically, for example, when a predetermined upper menu is selected, a script that describes a step of reading a menu file that describes a lower menu corresponding to this menu is used as a menu file that describes the upper menu. I decided to store it in.

By dividing the menu file, the amount of data in the file can be reduced, so that it is particularly effective for setting a large number of menu groups or for a top page or the like for which the display speed is desired to be increased. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, when the menu file is divided, when the user is looking at a specific menu, it is possible not to display other menus having little relation. For users who need specific information to display information that is not relevant to them,
This is because not only is the display speed reduced, but there is a risk of excessive information on the contrary.

Specifically, a menu file in which a specific menu is deleted is created in advance, and this menu file is read in a certain case. Other deleted menus not only disappear on the display, but also the data of the corresponding part is not retained. Therefore,
Not only can the display performance be improved, but only menus relevant to the user are displayed from among a large number of menus, so that it is possible to provide a menu environment suitable for each user.

Specifically, the program according to the present invention is
A function of determining whether frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is displayed in the frame area. When it is determined that the page data has not been acquired in order to be displayed, the computer is made to realize the function of acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area. And

Further, when the position information on the network of the frame page data matches the position information on the network acquired by the window, the judging function displays the frame page data in the frame area. Therefore, it is desirable to determine that it has not been acquired in order to be performed.

Further, the function of acquiring the page data has the position information on the network of the page data,
It is desirable to acquire page data defined to display the frame page data in a frame area based on the position information of the frame page data on the network.

The server according to the present invention has a function of determining whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, A function of acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area when it is determined that the frame page data is not acquired because the frame page data is displayed in the frame area. And means for transmitting frame page data storing a program for realizing the client to the client, and means for transmitting the page data to the client when a transmission request for the page data is received from the client. It is characterized by being provided.

The client according to the present invention has a function of determining whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area. A function of acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area when it is determined that the frame page data is not acquired because the frame page data is displayed in the frame area. By executing the program stored in the acquired frame page data, the frame page data stores the frame page data partially storing a program for realizing the client. Determine whether it was acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and When it is determined that the home page data has not been acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, the page data defining the frame area and the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is acquired from the server. Means and are provided.

The information providing system according to the present invention determines whether or not the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area formed by dividing the display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area. And, if it is determined that the frame page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is generated. Means to get,
It is characterized by including.

The information providing method according to the present invention determines whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, When it is determined that the frame page data has not been acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, page data defining the frame area and the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is acquired. Is characterized by.

The server according to the present invention further includes first page data describing position information on the network of frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area, and the first page data. Page data in which a link to the page data of is set, and second page data configured to be accessible to a search engine that collects information according to a preset collection program, The link set in the page data is characterized by being set in the image data.

In the information providing method according to the present invention, the first page data describing the position information on the network of the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area configured by dividing the display area, The page data having the link to the first page data set, and the second page data set to be accessible to the search engine that collects the information according to the preset collection program An information providing method to be provided, wherein when a search engine that collects information according to a preset search program accesses the second page data, the link set in the second page data is acquired to obtain the first page data. A network of the frame page data described in the first page data by accessing one page data By positional information acquired in the access to the frame page data, characterized in that to register the frame page data into the database of the search engine.

The program according to the present invention includes position information on the network of frame page data to be displayed in a plurality of frame areas configured by dividing a display area,
It is characterized in that the computer is made to realize a function of generating a character string referred to when the frame page data is displayed, from an argument representing a display state of the frame page data.

Further, the argument is composed of a parameter indicating an operation state and / or an identifier of the user by the user who refers to the display area, and the character string is a character string of URL corresponding to the position information on the network. It is desirable to represent.

The information providing method according to the present invention represents the position information on the network of the frame page data to be displayed in a plurality of frame areas configured by dividing the display area and the display state of the frame page data. A character string referred to when the frame page data is displayed is generated from the argument.

Further, the argument is composed of a parameter indicating an operation state and / or a user identifier of a user who refers to the display area, and the character string is a character string of a URL corresponding to the position information on the network. Characterized by representing.

The program according to the present invention has a function of displaying first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data are described among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, and a plurality of displayed data. When a predetermined upper menu data is selected from the upper menu data of, the lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to a preset condition, and the second upper menu data is described or deleted. The function of acquiring the page data of and the computer are realized.

Further, when the predetermined upper menu data is selected from the displayed plurality of upper menu data, the program acquires the second page data by giving a parameter regarding the operation state of the user as an argument. However, when the second page data is acquired, the display device further has a display function of displaying the lower menu data based on the added parameter.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the upper menu data and the lower menu data are displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area.

The method of displaying the menu according to the present invention is as follows.
Of the menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, the first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data are described is acquired and displayed, and a predetermined page data is displayed from the plurality of displayed upper menu data. When the upper menu data is selected, the lower page menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to the preset condition, and the second page data in which the other upper menu data is described or deleted is acquired. It is characterized in that a menu is displayed by displaying this.

The server according to the present invention comprises means for transmitting to the client first page data describing a plurality of upper menu data among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, and means for transmitting from the client. When receiving a notification that the predetermined upper menu data is selected from the displayed plurality of upper menu data, the lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to a preset condition, and other upper menu data is described. Means for transmitting the second page data described or deleted to the client.

The client according to the present invention comprises means for displaying first page data describing a plurality of upper menu data among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, and the plurality of displayed data. When a predetermined upper menu data is selected from the upper menu data of, the lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to a preset condition, and the second upper menu data is described or deleted. Means for receiving the page data of from the server,
It is characterized by including.

The information providing system according to the present invention determines whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, When it is determined that the frame page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, page data that defines the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is acquired. When the first frame reproducing means for displaying the frame page data in the frame area and the menu displayed in the first frame area configured by dividing the display area are selected, the first frame area is selected. The first frame page data for displaying the menu on the screen and the second frame area configured by dividing the display area The page data defining the second frame page data for displaying the content corresponding to the menu is acquired by adding the parameter related to the operation state of the user as an argument, and the page is acquired when the page data is acquired. The first frame page data defined in the data is acquired by adding the parameter as an argument, and when the first frame page data is acquired, the first frame page data is acquired in accordance with the added parameter. A second frame reproducing means for displaying in one frame area and a first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data among the menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data are described are displayed. When a predetermined upper menu data is selected from the displayed multiple upper menu data Menu display means for acquiring and displaying second page data in which lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to preset conditions and other higher menu data is described or deleted. It is characterized by

Further, the frame page data display method according to the present invention is characterized in that when the user inputs a predetermined input on the screen of the first frame area in which the first frame page data is displayed, A parameter related to the display state of the first frame page data is added to the position information on the network of the second frame page data to be displayed in the second frame area, and the second frame page is added based on the added character string. Data is acquired, first frame page data to be displayed in the first frame area is acquired, and the acquired first frame page data is a character string of the acquired second frame page data. Is displayed in the first frame area with reference to the parameters included in the third frame page data corresponding to the predetermined input. To obtain the data, and displaying the third frame page data thus acquired to the third frame area.

When a predetermined input is given by the user on the screen of the first frame area in which the first frame page data is displayed, the predetermined value based on the predetermined input is set to the first value. It is desirable to set it as a parameter related to the display state of the frame page data.

[0067]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(Outline of Configuration of Information Providing System) FIG. 1
Is a functional representation of the configuration of the information providing system according to the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
Although the information providing system connected to the search engine, the client and the like via the Internet has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a corporate network system, a groupware and a group engine using a Web browser, and the like. It is also possible to apply.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing server 100
Is a relay link page creating means 1, a frame reproducing means (A) 2, a frame reproducing means (B) 3, a divided file creating means 4, a content database 10 (hereinafter referred to as "content DB"), and a definition file. 11 and a manual setting file 12.

The relay link page creating means 1 and other means are constructed so that the content DB 10, the definition file 11 and the manual setting file 12 can be accessed. The information providing server 100 is also connected to the search engine 200 and the client 300 operated by the user via a communication line 400 such as the Internet.

The relay link page creating means 1 reads the definition file 11 and the manual setting file 12,
Extract the URL of the child frame page from each file,
It mainly has a function of writing the extracted URL in the relay link page.

The frame reproducing means (A) 2 includes the child frame page based on the predetermined information transmitted from the client 300 when the child frame page is not an intra-frame page but is read alone. It mainly has a function of reading the parent frame page from the content DB 10 and transmitting it to the client 300.

When the menu is selected on the client 300 side, the frame reproducing means (B) 3 is operated by the client 3
00, the parent frame page corresponding to this menu is displayed on the content DB 10 based on the predetermined information.
It mainly has a function of reading from the client and transmitting it to the client 300.

The divided file creating means 4 mainly has a function of automatically generating a divided menu file based on the contents of the definition file 11 when the menu file is divided. The generated menu file is stored in the content DB 10 as a child frame page.

The content DB 10 stores a parent frame page, a child frame page, and a relay link file. The configurations of the definition file 11 and the manual setting file 12 will be described later.

The information providing server 100 includes the client 3
It has a function as a so-called Web server that transmits predetermined data in response to a request from 00 and a function as a so-called database server that manages a database. Here, it is assumed that the information providing server 100 is implemented by software that defines the operation of each of the above-described units in a processing device having a general configuration including a control unit, an input unit, a storage unit, and an output unit. There is. But,
The information providing server 100 can also be realized by a physically dedicated system.

The information providing server 100 may be composed of a single computer or a plurality of computers distributed on the network. For example, it is a case where it is configured by a so-called Web server and a database server.

Furthermore, the relay link page creating means 1 and the frame reproducing means 2 perform various processing by reading the programs which define the above-mentioned operations by the control means, but in the following description, each program itself. Shall perform various processes.

The search engine 200 is assumed to be a robot type search engine, and each client 300
Typically corresponds to a general-purpose personal computer and has application software such as a Web browser installed.

(Mechanism for referencing child frame page by robot type search engine) FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for making a robot type search engine refer to a child frame page. In this figure, a flow in which a robot-type search engine (hereinafter referred to as “search engine”) 200 accesses the information providing server 100 and collects information of child frame pages is shown.

The information providing server 100 provides various menus (“travel”, “car”, “gourmet”) in response to a user request.
When a user selects a predetermined item (“gourmet”) from the top page, the page related to the item is displayed in a new window. A frame function is set in this new window, and a menu is set in the left part and a page of the selected item is set in the right part.

On the other hand, the search engine 200 includes a collection program and a database for registering the collected information, and is configured to collect information on the Web by automatic patrol.

Next, a case where the search engine 200 collects information of child frame pages will be described. The search engine 200 provided with the collection program first accesses the top page provided by the information providing server 100 (a1). In the present embodiment, a link to the relay link page is preset on the top page.

When the top page is read, the search engine 200 can read the link described therein and access the relay link page (a2).

On the relay link page, the child frame URL is described as already described. Therefore, the search engine 200 that accessed the relay link page
Follows the URL described there and consequently accesses the page for the child frame (a3), collects information of the page and registers it in the database of the search engine (a).
4).

Here, the link set in the top page is, for example, image data of 1 dot size as a screen layout element that does not affect the visual recognition of the user.
It can be set by describing as follows. <A
HREF = "URL of link page for relay"><IMG SRC = "URL of image data" width = 1 height = 1></A> In addition, the link set on the top page is the image data of 1 dot size. Without limitation, it is desirable that the link is set in a way that makes it difficult for the user to recognize the existence of the link.

The relay link page in the present embodiment includes a definition file in which the URL of the child frame page is described in advance and a manual setting file in which the URL desired to be registered in the robot type search engine is described. Created from Since the definition file is used when creating each page, the relay link page can be automatically created by using the URL of the child frame page defined in this definition file. .

It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the search engine 200 is accessing a child frame page that is not originally accessed. Therefore, as a result of the search engine 200 registering the child frame page information in the database as well, more users can know the existence of the child frame page and increase the chances of accessing it.

(Mechanism for Playing Parent Frame When File is Read Not as Intraframe Page) FIG. 3 shows the entire frame when a child frame page is read alone instead of as an intraframe page. It is a figure for explaining the mechanism which reproduces and displays a frame (parent frame). Note that this child frame page is shown in FIG.
It is assumed that the search engine 200 is registered in advance based on the above configuration.

First, the user accesses the search engine 200 from the client 300 and searches for a page containing a predetermined keyword (b1). Search engine 2
00 searches the database based on the input keyword and displays the URL of the page that matches the search condition (b2).

When the user selects the URL of the child frame page from the list, the child frame page is read from the information providing server 100 and displayed on the client 300 as it is (b).
3). However, in the present invention, when the child frame page is directly called, the parent frame is reproduced to display the entire frame (b4).

Specifically, for example, the client 300
However, when the child frame page is read, the script (client-side program) described in the child frame page is activated, and it is determined whether the child frame page is referred to as an in-frame page. Whether the page is referred to as an in-frame page is determined by the client 30.
This can be determined by using the function provided by the Web browser of No. 0. This point will be described later.

When the client 300 determines that the page is not the in-frame page, the server 100 obtains the URL of the child frame page and the URL of the parent frame page.
Send to. The server 100 reads the parent frame page based on the received URL, and the client 300
Send it back to.

The client 300 displays the parent frame page transmitted from the server 100,
You can display a page for a child frame with a frame.

According to FIG. 3, even when the child frame page is independently registered in the search engine and the user reads the child frame page, the child frame page is displayed in the entire frame. Therefore, the child frame page can be displayed according to the intention of the content creator without impairing the operability of the frame.

(File Structure in Information Providing System) Next, the structure of each file of the information providing server 100 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the definition file 11. The definition file 11 is used when creating various content files, and stores information about child frame pages. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the relay link page 6 is created based on this definition file 11. In the definition file 11, for example, "name of child frame",
Items such as "URL" are provided.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data structure of the manual setting file 12. The manual setting file 12 is for adding a predetermined link destination to the relay link page 6 separately from the child frame information described in the definition file 11. Therefore, the manual setting file 12 is configured so that the link destination to be referred to by the robot type search engine can be arbitrarily described.

FIG. 6 shows the data structure of the relay link page. The URL of the child frame page is described in the relay link page 6. When the robot-type search engine accesses this relay link page, it refers to each URL described here and collects the information of the child frame page. The relay link page in this embodiment is created by the relay link page creating means 1 based on the definition file 11 and the manual setting file 12. The relay link page creating means 1 is set to be created as a part of batch processing. Therefore, even if the URL of the child frame page is updated, it can be dealt with immediately, so that the contents registered in the robot search engine can be always updated. (Detailed Flow of Frame Reproduction Process (A)) Next, a process when the child frame page is registered in the search engine and the child frame page is directly referenced by the user will be described. In the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the child frame page is referred to as the in-frame page by using the browser function of the client 300.

The browser function has a function of acquiring the URL of the currently displayed window. However, when a frame is used for the window, the URL of the parent frame page is currently displayed. URL of window
Is configured to be. Therefore, when a page for a child frame is read as an in-frame page,
The URL of the parent frame page is acquired by the browser as the window URL.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the child frame page is read, the URL of the child frame page (hereinafter referred to as "own URL") and the URL acquired by the browser function ( Hereinafter, it will be referred to as "window URL"). That is, if both URLs match, the child frame page has been read regardless of the frame, and both URs are read.
If L does not match, the child frame page has been read as part of the entire frame.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for reproducing the intended parent frame by the information providing system according to the present embodiment when the child frame page is read.

The client 300 refers to the URL of the child frame page when the user refers to the search result of the search engine, or through a normal link or direct input (S2).
01), the page for the child frame is read from the server 100 (S202).

Next, when the client 300 reads the child frame page, the client 300 acquires the URL of the intended parent frame page according to the script embedded in the child frame page (S203). Next, the client 300 determines its own URL and the URL of the current window.
It is determined whether or not match (S204), and if they do not match (S204; NO), the URL of the child frame page is set as an argument in the URL of the intended parent frame page acquired in S203 ( S205).

Next, the client 300 determines the URL of the intended parent frame page for which the argument is set in S205.
Is transmitted to the server 100 (S206). Server 10
0 reads the parent frame page in which the child frame page is incorporated based on the argument from the content DB 10 and the read parent frame page is read by the client 30.
Send to 0. Finally, the client 300 reads the parent frame page from the server 100 and displays it (S207).

As described above, since the URL of the child frame page is passed as an argument when the intended parent frame page is reproduced, the child frame page selected by the user is displayed in the designated frame. Will be done.

FIG. 8 shows a concrete example of the script described in the child frame page. In FIG. 8, JavaScript (registered trademark) is used as an example of the script language. The script in Figure 8 (a)
Own URL (self.location) and window URL
A program for calling the URL of the intended parent frame when (top.location) matches is specifically described. Further, FIG. 8B specifically describes a program for setting the URL of the child frame to the URL of the intended parent frame as an argument (top.location = parent_url + "?" + Self.location). .

In the above embodiment, whether or not the frame page is referenced for displaying in the frame is compared with the URL of the child frame page and the URL of the window acquired by the browser function. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the URL of the parent frame page may be compared with the URL of the window acquired by the browser function,
It is also possible to make determination by other methods.

In the above embodiment, when the intended parent frame page is reproduced, the URL of the child frame page is passed as an argument and the child frame page selected by the user is displayed in the designated frame. However, the present invention is not limited to this. URL of the child frame page when playing the intended parent frame page
Only the URL of the parent frame page can be passed as an argument without passing as a parameter. In this case, it is also possible to display a certain child frame page specified in the initial settings associated with the parent frame page in the parent frame.

In the above embodiment, the argument is URL.
It is communicated between the client and the server as a character string added to Cookie (a small data file that the website writes to the hard disk of the user's PC when the user visits the website. The website and the user's Internet. Viewing software (browser)
Handles information exchanged with. ) Can also be used to communicate arguments.

(Bookmark Countermeasure Processing) Next, the processing when the menu is selected by the user when the parent frame page is created for each menu item will be described.

(First Bookmark Countermeasure Processing) FIG.
When a user selects a menu, it is a figure showing an example of a screen transition in the case of calling a parent frame page corresponding to this menu and rewriting the entire window. Figure 9
(A) is an initial screen before the user selects a menu, and "Menu A", "Menu B", and "Menu C" are displayed in the left frame. In addition, "http: //...index.html", which is the file name (character string) of the parent frame, is displayed in the window.

Here, when the user selects "menu A", the parent frame page (index01.html) corresponding to "menu A" is read from the server 100, and as shown in FIG.
The screen changes to the screen of (b). As shown in FIG. 9B, “Menu A” and subordinate menus “Child a”, “Child b” and “Child c” are displayed in the left frame, and “Menu A” is displayed in the right frame. The corresponding contents of "Menu A" are displayed. Then, in the window, "http: / which is the file name (character string) of the newly read parent frame.
/...index01.html?[HILIGHT]4[OPENCLOSE]P4,P5[USERI
"D] XXXX [URL] http: // ..." is displayed.

When the user likes the content displayed in the right frame, the page is registered in the bookmark. Then, the browser of the client 300 registers the page for the parent frame corresponding to “menu A”, so that the next time the user refers to the bookmark, FIG.
The page (b) will be displayed.

In the window of FIG. 9B, a character string in which an argument is added to the URL of the parent frame page is displayed (http: //...index01.html? [HILIGHT] 4 [OPENCLOS
E] P4, P5 [USERID] XXXX [URL] http: // ...). This argument is
It is a parameter related to the operation state of the user when the menu A is selected, and is set as an argument when reading the parent frame page. This processing will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in which the information providing system according to the present embodiment reads the parent frame page and rewrites the entire window when the user selects a menu. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, as described above, the parameters for storing the operation state of the user are preset.

Specific examples of the parameters include, for example, a user's identifier, a URL for calling corresponding to a child frame, a value related to the range designation of the highlighted display of the menu or an intermediate highlighted display, and the opening / closing of the hierarchical display of the menu. There are values related to display / non-display of the state and the whole menu, and the operation switch of the function of playing a child frame which is not called with a frame together with a parent frame as described above.

When the user clicks on the menu (S3
01), the client 300 executes the script described in the page of the left frame, and stores values regarding the current user operation state in various parameters (S30).
2). Subsequently, the client 300 sets the parent frame page to which the parameter is added as an argument to the server 100.
Is read from (S303).

Upon reading the page for the parent frame, the client 300 executes the script described in the page for the parent frame, adds the parameter inherited in step S303, and reads the page for the new left frame (S304). ).

Next, when the client 300 reads the page of the new left frame, the client 300 executes the script described in the page of the new left frame, and step S3
A menu or the like is constructed based on the parameters inherited in 04 (S305). Also, the client 300
Loads the page in the right frame corresponding to the menu selected by the user and displays it in the frame.

According to the above, the operation state of the user when the user clicks the menu in step S301 is inherited as a parameter from the left frame to the parent frame, and from the parent frame to the new left frame.
The entire window can be rewritten without impairing the user's operating environment. As a result, the page intended by the user can be correctly registered in the bookmark.

(Second Bookmark Countermeasure Processing) (Second Bookmark Countermeasure Processing) Next, the second bookmark countermeasure processing will be described. As described above, in the present invention, the entire window is rewritten in order to register the page intended by the user (specifically, the URL to which the operation state of the user is added as a reproducible argument) in the bookmark. However, when the entire window is rewritten, the frame page, which normally does not need to be rewritten, is rewritten again.

For example, in the above-described first bookmark countermeasure process, when the menu displayed in the left frame is selected by the user, the parent frame page corresponding to the menu and the page displayed in the left frame (hereinafter, " The "page for left frame") and the page displayed in the right frame (hereinafter referred to as "page for right frame") are rewritten again. Here, the page for the right frame is a page that should be rewritten corresponding to the menu,
The left frame page is basically a page that does not need to be rewritten. This is because, in the present embodiment, the menu displayed in the left frame is rewritten by executing the script for the page for the left frame, so that it is not necessary to acquire a new page from the server.

If the URL of the frame page after rewriting is exactly the same as the URL of the frame page before rewriting, the cache function implemented in the browser works, so that Since it is not necessary to transmit the acquisition request and acquire the frame page via the network, it is possible to avoid a decrease in display speed and the like. However, in the first bookmark countermeasure process, the display state of the window (user operation state) is included as a parameter in a part of the URL of the page for the left frame. Therefore, the URL of the left frame after rewriting and the URL before rewriting Often, and are not the same. That is, when the parameters relating to the display state of the left frame are transmitted from the left frame to the parent frame and from the parent frame to the new left frame, the effect of the cache described above is sacrificed.

Therefore, in the first bookmark countermeasure process, the parameter is set as an argument in a part of the URL of the left frame page, but in the second bookmark countermeasure process, the parameter itself is set as an argument. It is characterized in that a new child frame page and a frame for displaying it (hereinafter referred to as "variable storage frame") are newly provided. That is, in the second bookmark countermeasure process, the parameters related to the display state of the window are inherited from the left frame to the parent frame, from the parent frame to the variable storage frame, and the left frame retains the parameters inherited to the variable storage frame. Refer to the menu and configure it.

Since this variable storage frame is intended not for presenting information to the user but for storing parameters as arguments, it is not displayed on the browser at all, or an extremely small area is displayed. It is desirable to be set to have. This is because it is sufficient for the variable storage frame to be configured so that it can be referenced by the script described on the page of the parent frame. The child frame page to be displayed in this variable storage frame typically has an extremely small capacity (for example, 1 page).
Byte size) An HTML file is applicable.

According to this, since the parameters are inherited from the parent frame to the variable storing frame, the URL of the left frame page after rewriting can be made the same as the URL of the left frame page before rewriting. . Therefore, when the page for the left frame is rewritten along with the rewriting of the entire window, the page for the left frame before rewriting stored in the cache can be read out, so that the cache efficiency can be obtained. Also, since the capacity of the child frame page displayed in the variable storage frame is extremely small, the response is quick even if it is acquired again through the network, and it is difficult for the user to visually check the variable storage frame. Since it is set as described above, it is possible to avoid affecting the user's perceived speed.

Hereinafter, the second bookmark countermeasure process configured as described above will be described in detail.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the flow of the second bookmark countermeasure process. In the second bookmark countermeasure process, as described above, the variable storage frame for storing the parameter relating to the display state of the window as an argument is newly set. Note that the argument can be arbitrarily set and the like, which is similar to the first bookmark countermeasure process.

First, when the user inputs a predetermined input from the screen of the left frame, specifically, when the user selects the menu displayed in the left frame (S501),
The client 300 executes the script described on the page in the left frame. That is, the client 30
When 0 stores the value related to the display state of the menu including the operation state of the user in the parameter (S502), the parameter is added as an argument to the URL of the parent frame page corresponding to the selected menu, and the parent frame page is added. An acquisition request for (HTML data) is transmitted to the server 100 (S503).

Next, when the client 300 acquires the parent frame page from the server 100 (S504),
Execute the script described in this parent frame page. That is, the client 300 adds the URL of the page displayed in the variable storage frame to step S503.
The parameter inherited in step is added as an argument (S5
05). Then, an acquisition request for a page to be displayed in the variable storage frame is transmitted to the server 100 (S506). As a result, the client 300 acquires the page to be displayed in the variable storage frame from the server 100 (S50).
7).

Further, the client 300 executes the script described in the parent frame page to execute an acquisition request for the page to be displayed in the left frame (S50).
8). Here, as the URL of the page displayed in the left frame, the same URL as the URL of the page displayed in the left frame before rewriting the entire window can be specified. Therefore, the client 300 is the server 10
Before sending the acquisition request for the page to be displayed in the left frame to 0, the page displayed in the left frame before rewriting can be read from the cache.

When the page to be displayed in the left frame is read from the cache (S509), the client 300
Executes the script described in the read page displayed in the left frame to generate the screen of the left frame (S510). Specifically, the client 30
0 refers to the parameter added to the positional information of the page to be displayed in the variable storage frame, and configures the menu of the page for the left frame and the like.

Further, the client 300 executes the script described in the parent frame page and sends a request to acquire the page displayed in the right frame (S51).
1). As a result, the client 300 acquires the page to be displayed in the right frame from the server 100 (S51).
2). When the page displayed in the right frame is acquired from the server, the client 300 executes the script described in the acquired page displayed in the right frame to generate the screen of the right frame (S513). As a result, the content corresponding to the menu clicked by the user in S501 is displayed on the screen of the right frame.

The menu displayed in the left frame in S501 is an example of an input means for the user to make a predetermined input from the screen of the left frame. Therefore, for example, instead of the user selecting the menu, a character is displayed. It can also be configured to input numbers, numbers, and the like.

Further, the above-mentioned processing may be arranged such that the order of the processing is changed or the operations are performed in parallel as long as no contradiction occurs in the operation.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition in the second bookmark countermeasure process. As shown in FIG. 9A, in the second bookmark countermeasure process, four child frames A1, A2, A3, and A4 are set on the screen. That is, the child frame (header frame) A1 is set at the top of the screen and is for displaying a page relating to header information. The child frame (left frame) A2 is set on the left side of the screen and is for displaying a page related to a menu or the like. The child frame (right frame) A3 is specified on the right side of the screen and is for displaying a page related to the main content. The child frame (variable storage frame) A4 is set on the lower side of the screen, and is for giving a parameter as an argument. As described above, the variable storage frame A4 is set not for presenting information to the user but for the purpose of storing the parameter itself, so it is not displayed on the browser at all, or an extremely small area is set. It is desirable to have. In the present embodiment, the value that defines the size of the variable storage frame area is set to 0 so that it becomes difficult for the user to recognize the variable storage frame A4.

Next, the screen transition will be described. FIG. 9A is a screen before the user selects a menu, and “menu A”, “menu B”, and “menu C” are displayed in the left frame A1. In addition, "http://www.abcde.com/" 181a, which is the file name (character string) of the parent frame, is displayed in the browser window.

When the user selects "Menu A", the parent frame page (http://www.abcde.com/menuA/index.html?edcba=[GI
[H] 50) is acquired from the server 100, and the entire window is rewritten to transition to the screen shown in FIG.

According to FIG. 16B, the left frame B2 has
"Menu A" and its subordinate menus "Child a", "Child b", and "Child c" are displayed, and the contents corresponding to "Menu A" are displayed in the right frame B3. There is. Then, in the browser window, "http://www.abcde.com/menuA/index.html?edcba=[G
IH] 50 ”181b is displayed.

If the user likes the content of the page displayed in the right frame B3, the user is requested to register this page in the bookmark. Client 3
When the browser of 00 receives the bookmark registration request, the file name (character string) of the parent frame "htt
p: //www.abcde.com/menuA/index.html? edcba = [GIH] 50 "
181b is stored in a predetermined area as page information. By doing this, next time the user browses the bookmark,
The page of FIG. 18B is displayed as intended.

Here, looking at the file name (character string) 181b of the newly acquired parent frame, it can be seen that the URL of the page for the parent frame is set with the parameter relating to the display state of the window as an argument. In addition, the file name (character string) of the variable storage frame A4 before rewriting is "http://www.abcde.com/sys_frame/null.ht".
ml? [GIH] 1 ”182a and the file name (character string) of the variable storage frame B4 after rewriting“ http://www.abc
de.com/sys_frame/null.html?[GIH]50 ”182b shows that the rewritten parameter ([GIH] 50) is the parameter set in the parent frame file name (character string) 181b ([GIH] You can see that it has been changed to 50).

[0143] Furthermore, "http://www.abcde.com/sys_f" which is the file name (character string) of the left frame A2 before rewriting.
“Rame / index_01.html” 183a and the file name (character string) of the left frame B2 after rewriting “http: //www.ab
It can be seen that it is the same as “cde.com/sys_frame/index_01.html” 183b. Therefore, the page displayed in the left frame B2 can be fetched from the cache.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the page displayed in the frame is stored in the client 300. As shown in the figure, a predetermined script for displaying a menu or the like is written in the page displayed in the left frame, and is stored in the cache managed by the browser of the client 300. Therefore,
When the client 300 rewrites the page of the left frame, the data stored in this cache can be read, and therefore, it is not necessary to acquire it from the server 100 via the network. Therefore, even if the page of the left frame is rewritten, it is possible to avoid affecting the display speed.

On the other hand, since the script displayed on the page displayed in the variable storage frame is not described, it can be seen that the capacity is "1 byte". When the client 300 rewrites the page of the variable storage frame, it is necessary to add a parameter and reacquire the page from the server 100. However, since the capacity of this page is extremely small as described above, the user's The page can be acquired without affecting the perceived speed.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a window screen displayed on the browser of the client 300.
As shown in the figure, the window screen is divided into four frames (header frame, right frame, left frame, variable storage frame).
Since 01 is displayed at the lower end of the screen so that it is difficult for the user to recognize it, the entire window can be rewritten without making the user feel uncomfortable.

In this embodiment, the variable storage frame is set at the lower end of the screen, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the variable storage frame may have any size, position, or other configuration. Can be set. For example, the variable storage frame may be set to be located at the left end of the screen.

As described above, according to the second bookmark countermeasure process, a variable storage frame for the purpose of setting a parameter as an argument is newly provided. It will be possible to separate the parameters that control the window screen from the page. Further, since the page for a frame that does not need to be rewritten can be rewritten using the cache, it is possible to prevent the display speed from decreasing. In addition, the variable storage frame configures the window screen so that it is not touched by the user's eyes, which prevents the display from flickering when it is rewritten and makes it difficult to see, and the page displayed in the variable storage frame. Since the capacity is created as small as possible, the response will not be delayed even if it is read again from the server.

Further, the Web browser may be configured to issue a warning under a predetermined condition for the interframe reference by the script for security reasons. Specifically, when the script refers to a frame page of a domain different from the domain of the frame page in which the script is described, a warning may be displayed on the browser. However, in the second bookmark countermeasure process, the page displayed in the variable storage frame can be placed in the same domain as the left frame page where the script is written and managed, so a security warning is issued. Will also be able to avoid.

In the above embodiment, the argument is URL.
Although it is communicated between the client and the server as a character string added to, the argument can be communicated using Cookie.

The argument can be arbitrarily set. In the file name, that is, the URL character string, the argument is the notation of the location information on the network (http: //...in
dex01.html) and information specified as a character string shown after the boundary by the "?" mark. That is,
In the case of the above file name, the argument is the parameter “[HILIG
HT] 4 ”, parameter“ [OPENCLOSE] P4, P5 ”, parameter“ [USERID] XXXX ”. This argument indicates the display state of the frame for displaying the menu, that is, the user operation state for the frame for displaying the menu. be able to.

Specifically, the parameter "[HILIGHT] 4"
Indicates that, for example, when four options are displayed on the menu, the fourth option is in the selected state (activated state). When the option is set to the selected state, if there is a subordinate option subordinate to the option, the subordinate option can be displayed on the menu display frame. In this case, the parameter "[OPENCLOSE] P4, P5" indicates that the subordinate options P4, P5 subordinate to the fourth option are in the display state. If there are further sub-options subordinate to sub-options P4, P5, these parameters can be used to represent a further hierarchical structure. The parameter “[USERID] XXXX” is an identifier that identifies the user.

Further, the argument can represent not only the display state of the frame related to the menu display but also the display state of the frame related to the selection and opening / closing of the frame. In this case, the parameter “[HILIGHT]” can indicate the selection state (activation state) of the frame specified by the position information described immediately before. For example, when the child frame corresponding to the unique data “F4” that specifies the frame (child frame) is in the selected state, the parameter “[HILIGH
Notation such as "T] F4" is used. The parameter "[OPENCLOSE]" can represent the open / closed state of this child frame. For example, when this child frame F4 is set to the closed state, The notation such as the parameter "[OPENCLOSE] F4" is used, and the parameter "[OPENC
LOSE] ”is set to the open state. The closed state means, for example, an iconized display (menu bar display) that indicates the existence of the frame and can accept an enlarged display instruction. The state in which the frame is opened means that the display contents in the frame are displayed, for example.

(Menu File Division Processing) FIG. 11
When the menu file is divided,
It is a figure showing the example of a screen transition when a user selects a menu. FIG. 11A is an initial screen before the user selects a menu, and only “parent menu 1”, “parent menu 2”, and “parent menu 3” are displayed in the left frame. It can be seen that each parent menu has a child menu, but the child menu is omitted at the initial display. In addition, the display of the child menu is not omitted and each data is not stored in the file (INDEX_123.html), so even if there are many child menus, prevent the display performance from deteriorating. You can

Here, when the user selects "parent menu 1", the menu file (INDEX_01.html) corresponding to "parent menu 1" is read from the server 100, and the screen transitions to the screen of FIG. 11 (b). FIG. 11B is a screen when the parent menu data of the first hierarchy is also omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11 (b), in the left frame,
"Parent Menu 1" and the associated "Child 1-1""Child1-"
2 ”,“ child 1-3 ”, and“ parent menu 3 ”are displayed, but it can be seen that“ parent menu 2 ”displayed in FIG. 11A is omitted.

"Parent menu 1" and "parent menu 2" are
Since the menus are not related to each other, if "parent menu 1 (example: soccer)" is selected, "parent menu 2"
(Example: baseball) "is omitted. The "parent menu 2" menu is not displayed and has no data, so that the file data is reduced and the display performance can be improved.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a part of the data structure of the definition file 11. The definition file 11 is mainly used when the split file creating means 4 automatically creates a split file. The name of the split file to be referred to when the menu is selected and the contents of the menu included in the split file. And are defined.

Specifically, for example, "menu name",
Items such as "file division reference" and "pattern definition" are provided. The “file division reference” is for defining which division file to go to when the menu is selected, and the pattern name described in the “pattern definition” is written. The “pattern definition” is for setting whether or not a menu is included and whether or not elements of children and grandchildren are included. In the present embodiment, four types of values are provided.

Specifically, "1" means writing the menus of the second and lower layers into the split file, "2" means deleting the menus of the first layer itself, and "blank =
"NULL" means that the divided files do not have the menu data of the second and lower layers. Further, “z” means that all menus are included in the divided file.

Explaining "parent menu 1" as an example, when "parent menu 1" is selected, since "a" is stored in "file division reference", based on the pattern definition "a". Refer to the split file created by.
Looking at the pattern definition “a”, “1” is set in “parent menu 1”, “2” is set in “parent menu 2”, and “blank = NULL” is set in “parent menu 3”. There is. Therefore, in the "parent menu 1", the menus of the second level (child) and lower layers are written in the divided files, and in the "parent menu 2", the menu itself of the first level (parent) is deleted and "parent menu 3" Divides the file so that it does not have the menu data below the second layer (child). Therefore,
When the split file of pattern definition (a) is read,
The menu structure shown in FIG. 11B is obtained.

Further, "z" can be set as the value of the pattern definition. For example, when "site map" is assigned to "parent menu 3", when the display of "parent menu 3" is selected, pattern definition "z" is selected.
Depending on the setting of, it is possible to display a configuration including all display elements necessary for displaying the “site map”, that is, menu elements of all layers.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing when the user selects a menu in which files are divided. When the user selects the menu (S4
01), the client 300 executes the script written in the page of the left frame, and stores values regarding the current user operation state in various parameters (S40).
2).

Next, the client 300 adds the parameter as an argument to the URL of the split file corresponding to the menu, and reads the split file from the server 100 (S403). When the client 300 reads the split file, the client 300 configures and displays a menu screen based on the menu data set in the split file and the parameters taken over in step S403 (S40).
4).

According to the above, by displaying only the parent menu at the initial display of the menu, the data amount of the file can be reduced and the display performance can be improved. Furthermore, when the user selects a desired menu, other menus that are not related to the selected menu are hidden, so that the navigation according to the user's intention can be performed at any time without impairing the user's experience speed. It is possible to provide.

In this embodiment, "parent" and "child"
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied even when the menu has three layers or more. In addition to the hierarchical menu, the menu file division process is also suitable for a menu configuration including various functional menu elements (and parameters indicating their operation states) such as images, character input forms, and pull-down menus.

Further, although the case where the menu is displayed in the frame has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the menu does not use the frame, for example, a menu item such as a top page. It can also be applied to the case where the page is frequently displayed.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the window in which the frame is used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a layout in which the display is nested. is there. That is, when the display area is divided into A, B, C, D, and E, C and C are displayed without changing the display of A and B.
The present invention can be applied to D and E.

[0169]

According to the present invention, a page for a child frame
Since it is decided to set the relay link page that describes the URL and the link to this relay link page to a predetermined page, when the robot search engine accesses the predetermined page, the link page for relay will be sent. It becomes possible to access the page for the child frame.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the child frame page is independently read regardless of the frame, the parent frame page intended by the creator is reproduced. Even if the page is registered in the search engine, the page for the child frame can be displayed according to the intention of the creator.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when a menu is selected, the corresponding parent frame page is read in the entire window, so that the page intended by the user can be registered in the bookmark. Becomes

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the menu file is divided into groups, it is possible to avoid deterioration of display performance even when displaying a large number of menu groups. .

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the user selects a particular menu, other menus that are not related to each other are not displayed. A high screen layout and display speed balance can be maintained at a high level.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for causing a robot-type search engine to refer to a child frame page.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for reproducing and displaying an entire frame when a page for a child frame is referred to not as an intra-frame page.

FIG. 3 is a functional representation of the configuration of the information providing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data structure of a definition file 11.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a manual setting file 12.

FIG. 6 shows a data structure of a relay link page.

FIG. 7 is an information providing system 100 according to the present embodiment.
6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for reproducing a parent frame.

FIG. 8 shows a specific example of a script described in a child frame page.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition when a parent frame file corresponding to a selected menu is called and the entire window is rewritten.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when a parent frame file corresponding to the selected menu is read and the entire window is rewritten.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of screen transition when a user selects a menu when a menu file is divided for each group of menus.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a part of a data structure of a definition file 11.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a user selects a menu in which a file is divided.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining how the robot-type search engine automatically collects Web pages.

FIG. 15 is an example of a window using a frame.

[Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a diagram for describing a state in which information of a page in a frame is not referred to when the frame function is used for the page.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow of second bookmark countermeasure processing.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of screen transition in the second bookmark countermeasure process.

19 is a diagram for explaining a state in which a page displayed in a frame is stored in the client 300. FIG.

20 is a diagram showing an example of a window screen displayed on the browser of the client 300. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 ... Means to create link page for relay 2 ... Frame playback means A 3 ... Frame reproducing means B 4. Divided file creation means 10 ... Content DB 11 ... Definition file 12 ... Manual setting file 100 ... Information providing server 200 ... Search engine 300 ... Client 400 ... communication network

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A function of determining whether frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is When it is determined that the page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, a function of acquiring page data that defines the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is provided to the computer. Program to realize. 2. The determination function is such that when the position information on the network of the frame page data and the position information on the network acquired by the window match, the frame page data is displayed in the frame area. The program according to claim 1, wherein the program is determined not to be acquired in order to be executed. 3. The function of acquiring the page data displays the frame page data in a frame area based on network position information of the page data and network position information of the frame page data. 3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the page data defined as described above is acquired. 4. A function of determining whether frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area has been acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is If it is determined that the page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, the client acquires a function of acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area. A frame page data storing a program for realizing the program, a unit for transmitting the page data to the client, and a unit for transmitting the page data to the client when a transmission request for the page data is received from the client. The server to do. 5. A function of determining whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is If it is determined that the page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, the client acquires a function of acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area. Frame page data that partially stores the program to realize it,
By executing the means for acquiring from the server and the program stored in the acquired frame page data, it is determined whether or not the frame page data is acquired to be displayed in the frame area. When it is determined that is not acquired because it is displayed in the frame area, means for acquiring from the server the page data defining the frame area and the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area, A client characterized by comprising. 6. A unit for determining whether or not frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is A means for acquiring page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area when it is determined that the frame data is not acquired to be displayed in the frame area. An information providing system characterized in that 7. It is determined whether frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is the frame page data. If it is determined that the page data is not acquired because it is displayed in the area, page information defining the frame area and the frame page data to be displayed in the frame area is acquired. . 8. A first page data describing position information on a network of frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area, and a link to the first page data. Second page data that is set page data and is configured to be accessible by a search engine that collects information according to a preset collection program, and a link set in the second page data. Is a server that is set to image data. 9. A first page data describing position information on a network of frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area, and a link to the first page data. A set page data, a second page data that is configured to be accessible by a search engine that collects information according to a preset collection program, and an information providing method for providing information using the: When a search engine that collects information according to a preset search program accesses the second page data, the link set in the second page data is acquired to access the first page data, and The position information on the network of the frame page data described in the first page data is acquired to acquire the frame. By accessing the page data, information providing method, characterized in that to register the frame page data into the database of the search engine. 10. The frame page data is obtained from position information on the network of frame page data to be displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area and an argument indicating a display state of the frame page data. A program that causes a computer to realize the function of generating a character string that is referenced when displayed. 11. The argument comprises a parameter indicating an operation state and / or an identifier of the user by a user who refers to the display area, and the character string is a character string of a URL corresponding to position information on the network. The program according to claim 10, which is represented. 12. The frame page data is obtained from position information on the network of frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area and an argument indicating a display state of the frame page data. How to generate a string that is referenced when it is displayed. 13. The argument comprises a parameter indicating an operation state and / or an identifier of the user by a user who refers to the display area, and the character string is a character string of a URL corresponding to position information on the network. 13. The information providing method according to claim 12, which is represented. 14. A function of displaying first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data are described among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, and from the plurality of displayed upper menu data When predetermined upper menu data is selected, lower page menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to preset conditions, and second page data in which other higher menu data is described or deleted is acquired. A program that allows a computer to realize the functions to perform. 15. The program obtains the second page data by adding a parameter relating to a user's operation state as an argument when a predetermined upper menu data is selected from the displayed plurality of upper menu data. However, when the second page data is acquired, the display device further has a display function of displaying the lower menu data based on the added parameter.
The listed program. 16. The program according to claim 14, wherein the upper menu data and the lower menu data are displayed in a frame area formed by dividing a display area. 17. The first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data are described among the menu data composed of the upper menu data and the lower menu data is acquired and displayed, and the plurality of upper displayed data are displayed. When predetermined upper menu data is selected from the menu data, the second page in which lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to preset conditions and other higher menu data is described or deleted A method of displaying a menu by acquiring data and displaying it. 18. Means for transmitting to a client first page data describing a plurality of upper menu data among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data; and a plurality of displayed data from the client. When it is received from the upper menu data that the predetermined upper menu data is selected, the lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to a preset condition, and other upper menu data is described or deleted. And means for transmitting the second page data to the client. 19. Means for displaying first page data describing a plurality of upper menu data among menu data composed of upper menu data and lower menu data, and from the displayed plurality of upper menu data When the predetermined upper menu data is selected, the lower page menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to a preset condition, and the second page data in which other higher menu data is described or deleted is stored in the server. Receiving means from the client. 20. It is determined whether frame page data to be displayed in a frame area configured by dividing a display area is acquired to be displayed in the frame area, and the frame page data is the frame page data. If it is determined that it is not acquired because it is displayed in the area,
First frame reproducing means for obtaining page data defining the frame area and frame page data to be displayed in the frame area, and displaying the frame page data in the frame area, and dividing the display area When the menu displayed in the configured first frame area is selected, the first frame page data for displaying the menu in the first frame area and the display area divided into the first frame page data Page data defining the second frame page data for displaying the contents corresponding to the menu in the second frame area is acquired by giving a parameter related to the operation state of the user as an argument, and the page data is acquired. Then, the first frame page data defined in the page data is added with the parameter as an argument. And a second frame reproducing means for displaying the first frame page data in the first frame area in accordance with the given parameter when the first frame page data is acquired, upper menu data and lower order Displaying first page data in which a plurality of upper menu data are described among menu data composed of menu data and selecting a predetermined upper menu data from the plurality of displayed higher menu data, Menu display means for acquiring and displaying second page data in which lower menu data corresponding to the predetermined upper menu data is described according to preset conditions and other higher menu data is described or deleted. An information providing system characterized in that 21. When a predetermined input is given by the user on the screen of the first frame area in which the first frame page data is displayed, the parameter relating to the display state of the first frame page data is set to a second value. It is added to the position information on the network of the second frame page data to be displayed in the second frame area, the second frame page data is acquired based on the added character string, and the second frame page data is added to the first frame area. The first frame page data to be displayed is acquired, and the acquired first frame page data is referred to by the first parameter referring to the parameter included in the character string of the acquired second frame page data. Is displayed in the frame area of, and the third frame page data corresponding to the predetermined input is acquired, and the acquired third frame page is acquired. A method of displaying frame page data, characterized by displaying data in a third frame area. 22. When a predetermined input is given by the user on the screen of the first frame area in which the first frame page data is displayed, the predetermined value based on the predetermined input is set to the first value. 22. The frame page data display method according to claim 21, wherein the parameter is set as a parameter relating to the display state of the frame page data. 23. A program for causing a computer to realize a function of displaying frame page data in a frame area configured by dividing a display area, wherein the program displays first frame page data. When a predetermined input is given by the user on the screen of the first frame area, the parameter of the display state of the first frame page data of the second frame page data to be displayed in the second frame area is displayed. A function of adding to the position information on the network and acquiring the second frame page data based on the added character string, and acquiring the first frame page data to be displayed in the first frame area. And includes the acquired first frame page data in the character string of the acquired second frame page data. A function of displaying in the first frame area with reference to the parameter, and third frame page data corresponding to the predetermined input, and the acquired third frame page data A program having a function of displaying in a frame area. 24. When a predetermined input is given by a user on the screen of the first frame area in which the first frame page data is displayed, the predetermined value based on the predetermined input is set to the first value. 24. The program according to claim 23, further comprising a function of setting a parameter relating to a display state of the frame page data.