JP7661182B2 - Content display system, terminal device, server device and method - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a content display system, a terminal device, a server device, and a method.

In general, a terminal device communicatively connected to a web server can display web content (or a web page including the web content) specified by a user, for example, by receiving web content information for displaying the web content from the web server.

By the way, a user can change the display of the web content displayed on the terminal device by performing operations on the web content as described above (for example, scrolling or enlarging or reducing the web content).

However, when the web content whose display has been changed in response to the above-mentioned user operation is switched to another web content (i.e., transitioned to another web page) and the same web content is then displayed again, the web content is displayed in its initial state (i.e., the state before the display was changed in response to the user operation), so the user needs to perform the operation on the web content again, which is inconvenient for the user.

JP 2010-176478 A

The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a content display system, terminal device, server device, and method that can improve user convenience.

According to an embodiment, a content display system is provided that includes a first terminal device used by a user, a second terminal device different from the first terminal device, and a server device communicably connected to the first and second terminal devices. The first terminal device includes a display processing means. The server device includes a content information generating means and a storage means. The content information generating means generates first content information for displaying each of a plurality of contents. The display processing means displays the content based on the first content information, and changes the display of the content in response to an operation of the user on the content. The storage means stores operation information indicating the operation of the user on the content. When the content is displayed on the second terminal device, the content information generating means generates second content information for displaying the content whose display has been changed based on the operation information stored in the storage means. The second terminal device displays the plurality of contents on a plurality of display devices based on the second content information. The operation information is stored in the storage means when a change amount of an operation that changes the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value .

1 is a diagram showing an overview of a content display system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content display system according to a comparative example of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a content display system according to a comparative example of the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a terminal device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a Web server. 11 is a sequence chart showing an example of a processing procedure of a user operation information saving process. 11 is a sequence chart showing an example of a processing procedure of a content re-display process. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the content display system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining another example of the operation of the content display system according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a content display system according to a third embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content display system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a sequence chart showing an example of a processing procedure of the content display system according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a case where a user operation information saving operation is not performed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a first operation example of the content display system according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an overview of a second operation example of the content display system according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an overview of a third operation example of the content display system according to the embodiment.

Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
First, a first embodiment will be described. The content display system according to this embodiment includes a terminal device (information processing device) used by a user and a server device (hereinafter, referred to as a web server) that manages web content, and operates to display the web content on the terminal device. Note that the web server in this embodiment may be a single server device or multiple server devices.

Figure 1 shows an overview of the content display system according to this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 1, when "URL://win#1/a" is specified in a window (hereinafter referred to as a browser window) displayed by starting a browser on a terminal device, web content A (a web page including the content) managed by a web server is displayed in the browser window.

In addition, when a different URL is specified in the above-mentioned browser window, it is possible to display different web content in the browser window. In the example shown in FIG. 1, when "URL://win#1/b" is specified in the browser window, for example, web content B (a web page including the web content B) managed in the web server is displayed in the browser window.

A user of a terminal device can view web content by, for example, switching between web content displayed in the same browser window.

In addition, when viewing a web content (web content A or B) displayed in a browser window, the user can perform operations to change the display of the web content.

The browsing of the above-mentioned web content and the operation of the web content are realized by a web application program or the like that runs via a web server.

Here, FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a content display system according to a comparative example of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the content display system 1' includes a terminal device 2' and a web server 3'. The terminal device 2' and the web server 3' are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network such as the Internet.

The terminal device 2' includes an operation reception unit 21', an update detection unit 22', and a web content display unit 23'.

The operation reception unit 21' receives user operations on the terminal device 2'. Note that the user operations received by the operation reception unit 21' include, for example, the above-mentioned operation of specifying the Web content to be displayed in the browser window (hereinafter, referred to as a content specification operation) and an operation of changing the display of the Web content in the browser window (hereinafter, referred to as a content display change operation).

The content designation operation includes, for example, an operation of designating (inputting) a URL as information indicating (a web page including) web content. The content designation operation may also include an operation of instructing to reload (reload) the currently displayed web page (the web content included in the web page). The content display change operation includes an operation of scrolling, enlarging or reducing the web content in the browser window. The content display change operation may also include an operation of changing the position of the web content (such as a drag operation on an object inside the web content). In other words, the content display change operation in this embodiment includes an operation of moving (changing) the coordinate data of the web content to be displayed.

The update detection unit 22' detects an update to the display of the browser window (e.g., a transition of a web page, etc.) based on the content designation operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21'. When an update to the display of the browser window is detected, the update detection unit 22' requests the web content designated by the above-mentioned content designation operation (i.e., an update to the display of the browser window) from the web server 3'.

The Web content display unit 23' receives Web content information for displaying the Web content specified by the content designation operation from the Web server 3', and displays the Web content in the browser window based on the Web content information. Note that the Web content information may be any information for displaying the Web content, and may include, for example, in addition to the Web content, the position on the Web page where the Web content is displayed. The Web content display unit 23' also changes the display of the Web content in the browser window based on the content display change operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21'.

The web server 3' includes a web content storage unit 31' and an update processing unit 32'. The web content storage unit 31' stores the web content managed by the web server 3'.

The update processing unit 32' acquires web content from the web content storage unit 31' in response to a request from the terminal device 2', and generates web content information for displaying the web content. The web content information generated by the update processing unit 32' is transmitted to the terminal device 2' as a response to the request from the terminal device 2'.

Next, the operation of a content display system 1' according to a comparative example of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, assume that "URL://win#1/a" (web content A indicated by) is specified in a browser window displayed on the terminal device 2', and the web content A is displayed in the browser window (step S1). In this case, the initial state of web content A is displayed in the browser window.

Next, when the user performs an operation to enlarge the web content A in the browser window (a content display change operation), the enlarged web content is displayed in the browser window by applying the operation (step S2).

Furthermore, when "URL://win#1/b" (web content B indicated by) is specified in the browser window, web content A in the browser window is switched to web content B, and web content B is displayed in the browser window (step S3).

Now, let us assume that the user specifies "URL://win#1/a" to redisplay Web content A. In this case, Web content A is displayed in the browser window, but the Web content A displayed in the browser window is in its initial state, and the above-mentioned content display change operation (enlargement operation) is not reflected.

In other words, in the comparative example of this embodiment, when a content display change operation is performed on Web content A as described above, and then another Web content B is displayed, and Web content A is redisplayed after the display of Web content B, the user's operation (content display change operation) performed on Web content A is refreshed (lost), and Web content A in its initial state is displayed. In this case, in order to display the enlarged Web content A as described in step S2, the user needs to perform the operation of enlarging Web content A again, which is cumbersome.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a configuration is realized that makes it possible to redisplay the web content with the content display change operation reflected, without the need to perform the content display change operation described above again.

Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of a content display system according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the content display system 1 includes a terminal device 2 and a web server 3. The terminal device 2 and the web server 3 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a network such as the Internet.

The terminal device 2 includes an operation reception unit 21, an update detection unit 22, and a Web content display unit 23, which correspond to the operation reception unit 21', the update detection unit 22', and the Web content display unit 23' included in the terminal device 2' described above, as well as a mode setting unit 24 and a user operation information extraction unit 25.

The operation reception unit 21 receives user operations on the terminal device 2. In this embodiment, the user operations received by the operation reception unit 21 include the above-mentioned content designation operation and content display change operation, as well as an operation for setting a user operation reflection mode (hereinafter referred to as a mode setting operation).

The update detection unit 22 detects an update to the display of the browser window based on the content designation operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21. When an update to the display of the browser window is detected, the update detection unit 22 requests the web content designated by the above-mentioned content designation operation from the web server 3.

The web content display unit 23 receives web content information for displaying the web content specified by the content specification operation from the web server 3, and displays the web content in the browser window based on the web content information. The web content display unit 23 also changes the display of the web content in the browser window based on the content display change operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21.

The mode setting unit 24 sets the user operation reflection mode in accordance with the mode setting operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21. The mode setting unit 24 holds a mode setting flag as setting information indicating whether the user operation reflection mode is set or not.

When the user operation reflection mode is set by the mode setting unit 24, the user operation information extraction unit 25 extracts the content display change operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21. The user operation information extraction unit 25 transmits information indicating the extracted content display change operation (hereinafter referred to as user operation information) to the Web server 3.

The web server 3 includes a web content storage unit 31 and an update processing unit 32 corresponding to the web content storage unit 31' and update processing unit 32' included in the web server 3' described above, as well as a user operation information management unit 33 and a user operation information storage unit 34.

The web content storage unit 31 stores the web content managed by the web server 3.

The update processing unit 32 acquires the web content from the web content storage unit 31 in response to a request from the terminal device 2, and generates web content information for displaying the web content. The web content information generated by the update processing unit 32 is transmitted to the terminal device 2.

The user operation information management unit 33 receives user operation information transmitted from the terminal device 2, and stores the received user operation information in the user operation information storage unit 34. The user operation information management unit 33 has a function of managing the user operation information stored in the user operation information storage unit 34.

In this embodiment, the user operation information stored in the user operation information storage unit 34 is used when the update processing unit 32 generates web content information.

Figure 5 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the terminal device 2. As shown in Figure 5, the terminal device 2 includes a CPU 201, a non-volatile memory 202, a main memory 203, a communication device 204, an input device 205, and a display device 206.

The CPU 201 is a hardware processor that controls the operation of each component in the terminal device 2. The CPU 201 executes various programs loaded from the non-volatile memory 202, which is a storage device, to the main memory 203. The programs executed by the CPU 201 include an operating system (OS) and various application programs. The various application programs include a browser, etc.

In this embodiment, some or all of the units 21 to 25 included in the terminal device 2 shown in FIG. 4 are realized by a browser executed by the CPU 201 (i.e., the computer of the terminal device 2) or a plug-in (i.e., software) incorporated into the browser. Note that some or all of the units 21 to 25 included in the terminal device 2 may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (IC), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

The communication device 204 is a device configured to communicate with the Web server 3 and the like. The input device 205 includes, for example, a mouse and a keyboard. The display device 206 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Figure 6 shows an example of the hardware configuration of a web server. As shown in Figure 6, the web server 3 includes a CPU 301, a non-volatile memory 302, a main memory 303, and a communication device 304.

The CPU 301 is a hardware processor that controls the operation of each component in the Web server 3. The CPU 301 executes various programs loaded from the non-volatile memory 302, which is a storage device, to the main memory 303. The programs executed by the CPU 301 include an operating system (OS) and various application programs. The various application programs include the above-mentioned Web application programs.

In this embodiment, the web content storage unit 31 and the user operation information storage unit 34 included in the web server 3 shown in FIG. 4 are realized by a non-volatile memory 302 (or other storage device) or the like.

In addition, in this embodiment, all or part of the update processing unit 32 and the user operation information management unit 33 included in the Web server 3 shown in FIG. 4 above is realized by a Web application program (i.e., software) executed by the CPU 301 (i.e., the computer of the Web server 3). Note that all or part of the update processing unit 32 and the user operation information management unit 33 may be realized by hardware such as an IC, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

The communication device 304 is a device configured to communicate with the terminal device 2, etc.

The operation of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment will be described below. The content display system 1 according to this embodiment executes a process of storing user operation information indicating a user operation (content display change operation) in the Web server 3 (hereinafter referred to as a user operation information storage process), and a process of redisplaying Web content using the user operation information (hereinafter referred to as a content redisplay process). The user operation information storage process and the content redisplay process will be described below.

First, an example of the processing procedure for saving user operation information will be described with reference to the sequence chart shown in FIG. 7.

Here, it is assumed that the first Web content is displayed in the browser window on the terminal device 2 (step S11). Although detailed explanation is omitted, for example, when a content designation operation is performed to designate the first Web content in a predetermined area of the browser window (inputting a URL indicating the first Web content), the terminal device 2 requests the first Web content from the Web server 3, and Web content information for displaying the first Web content is generated in the Web server 3. The first Web content is displayed in the browser window on the terminal device 2 based on the Web content information thus generated in the Web server 3.

Here, the user of the terminal device 2 can perform a content display change operation on the first Web content displayed in the browser window. When a content display change operation is performed on the first Web content in this manner, the operation acceptance unit 21 accepts the content display change operation (step S12).

When the process of step S12 is executed, the Web content display unit 23 changes the display of the first Web content in the browser window based on the content display change operation accepted in step S12 (step S13).

Next, assume that the user performs a content designation operation to designate a web content other than the first web content (hereinafter referred to as the second web content), and the content designation operation is accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21. In this case, the update detection unit 22 detects an update of the display in the browser window (a transition from a web page including the first web content to a web page including the second web content) (step S14).

If an update to the display of the browser window is detected in step S14, the update detection unit 22 requests the second Web content (display) specified by the content specification operation from the Web server 3 (step S15).

When the process of step S15 is executed, the update processing unit 32 included in the web server 3 retrieves the second web content requested in step S15 from the web content storage unit 31, and generates web content information for displaying the second web content (step S16).

The web content information generated in step S16 is transmitted from the web server 3 (update processing unit 32) to the terminal device 2 (step S17).

The web content information transmitted from the web server 3 in step S17 is received by the terminal device 2, and the web content display unit 23 displays the second web content in the browser window based on the web content information (step S18).

Here, the user operation information extraction unit 25 included in the terminal device 2 is assumed to hold (store) user operation information indicating the user operation (content display change operation) accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21 in association with a content ID for identifying the Web content on which the content display change operation was performed. In this case, the user operation information extraction unit 25 extracts user operation information indicating the content change operation performed on the first Web content (hereinafter referred to as user operation information related to the first Web content) from the held user operation information (step S19). Note that the user operation information extracted in step S19 corresponds to the content display change operation accepted in step S12.

The above-mentioned processes of steps S12 and S13 may be performed multiple times (i.e., the user may perform a content display change operation multiple times), but the user operation information extracted in step S19 may be, for example, user operation information indicating the last content display change operation (the most recent content display change operation). However, for example, in a case where the display state of the first Web content before the process of step S14 is performed has been reached through multiple content change operations, user operation information indicating all content display change operations performed by the user on the first Web content from when the first Web content is displayed in step S11 until an update of the display of the browser window is detected in step S14 may be extracted.

The user operation information extracted in step S19 is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the web server 3 together with a content ID for identifying the first web content (step S20).

The user operation information management unit 33 included in the web server 3 receives the user operation information and the content ID transmitted from the terminal device 2 in step S20, and stores the received user operation information in the user operation information storage unit 34 in association with the content ID (step S21).

According to the above-mentioned user operation information storage process, user operation information indicating the content display change operation performed on the first Web content can be stored in the Web server 3.

In this embodiment, the user operation reflection mode is set according to the user's mode setting operation, but the above-mentioned steps S19 to S21 may be executed only when the user operation reflection mode is set. In this case, the user operation information extraction unit 25 executes the process of step S19 when it is determined that the user operation reflection mode is set (i.e., the user operation reflection mode is ON) by referring to the mode setting flag stored in the mode setting unit 24. On the other hand, when it is determined that the user operation reflection mode is not set (i.e., the user operation reflection mode is OFF), the process of step S19 is not executed.

In addition, in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the user operation information is stored in the Web server 3 in response to a content designation operation, for example, but the process of storing the user operation information (i.e., the process of steps S19 to S21) may be executed when an operation other than the content designation operation (an operation instructing that the user operation information be stored in the Web server 3) is performed.

Furthermore, in FIG. 7, the processes are described as being executed in the order of steps S11 to S21, but the processes of steps S19 to S21 may be executed, for example, after the process of step S13 is executed. In other words, the processes of steps S19 to S21 may be executed when an operation is performed to instruct the above-mentioned user operation information to be saved in the Web server 3, or may be executed in parallel with the processes of steps S14 to S18.

Next, an example of the processing procedure for the content redisplay process will be described with reference to the sequence chart in FIG. 8. Note that the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed after the process shown in FIG. 7, and it is assumed here that the second Web content is displayed in the browser window on the terminal device 2.

Here, for example, it is assumed that the user performs a content designation operation to designate the first Web content in order to redisplay the first Web content, and the content designation operation is accepted by the operation acceptance unit 21. In this case, the update detection unit 22 detects an update of the display in the browser window (a transition from a Web page including the second Web content to a Web page including the first Web content) (step S31).

If an update to the display of the browser window is detected in step S31, the update detection unit 22 requests the first Web content (display) specified by the content specification operation from the Web server 3 (step S32).

When the process of step S32 is executed, the user operation information management unit 33 included in the Web server 3 refers to the user operation information storage unit 34 and determines whether or not user operation information related to the first Web content requested in step S32 (i.e., user operation information associated with a content ID for identifying the first Web content) is present in the user operation information storage unit 34.

If it is determined that user operation information related to the first Web content exists, the user operation information management unit 33 acquires the user operation information from the user operation information storage unit 34 (step S33). Note that multiple pieces of user operation information may be acquired in step S33.

When the process of step S33 is executed, the update processing unit 32 acquires the first Web content requested in step S32 from the Web content storage unit 31, and generates Web content information for displaying the first Web content whose display has been changed in accordance with the content display change operation during the user operation information storage process shown in FIG. 7 based on the user operation information acquired in step S33 (step S34). Note that the Web content information generated in step S34 is Web content information for displaying the first Web content that reflects the content display change operation performed on the first Web content previously displayed in the browser window (i.e., reproducing or restoring the display state of the previous first Web content).

The web content information generated in step S34 is transmitted from the web server 3 (update processing unit 32) to the terminal device 2 (step S35).

The web content information transmitted from the web server 3 in step S35 is received by the terminal device 2, and the web content display unit 23 displays the first web content in the browser window based on the web content information (step S36).

According to the above-mentioned content redisplay process, even if, for example, a content display change operation such as enlarging a first Web content is performed and then a second Web content is displayed, and the first Web content is redisplayed after the second Web content is displayed, it is possible to display the first Web content that has already been enlarged based on the content display change operation (i.e., the first Web content reflecting the content display change operation).

Note that, although the above description is given of the case where user operation information related to the first Web content exists, if the user operation information does not exist, the process of step S33 is not executed, and the processes of steps S34 to S36 are executed. In this case, the first Web content in its initial state is displayed in the browser window.

Although omitted in FIG. 8, the process of step S33 is executed when the user operation reflection mode is set. Whether or not the user operation reflection mode is set can be determined by referring to the mode setting flag stored in the mode setting unit 24 included in the terminal device 2 as described above. In this case, the user operation information management unit 33 determines whether or not the user operation reflection mode is set by acquiring (receiving) the mode setting flag from the terminal device 2 (mode setting unit 24). If the user operation reflection mode is not set, the process of step S33 is not executed, and the first Web content in the initial state is displayed in step S36 (i.e., the first Web content is displayed without reflecting the content display change operation).

As described above, in this embodiment, the Web server 3 generates Web content information (first content information) for displaying the first Web content, and the terminal device 2 displays the first Web content based on the Web content information and changes the display of the first Web content in response to the user's content display change operation for the first Web content. In this case, in this embodiment, the Web server 3 stores user operation information indicating the content display change operation for the first Web content in the user operation information storage unit 34. Also, in this embodiment, when the first Web content is redisplayed on the terminal device 2, the Web server 3 generates Web content information (second content information) for displaying the first Web content whose display has been changed (from the initial state) based on the user operation information stored in the user operation information storage unit 34, and the terminal device 2 displays the first Web content based on the Web content information.

In this embodiment, the above-described configuration allows the first Web content to be displayed in a state in which the previously performed content display change operation has already been reflected when the first Web content is redisplayed, thereby improving user convenience. In other words, in this embodiment, the user's operation state (application operation state) for the Web content is retained and the display of the Web content is controlled based on the operation state, thereby preventing the loss of the content that the user has operated once and avoiding the hassle of repeating the same operation when redisplaying the Web content.

7 and 8 above assume a case where the Web contents (Web pages) displayed in the browser window transition in the order of the first Web content, the second Web content, and the first Web content, but this embodiment may be configured such that when the first Web content is redisplayed, the first Web content reflecting the content display change operation performed on the first Web content is displayed. That is, this embodiment may be applied to a case where the first Web content is redisplayed after multiple other Web contents are displayed, or may be applied to a case where the first Web content is redisplayed (i.e., a Web page including the first Web content is reloaded) while the first Web content to which the content display change operation has been performed is displayed. When a web page including the first web content is reloaded, the reload is detected as an update of the display in the browser window in step S14 shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the processing of steps S19 to S21 is executed after the processing of step S14 is executed, and further the processing of steps S32 to S36 shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

In this embodiment, the web content is displayed on the terminal device 2 based on the web content information transmitted from the web server 3, but this embodiment can be applied to any content display system that displays content acquired (transmitted) from a server device on a terminal device.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a specific usage mode (application example) of the content display system according to the first embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, a case was described in which Web content (Web content in which a content display change operation has been reflected) is redisplayed in one browser window, but the content display system according to this embodiment assumes a case in which, for example, Web content displayed in a first browser window (Web content in which a content display change operation has been performed) is displayed in a second browser window that is different from the first browser window.

The configuration of the content display system (terminal device 2 and web server 3) according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and will be described with reference to FIG. 4 etc. as appropriate.

Below, an example of the operation of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. Here, detailed descriptions of processes similar to those executed by the content display system 1 according to the first embodiment described above will be omitted, and differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In FIG. 9, it is assumed that, for example, "URL://main/map" is specified in the first browser window 211 (browser window A) that is displayed by starting a browser on the terminal device 2, and web content A (map) is displayed in the first browser window 211.

In this case, the user can change the display (state) of the Web content A by performing a content display change operation on the Web content A in the first browser window 211 (for example, an operation to enlarge a portion of the area 211a of the Web content A).

Here, in the first embodiment described above, since the display of the same browser window is updated and then the Web content is redisplayed, it has been described that when a content designation operation is performed, the user operation information indicating the content display change operation is stored in the Web server 3 (stored in the user operation information storage unit 34). However, in this embodiment, the first browser window 211 is provided with a "Save" button 211b, and when the user performs an operation of pressing the "Save" button 211b (hereinafter referred to as a user operation information saving operation), the user operation information indicating the content display change operation performed on the Web content A displayed in the first browser window 211 is stored in the Web server 3. In FIG. 9, it is shown that by pressing the "Save" button 211b, the user operation information indicating the operation of enlarging the area centered on the position on the Web content A (map) with an X coordinate of 0.5 and a Y coordinate of 0.4 at a magnification rate of 1.5 is stored in the Web server 3 in association with the content ID "A" for identifying the Web content A. The user operation information shown in FIG. 9 is an example, and may be information indicating, for example, an operation on an input device (such as a mouse or a keyboard). Specifically, operations on an input device include, for example, a drag operation performed using a mouse, an operation of pressing a shortcut key on a keyboard, and the like.

As described in the first embodiment, the user operation reflection mode is set by the mode setting unit 24 in the content display system 1, and in the example shown in FIG. 9, a mode display button 211c is provided to indicate whether the user operation reflection mode is set or not. In this case, the user can switch the user operation reflection mode between ON and OFF by, for example, pressing the mode display button 211c (mode setting operation).

Next, assume that Web content A is displayed in the second browser window 212 (browser window B). In this case, "URL://main/map" is specified in the second browser window, and the update processing unit 32 included in the Web server 3 generates Web content information for displaying Web content A reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information stored in the Web server 3 as described above, and transmits it to the terminal device 2. As a result, as shown in the upper right of FIG. 9, Web content A reflecting the content display change operation performed on the Web content A displayed in the first browser window 211 (i.e., Web content A enlarged by a magnification factor of 1.5 in an area centered on the position where the X coordinate is 0.5 and the Y coordinate is 0.4) is displayed in the second browser window 212 on the terminal device 2.

Here, we have explained the case where the user operation reflection mode is ON. However, for example, if the user operation reflection mode is OFF and "URL://main/map" is specified in the second browser window 212, it is also possible to display Web content A in its initial state, as shown in the lower right of Figure 9.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the first browser window 211 and the second browser window 212 are browser windows that are displayed by launching the same browser, but they may be browser windows that are displayed by launching different browsers.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a content display change operation is performed on Web content (first content) displayed in a first browser window, user operation information indicating the content display change operation is stored in the Web server 3, so that the Web content (second content) reflecting the content display change operation can be displayed (redisplayed) in the second browser window without the user having to perform the content display change operation again.

In addition, in this embodiment, user operation information can be saved in the Web server 3 based on a user information saving operation, such as pressing a "Save" button provided in the first browser window, so that Web content in the state desired by the user can be displayed in the second browser window.

In FIG. 9, one piece of user operation information is described as being stored in the Web server 3. However, if a content display change operation is performed multiple times on the Web content A in the first browser window 211, multiple pieces of user operation information indicating each of the content display change operations may be stored in the Web server 3 as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the multiple pieces of user operation information are stored in the chronological order in which the content change operation was performed by the user, and each piece of user operation information is assigned an order (information) indicating the chronological order.

When such multiple pieces of user operation information are stored in the Web server 3, the Web content A in a state in which the content display change operation indicated by each of the multiple pieces of user operation information has been performed can be displayed in the second browser window 212.

Specifically, for example, the second browser window 212 is provided with an "operation switch" button 212a, and each time the user presses the "operation switch" button 212a, the user can switch the user operation information (the content change operation indicated by the information) reflected in the Web content A displayed in the second browser window 212.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, when "URL://main/map" is specified in the second browser window 212 as described above, Web content A reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information assigned with the order "1" is displayed in the second browser window 212, but when the "operation switch" button 212a is pressed after the display of the Web content A, Web content A reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information assigned with the order "2" is displayed in the second browser window 212. Furthermore, when the "operation switch" button 212a is further pressed, Web content A reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information assigned with the order "3" is displayed in the second browser window 212.

Although detailed explanation is omitted, when the above-mentioned "operation switching" button 212a is pressed, the terminal device 2 notifies the Web server 3 that the operation has been performed, and the Web server 3 (update processing unit 32) executes a process of generating Web content information for displaying Web content A reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information with an order according to the operation, and transmitting the Web content information to the terminal device 2. As a result, the terminal device 2 (Web content display unit 23) can sequentially display Web content A reflecting different content display change operations based on the Web content information transmitted from the Web server 3 each time the "operation switching" button 212a is pressed.

Here, it has been described that the Web content A reflecting the content display change operations indicated by the user operation information with the orders "1" to "3" are displayed in sequence (i.e., the content display change operations are switched in the order of "1", "2", and "3"). However, the "operation switch" button 212a may be a button for switching the content display change operations in the order of "3", "2", and "1". The second browser window 212 may be provided with a button for switching the content display change operations in the order of "1", "2", and "3", and a button for switching the content display change operations in the order of "3", "2", and "1". Furthermore, the second browser window 212 may be provided with an input field in which an identifier (such as an identification number) for identifying the order of the content change operations (user operation information indicating the content change operations) reflected in the Web content A can be input instead of the "operation switch" button 212a. In this case, it is possible to display Web content A in the second browser window 212, reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information with the order identified by the identifier entered in the input field.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, as in the above-described second embodiment, a specific usage mode (application example) of the content display system according to the first embodiment will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, a case was described in which web content (web content in which a content display change operation has been reflected) is redisplayed in a browser window on one terminal device, but the content display system according to this embodiment assumes a case in which web content (web content in which a content display change operation has been performed) displayed on a first terminal device (upper browser window) is displayed on a second terminal device (upper browser window), for example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a content display system according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, a content display system 1 according to this embodiment includes a first terminal device 2a and a second terminal device 2b.

In this embodiment, the second terminal device 2b is equipped with multiple display devices 206a to 206e, and operates as a monitoring device used to monitor a monitoring target (e.g., infrastructure, etc.) by displaying different Web content on each of the multiple display devices 206a to 206e. The multiple display devices 206a to 206e equipped in the second terminal device 2b are relatively large-screen displays, and the Web content displayed on each of the multiple display devices 206a to 206e can be viewed by multiple monitors, allowing efficient monitoring of the monitoring target. Although a detailed explanation is omitted, in the example shown in FIG. 11, multiple Web contents including a map for displaying the location where the monitoring target is installed and an image showing the status of the monitoring target are displayed on the multiple display devices 206a to 206e.

Here, as described above, it is difficult to perform content display change operations for Web content displayed on the multiple display devices 206a to 206e, which are relatively large-screen displays, on the display devices 206a to 206e (or on terminal devices equipped with those devices).

For this reason, content display change operations (operations to change the display of the Web content) displayed on the multiple display devices 206a to 206e provided in the second terminal device 2b (monitoring device) as described above are performed on the first terminal device 2a (operation terminal) provided separately from the second terminal device 2b.

In other words, in this embodiment, the web content for which a content display change operation has been performed on the display device 206 (operation browser window) of the first terminal device 2a is configured to be displayed on the display device of the second terminal device 2b in a state that reflects the content display change operation.

Figure 12 shows an example of the configuration of a content display system 1 according to this embodiment. In Figure 12, parts similar to those in Figure 4 described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. Note that the first terminal device 2a in this embodiment corresponds to the terminal device 2 in the first embodiment described above, and has the same functional configuration as the terminal device 2.

As shown in FIG. 12, the content display system 1 according to this embodiment includes a second terminal device 2b, which includes a web content display unit 26.

The web content display unit 26 receives web content information for displaying web content from the web server 3, and displays the web content on multiple display devices 206a to 206e (in the upper browser window) based on the web content information.

Below, an example of the processing procedure of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the sequence chart in FIG. 13.

In this embodiment, in order to perform a content display change operation on the Web content displayed on the multiple display devices (displays) 206a to 206e provided in the second terminal device 2b on the first terminal device 2a as described above, the user performs an operation (hereinafter referred to as a display selection operation) on the first terminal device 2a to select an identifier (hereinafter referred to as a display number) for identifying the display device on which the Web content for which the content display change operation is to be performed is displayed.

When the above-mentioned display selection operation is performed, the operation reception unit 21 receives the display number selected in the display selection operation (step S41).

The update detection unit 22 transmits the display number received in step S41 to the web server 3 (step S42).

The update processing unit 32 included in the Web server 3 receives the display number transmitted from the first terminal device 2a (update detection unit 22) in step S42, identifies a display device (hereinafter referred to as a target display device) identified by the display number from among the multiple display devices 206a to 206e provided in the second terminal device 2b, and generates Web content information for displaying the Web content displayed on the target display device (step S43). Note that the Web content (URLs indicating Web pages including the Web content) displayed on each of the multiple display devices 206a to 206e provided in the second terminal device 2b is managed by the Web server 3 (update processing unit 32).

The web content information generated in step S43 is transmitted from the web server 3 (update processing unit 32) to the terminal device 2 (step S44).

The web content information transmitted from the web server 3 in step S44 is received by the first terminal device 2a, and the web content display unit 23 displays the web content in a browser window on the first terminal device 2a (display device 206) based on the web content information (step S45).

Here, the user of the first terminal device 2a can perform a content display change operation on the Web content displayed in the browser window. When a content display change operation is performed on the Web content in this manner, the operation acceptance unit 21 accepts the content display change operation (step S46).

When the process of step S46 is executed, the web content display unit 23 changes the display of the web content in the browser window based on the content display change operation accepted in step S46 (step S47). Note that the processes of steps S46 and S47 described above may be executed repeatedly.

Next, the user operation information extraction unit 25 extracts user operation information indicating the content display change operation accepted in step S46 (i.e., user operation information related to the Web content displayed in step S45) (step S48). Note that the process of step S48 may be executed based on a user information save operation, for example, pressing a "Save" button as described in the second embodiment.

The user operation information extracted in step S48 is transmitted from the first terminal device 2a to the web server 3 together with the content ID for identifying the web content on which the operation indicated by the user operation information was performed and the display number (display number for identifying the target display device) received in step S41 (step S49).

The update processing unit 32 included in the Web server 3 receives the user operation information, the content ID, and the display number transmitted from the first terminal device 2a in step S49, and generates Web content information for displaying Web content (Web content identified by the content ID) reflecting the content display change operation indicated by the user operation information (step S50). The user operation information, the content ID, and the display number received from the first terminal device 2a may be stored in the user operation information storage unit 34.

The Web content information generated in step S50 is sent from the Web server 3 (update processing unit 32) to the second terminal device 2b together with the display number received from the first terminal device 2a (step S51).

The web content information and display number transmitted from the web server 3 in step S51 are received by the second terminal device 2b, and the web content display unit 26 displays the web content based on the web content information on the target display device (upper browser window) identified by the display number (step S52). In this case, the web content is displayed in the same state as the web content displayed in the browser window on the first terminal device 2a in step S47 described above.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the display device 206 provided in the first terminal device 2a (hereinafter simply referred to as the display device of the first terminal device 2a) and the target display device among the multiple display devices 206a to 206e provided in the second terminal device 2b (hereinafter simply referred to as the display device of the second terminal device 2b) have different resolutions. For this reason, in the above-mentioned step S50, the web content information may be generated based on the result of comparing the resolution of the display device of the first terminal device 2a with the resolution of the display device of the second terminal device 2b.

In such a configuration, for example, if a content display change operation performed on the first terminal device 2a is an operation to enlarge an area on a Web content such as a map, centered on a position where the X coordinate is 0.5 and the Y coordinate is 0.4, with a magnification ratio of 1.5, it becomes possible to adjust the area and magnification ratio of the enlarged Web content based on the result of comparing the resolution of the display device of the first terminal device 2a with the resolution of the display device of the second terminal device 2b, and the display of the Web content on the first terminal device 2a can be appropriately restored (reproduced) on the target display device of the second terminal device 2b.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a content display change operation is performed on Web content displayed on the first terminal device 2a, the Web content reflecting the content display change operation can be displayed (redisplayed) on the second terminal device 2b. According to the content display system 1 of this embodiment, for example, it is possible to restore Web content reflecting a content display change operation performed on an operating terminal (first terminal device 2a) on a monitoring device (second terminal device 2b), and this can be used for efficient centralized management in the control device.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment described above, for example, after a user operation information saving operation of pressing a "Save" button provided in a first browser window (browser window A) in which a Web content is displayed is performed, the Web content is redisplayed in a second browser window (browser window B). However, as shown in Fig. 14, if the user operation information saving operation is not performed, the user operation information is not saved in the Web server 3, and the initial state Web content (i.e., Web content in which the content change operation performed on the Web content displayed in the first browser window is not reflected) is displayed in the second browser window.

For this reason, this embodiment employs a configuration in which user operation information is automatically saved. Note that the configuration of the content display system (terminal device 2 and web server 3) according to this embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment described above, and will be described with reference to FIG. 4 etc. as appropriate.

Below, first to third operation examples of the content display system 1 that automatically stores user operation information in the Web server 3 in this embodiment will be described. Here, detailed descriptions of processes similar to those executed by the content display system 1 according to each of the above-described embodiments will be omitted, and differences from each of the embodiments will be mainly described.

First, FIG. 15 shows an overview of a first operation example of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment. In the first operation example, user operation information is automatically saved in the web server 3 when a predetermined time (e.g., S seconds) has elapsed (i.e., at regular intervals).

In this case, the user operation information extraction unit 25 may operate to automatically extract user operation information indicating the most recent content change operation, for example, when S seconds have elapsed, and transmit the user operation information to the web server 3.

Next, FIG. 16 shows an overview of a second operation example of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment. In the second operation example, the user operation information is automatically stored in the web server 3, for example, when web content A displayed in the same browser window is switched to other web content B.

In this case, the user operation information extraction unit 25 may operate to automatically extract user operation information indicating the most recent content change operation, for example, at the timing of switching Web content (i.e., the timing at which an update to the display of the browser window is detected by the update detection unit 22), and transmit the user operation information to the Web server 3.

Note that "Web content A has been switched to another Web content B" includes cases where the Web page automatically transitions, in addition to cases where the Web content is switched in response to the user's content designation operation as described in the first embodiment above.

In addition, in the second operation example, user operation information may be automatically saved, for example, when a web page including web content A is reloaded.

Here, it has been explained that the user operation information is stored in the web server 3 when the web content A displayed in the same browser window is switched to another web content B, but the user operation information may be used when redisplaying the web content in another browser window or another terminal device, as described above.

Furthermore, FIG. 17 shows an overview of a third operation example of the content display system 1 according to this embodiment. As described above, the user operation information indicating the content display change operation performed on the Web content is held in the user operation information extraction unit 25, but in the third operation example, the user operation information is stored in the Web server 3 based on the content display change operation (the amount of operation) indicated by the user operation information.

As shown in FIG. 17, it is assumed that an operation (hereinafter referred to as a first user operation) is performed to enlarge an area (hereinafter referred to as point A) centered on a position on Web content A (map) where the X coordinate is 0.5 and the Y coordinate is 0.4, with a magnification factor of 1.5, and then an operation (hereinafter referred to as a second user operation) is performed to enlarge an area (hereinafter referred to as point B) centered on a position on Web content A where the X coordinate is 0.2 and the Y coordinate is 0.1, with a magnification factor of 3.0.

In this case, the user operation information extraction unit 25 operates to calculate the amount of change (i.e., the amount of operation) between the first user operation and the second user operation based on the user operation information indicating the first user operation (hereinafter referred to as the first user operation information) and the user operation information indicating the second user operation (hereinafter referred to as the second user operation information) held in the user operation information extraction unit 25, and if the amount of change is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (threshold value), to extract the second user operation information and transmit it to the Web server 3.

According to this, for example, when the difference between points A and B is equal to or greater than a threshold (or when the difference between the magnification ratio in the first user operation and the magnification ratio in the second user operation is equal to or greater than a threshold), the second user operation information can be stored in the Web server 3. That is, in the third operation example, when an operation is performed in Web content A such as a map to display an area (point) that is a certain distance away, for example, operation information indicating the operation is automatically stored in the Web server 3.

Here, it has been described that the second user operation information is stored in the Web server 3 when the amount of change (amount of operation) between the first user operation and the second user operation is equal to or greater than a threshold value. However, for example, the similarity between the first user operation and the second user operation may be calculated, and the second user operation information may be automatically stored in the Web server 3 when the similarity is equal to or less than a predetermined value (i.e., it is presumed that the display of the Web content has been significantly changed).

Furthermore, for example, it is possible to calculate the similarity between the first or second user operation and a predetermined operation (such as the area to be enlarged or the enlargement rate), and if the similarity is equal to or greater than a threshold, to store operation information indicating the operation in the Web server 3. In this way, when a desired operation is performed by a user, it is possible to automatically store user operation information indicating the operation.

As described above, in this embodiment, the possibility of automatically saving user operation information is determined based on a fixed cycle, switching of Web content, and user operation, and the user operation information is automatically saved in the Web server 3. Therefore, even if an operation such as pressing the "Save" button has not been performed, it is possible to prevent the loss of the user operation information (i.e., the content of the content display change operation).

In this embodiment, the automatically saved user operation information and the user operation information saved by the user pressing the "Save" button may be saved in the Web server 3 (stored in the user operation information storage unit 34). In this case, the update processing unit 32 may generate Web content information for displaying Web content that reflects the operation indicated by the user operation information last stored in the user operation information storage unit 34 (i.e., the most recently performed operation) among the user operation information stored in the user operation information storage unit 34. In order to determine the user operation information last stored in the user operation information storage unit 34, for example, the date and time when the user operation information was saved in the Web server 3 (stored in the user operation information storage unit 34) or the date and time when the operation indicated by the user operation information was performed may be added to the user operation information.

Furthermore, this embodiment may be applied to any of the first to third embodiments described above, as long as the user operation information is automatically stored in the web server 3.

The content display system 1 according to this embodiment may operate according to at least one of the first to third operation examples described above, but may also be configured to operate according to a combination of two or more of the first to third operation examples.

According to at least one of the embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a content display system, a terminal device, a server device, and a method that can improve user convenience.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention.

1...content display system, 2...terminal device, 2a...first terminal device, 2b...second terminal device, 3...web server (server device), 21...operation reception unit, 22...update detection unit, 23...web content display unit (display processing unit), 24...mode setting unit, 25...user operation information extraction unit (transmission unit), 26...web content display unit (display processing unit), 31...web content storage unit, 32...update processing unit (content information generation unit), 33...user operation information management unit, 34...user operation information storage unit, 201...CPU, 202...non-volatile memory, 203...main memory, 204...communication device, 205...input device, 206...display device, 301...CPU, 302...non-volatile memory, 303...main memory, 304...communication device.

Claims (6)

A content display system including a first terminal device used by a user, a second terminal device different from the first terminal device, and a server device communicably connected to the first and second terminal devices,
The first terminal device includes a display processing means,
the server device includes a content information generating means and a storage means;
the content information generating means generates first content information for displaying each of a plurality of contents;
The display processing means displays the content based on the first content information, and changes the display of the content in response to an operation of the user on the content;
the storage means stores operation information indicating an operation of the user on the content;
the content information generating means generates second content information for displaying the content whose display has been changed, based on the operation information stored in the storage means, when the content is to be displayed on the second terminal device;
the second terminal device displays the plurality of contents on a plurality of display devices based on the second content information;
The operation information is stored in the storage means when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value . A terminal device used by a user and communicatively connected to a server device,
a display processing means for displaying a plurality of pieces of content generated in the server device based on first content information for displaying the pieces of content, and changing the display of the pieces of content in response to an operation of the user on the pieces of content;
a transmitting means for transmitting operation information indicating an operation of the user on the content to the server device,
a terminal device different from the terminal device displays the plurality of contents whose display has been changed on a plurality of display devices based on second content information generated in the server device based on the operation information;
The operation information is transmitted to the server device when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value . In a server device communicably connected to a first terminal device used by a user and a second terminal device different from the first terminal device,
a content information generating means for generating first content information for displaying each of a plurality of contents;
a storage means for storing operation information indicating an operation of the user on the content for changing a display of the content displayed on the first terminal device based on the first content information,
the content information generating means, when the content is to be displayed on the second terminal device, generates second content information for displaying the content whose display has been changed, based on the operation information stored in the storage means, and transmits the second content information to the second terminal device;
the second terminal device displays the plurality of contents on a plurality of display devices based on the second content information;
The operation information is stored in the storage means when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value . A method executed by a content display system including a first terminal device used by a user, a second terminal device different from the first terminal device, and a server device communicatively connected to the first and second terminal devices, the method comprising:
generating first content information for displaying each of a plurality of contents by the server device;
a step of displaying the content based on the first content information, and changing a display of the content in response to an operation of the user on the content, by the first terminal device;
a step of storing operation information indicating an operation of the user on the content in a storage means by the server device;
generating, by the server device, second content information for displaying the content whose display has been changed, based on operation information stored in the storage means, when the content is to be displayed on the second terminal device;
and displaying the plurality of contents on a plurality of display devices by the second terminal device based on the second content information;
The operation information is stored in the storage means when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value . A method executed by a terminal device used by a user and communicatively connected to a server device, comprising:
displaying a plurality of pieces of content generated in the server device based on first content information for displaying the pieces of content, and changing the display of the pieces of content in response to an operation of the user on the pieces of content;
transmitting operation information indicating an operation of the user on the content to the server device;
a terminal device different from the terminal device displays the plurality of contents whose display has been changed on a plurality of display devices based on second content information generated in the server device based on the operation information;
The method, wherein the operation information is transmitted to the server device when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value . A method executed by a server device communicatively connected to a first terminal device used by a user and a second terminal device different from the first terminal device, the method comprising:
generating first content information for displaying each of the plurality of contents;
storing, in a storage means, operation information indicating an operation by the user on the content for changing a display of the content displayed on the first terminal device based on the first content information;
generating second content information for displaying the content whose display has been changed based on the operation information stored in the storage means when the content is displayed on the second terminal device, and transmitting the second content information to the second terminal device;
the second terminal device displays the plurality of contents on a plurality of display devices based on the second content information;
The operation information is stored in the storage means when a change amount of the operation for changing the display of the content is equal to or greater than a predetermined value .

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