JPH10307766A - Method and system for accessing data base - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a communication network terminal to simply access the content of a data base only to simple collation, check and change instead of or through a brawser loading communication terminal. SOLUTION: In a gateway circuit 1 connected to a center side system 5 through a communication means 4 and connected to a telephone network terminal 3 through a telephone network 2, a WWW client connection part 13 is connected to the means 4. A PB signal receiving function part 11 is connected to the network 2 to receive an inputted PB signal. A voice guide generating function part 14 is connected to the network 2 to output a voice guide. An information converting function part 12 converts the PB signal into suitable information to be recognized by a data base function part 53, supplies the converted signal to the function part 13, converts information inputted from the means 4 to the function part 13 into suitable information, and transfers the converted information to the function part 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a database access provided for connecting a WWW server to a database (DB) and accessing the database from a terminal equipped with a WWW client function via communication means such as the Internet. It relates to the method and the method used directly for its implementation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of the WWW, the number of systems connecting a WWW server and a database server and using a database from a personal computer connected to the Internet and equipped with a browser is increasing. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, the database function unit Cd of the center system c is set to W
In order to access through the WWW server function unit Ca and the coordination function unit Cb, the user has to use the terminal a equipped with the WWW client function and connected to the Internet b.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional system, the personal computer equipped with a browser can be used as a database terminal, so the development of a dedicated database terminal and its software way is not required, and the entire system can be significantly reduced in cost. Although this is a revolutionary method, there is still a restriction that the user must use a personal computer connected to the Internet.

[0004] That is, even when accessing a database for simple routine use, it is necessary to use a personal computer or the like as a terminal to run WWW browser software. It was necessary to connect to and use.

The main objects to be solved by the present invention are as follows. A first object of the present invention is to provide a database access method and method that can be accessed by a simple terminal instead of or through a browser-equipped communication terminal only for simple inquiries, confirmations, and changes of database contents. Things.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a database access method and system which can be accessed by a simple terminal which can be realized by a function only on the WWW client side without changing the center equipment at all. is there.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a push button (hereinafter referred to as "PB") from a telephone terminal via a telephone network.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a database access method and method for controlling a browser-equipped personal computer (WWW client) by a signal to enable access.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a database access method and a method in which a WWW client personal computer is equipped with a PB signal detection function, a voice guidance function, and a scenario execution function to enable a conversation with a telephone network terminal. It is assumed that.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a database access method and method for editing information obtained through a conversation with a telephone network terminal and enabling database access via a WWW server by a WWW client function. Is what you do.

A sixth object of the present invention is to prepare / store a conversation procedure for necessary information with a telephone network terminal as a scenario in advance by a database and items to be accessed,
An object of the present invention is to provide a database access method and method for selecting and using an appropriate one in an access execution process.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specification, the drawings, and particularly from the claims.

[0012]

In order to solve the problem, the present invention has a connection function of the Internet and a telephone network, has a WWW client function, and stores tone information from a PB dial of a telephone network terminal in a database. Installing a gateway device having a function of converting the information into information that can be handled by a user, connecting a telephone terminal having a PB dial to the gateway device via a telephone network, further connecting the gateway device to the database via the Internet, A system capable of accessing the database from the telephone terminal using the PB dial is configured.

As a result, when accessing a database for a simple routine application, in addition to a terminal connected to the Internet, a telephone terminal having a general PB dial can be used, and restrictions on database access are greatly eased. Is done.

Further, since the present invention can be realized without making any change to the existing center-side system, when there is almost no change in the access procedure for a certain database, a user of the database prepares the gateway device. , A conversation procedure with the gateway device using the PB dial can be uniquely defined, and the database can be accessed from the telephone terminal based on the unique procedure.

Further, the present invention will be described in more detail.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the above object is achieved by adopting the following novel characteristic configuration methods and means.

That is, the first feature of the method of the present invention is that WWW
In accessing a database linked to a database via a communication network and a WWW server from a client, first, a push button signal of a telephone network terminal is received via a telephone network, and then converted into information recognizable by the database. The present invention is to adopt a configuration of a database access method in which the database is directly accessed via a telephone network using a push button dial by taking a series of processing steps for providing information to the WWW client.

A second feature of the method of the present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a database access method in which a series of processing steps in the first feature of the method of the present invention are collectively executed by a gateway.

A third feature of the method of the present invention is the configuration of a database access method in which the telephone network terminal according to the first or second feature of the above-mentioned method of the present invention communicates in parallel with transmission of a push button signal. In hiring.

A fourth feature of the method of the present invention is that the telephone network terminal according to the first, second or third feature of the method of the present invention comprises:
A database that is selected and used by the user when actually accessing the necessary procedure from among the user's own set / definition of the operation procedure using the push button dial required for database access and the accumulation. The configuration of the access method is adopted.

According to a fifth feature of the method of the present invention, a series of processing steps in the second, third or fourth feature of the method of the present invention is a pre-processing step in which a database is accessed from a WWW client prior to database access. And a database access method in which a push button dial operation sequence in accordance with voice guidance from the gateway to the telephone network terminal is defined and stored as a scenario based on the procedure for searching for and updating information. .

According to a sixth feature of the method of the present invention, a series of processing steps in the second, third, fourth or fifth feature of the method of the present invention is as follows. Talking with the user about scenario selection, and identifying a required scenario from the stored scenarios.
Next, receiving a push button signal required in the read execution process of the specified scenario from the telephone network terminal and providing voice guidance to the telephone network terminal,
Converting the information input from the telephone network terminal immediately after the execution of the scenario or the information provided to the WWW client from the communication network once, and then converting the information into an appropriate information form; and After temporarily storing the input information, the WWW client transmits the information to the communication network in accordance with a WWW communication procedure, and, in parallel with this, the converted provided information from the communication network is voice-guided. And transmitting the information to the telephone network terminal.

A seventh feature of the method of the present invention is that the gateway according to the second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth feature of the method of the present invention is used in conjunction with a computer equipped with a WWW browser. In the configuration of the database access method.

An eighth feature of the method of the present invention is that the communication network according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh feature of the method of the present invention is an Internet, an intranet, an extranet or the like. Net, virtual private network, ISDN, LA
The present invention is configured to adopt a configuration of a database access method which is any one or a combination of N, VAN, CON, CDN, a telephone line network, a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network, and the like.

A ninth feature of the method of the present invention is that the telephone network terminal according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth feature of the method of the present invention is a telephone set. , Mobile phone, P
The present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a database access method including an HS, a FAX, a wireless telephone, and the like.

A tenth feature of the method of the present invention resides in that the communication network according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth feature of the method of the present invention is not limited to the above. , Analog or digital telecommunications, optical communications, wireless communications, satellite communications, and mobile communications.

The eleventh feature of the method of the present invention is that the method of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth feature of the method of the present invention. Cooperation between the WWW server and the database and between them lies in the adoption of the configuration of the database access method that forms the center system.

A first feature of the system of the present invention is that a database access system comprising a gateway device connected to the center system via communication means and a telephone network terminal connected to the gateway device via a telephone network. Configuration adoption.

According to a second feature of the present invention, the center system in the first feature of the present invention is characterized in that the center side system includes a WWW server function unit connected to communication means, a database function unit for storing a database, The present invention resides in adopting a configuration of a database access method constructed by a server function unit and a coordination function unit that cooperates with the database function unit.

A third feature of the method of the present invention is that the gateway device according to the first or second feature of the method of the present invention,
A WWW client function unit connected to the communication means, a push button signal reception function unit connected to the telephone network and receiving a push button signal to be input, a voice guidance generation function unit connected to the telephone network and outputting voice guidance, The push button signal is converted into appropriate information recognizable by the database function unit and provided to the WWW client function unit, and the information input from the communication means is converted into appropriate information by the WWW client function unit to provide voice guidance. The present invention resides in adoption of a configuration of a database access method including an information conversion function unit for transferring to a function unit.

A fourth feature of the system of the present invention is that the information conversion function unit in the third feature of the system of the present invention is connected in parallel to the push button receiving function unit and the voice guidance generating function unit,
A scenario creation / selection unit that defines a push button dial operation sequence according to voice guidance to a telephone network terminal as a scenario based on a procedure for accessing a database function unit from a WW client function unit and performing information search / update, and the definition A scenario storage unit for storing the scenario, and a communication unit connected in parallel to the push button reception function unit and the voice guidance generation function unit, reading and executing the scenario specified from the scenario storage unit, and being converted. A response scenario execution unit that outputs input information of the response scenario to the voice guidance generation function unit, and converts the scenario execution information into information that can be handled by the database function unit, and converts the input information from the communication unit to generate the response scenario. An information conversion unit for transferring to an execution unit;
After connecting to the client function unit and temporarily storing the converted scenario execution information, it outputs the converted scenario execution information to the WWW client function unit and temporarily stores the input information from the communication unit input from the WWW client function unit. And a temporary storage unit for transferring the information to the information conversion unit.

A fifth feature of the method of the present invention is that the gateway device according to the third or fourth feature of the method of the present invention,
It has a configuration of a database access system that is connected to a computer equipped with a WWW browser.

A sixth feature of the method of the present invention is that the communication means in the first, second, third, fourth or fifth feature of the method of the present invention is such that the internet, intranet, extranet, virtual private network, ISDN, LAN, VAN, C
The present invention employs a configuration of a database access method which is any one or a combination of ON, CDN, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network and the like.

A seventh feature of the system of the present invention is that the telephone network terminal according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth feature of the system of the present invention is a telephone, a mobile phone, a PHS, FA
X, a configuration of a database access method including a wireless telephone and the like.

An eighth feature of the system of the present invention is that the communication means in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh feature of the system of the present invention is an analog or digital telecommunication system. , Optical communication, wireless communication, satellite communication, and mobile communication.

A ninth feature of the method of the present invention is that the telephone communication network terminal according to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth feature of the method of the present invention comprises: The user can set and define the scenario operation procedure by push button dial necessary for database access and store it by himself. It is in the configuration adoption of a database access method.

[0036]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings with reference to examples of systems, methods, and examples. In the present embodiment, the Internet and the telephone have been assumed exclusively as the communication means and the telephone network terminal as the communication network. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Intranet, extranet, virtual private network, ISD
N, LAN, VAN, CON, CDN, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication network, or any combination thereof.
X, wireless telephones, etc., and the communication means is provided for analog or digital telecommunications, optical communication, wireless communication, satellite communication, and mobile communication.

(Example of System) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the information conversion function unit in FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a gateway device, 11 is a PB signal reception function unit, 12 is an information conversion function unit that converts a PB signal into information that can be handled by a database function, and 13 is WW
The W client function unit 14 is a voice guidance generation function unit that transmits voice guidance to the telephone network terminal 3.

2 is a telephone network, 3 is a telephone network terminal with a PB dial, 4 is a communication means between the gateway device 1 and a center system 5 described later, 5 is a center system incorporating a database function unit 53, and 51 is WWW. Server function part,
Reference numeral 52 denotes a coordination function unit for making the server function unit 51 cooperate with a database function unit 53 described later, and 53 denotes a database function unit for storing a database.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 121 denotes a response scenario execution unit;
22 is an information conversion unit, 123 is a scenario storage unit, 124 is an information temporary storage unit, and 125 is a scenario creation / selection unit.

(Example of Method) An execution procedure of the example of the method of the present embodiment applied to the example of the present method will be described. First, the user operates the PB dial of the telephone network terminal 3 to communicate with the gateway device 1 via the telephone network 2. PB from telephone network terminal 3
The signal is received by the PB signal reception function unit 11 and passed to the information conversion function unit 12. The information conversion function unit 12 converts the passed signal into information that can be handled by the database function unit 53 and delivers the information to the WWW client function unit 13.

The WWW client function unit 13 communicates with the WWW server function unit 51 via the communication means 4 and transfers the information passed from the information conversion function unit 12. W
The method in which the WW server function unit 51 transmits the information transferred to the database function unit 53 via the cooperation function unit 52 can be easily realized by using various known means.

When voice guidance / instruction is required between the telephone network terminal 3 and the gateway device 1, the voice guidance generation function unit 14 operates in response to an instruction from the information conversion function unit 12 to guide the telephone network terminal 3. / Send instructions.

Next, a series of processing steps of the information conversion function unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. (1) Prior to accessing the database, the user
A PB dial operation sequence according to voice guidance between the telephone network terminal 3 and the scenario creation / selection unit 125 of the gateway device 1 is performed based on a procedure for accessing and retrieving information from the WW client to the database. A scenario is defined and stored in the scenario storage unit 123 in advance.

(2) When performing database access,
The user talks with the scenario creation / selection unit 125 of the gateway device 1 using the telephone network terminal 3, and the scenario storage unit 1
A necessary scenario is specified from among those stored in the storage device 23. (3) The response scenario execution unit 121 is
The specified scenario is read out from 23 and executed. In the course of execution, the PB signal receiving function unit 11 receives necessary PB signals from the telephone network terminal 3, and the voice guidance generating function unit 14 transmits voice guidance to the telephone network terminal 3.

(4) The information inputted from the telephone network terminal 3 and the information provided from the center system 5 are converted into an appropriate information form by the information conversion unit 122 by executing the scenario. (5) The transmission information to the center system 5 converted into an appropriate information format by the information conversion unit 122 is stored in the information temporary storage unit 124, and then the WWW client function unit 1
3 according to the WWW communication procedure.

(6) In parallel, the information received from the center side system 5 is stored in the information temporary storage section 124, then converted into an appropriate information form by the information conversion section 122, and is converted by the response scenario execution section 121. Information is transmitted to the telephone network terminal 3 via the voice guidance generation function unit 14.

[0047]

FIG. 3 is a display example when a database search / update is performed using a personal computer or the like equipped with a WWW browser, for inquiring the stock quantities of five types of products and making a temporary reservation for each product. It is a screen of. When the database is accessed for the first time, the stock quantity of each product is displayed. If a tentative reservation is required, click the "Necessary" of the "Temporary reservation" item of the corresponding product and enter the "Temporary reservation person ID number" And click the execute button.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a scenario in which a database is accessed from a telephone network terminal 3 having a PB dial based on FIG. The operation sequence of the scenario will be described below. In the drawing, a one-dot thick chain line indicates a voice, and a thick solid line indicates a PB signal, respectively, and the WWW client function unit 13 and the WW
Information communication is performed between the W server function units 51 by the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).

ST1: First, a voice for requesting input of a product item number is transmitted to the telephone network terminal 3. ST2: Analyze / convert the contents (product item number, end instruction, etc.) input by the PB signal from the telephone network terminal 3.
When the “end” instruction is input, the process proceeds to an end operation. ST3: A database access (read) is executed based on the analysis / conversion result. The result of the access is stored in the information temporary storage unit 124.

ST4: The above stored information is converted into voice and transmitted to the telephone network terminal 3, and then a voice for requesting input of necessary information and whether or not temporary reservation is necessary is output. ST5: Analyze / convert the contents (temporary reservation necessity + ID number, end instruction, etc.) input by the PB signal from the telephone network terminal 3. When the “end” instruction is input, the process proceeds to an end operation. ST6: Execute database access (update) based on the above analysis / conversion results. The result of the access is stored in the information temporary storage unit 124.

ST7: Based on the above result, the telephone network terminal 3
Then, a tentative reservation completion notification sound is output, and an input request sound indicating whether or not operation continuation is necessary is transmitted. ST8: Analyze / convert the content (continuation instruction, end instruction, etc.) input by the PB signal from the telephone network terminal 3. When the “end” instruction is input, the process proceeds to an end operation.
In the case of the "continue" instruction, the process returns to ST1.

In the execution process of the above sequence, conversation with the telephone network terminal 3 is carried out by a PB signal and voice, and between the WWW client function unit 13 of the gateway device 1 and the WWW server function unit 51 of the center system 5 is WWW.
Communication is performed by the HTTP protocol used in the system.

When a plurality of scenarios as described above are stored in the scenario storage unit 123 in the gateway device 1, a conversation for specifying a necessary scenario is made between the telephone network terminal 3 and the scenario in the gateway device 1. Although required between the / selection unit 125, it can be easily realized by a procedure similar to the sequence shown in FIG.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a telephone network terminal having a general PB dial can be used in addition to a terminal connected to the Internet when accessing a database for a simple routine application. It becomes available and the restrictions on database access are greatly eased.

Further, since the present invention can be realized without making any change to the existing center-side system, when there is almost no change in the access procedure for a certain database, the user of the database prepares the gateway device. , A conversation procedure with the gateway device using the PB dial is uniquely defined, and the database can be accessed from the telephone terminal based on the unique procedure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system function configuration of a system example showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal functional configuration of the gateway device in the above.

FIG. 3 is a WWW for searching / updating a database in the example of the same method.
It is a browser display example figure.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of an operation scenario example of the gateway device corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gateway apparatus 2 ... Telephone network 3 ... Telephone network terminal 4 ... Communication means 5 ... Center side system 11 ... PB signal receiving function part 12 ... Information conversion function part 13 ... WWW client function part 51 ... WWW server function part 52 ... Cooperation Function unit 53 Database function unit 121 Response scenario execution unit 122 Information conversion unit 123 Scenario storage unit 124 Information temporary storage unit 125 Scenario creation / selection unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/00 302 H04L 13/00 307Z

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate communication network from a WWW client to a W
In accessing a database linked to the database via a WW server, first, a push button signal of a telephone network terminal is received via a telephone network, and then converted into information recognizable by the database. (B) performing a series of processing steps of providing the conversion information to the database, and directly accessing the database via a telephone network using a push button dial. 2. The database access method according to claim 1, wherein a series of processing steps are collectively executed by a gateway. 3. The database access method according to claim 1, wherein the telephone network terminal performs interactive communication in parallel with transmission of the push button signal. 4. The telephone network terminal according to claim 1, wherein the user sets / defines an operation procedure by a push button dial required for database access and stores the operation procedure. The database access method according to claim 1, wherein the database access method is selected and used. 5. A series of processing steps include, as a preprocessing step, a voice from a gateway to a telephone network terminal based on a procedure for accessing a database from a WWW client and performing information search / update prior to database access. 5. The database access method according to claim 2, wherein the push button dial operation sequence according to the guidance is defined and stored as a scenario. 6. A series of processing steps are as follows: first, a user talks with a gateway about scenario selection using a telephone network terminal, and specifies a required scenario from the stored scenarios; Receiving a push button signal required from the telephone network terminal in the process of reading and executing the scenario, and providing voice guidance to the telephone network terminal; and subsequently, immediately inputting information input from the telephone network terminal by executing the scenario. Or once storing the information provided from the communication network to the WWW client, and then converting the information into an appropriate information form. Further, once storing the converted input information,
Transmitting to the communication network by the WWW client in accordance with the WWW communication procedure, and, in parallel, transmitting the converted provided information from the communication network to the telephone network terminal through voice guidance. The database access method according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the method is executed by stepping on. 7. The database access method according to claim 2, wherein the gateway is used by being attached to a computer equipped with a WWW browser. 8. The communication network includes the Internet, an intranet, an extranet,
Virtual private network, ISDN, LAN, VAN, CON, CD
N, one or a combination of a telephone line network, a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network, and the like, The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.
Database access method described in. 9. The telephone network terminal according to claim 1, wherein the telephone network terminal includes a telephone, a portable telephone, a PHS, a FAX, a wireless telephone, and the like. Database access method. 10. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein the communication network is used for analog or digital electric communication, optical communication, wireless communication, satellite communication, and mobile communication. , 7,
10. The database access method according to 8 or 9. 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the WWW server and the database are linked to each other to construct a center-side system.
The database access method according to 8, 9, or 10. 12. A database access method comprising: a gateway device connected to a center-side system via communication means; and a telephone network terminal connected to the gateway device via a telephone network. 13. The center-side system includes: a WWW server function unit connected to a communication unit; a database function unit for storing a database; and a cooperation function unit for linking the WWW server function unit and the database function unit. The database access method according to claim 12, wherein the database access method is constructed. 14. A gateway device comprising: a WWW client function unit connected to communication means; a push button signal reception function unit connected to a telephone network to receive an input push button signal; and voice guidance connected to the telephone network. And a voice guidance generating function unit for outputting the push button signal into appropriate information recognizable by the database function unit and providing the converted information to the WWW client function unit and information input from the communication unit to the WWW client function unit 14. The database access method according to claim 12, further comprising: an information conversion function unit that converts the information into appropriate information and transfers the information to the voice guidance function unit. 15. The information function conversion unit is connected in parallel to the push button signal reception function unit and the voice guidance generation function unit, and accesses the database function unit from the WWW client function unit to perform information search / update based on the procedure. A scenario creation / selection unit that defines a push button dial operation sequence according to voice guidance to a network terminal as a scenario, a scenario storage unit that stores the defined scenario, the push button reception function unit, and the voice guidance generation function A response scenario execution unit that is connected in parallel to the unit, reads and executes the specified scenario from the scenario storage unit, and outputs the converted input information from the communication unit to the voice guidance generation function unit; Convert the information into information that can be handled by the database function unit and And the input information converted by the information converting unit to be transferred to the response scenario execution unit, the WWW client connected to the function unit, after temporarily storing the scenario execution information came is the conversion, the WWW
An information temporary storage unit for outputting to the client function unit and temporarily storing the input information from the communication unit input from the WWW client function unit, and then transferring the input information to the information conversion unit. Item 14. The database access method according to item 14. 16. The database access method according to claim 14, wherein the gateway device is connected to a computer equipped with a WWW browser. 17. The communication means may be the Internet, an intranet, an extranet,
Virtual private network, ISDN, LAN, VAN, CON, CD
N, a telephone line network, a mobile communication network, a satellite communication network, or any combination thereof.
6. The database access method according to 6. 18. The telephone network terminal includes a telephone, a portable telephone, a PHS, a FAX, a wireless telephone, and the like.
Or the database access method according to 17. 19. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein the communication means is used for analog or digital electric communication, optical communication, wireless communication, satellite communication, and mobile communication.
The database access method according to 6, 17, or 18. 20. The telephone communication network terminal selects a necessary procedure from a user's own setting / definition of a scenario operation procedure by a push button dial necessary for a database and accumulates the procedure in actual access. And having a function that can be used freely.
6. The database access method according to 6, 17, 18 or 19.