WO2000077661A2 - Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program - Google Patents

Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000077661A2
WO2000077661A2 PCT/GB2000/002311 GB0002311W WO0077661A2 WO 2000077661 A2 WO2000077661 A2 WO 2000077661A2 GB 0002311 W GB0002311 W GB 0002311W WO 0077661 A2 WO0077661 A2 WO 0077661A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
information terminal
support server
message
http
customer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/002311
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2000077661A8 (en
WO2000077661A3 (en
Inventor
Yoichi Yoshida
Akira Ohkado
Satoshi Kawase
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corporation
Ibm United Kingdom Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corporation, Ibm United Kingdom Limited filed Critical International Business Machines Corporation
Priority to CA002375676A priority Critical patent/CA2375676A1/en
Priority to AU54145/00A priority patent/AU5414500A/en
Priority to HU0600518A priority patent/HUP0600518A2/en
Priority to IL14701500A priority patent/IL147015A0/en
Priority to EP00938923A priority patent/EP1287437A2/en
Priority to PL00364731A priority patent/PL364731A1/en
Publication of WO2000077661A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000077661A2/en
Priority to IL147015A priority patent/IL147015A/en
Publication of WO2000077661A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000077661A3/en
Publication of WO2000077661A8 publication Critical patent/WO2000077661A8/en
Priority to HK04100701A priority patent/HK1057931A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q50/00—Systems or methods specially adapted for specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
    • G06Q50/10—Services
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an information processing method, and more particularly relates to a method for editing content sent from a server in response to a request from a client according to the intentions of an administrator.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of this HTML page cooperative work applied to an internet banking system.
  • a bank agent and an internet customer consultation center agent etc. can then refer to and operate on the same page as the customer by employing this technology.
  • the present invention provides a collaboration system capable of changing collaborating client behavior according to context during internet based collaboration.
  • the present invention preferably provides a system where an administrator can intentionally change the content requested by a client.
  • the present invention preferably provides a low-cost collaboration system where resources required while supporting an information terminal are reduced.
  • the present invention preferably provides a collaboration system where centralized control is possible during information terminal support .
  • the present invention preferably provides a collaboration system that s not dependent on the platform of the information terminal operated.
  • the present invention preferably provides a collaboration control system capable of controlling the contents of a service provided to an information terminal without changing a server responding to a request from the information terminal.
  • an HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server via an information terminal support server.
  • the web server then sends context m response to the request to the customer-side web browser via the information terminal support server.
  • the information terminal support server checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context. Context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser, and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser.
  • the client program of the agent -side information terminal then reads the embedded command via an API possessed by a web browser and carries out processing in order to prohibit form submission and form alteration and conceal specific forms or fields m accordance with the contents of this command.
  • an information processing method in an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said method comprising the steps of : (a) receiving, at said information terminal support server, an
  • step (c) editing is carried out to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal.
  • command is a concept that includes commands instructing processing that can be carried out by browser-specific APIs.
  • said command is one of "form submit prohibition”, “form alteration prohibition”, “concealment of specific form” or “concealment of specific field”.
  • an information processing method in an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said method comprising the steps of:
  • content server refers to servers such as web servers etc. that send content to the client-side m response to requests from a client.
  • an information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said information support server comprising- (a) a rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part;
  • a rule control manager for monitoring, at said information support server, HTTP messages sent in response to customer- side browser requests;
  • an HTTP checker determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part;
  • agent cache storing the edited HTTP message sent to said agent -s de browser.
  • an information terminal support server wherein said HTTP editor carries out editing to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent -side information terminal.
  • said command is one of "form submit prohibition”, “form alteration prohibition”, "concealment of specific form” or “concealment of specific field”.
  • an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said information terminal support server comprising:
  • a collaboration system supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent -side information terminal, said collaboration system comprising:
  • rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part
  • rule control manager for monitoring an HTTP message sent in response to customer- side browser requests
  • an HTTP checker determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part;
  • an HTTP editor editing contents of said HTTP message according to contents of said command setting part of sa d rule definition part, when said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition,
  • customer cache storing the unedited HTTP message sent to said customer-side browser;
  • a recording medium storing an information processing program executed within a system having an information terminal support server supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said program comprising:
  • a recording medium wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition”, “form alteration prohibition”, “concealment of specific form” or “concealment of specific field” .
  • a recording medium storing an information processing program executed within a system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said program comprising:
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information terminal support server or information terminal hardware configuration of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the processing elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure for the information terminal support system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the configuration file of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a view illustrating related collaboration technology.
  • FIG. 1 is an outline view showing an embodiment of a hardware configuration for an information terminal support server 110 used in the present invention.
  • the information terminal support server 110 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1 and a memory 4.
  • the CPU 1 and the memory 4 are connected to an auxiliary storage device that is a hard disc 13 via a bus 2.
  • a floppy disc device (or a recording medium driver 26, 28 or 29 such as an MO or CD-ROM, etc.) 20 is connected to the bus 2 via a floppy disc controller 19 (or IDE controller 25 or SCSI controller 27 etc.) .
  • a floppy disc (or recording medium such as an MO or CD-ROM) is inserted into the floppy disc device (or recording medium driver such as an MO or CD-ROM, etc.) 20.
  • This floppy disc etc., hard disc device 13 or ROM 14 can then be loaded with code for a computer program, that provides instructions to the CPU etc. in unison with the operating system so as to execute the present invention.
  • This program is loaded into the memory 4 for execution.
  • the code for this computer program can be compressed or can be recorded distributed between a plurality of mediums .
  • the information terminal support server 110 is equipped with user interface hardware that can comprise a pointing device (mouse, joystick, etc.) 7 or a keyboard 6 for inputting data, and a display 12 for presenting the user with visual data.
  • the input means can also be a touch panel. It is also possible to connect a printer via a parallel port 16 or connect a modem via a serial port 15.
  • the information terminal support server 110 is connected to a network via the serial port 15 and the modem or a communications adapter card 18 (Ethernet or token ring card) etc. and is capable of communicating with other computers.
  • a speaker 23 receives an audio signal, D/A converted (Digital to Analog-converted) by an audio controller 21, via an amplifier 22 and outputs this signal as audio.
  • An audio controller 21 A/D Analog to Digital converts audio information received from a microphone 24 so that audio information from outside the system can be taken in by the system.
  • the information terminal support server 110 can be an information terminal having a communications function including one or a combination of a typical personal computer (PC) , workstation, notebook PC, palmtop PC, or network computer, etc.
  • PC personal computer
  • Such elements of the configuration are, however, only shown as an example, and all of these elements of the configuration are not elements of the configuration essential to the present invention.
  • the audio controller 21, amplifier 22, speaker 23 and microphone 24 required for processing audio, the keyboard 6, mouse 7 and keyboard/mouse controller 5 enabling direct input from an operator, the CRT 12, display device 11, VRAM 9, and VGA 8 for presenting visual data to the user, and each of the recording medium processors 19, 25 and 27, etc. are not essential to the support of the information terminal and may be omitted.
  • An information terminal 130 used in the present invention can also be realized, as with the information terminal support server 110, by the hardware configuration shown m FIG. 1, i.e. the information terminal 130 can also enable input of information requests and can issue and receive such requests. It can therefore be easily understood that the information terminal 130 can be realized by one or a combination of a typical personal computer (PC) , a notebook PC, palmtop PC, various household products such as a television with a computer built- m, game machines having communications functions, or information terminals having communications functions including a telephone, FAX, portable telephone, Personal Handy System (PHS) or electronic notebook, etc . However, these elements of the configuration are shown as an example, and all of these elements of the configuration are by no means essential to the present invention.
  • PC personal computer
  • PHS Personal Handy System
  • the operating system on the side of the information terminal support server 110 is by no means limited to a specific operating system environment, and can be an operating system supporting a GUI multi-window environment as standard, such as Windows NT (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 9x (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 3.x (trademark of Microsoft) , OS/2 (trademark of IBM) , MacOS (trademark of Apple) , Linux (trademark of Linus Torvalds) , or the X-WINDOW system (trademark of MIT) on AIX (trademark of IBM) , a character-based environment such as PC-DOS (trademark of IBM) or MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft) , a real time OS such as VxWorks (trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.), or an operating system such as Java OS, etc., incorporated in a network computer.
  • Windows NT trademark of Microsoft
  • Windows 9x trademark of Microsoft
  • Windows 3.x trademark of Microsoft
  • OS/2 trademark of IBM
  • MacOS trademark of Apple
  • the operating system on the side of the information terminal 130 is also by no means limited to a specific operating system environment, and can be an operating system supporting a GUI multi-window environment as standard, such as Windows NT (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 9x (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 3.x (trademark of Microsoft) , OS/2 (trademark of IBM) , MacOS (trademark of Apple) , Linux (trademark of Linus Torvalds) , or the X-WINDOW system (trademark of MIT) on AIX (trademark of IBM) , a character-based environment such as PC-DOS (trademark of IBM) or MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft) , a real time OS such as VxWorks (trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.), or an operating system such as Java OS, etc., incorporated in a network computer.
  • Windows NT trademark of Microsoft
  • Windows 9x trademark of Microsoft
  • Windows 3.x trademark of Microsoft
  • OS/2 trademark of IBM
  • MacOS trademark of Apple
  • Linux
  • FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of a collaboration system including the information terminal support server 110 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • a collaboration system 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes information terminals 130 and 132, a information terminal support server 110 and a web server 140.
  • a web browser 131 is installed on the information terminals 130 and 132.
  • the web browser 131 designates a URL and sends a request to go to a predetermined web server.
  • the web browser 131 then receives a response sent from the web server 140 for displaying on the display screen.
  • a client program 135 is installed on the agent information terminal 130.
  • the client program 135 reads HTML content loaded at the web browser 131 via a web browser API 133 and executes commands carried out by a cache manager on the proxy server via the web browser API 133 and an OS API.
  • the information terminal support server 110 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a web server/proxy server 113, a web server/proxy server API 115, and a cache manager 120.
  • the cache manager 120 caches HTML contents (HTTP responses) for HTTP requests sent by the web browsers 131. When the two web browsers are shared, the cache manager 120 controls returning of the same HTML data in accordance with HTTP requests sent in an interactive manner.
  • the cache manager 120 is written using the proxy server or web server/proxy server API 115 so that all HTTP messages can be monitored using the proxy server or web server 113.
  • HTTP messages handled and monitored by a rule control manager 129 are sent to the rule control manager 129, which is entrusted with the processing of these HTTP messages.
  • the rule control manager 129 delivers HTTP messages sent from the web server/proxy server 113 to rule controllers 126 and 127 designated by a configuration file 128 and is entrusted w th the processing of these HTTP messages.
  • the rule control manager 129 can designate a plurality of configuration files 128 and can call the rule controllers 126 and 127 in a designated order.
  • the rule controllers 126 and 127 comprise a HTTP message checker 125 and a HTTP message editor 123.
  • the HTTP message checker 125 refers to a rule definition part 121 and determines whether or not to edit an HTTP message. When it is determined to ed t a message, this HTTP message is sent to the HTTP message editor 123.
  • the HTTP message editor 123 edits the HTTP message according to the contents of the rule definition part 121, stores the edited message in an agent cache 163, and the results of editing are returned to the rule control manager 129. When it s determined not to edit a message, this message s returned to the rule control manager 129 as is.
  • the rule definition part 121 comprises a condition setting part and a command setting part, and defines under what conditions and m what manner HTTP messages are to be edited.
  • FIG. 2 Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 is described above but these functional blocks are logical functional blocks. Th s does not necessarily mean that these functional blocks each have to be individually realized by hardware and software, and the functional blocks may be realized by combinations of hardware and software or by shared hardware and software. It also goes without saying that all of the functional blocks shown n FIG. 2 are not essential elements of the configuration of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing terminal support system 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This procedure starts from step 400. At th s t me, the agent-side information terminal 130 and the web browser 131 of the client-side information terminal 132 are connected to the information terminal support server 110.
  • a customer-specific UAI customer identification information
  • the collaboration software is started up, and the collaboration server can recognize that the web browser 131 having an agent-specific ID is connected from the registration of a user ID and password.
  • a cookie command is then included in all HTTP request headers generated thereafter.
  • UAI information uniquely identifying the customer-side browser and the presence of an agent can be generated.
  • the customer and a corresponding agent are managed by an agent management table and are made to correspond to each other. This technology is well known and details thereof are therefore omitted.
  • the web browser 131 of the customer information terminal 132 makes the URL designated by the user an HTTP message and sends this HTTP message to the information terminal support server 110 (step 401) .
  • the information terminal support server 110 receives this HTTP message (step 403), and transfers the HTTP message to the to a web server 140 designated by the HTTP message.
  • the HTTP message is transferred to a web server designated in a configuration file in the case of a collaboration server.
  • the web server 140 then processes the received HTTP message
  • step 405 a new HTTP message is generated and returned to the information terminal support server 110 (step 407) .
  • the information terminal support server 110 stores the HTTP message received from the web server 140 in the customer cache 161, and delivers the HTTP message to the rule control manager 129, which is entrusted with processing the HTTP message (step 409) .
  • the rule control manager 129 is responsible for processing HTTP messages called and sent in the order requested by the rule controllers 126 and 127 designated by the configuration file 128 (step 411) .
  • a plurality of rule controllers of the format shown in FIG. 4 can be designated m the configuration file.
  • the rule controllers 126 and 127 themselves are Shared Object (in Unix) or Dynamic Link Library ( n Windows) data. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this programming interface is decided as follows.
  • Th s function is called when CacheManager is started via CscPlhdrlnit
  • the rule controllers 126 and 127 comprise the HTTP message checker 125 and the HTTP message editor 123, call the HTTP message check when a HTTP message is sent from the rule control manager 129, and determine whether or not to edit this HTTP message in accordance with the rule definition part 121 (step 413) .
  • the rule definition part is designated using the following format.
  • the rule definition part comprises a condition setting part and a command setting part.
  • a command inhibiting a predetermined operation with respect to a predetermined URL is designated, but the HTTP message can by analyzed and a condition to determine at the HTTP checker 125 whether or not there is agreement with a predetermined condition (for example, the presence of a send button, an input field, or predetermined violent or obscene characters or images) can be set.
  • a predetermined condition for example, the presence of a send button, an input field, or predetermined violent or obscene characters or images
  • the HTTP message editor 123 embeds the following commands m the HTTP message in the agent cache 163.
  • the information terminal support server 110 then sends a reply to the HTTP message to the web browser 131 (step 417) .
  • the HTTP message m the customer cache 161 is sent to the web browser 131 of the customer information terminal 132 and the HTTP message in the agent cache 163 is sent to the web browser 131 of the agent information terminal 130.
  • the web browser 131 of the agen -side information terminal 130 displays the received HTTP message and notifies the client program 135 that this has been done (step 419) . Specifically, the client program 135 acquires an end of displaying event for the web browser 131.
  • the client program 135 reads the embedded command using an API possessed by the web browser and then executes this command (step 421) .
  • the client program 135 instructs, using an API possessed by the web browser or the OS, prohibition of submission and form alteration, and concealment of specific forms and fields.
  • the following processing is carried out on the client side when the command is NOTSHOWN (non-displaying of predetermined information) .
  • the field not displayed on the agent side is taken to be FieldA.
  • the client program transfers the inputted data to the agent-side client as is, but when there is data inputted in FieldA, the same number of the symbols "*" are transferred rather than transferring the inputted data, to be stored at the agent side client with the symbols "*" in FieldA remaining as they are. An extremely high standard of security can therefore be maintained with this processing.
  • a collaboration system capable of changing the behavior of collaborating clients according to context during collaboration on an internet.
  • a system capable of changing content sent from a server in response to a request from a client according to the intentions of an administrator

Abstract

Provided are methods, software and system to change the behaviour of a collaboration client according to context while collaborating on an internet. An HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server (140) via an information terminal support server (110). The web server (140) then sends context in response to the request to the customer-side web browser (131) via the information terminal support server (110). At this time, the information terminal support server (110) checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context, context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser (131), and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser (131).

Description

INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION TERMINAL SUPPORT SERVER,
COLLABORATION SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING AN
INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an information processing method, and more particularly relates to a method for editing content sent from a server in response to a request from a client according to the intentions of an administrator.
Background
At the time of applying for the present invention, there is provided, as in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Hei . 10-124461, collaboration technology where cooperative work (reading, moving, and changing) of an HTML page can be carried out simultaneously by a number of users. FIG. 5 shows an example of this HTML page cooperative work applied to an internet banking system. A bank agent and an internet customer consultation center agent etc. can then refer to and operate on the same page as the customer by employing this technology.
With specific HTML documents such as, for example, a screen for ordering a product, or a screen for designating a destination for a money transfer, there are situations where an agent should not be able to submit an HTML form or change data inputted to an HTML form. Collaboration servers were, however, originally provided in order to distribute the same HTML content between collaborating browsers. There is therefore no way of collaborating clients knowing when and how such behavior has changed. Summary of Invention
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a collaboration system capable of changing collaborating client behavior according to context during internet based collaboration.
The present invention preferably provides a system where an administrator can intentionally change the content requested by a client.
The present invention preferably provides a low-cost collaboration system where resources required while supporting an information terminal are reduced.
The present invention preferably provides a collaboration system where centralized control is possible during information terminal support .
The present invention preferably provides a collaboration system that s not dependent on the platform of the information terminal operated.
The present invention preferably provides a collaboration control system capable of controlling the contents of a service provided to an information terminal without changing a server responding to a request from the information terminal.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, an HTTP request from a customer-side browser is sent to a web server via an information terminal support server. The web server then sends context m response to the request to the customer-side web browser via the information terminal support server. At this time, the information terminal support server checks the contents of the context, and when it is determined that there is agreement with a predetermined condition, a command is inserted into the context. Context without the command inserted is sent to the customer-side web browser, and context with the command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser. The client program of the agent -side information terminal then reads the embedded command via an API possessed by a web browser and carries out processing in order to prohibit form submission and form alteration and conceal specific forms or fields m accordance with the contents of this command.
In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method in an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said method comprising the steps of : (a) receiving, at said information terminal support server, an
HTTP message sent in response to a customer- side browser request;
(b) determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) editing contents of said HTTP message when sa d HTTP message agrees with said predetermined condition;
(d) sending the unedited HTTP message to said customer- side browser; and
(e) sending the edited HTTP message to said agent -side browser. In the context of this application, "information terminal support server" is a concept that includes collaboration servers and proxy servers .
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an information processing method wherein, in said step (c) , editing is carried out to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal. In the context of this application, "command" is a concept that includes commands instructing processing that can be carried out by browser-specific APIs.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an information processing method wherein, said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field".
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an information processing method in an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving, at said information terminal support server, a message sent from said content server responding to a request from said information terminal;
(b) determining whether or not said message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) editing said message to insert a command for said client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition, and
(d) sending said edited message to said information terminal. In the context of this application, "content server" refers to servers such as web servers etc. that send content to the client-side m response to requests from a client.
In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided an information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said information support server comprising- (a) a rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part;
(b) a rule control manager for monitoring, at said information support server, HTTP messages sent in response to customer- side browser requests; (c) an HTTP checker, determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part;
(d) an HTTP editor, editing contents of said HTTP message according to contents of said command setting part of said rule definition part, when said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(e) customer cache storing the unedited HTTP message sent to said customer- side browser; and
(f) agent cache storing the edited HTTP message sent to said agent -s de browser.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an information terminal support server, wherein said HTTP editor carries out editing to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent -side information terminal. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an information terminal support server, wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field". In another aspect of the present invention there is provided an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said information terminal support server comprising:
(a) a message checker for determining whether or not a message sent from a content server m response to a request from said information terminal agrees with a predetermined condition; and
(b) a message editor, editing said message to insert a command instructing said client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition.
In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a collaboration system supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent -side information terminal, said collaboration system comprising:
(a) an agent-side information terminal collaborating with said customer- side information terminal;
(bl) a rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part; (b2) a rule control manager for monitoring an HTTP message sent in response to customer- side browser requests;
(b3) an HTTP checker determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part; (b4) an HTTP editor, editing contents of said HTTP message according to contents of said command setting part of sa d rule definition part, when said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition, (b5) customer cache storing the unedited HTTP message sent to said customer-side browser; and
(b6) an information terminal support server having agent cache storing the edited HTTP message sent to said agent -side browser.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a recording medium storing an information processing program executed within a system having an information terminal support server supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said program comprising:
(a) program code instructing said information terminal support server to receive an HTTP message sent m response to a request of said customer- side browser;
(b) program code instructing said information terminal support server to determine whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) program code instructing said information terminal support server to edit said HTTP message contents when said HTTP message agrees with said predetermined condition ,- (d) program code instructing said information terminal support server to send the unedited HTTP message to said customer- side browser; and
(e) program code instructing said information terminal support server to send the edited HTTP message to sa d agent-side browser. In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a recording medium, wherein editing is carried out to insert a command into said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal .
In a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a recording medium, wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field" .
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a recording medium storing an information processing program executed within a system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said program comprising:
(a) program code instructing said information terminal support server to receive a message sent from said content server in response to a request from said information terminal;
(b) program code instructing said information terminal support server to determine whether or not said message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) program code instructing said information terminal support server to edit said message to insert a command providing instructions to said client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition; and
(d) program code instructing said information terminal server of sending of said edited message to said information terminal .
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an information terminal support server or information terminal hardware configuration of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the processing elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure for the information terminal support system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the configuration file of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating related collaboration technology.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
A. Hardware Configuration
FIG. 1 is an outline view showing an embodiment of a hardware configuration for an information terminal support server 110 used in the present invention. The information terminal support server 110 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1 and a memory 4. The CPU 1 and the memory 4 are connected to an auxiliary storage device that is a hard disc 13 via a bus 2. A floppy disc device (or a recording medium driver 26, 28 or 29 such as an MO or CD-ROM, etc.) 20 is connected to the bus 2 via a floppy disc controller 19 (or IDE controller 25 or SCSI controller 27 etc.) . A floppy disc (or recording medium such as an MO or CD-ROM) is inserted into the floppy disc device (or recording medium driver such as an MO or CD-ROM, etc.) 20. This floppy disc etc., hard disc device 13 or ROM 14 can then be loaded with code for a computer program, that provides instructions to the CPU etc. in unison with the operating system so as to execute the present invention. This program is loaded into the memory 4 for execution. The code for this computer program can be compressed or can be recorded distributed between a plurality of mediums .
The information terminal support server 110 is equipped with user interface hardware that can comprise a pointing device (mouse, joystick, etc.) 7 or a keyboard 6 for inputting data, and a display 12 for presenting the user with visual data. The input means can also be a touch panel. It is also possible to connect a printer via a parallel port 16 or connect a modem via a serial port 15. The information terminal support server 110 is connected to a network via the serial port 15 and the modem or a communications adapter card 18 (Ethernet or token ring card) etc. and is capable of communicating with other computers.
A speaker 23 receives an audio signal, D/A converted (Digital to Analog-converted) by an audio controller 21, via an amplifier 22 and outputs this signal as audio. An audio controller 21 A/D (Analog to Digital) converts audio information received from a microphone 24 so that audio information from outside the system can be taken in by the system.
It can be easily understood that the information terminal support server 110 can be an information terminal having a communications function including one or a combination of a typical personal computer (PC) , workstation, notebook PC, palmtop PC, or network computer, etc. Such elements of the configuration are, however, only shown as an example, and all of these elements of the configuration are not elements of the configuration essential to the present invention.
In particular, m the hardware configuration described here, the audio controller 21, amplifier 22, speaker 23 and microphone 24 required for processing audio, the keyboard 6, mouse 7 and keyboard/mouse controller 5 enabling direct input from an operator, the CRT 12, display device 11, VRAM 9, and VGA 8 for presenting visual data to the user, and each of the recording medium processors 19, 25 and 27, etc. are not essential to the support of the information terminal and may be omitted.
Various modifications such as combining each element of the configuration of the information terminal support server 110 over a number of machines and then executing these functions in a distributed manner can easily be assumed by one skilled m the art and such concepts are considered to be included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.
An information terminal 130 used in the present invention can also be realized, as with the information terminal support server 110, by the hardware configuration shown m FIG. 1, i.e. the information terminal 130 can also enable input of information requests and can issue and receive such requests. It can therefore be easily understood that the information terminal 130 can be realized by one or a combination of a typical personal computer (PC) , a notebook PC, palmtop PC, various household products such as a television with a computer built- m, game machines having communications functions, or information terminals having communications functions including a telephone, FAX, portable telephone, Personal Handy System (PHS) or electronic notebook, etc . However, these elements of the configuration are shown as an example, and all of these elements of the configuration are by no means essential to the present invention.
The operating system on the side of the information terminal support server 110 is by no means limited to a specific operating system environment, and can be an operating system supporting a GUI multi-window environment as standard, such as Windows NT (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 9x (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 3.x (trademark of Microsoft) , OS/2 (trademark of IBM) , MacOS (trademark of Apple) , Linux (trademark of Linus Torvalds) , or the X-WINDOW system (trademark of MIT) on AIX (trademark of IBM) , a character-based environment such as PC-DOS (trademark of IBM) or MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft) , a real time OS such as VxWorks (trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.), or an operating system such as Java OS, etc., incorporated in a network computer.
The operating system on the side of the information terminal 130 is also by no means limited to a specific operating system environment, and can be an operating system supporting a GUI multi-window environment as standard, such as Windows NT (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 9x (trademark of Microsoft), Windows 3.x (trademark of Microsoft) , OS/2 (trademark of IBM) , MacOS (trademark of Apple) , Linux (trademark of Linus Torvalds) , or the X-WINDOW system (trademark of MIT) on AIX (trademark of IBM) , a character-based environment such as PC-DOS (trademark of IBM) or MS-DOS (trademark of Microsoft) , a real time OS such as VxWorks (trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.), or an operating system such as Java OS, etc., incorporated in a network computer.
B. System Configuration.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration of a collaboration system including the information terminal support server 110 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
A collaboration system 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes information terminals 130 and 132, a information terminal support server 110 and a web server 140.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a web browser 131 is installed on the information terminals 130 and 132. The web browser 131 designates a URL and sends a request to go to a predetermined web server. The web browser 131 then receives a response sent from the web server 140 for displaying on the display screen. A client program 135 is installed on the agent information terminal 130. The client program 135 reads HTML content loaded at the web browser 131 via a web browser API 133 and executes commands carried out by a cache manager on the proxy server via the web browser API 133 and an OS API.
The information terminal support server 110 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a web server/proxy server 113, a web server/proxy server API 115, and a cache manager 120. The cache manager 120 caches HTML contents (HTTP responses) for HTTP requests sent by the web browsers 131. When the two web browsers are shared, the cache manager 120 controls returning of the same HTML data in accordance with HTTP requests sent in an interactive manner. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cache manager 120 is written using the proxy server or web server/proxy server API 115 so that all HTTP messages can be monitored using the proxy server or web server 113. HTTP messages handled and monitored by a rule control manager 129 are sent to the rule control manager 129, which is entrusted with the processing of these HTTP messages.
The rule control manager 129 delivers HTTP messages sent from the web server/proxy server 113 to rule controllers 126 and 127 designated by a configuration file 128 and is entrusted w th the processing of these HTTP messages. The rule control manager 129 can designate a plurality of configuration files 128 and can call the rule controllers 126 and 127 in a designated order.
The rule controllers 126 and 127 comprise a HTTP message checker 125 and a HTTP message editor 123. The HTTP message checker 125 refers to a rule definition part 121 and determines whether or not to edit an HTTP message. When it is determined to ed t a message, this HTTP message is sent to the HTTP message editor 123. The HTTP message editor 123 then edits the HTTP message according to the contents of the rule definition part 121, stores the edited message in an agent cache 163, and the results of editing are returned to the rule control manager 129. When it s determined not to edit a message, this message s returned to the rule control manager 129 as is. The rule definition part 121 comprises a condition setting part and a command setting part, and defines under what conditions and m what manner HTTP messages are to be edited.
Each functional block shown in FIG. 2 is described above but these functional blocks are logical functional blocks. Th s does not necessarily mean that these functional blocks each have to be individually realized by hardware and software, and the functional blocks may be realized by combinations of hardware and software or by shared hardware and software. It also goes without saying that all of the functional blocks shown n FIG. 2 are not essential elements of the configuration of the present invention.
C. Operating Procedure.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information processing terminal support system 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This procedure starts from step 400. At th s t me, the agent-side information terminal 130 and the web browser 131 of the client-side information terminal 132 are connected to the information terminal support server 110.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the web browser 131 of the customer information terminal 132 makes a request to the web server on the collaboration server for a specific URL, a customer-specific UAI (customer identification information) is generated on the information terminal support server 110 and this is set as a Cookie at the HTTP response header and sent to the customer-side web browser. On the agent side, the collaboration software is started up, and the collaboration server can recognize that the web browser 131 having an agent-specific ID is connected from the registration of a user ID and password. A cookie command is then included in all HTTP request headers generated thereafter. As a result, UAI information uniquely identifying the customer-side browser and the presence of an agent can be generated. The customer and a corresponding agent are managed by an agent management table and are made to correspond to each other. This technology is well known and details thereof are therefore omitted.
In this initial condition, the web browser 131 of the customer information terminal 132 makes the URL designated by the user an HTTP message and sends this HTTP message to the information terminal support server 110 (step 401) . The information terminal support server 110 receives this HTTP message (step 403), and transfers the HTTP message to the to a web server 140 designated by the HTTP message. The HTTP message is transferred to a web server designated in a configuration file in the case of a collaboration server.
The web server 140 then processes the received HTTP message
(step 405) , and a new HTTP message is generated and returned to the information terminal support server 110 (step 407) .
The information terminal support server 110 stores the HTTP message received from the web server 140 in the customer cache 161, and delivers the HTTP message to the rule control manager 129, which is entrusted with processing the HTTP message (step 409) . The rule control manager 129 is responsible for processing HTTP messages called and sent in the order requested by the rule controllers 126 and 127 designated by the configuration file 128 (step 411) . A plurality of rule controllers of the format shown in FIG. 4 can be designated m the configuration file.
The rule controllers 126 and 127 themselves are Shared Object (in Unix) or Dynamic Link Library ( n Windows) data. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, this programming interface is decided as follows.
[Table 1] int CscPlug nCInit (const char *pszConf)
Th s function is called when CacheManager is started via CscPlhdrlnit
0. argument const char : path of HTML plugm configuration file
return value
0 : OK
4900-4999 : error int CscPlugmCConv ( const CsmConvParam param, const char *pln, const int isize, char **ppOut, int *osιze )
This function is called to convert an HTML content via CscPlhdrConvO . argument const CsmConvParam : information for conversion const char *pln : input content const int isize : size of input content char **ppOut : output content nt *osιze : size of output content return value 0 : OK 4900-4999 : error void CsmPluginCFree ( char *p) This function is called to free ppOut of CscPluginCConv ( ) via CscPlhdrFreeO . argument char * : ppOut of CscPluginCConv ( ) return value None int CscPluginCTerminate ( )
This function is called when CacheManager is stopped via CscPlhdrdrTerminate ( ) . argument None return value
0 : OK
4900-4999 : error
The rule controllers 126 and 127 comprise the HTTP message checker 125 and the HTTP message editor 123, call the HTTP message check when a HTTP message is sent from the rule control manager 129, and determine whether or not to edit this HTTP message in accordance with the rule definition part 121 (step 413) .
The rule definition part is designated using the following format. In this example, the rule definition part comprises a condition setting part and a command setting part. The rule definition part is set to URL = <url name> and the HTTP message checker 125 determines whether or not the HTTP message agrees with this condition. In this example a command inhibiting a predetermined operation with respect to a predetermined URL is designated, but the HTTP message can by analyzed and a condition to determine at the HTTP checker 125 whether or not there is agreement with a predetermined condition (for example, the presence of a send button, an input field, or predetermined violent or obscene characters or images) can be set.
URL=<url name> ; AgentActιonProhιb ted=<command> [<command>...] <command>=<submιt | alterform | notshown: [formname= :formname>, f eldname=<fιeldname> [ , <fιeldname> ... ] >;
In this example, form submission, form alterations, and concealment of specific forms or fields are designated. When it is determined by the HTTP message checker 125 that an alteration is required, the data m the customer cache 161 is copied to the agent cache 163. The HTTP message editor 123 is then called, and editing is carried out according to the information contained in the rule definition part 121 (step 415).
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the HTTP message editor 123 embeds the following commands m the HTTP message in the agent cache 163.
< ! --#CP_WebC_AgentActιonProhιbιted=<command> [<command> ...]--> <command>=<submιt | alterform | notshown: [formname=<formname> ; ] fieldname=<fieldname> [ , <fieldname> ... ]
The information terminal support server 110 then sends a reply to the HTTP message to the web browser 131 (step 417) . At this time, the HTTP message m the customer cache 161 is sent to the web browser 131 of the customer information terminal 132 and the HTTP message in the agent cache 163 is sent to the web browser 131 of the agent information terminal 130.
The web browser 131 of the agen -side information terminal 130 displays the received HTTP message and notifies the client program 135 that this has been done (step 419) . Specifically, the client program 135 acquires an end of displaying event for the web browser 131.
The client program 135 reads the embedded command using an API possessed by the web browser and then executes this command (step 421) . In this example, the client program 135 instructs, using an API possessed by the web browser or the OS, prohibition of submission and form alteration, and concealment of specific forms and fields. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following processing is carried out on the client side when the command is NOTSHOWN (non-displaying of predetermined information) .
The field not displayed on the agent side is taken to be FieldA.
When a customer inputs data in a certain field, the client program transfers the inputted data to the agent-side client as is, but when there is data inputted in FieldA, the same number of the symbols "*" are transferred rather than transferring the inputted data, to be stored at the agent side client with the symbols "*" in FieldA remaining as they are. An extremely high standard of security can therefore be maintained with this processing.
D. Others
In the above, a description is given of an example of the present invention applied to collaboration technology. However, in the present invention an HTTP message sent from the web server 140 is analyzed, and when there is agreement with a predetermined condition, this message is edited and sent to the client side. This technology can therefore also be applied to fields other than collaboration, such as Internet education, where, for example, a correct answer field may be masked until there is agreement with a predetermined condition. Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of an internet/intranet is described but this technology can also be applied to communication systems employing protocols other than the Internet protocol. Still further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, context with a command inserted is sent to the agent-side web browser and this command is executed by the client program. However, it is also possible to send context with a command inserted to the customer-side web browser in order to inhibit the customer from carrying out predetermined operations and then have the client program execute this command, or have the command executed by both the customer and agent .
As described above, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a collaboration system capable of changing the behavior of collaborating clients according to context during collaboration on an internet. In particular, there is provided a system capable of changing content sent from a server in response to a request from a client according to the intentions of an administrator

Claims

1. An information processing method in an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said method comprising the steps of :
(a) receiving, at said information terminal support server, an HTTP message sent in response to a customer-side browser request; (b) determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) editing contents of said HTTP message when said HTTP message agrees with said predetermined condition;
(d) sending the unedited HTTP message to said customer-side browser; and
(e) sending the edited HTTP message to said agent-side browser.
2. The information processing method of claim 1, wherein, in said step (c) , editing is carried out to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal.
3. The information processing method of claim 2, wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field".
4. An information processing method n an information processing system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said method comprising the steps of- (a) receiving, at said information terminal support server, a message sent from said content server responding to a request from said information terminal,
(b) determining whether or not said message agrees with a predetermined condition,
(c) editing said message to insert a command for sa d client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition, and
(d) sending said edited message to said information terminal
5. An information terminal support server which supports collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said information support server comprising:
(a) a rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part;
(b) a rule control manager for monitoring, at said information support server, HTTP messages sent m response to customer- side browser requests;
(c) an HTTP checker, determining whether or not sa d HTTP message agrees w th a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part;
(d) an HTTP editor, editing contents of said HTTP message according to contents of said command setting part of said rule definition part, when said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition; (e) customer cache storing the unedited HTTP message sent to said customer- s de browser; and
(f) agent cache storing the edited HTTP message sent to said agent -side browser.
6. The information terminal support server of claim 5, wherein said HTTP editor carries out editing to insert a command for said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal.
7. The information terminal support server of claim 6, wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field" .
8. An information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said information terminal support server comprising:
(a) a message checker for determining whether or not a message sent from a content server in response to a request from said information terminal agrees with a predetermined condition; and
(b) a message editor, editing said message to insert a command instructing said client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition.
9. A collaboration system supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer- side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent -side information terminal, said collaboration system comprising:
(a) an agent-side information terminal collaborating with said customer- side information terminal; (bl) a rule definition part including a condition setting part and a command setting part ;
(b2) a rule control manager for monitoring an HTTP message sent in response to customer- side browser requests; (b3) an HTTP checker determining whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a condition of said condition setting part of said rule definition part;
(b4) an HTTP editor, editing contents of said HTTP message according to contents of said command setting part of said rule definition part, when said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(b5) customer cache storing the unedited HTTP message sent to said customer-side browser; and
(b6) an information terminal support server having agent cache storing the edited HTTP message sent to said agent-side browser.
10. An information processing program for execution within a system having an information terminal support server supporting collaboration of a browser loaded on a customer-side information terminal and a browser loaded on an agent-side information terminal, said program comprising:
(a) program code instructing said information terminal support server to receive an HTTP message sent in response to a request of said customer- side browser;
(b) program code instructing said information terminal support server to determine whether or not said HTTP message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) program code instructing said information terminal support server to edit said HTTP message contents when said HTTP message agrees with said predetermined condition; (d) program code instructing said information terminal support server to send the unedited HTTP message to said customer- side browser; and
(e) program code instructing said information terminal support server to send the edited HTTP message to said agent -side browser.
11. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program according to claim 10.
12. The recording medium of claim 11, wherein said editing is carried out to insert a command into said client program loaded on said agent-side information terminal.
13. The recording medium of claim 12, wherein said command is one of "form submit prohibition", "form alteration prohibition", "concealment of specific form" or "concealment of specific field".
14. An information processing program for execution within a system having an information terminal support server which supports an information terminal connected to a content server and loaded with a client program, said program comprising: (a) program code instructing said information terminal support server to receive a message sent from said content server in response to a request from said information terminal;
(b) program code instructing said information terminal support server to determine whether or not said message agrees with a predetermined condition;
(c) program code instructing said information terminal support server to edit said message to insert a command providing instructions to said client program when said message agrees with said predetermined condition; and (d) program code instructing said information terminal server of sending of said edited message to said information terminal.
15. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program according to claim 14.
PCT/GB2000/002311 1999-06-16 2000-06-14 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program WO2000077661A2 (en)

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CA002375676A CA2375676A1 (en) 1999-06-16 2000-06-14 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program
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HU0600518A HUP0600518A2 (en) 1999-06-16 2000-06-14 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program
IL14701500A IL147015A0 (en) 1999-06-16 2000-06-14 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program
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PL00364731A PL364731A1 (en) 1999-06-16 2000-06-14 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system, and storage medium storing an information processing program
IL147015A IL147015A (en) 1999-06-16 2001-12-10 Information processing method, information terminal support server, collaboration system and storage medium storing an information processing program
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