APPLICATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, AND APPLICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Provided are an application management program, an information processing device, and an application management system that make it possible to confirm a notification to an application and the content of the notification in advance on a specific terminal and make it possible to confirm the notification in advance even when a change is made to the application. An application management server includes: an application editing means that edits test application information; information distribution means that distributes test application information 113ti to a test terminal and distributes actual application information to terminals a, b, c, . . . ; and a notification means that carries out notification processing of notification content information 112a to the test terminal in response to reception of a test notification request together with the notification content information from the outside.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments relate to an application management program, an information processing device, and an application management system.

BACKGROUND ART

As a conventional technique, there has been proposed an information processing device that commonly provides a push notification mechanism to a plurality of applications and narrows down users to be push notification targets according to a dynamically changing user state (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

The information processing device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 acquires an attribute value of a user regarding a plurality of attributes defined by a provider of an application in association with the application and the user, holds the attribute value as user information, extracts a corresponding user from the user information to generate a list of destination information corresponding to the user when a push notification request accompanied by information for identifying the application and a condition of the attribute value is received, and makes a push notification request accompanied by the list to a cloud service.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2015-103031 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, even in a case where the attribute value of the user dynamically changes, the information processing device described in Patent Literature 1 makes the push notification to the user who meets the condition of the attribute value. Therefore, although the condition of the corresponding user can be narrowed down, there is a problem that the content of the notification cannot be tested and confirmed in advance by notifying a specific user. In addition, even if the conditions can be narrowed down to users who perform test confirmation, applications used by all the users have the same specification, and thus, there is a problem that it is not possible to test confirm the notification by incorporating the provisionally changed specification into the application.

An object of the embodiments is to provide an application management program, an information processing device, and an application management system that make it possible to confirm a notification to an application and the content of the notification in advance on a specific terminal and make it possible to confirm the notification in advance even when a change is made to the application.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above-described objective, a mode of the embodiments provides the application management program, the information processing device, and the application management system described below.

One aspect of embodiments includes a application management program causing a computer to operate as: an editing means configured to edit first structure information designating a display structure of an application having a plurality of functions and a function to be used from the plurality of functions, and first content information to be used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the first structure information; a distribution means configured to distribute the first structure information and the first content information to a first terminal on which the application is operated, and distribute a second structure information specifying a display structure of the application and a function to be used from the plurality of functions and second content information displayed on a display structure of the application specified on the basis of the second structure information to a second terminal on which the application is operated; and a notification means configured to carry out notification processing of notifying the first terminal of notification content information, in response to reception of a test notification request together with the notification content information from the outside.

One aspect of embodiments includes the application management program according to the first embodiment further causing the computer to function as a reflection means configured to, in response to reception of a reflection request from the outside, reflect the first structure information and the first content information edited by the editing means in the second structure information and the second content information, in which the notification means is configured to carry out notification processing of notifying at least the second terminal registered in advance of the notification content information, in response to reception of an actual notification request from the outside.

One aspect of embodiments includes the application management program according to the first or the second embodiment, in which the notification content information includes a link to the first structure information and/or the first content information.

One aspect of embodiments includes the application management program according to the first embodiment, in which the notification means carries out notification processing of notifying at least the second terminal registered in advance of the notification content information upon reception of the actual notification request together with the notification content information from the outside.

One aspect of embodiments includes an application management program causing a computer to operate as: a storage means configured to store structure information designating a display structure of an application having a plurality of functions and a function to be used from the plurality of functions, content information to be used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the structure information, and notification content information notified to the application in the past; a distribution means configured to distribute the structure information and the content information to a terminal on which the application is operated in a case where the terminal on which the application is operated starts the application for the first time; and a notification means configured to carry out notification processing of notifying the terminal of the notification content information.

One aspect of embodiments includes an application program configured to store a display structure of an application having a plurality of functions, select and execute a function to be used from the plurality of functions on the basis of received structure information, use a content used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the structure information on the basis of received content information, and cause a computer to function as: an application information acquisition means configured to, upon reception of a notification, request and acquire structure information and content information of an application associated with the notification from the outside; and an application execution means configured to execute the application associated with the notification on the basis of the structure information and the content information acquired.

One aspect of embodiments includes an application program configured to store a display structure of an application having a plurality of functions, select and execute a function to be used from the plurality of functions on the basis of received structure information, use a content used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the structure information on the basis of received content information, and cause a computer to function as: an application information acquisition means configured to, at the time of first startup, request and acquire structure information and content information of an application, as well as latest notification content information from the outside; and an application execution means configured to, after the notification content information is subjected to display processing, execute the application on the basis of the structure information and the content information acquired.

One aspect of embodiments includes an information processing device including: an editing means configured to edit first structure information designating a display structure of an application having a plurality of functions and a function to be used from the plurality of functions, and first content information to be used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the first structure information; a distribution means configured to distribute the first structure information and the first content information to a first terminal on which the application is operated, and distribute a second structure information specifying a display structure of the application and a function to be used from the plurality of functions and second content information displayed on a display structure of the application specified on the basis of the second structure information to a second terminal on which the application is operated; and a notification means configured to carry out notification processing of notifying the first terminal of notification content information, in response to reception of a test notification request together with the notification content information from the outside.

One aspect of embodiments includes an application management system including: a first terminal configured to execute an application having a plurality of functions; a second terminal configured to execute the application, and an information processing device having: an editing means configured to edit first structure information designating a display structure of the application and a function to be used from the plurality of functions, and first content information to be used on the display structure of the application designated on the basis of the first structure information; a distribution means configured to distribute the first structure information and the first content information to a first terminal, and distribute a second structure information specifying a display structure of the application and a function to be used from the plurality of functions and second content information displayed on a display structure of the application specified on the basis of the second structure information to a second terminal on which the application is operated; and a notification means configured to carry out notification processing of notifying the first terminal of notification content information, in response to reception of a test notification request together with the notification content information from the outside.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the first, eighth, and ninth embodiments, it is made possible to confirm a notification to an application and the content of the notification in advance on a specific terminal and make it possible to confirm the notification in advance even when a change is made to the application.

According to the second embodiment, a notification confirmed in advance can be notified to a terminal other than a specific terminal.

According to the third embodiment, it is possible to make it possible to confirm a notification in advance when a change is made to an application.

According to the fourth embodiment, the notification can be notified to a terminal other than a specific terminal.

According to the fifth and seventh embodiment, when the application is started for the first time, the notification content information notified to the terminal in the past can be notified.

According to the sixth embodiment, when a notification is made, an application associated with the notification can be executed.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments

(Configuration of Application Management System)

FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an application management system according to an embodiment.

This application management system9is configured by communicably connecting an application management server1as an information processing device, an editing terminal2, a test terminal3as a first terminal, and terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .as second terminals via a network5. In addition, a notification server6is connected as a configuration for extending the application management system9. The editing terminal2and the test terminal3are operated by an administrator7who manages applications operating on the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . ,and the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .are operated by users8a,8b,8c . . .using the applications operating on the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . ,respectively.

The application management server1is a server type information processing device, operates in response to a request from the editing terminal2, the test terminal3, and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,and includes electronic components such as a central processing unit (CPU), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a flash memory having a function for processing information in a main body. In addition, although the application management server1includes the storage units11A and11B, it is not always necessary that two storage units exist physically, and it is only required that two storage areas exist. Each of the storage units11A and11B stores information defining the content of the application. The information that defines the content of the application includes structure information that specifies the function, display, and the like of the application, and content information used on the application. Details of these pieces of information will be described later.

The editing terminal2is an information processing device such as a personal computer (PC), a smartphone, and a tablet terminal, and includes electronic components such as a CPU and a flash memory having a function for processing information in a main body. The editing terminal2is mainly used to edit the content of the application.

The test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .are information processing devices such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a PC, and include electronic components such as a CPU and a flash memory having a function for processing information in a main body. It is assumed that an application is installed in the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,and the application can execute a plurality of functions in advance. For the function executed by the application, a function to be used and a function not to be used are designated on the basis of structure information included in information defining the content of the application distributed from the application management server1, and a structure on display (hereinafter may also be referred to as a “display structure”) including a layout, coloring, arrangement of functions, and the like is designated. In addition, content information such as text, an image, a video, and audio included in the information defining the content of the application is used on the display structure.

The network5is a communication network enabling high-speed communication, and is, for example, a wired or wireless communication network such as an intranet or a local area network (LAN).

The notification server6is a server type information processing device for notifying the test terminal3, the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .of information in response to a request from the editing terminal2, operates in response to a request from the application management server1, and includes electronic components such as a CPU, a HDD, and a flash memory having a function for processing information in the main body. The notification made by the notification server6is particularly called “push notification”, which can be made without an inquiry from the test terminal3, the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . . .

As an example, the application management server1operates in response to a request transmitted from the editing terminal2on the basis of the operation details of the administrator7, and edits the content of the application running on the test terminal3or the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . .However, the application management server1edits information defining the content of the application stored in the storage units11A and11B without editing the application itself distributed on the test terminal3or the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . .Note that information defining the content of the test application is stored in the storage unit11A, and information defining the content of the actual application is stored in the storage unit11B. Information defining the content of the test application is distributed to the test terminal3, and information defining the content of the actual application is distributed to the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . . .

First, when editing the content of the application, the application management server1edits information defining the content of the test application stored in the storage unit11A. Next, in response to the request from the test terminal3, information defining the content of the test application in the storage unit11A is distributed to the test terminal3, the edited content is reflected in the application running on the test terminal3, and the administrator7is caused to confirm the reflection result for the test. At this point, the application management server1does not reflect the edited content in the information defining the content of the actual application stored in the storage unit11B. Therefore, the content of the applications operating on the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .are the content before editing.

The administrator7activates the application on the test terminal3, checks the content of the edited application, and then operates the editing terminal2to make a test notification from the notification server6to the test terminal3. When the notification is made to the test terminal3, the administrator7checks the notification content on the edited application. When the notification content is normal, the administrator7confirms the edited content of the application and makes the actual notification.

In a case where the administrator7confirms the content of the edited application and confirms the edited content, when the editing terminal2is operated to reflect the same edited content also to the actual application running on the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . ,the application management server1copies or the like information defining the content of the test application in the storage unit11A to information defining the content of the actual application stored in the storage unit11B, to reflect the information defining the content of the test application to the information defining the content of the actual application. Next, in response to a request from the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . . ,information defining the content of the actual application in the storage unit11B is distributed to the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . . ,and the edited content is reflected in the application running on the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . . ,so that the content of the application is updated without redistributing the application.

Next, the notification server6notifies the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .of the actual notification, and the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .receive the notification. The terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .display notification content, activate an updated application as necessary, and display the notification content on the application.

(Configuration of Information Processing Device)

FIG.2is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an application management server1according to the embodiment.

The application management server1includes a control unit10that includes a CPU and the like, controls each unit, and executes various programs, storage units11,11A, and11B that include a storage medium such as a flash memory and store information, and a communication unit12that communicates with the outside via the network5.

The control unit10functions as an application editing means100, a distribution destination determination means101, an information distribution means102, an actual execution reflection means103, a notification means104, and the like by executing an application management program110to be described later.

The application editing means100edits the test application information113t1,113t2, . . . , which are information defining the content of the test application, in response to a request from the editing terminal2. Details of the configuration of the test application information113t1,113t2. . . will be described later.

Upon receiving the request of the test terminal3or the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . . ,the distribution destination determination means101determines the distribution destination of the test application information113t1,113t2. . . or the actual application information113p1,113p2. . . which is information defining the content of the actual application on the basis of the distribution destination information111.

The information distribution means102distributes the test application information113t1,113t2. . . or the actual application information113p1,113p2. . . to the test terminal3or the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .on the basis of the determination result of the distribution destination determination means101.

The actual execution reflection means103reflects the content of the test application information113t1,113t2. . . in the actual application information113p1,113p2. . . in response to the reflection request of the editing terminal2.

In response to reception of the notification request from the editing terminal2, the notification means104requests the notification server6to notify the test terminal3or the application running on the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . . .

The storage unit11stores the application management program110for operating the control unit10as each means100to104described above, the distribution destination information111, the notification destination information112, the notification content information112a,and the like.

The storage unit11A stores test application information113t1,113t2. . . . In addition, the storage unit11B stores the actual application information113p1,113p2, . . . .

FIG.3is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the distribution destination information111.

The distribution destination information111includes an application ID for identifying an application of the test terminal3or the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,a request source indicating a type of a distribution request source (for test or actual distribution), and a distribution application ID for identifying application information distributed from the application management server1.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the notification destination information112.

The notification destination information112includes a notification type indicating either “test notification” or “actual notification”, a notification application ID indicating an ID of an application to be notified, and a notification destination ID indicating an ID of a terminal to be notified.

FIG.5is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of test application information113tiand actual application information113pi.

The test application information113tiincludes: configuration information1130tias first configuration information that defines a display structure such as a function to be used and a function not to be used in an application running on the test terminal3, arrangement of the function, arrangement/coloring of a display frame, and arrangement of content; and content information ll2lti as first content information such as an image, a video, audio, and a text to be used on the application. In addition, the actual application information113piincludes: configuration information1130pias second configuration information that defines a display structure such as a function to be used and a function not to be used in an application running on the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . ,arrangement of the function, arrangement/coloring of a display frame, and arrangement of content; and content information121pias second content information such as an image, a video, audio, and a text to be used on the application.

In the example illustrated inFIG.5, in the test application information113tiand the actual application information113pi,the functions to be used defined in the configuration information1130tiand1130piare “A, B, C, D, E”, and the other functions that are not described are functions not to be used. Details of the functions will be described later. Some of the functions will be described again inFIG.8. Although not illustrated, the configuration information1130tiand1130pialso include a display structure such as a layout of a display screen, coloring, a background, arrangement of each function, screen transition, and link information.

Furthermore, “a, b, c, d, e” in the content information1131tiand1131piindicate content, and the content are a text, an image, a video, audio, and the like.

FIG.6is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a test terminal3according to the embodiment.

The test terminal3includes a control unit30that includes a CPU and the like and controls each unit and executes various programs, a storage unit31that includes a storage medium such as a flash memory and stores information, a communication unit32that communicates with the outside via the network5, a display unit33that includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electro luminescence (EL) display, and the like and displays characters, images, and the like, and an operation unit34that includes a touch panel, a switch, and the like integrated with the display unit33and generates an operation signal.

The control unit30functions as an application information acquisition means300, an application execution means301, and the like by executing an operating system (OS)310and a common application311to be described later. The OS310and the common application311are examples of the application program.

When the common application311is started up, the application information acquisition means300transmits the ID of the application and the information for identifying the terminal to the application management server1via the communication unit32to request acquisition of the application information. In addition, the application information acquisition means300receives the test application information312tas a response to the request from the application management server1and stores the test application information in the storage unit31. Note that the timing of the acquisition request for the application information by the application information acquisition means300is not limited to the time of startup of the common application311, and may be periodically performed at a predetermined interval, or may be performed when an update operation is performed, with no limitation.

The application execution means301determines a function to be used and a function not to be used among the functions311fof the common application311on the basis of the acquired test application information312t,determines arrangement of the functions, arrangement and coloring of the display frames, arrangement of the content, and the like, and executes the common application311.

The storage unit31stores an OS310that causes the control unit30to operate as each means300and301described above, the common application311, the test application information312, and the like.

FIG.7is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the terminal4a,4b,4c . . .according to the embodiment.

The terminal4a,4b,4c . . .includes a control unit40that includes a CPU and the like and controls each unit and executes various programs, a storage unit41that includes a storage medium such as a flash memory and stores information, a communication unit42that communicates with the outside via the network5, a display unit43that includes an LCD, an organic EL display, and the like and displays characters, images, and the like, and an operation unit44that includes a touch panel, a switch, and the like integrated with the display unit43and generates an operation signal.

The control unit40functions as an application information acquisition means400, an application execution means401, and the like by executing an OS410and a common application411described later.

When the common application411is started up, the application information acquisition means400transmits the ID of the application and the information for identifying the terminal to the application management server1via the communication unit42to request acquisition of the application information. In addition, the application information acquisition means400receives the actual application information412pas a response to the request from the application management server1and stores the actual application information in the storage unit41. Note that the timing of the acquisition request for the application information by the application information acquisition means400is not limited to the time of startup of the common application411, and may be periodically performed at a predetermined interval, or may be performed when an update operation is performed, with no limitation.

The application execution means401determines a function to be used and a function not to be used among the functions411fof the common application411on the basis of the acquired actual application information412p,determines arrangement of the functions, arrangement and coloring of the display frames, arrangement of the content, and the like, and executes the common application411.

The storage unit41stores an OS410that causes the control unit40to operate as each means400and401described above, the common application411, test application information412, and the like.

FIG.8is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the display screen displayed on the display unit33by the application execution means301in the test terminal3. In addition, similar screens are displayed in the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,but description thereof is omitted since they are common.

The screen330includes a log-in state330aindicating a log-in state of the user of the application to the external service, an application title field330bdisplaying a title of the application, a search text box330cfor searching for a content included in the application, an image display area330ddisplaying a plurality of images in a laterally slidable manner (carousel),an area330edisplaying a barcode reader, a pop-up, a point display, and the like, a product display area330fdisplaying an image, a text, or the like of a product as an example of the content, a menu pop-up button330gfor displaying a menu item prepared in the application, a home button330hfor returning from the displayed screen to the home screen of the application, a favorite button330imaking a transition to a screen for displaying the content in the application registered in advance by a user, a shop button330jmaking a transition to a screen for searching for a nearby sales shop using the position information, a bookmark330kmaking a transition to a screen for displaying a page in the application registered in advance by a user, and an others button330lmaking a transition to a screen for displaying a function not included in the button300gto300k.

Each configuration in the screen330is displayed and operated by the application execution means301and401executing the functions311fand411fof the common applications311and411. For example, in the log-in state330a,the configuration is displayed and operated through execution of the log-in function, and is a function of logging in to the user management system provided by the notification server6via the notification means104of the application management server1and using information or the like configured for each user. The application title field330bis displayed through execution of a layout function, and is a function of displaying a title image prepared in advance according to a preset design and layout.

The search text box330cis operated through execution of the search function, and is a function of free-word searching for content or the like displayed in the product display area330f.The image display area330dis displayed through execution of the layout function, and is a function of displaying a plurality of images with a predetermined setting (automatic scrolling, scrolling time, and the like) in the carousel. The area330eis displayed and operated through execution of a layout function, and is a function of generating a barcode and transitioning to a display screen to make screen settings suitable for reading and displaying the barcode, superimposing and popping up predetermined information on the screen without screen transition, or transitioning to a screen displayed by a point function to be described later.

The case of the product display area330fis displayed and operated through execution of the layout function, and is a function of displaying an image of a product and transitioning to a page displaying details of the product when selected. The menu pop-up button330gis displayed and operated through execution of the layout function, and is a function of displaying a plurality of predetermined menu items and transitioning to a page of each item when selected. The home button330his a function of transitioning to a page displayed upon startup of the application.

The favorite button330iis displayed and operated through execution of the favorite function, and is a function of displaying a list screen of content and pages set as the favorite by the user. The shop button330jis displayed and operated through execution of a shop function, and is a function of acquiring current position information from a position information function such as the GPS of the test terminal3, searching for store information close to the position information, and transitioning to a screen displaying a list. The bookmark330kis a function of displaying a display page and a content list screen in an application set as a bookmark by the user. The others button330lis a function of displaying a function list that is not displayed by other functions.

Furthermore, functions other than the foregoing include, for example, a push notification function for displaying a notification even when an application is not started up, a video function of displaying a video from an external video site on a display screen of an application without transitioning to the external video site, an electronic book function of displaying data such as a catalog, a flier, a book, and a cartoon in a browsable manner, a photo function of displaying an image such as a photograph in a browsable manner, a scroll menu function of displaying a plurality of articles of an external site on a display screen of an application in a scrollable manner without transitioning to the external site, an animation layout function of displaying a plurality of images in an animated manner by continuously switching therebetween, a coupon function of displaying a coupon with specification of a date and time, a web view function of displaying a web site of a specified URL with partial processing. Furthermore, functions not described herein can also be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(Operation of Information Processing Device)

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described separately: (1) application editing operation; (2) application execution operation; (3) test notification operation; and (4) actual notification operation.

(1) Application Editing Operation

An operation of editing an application running on the test terminal3, the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .will be described. Note that the editing operation is carried out by communication between the application management server1and the editing terminal2.

FIGS.9A to9Care schematic diagrams for explaining the editing operation.FIG.10is a flowchart showing the editing operation example of the application management system9.

First, the administrator7operates the editing terminal2to edit the application. The editing terminal2transmits an editing request to the application management server1according to the operation details (S200).

Upon reception of the editing request from the editing terminal2(S100), the application management server1reads the test application information113tifrom the storage unit11A, generates a screen for editing the application (S101), and transmits screen information for displaying the screen to the editing terminal2(S102). Note that the “i-th” of the test application information113tiis determined on the basis of the application ID specified by the editing terminal2.

Next, the editing terminal2receives the screen information from the application management server1(S201), and displays the screen information on the display unit of the editing terminal2(S202). At this point, the states of the test application information113tiand the actual application information113piare as illustrated in

FIG.9A. The version of the test application information113tiis “ver.1”, the function “A, B, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130ti,and “a, b, c, d, e” is used as the content information113lti. In addition, the actual application information113pihas a version of “ver.1” and has a similar configuration to the test application information113ti,and a function “A, B, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130piand “a, b, c, d, e” is used as the content information1131pi.

Next, the administrator7edits a portion desired to be edited by operating the operation unit while referring to the content displayed on the display unit of the editing terminal2. The editing terminal2edits the content of the application according to the operation details of the administrator7, and transmits the edited content to the application management server1(S203).

Next, upon reception of the edited content from the editing terminal2(S103), the application management server1reflects the edited content in the test application information113ti(S104).

At this point, the states of the test application information113tiand the actual application information113piare as illustrated inFIG.9B. The version of the test application information113tiis “ver.2β”, which means before the actual confirmation, the function “A, Z, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130ti,and “a, b, l, m, e” is used as the content information1131ti.In addition, the version of the actual application information113piis still “ver.1”, the function “A, B, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130pi,and “a, b, c, d, e” is used as the content information1131pi.

Next, the administrator7starts up an application on the test terminal3to confirm the edited content.

FIG.11is a flowchart showing an operation example of an application running on the test terminal3.

Upon acceptance of the operation, the test terminal3starts up the common application311(S300), and the application information acquisition means300of the test terminal3reacquires the test application information113tifrom the application management server1and updates the test application information312ti(S301).

Next, the application execution means301of the test terminal3refers to the acquired test application information312ti(S302), draws the UI (S303), determines the function to be used and the function not to be used among the functions311fof the common application311, arranges the function to be used on the UI (S304), further arranges the content (S305), and executes the common application311. The test application information312tis updated at predetermined timing until the application is terminated (S306).

When the application is executed on the test terminal3, the administrator7checks the content displayed on the display unit33, checks the operation of the application with respect to the operation, and when it is confirmed that there is no problem, the administrator7operates the editing terminal2to reflect the similar edited content to the application running on the terminals4a,4b,and4c.

The editing terminal2requests the edited content to be reflected in the actual application information113piaccording to details of the operation of the administrator7(S204).

In response to reception of the reflection request (S105), the actual execution reflection means103of the application management server1updates the actual application information113piwith the test application information113ti(S106).

At this point, the states of the test application information113tiand the actual application information113piare as illustrated inFIG.9C. The test application information113tiis “ver.2”, which means the fixed version, in which the function “A, Z, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130ti,and “a, b, l, m, e” is used as the content information113lti. In addition, the version of the actual application information113piis “ver.2”, in which the actual application information has the same configuration as the test application information113ti,the function “A, Z, C, D, E” is used as the configuration information1130pi,and “a, b, l, m, e” is used as the content information1131pi.

The operations on the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .are similar to those explained inFIG.11, and the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .start the common application411upon acceptance of the operation (S300), and the application information acquisition means400of the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .reacquires the actual application information113pifrom the application management server1and updates the actual application information312pi(S301).

Next, the application execution means401of the terminals4a,4b,4c . . .refers to the acquired actual application information412pi(S302), draws the UI (S303), determines the function to be used and the function not to be used among the functions411fof the common application411, arranges the function to be used on the UI (S304), arranges the content (S305), and executes the common application411.

As a result of the above operation, the users8a,8b,8c . . .use the applications updated on the basis of the edited content on the terminals4a,4b,4c . . . .

(2) Application Execution Operation

Among the functions of the applications running on the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,the function achieved in cooperation with the application management server1will be described.

For example, when the point function is executed by the application execution means401of the terminal4a,it is necessary to access an external server not illustrated that manages points by a log-in function in advance, log in by inputting a user ID, a password, and the like, and acquire information such as a point balance.

The configuration information regarding the point function included in the actual application information412pincludes instruction information for instructing the application execution means401to notify the external communication means of the application management server1of the application ID of the terminal4aand request the external communication means to execute an operation regarding the point function. The application execution means401of the terminal4anotifies the external communication means in the application management server1of the application ID of the terminal4aon the basis of the instruction information, and requests the external communication means of the application management server1to execute the operation for the point function.

Upon receiving a request from an application running on the terminal4a,the external communication means of the application management server1refers to external communication information not illustrated, acquires an address associated with the type of the function of the notified application ID, acquires screen information for accessing the external server of the address to log in to the point service, and transmits the screen information to the terminal4a.Thereafter, when the user ID and the password are input in the terminal4a,the user ID and the password are transmitted to the notification server6, and when the log-in is successful, the point balance is acquired from the notification server6and transmitted to the terminal4a.In this manner, communication with the terminal4ais mediated by a series of operations.

In addition, the log-in function, the video function, the scroll menu function, and the like are also achieved in cooperation with the application management server1as described above.

(3) Test Notification Operation

An operation in which the administrator7makes a test notification to the test terminal3after editing at least an application running on the test terminal3will be described. Note that the notification operation is carried out by communication between the application management server1and the editing terminal2.

FIG.13is a flowchart for describing the test notification operation.

First, the administrator7operates the editing terminal2to edit an application as described in “(1) Application editing operation”. The editing terminal2transmits an editing request to the application management server1according to the operation details (S210). Here, for example, the administrator7edits a page on the application, that is a link destination included in the notification content, in accordance with the notification content.

When receiving the edit request from the editing terminal2, the application management server1edits the test application information113tias described in “(1) Application editing operation” (S110).

Next, in order to make a test notification to the test terminal3, the administrator7operates the editing terminal2to input a notification content and a notification application ID (for example, “001t”) as a notification destination. The editing terminal2transmits a test notification request to the application management server1according to the operation details (S211). Note that an operation button “Test Notification” for test notification may be prepared in advance in the editing terminal2, and when the operation button is operated, the test notification request and the application ID being edited may be automatically transmitted from the editing terminal2to the application management server1.

Upon reception of the test notification request from the editing terminal2(S111), the notification means104of the application management server1refers to the notification destination information112illustrated inFIG.4, identifies the notification destination ID “T001, T002” corresponding to the notification application ID “001t” of which the notification type is “test notification”, and requests the notification server6to notify the notification destination ID “T001, T002” (S112).

Upon reception of the notification request from the application management server1(S610), the notification server6notifies the terminal corresponding to the notification destination ID “T001, T002” of the received notification content (S611). Here, it is assumed that the notification destination ID “T001” corresponds to the test terminal3, and that the notification destination ID “T002” corresponds to a test terminal not illustrated.

The test terminal3receives the notification from the notification server6(S310), and displays the notification content on the display unit33as illustrated inFIG.12.

FIG.12is a schematic diagram showing an example of notification screens displayed on the display units of the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . . .

The display unit33of the test terminal3displays, for example, notification content104aincluding a message such as the application name and “500 pt Offered!”, and a button104bfor starting the application in order to browse details of the notification content104a.

In addition, since the test notification is made to the test terminal3at this time, the notification is not made to the terminals4a,4b,and4c.

The administrator7checks whether the display of the notification content104aillustrated inFIG.12is as intended, and operates the button104bto determine whether the notification content are displayed as intended also on the application. The application execution means301of the test terminal3starts up the application according to the operation details of the administrator7. At this time, as described with reference toFIG.11, the application management server1distributes the test application information113tito the test terminal3(S113), and the test terminal3acquires the test application information113tifrom the application management server1, updates the test application information312t,and then starts up the application (S311).

The application of the test terminal3started based on the test application information312tiedited by the administrator7in accordance with the notification content displays a page in the application designated as a link destination included in the notification content as the notification content (S312).

(4) Actual Notification Operation

Next, an operation in which, after the administrator7makes the test notification and confirms the notification content in “(3) Test notification operation”, the edited content is reflected in the actual application, and the actual notification is made to the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .will be described. Note that the notification operation is carried out by communication between the application management server1and the editing terminal2.

FIG.15is a flowchart for describing the test notification operation.

First, the administrator7edits the application as described in “(1) Application editing operation”, and then operates the editing terminal2to reflect the edited content in the actual application information. The editing terminal2transmits a reflection request to the application management server1according to the operation details (S220).

When receiving the reflection request from the editing terminal2, the application management server1copies the test application information113tito the actual application information113pias described in “(1) Application editing operation” (S120).

Next, the administrator7operates the editing terminal2to input a notification content and a notification application ID (for example, “001t”) as a notification destination, in order to make an actual notification to the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . . .Note that the notification content and the notification destination may be used as they are when there is no problem with the notification content and the notification destination used in “(3) Test notification operation”. The editing terminal2transmits the actual notification request to the application management server1according to the operation details (S221). In addition, an operation button for actual notification “Actual Notification” may be prepared in advance in the editing terminal2, and in a case where the operation button is operated, the notification content used in the test notification, the actual notification request, and the application ID may be automatically transmitted from the editing terminal2to the application management server1.

When receiving the actual notification request from the editing terminal2(S121), the notification means104of the application management server1refers to the notification destination information112illustrated inFIG.4, identifies the notification destination IDs “T001, T002, P001to P250, P252, P255to P999” corresponding to the notification application ID “001t” of which the notification type is “Actual Notification”, and requests the notification server6to notify the notification destination IDs “T001, T002, P001to P250, P252, P255to P999” (S122). The notification destination described in the notification application ID of the “Actual Notification” is the ID of the terminal whose notification is permitted by the user of each terminal. Here, it is assumed that the terminal4cdoes not permit notification.

When receiving the notification request from the application management server1(S620), the notification server6notifies the terminal corresponding to the notification destination IDs “T001, T002, P001to P250, P252, P255to P999” of the received notification content (S621). Here, it is assumed that the notification destination ID “T001” corresponds to the test terminal3, and that the notification destination ID “T002” corresponds to a test terminal not illustrated. In addition, it is assumed that the notification destination IDs “P001, P002” correspond to the terminals4aand4b,and the notification destination IDs “P003to P250, P252, P255to P999” correspond to terminals not illustrated herein.

The test terminal3and the terminals4aand4breceive the notification from the notification server6(S420), and display the notification content on the display units33,43a,and43bas illustrated inFIG.14.

FIG.14is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a notification screen displayed on the display units of the test terminal3and the terminals4aand4b.

The display unit33of the test terminal3and the display units43aand43bof the terminals4aand4bdisplay, for example, notification content104aincluding a message such as the application name and “500 pt Offered!”, and a button104bfor starting the application in order to view details of the notification content104a.Note that in the terminal4c,since the notification is not permitted, the notification content104ais not displayed.

The administrator7confirms the display of the notification content104aillustrated inFIG.14similarly to “(3) Test notification operation”, and operates the button104bto determine whether the notification content are displayed as intended also on the application. In addition, the users8aand8bcheck the display of the notification content104aillustrated inFIG.14, and operate the button104bto display the notification content on the application as desired.

The application execution means301of the test terminal3starts the application similarly to “(3) Test notification operation” according to the operation details of the administrator7. In addition, the application execution means401of the terminals4aand4bstart the application according to the operation details of the users8aand8b.At this time, as described with reference toFIG.11, the application management server1distributes the actual application information113pito the terminals4aand4b(S123), and the terminals4aand4bacquire the actual application information113pifrom the application management server1, update the actual application information412p,and then start up the application (S421).

The applications of the terminals4aand4bstarted up on the basis of the actual application information412pdisplay a page in the application designated as a link destination included in the notification content as the notification content (S422).

(5) Test Notification Reception Operation

Since the test terminal3has the common application311, the test terminal3operates as a plurality of types of applications on the basis of the test application information312tacquired from the application management server1. Therefore, when receiving the test notification in “(3) Test notification operation”, the test terminal3is started up as an application corresponding to the notification content. Hereinafter, the operation of the test terminal3after reception of the test notification will be described.

FIG.16is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of a notification screen displayed on the display unit of the test terminal3.FIG.17is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the test terminal3at the time of receiving a test notification.

When receiving the notification from the notification server6(S330), the test terminal3displays a notification content104Ca and a button104Cb for starting the corresponding application on the display unit33to browse details of the notification content104aas illustrated inFIG.16(S331). At this time, the test terminal3does not start the common application311, and displays the notification content at an operating system (OS) level, for example. In addition, it is assumed that the common application311can be selected and executed from “application A”, “application B”, and “application C” on the basis of the content of the test application information113t,and the notification content104Ca corresponds to “application C”.

Next, when the button104Cb illustrated inFIG.16is operated and the test terminal3receives the application start operation from the notification display (S332; Yes), in order to activate the “application C” corresponding to the notification, the test terminal3first starts up the common application311(S333), and the application information acquisition means300of the test terminal3acquires the test application information113ti,which is the “application C” corresponding to the notification, from the application management server1and updates the test application information312t(S334).

Next, the application execution means301of the test terminal3refers to the acquired test application information312t(S335), draws the UI (S336), determines the function to be used and the function not to be used among the functions311fof the common application311, arranges the function to be used on the UI (S337), further arranges the content (S338), and executes the “application C” corresponding to the notification. Since the first screen displayed by the application execution means301is the movement from the button104Cb, it is the notification content display301Ca on the “application C”.

The notification content display301Ca further includes a button301Cb that links to another screen on the “application C”. When the button301Cb is operated, the application execution means301of the test terminal3displays a screen330C that is a link destination of the button301Cb.

Effects of Embodiment

According to the above-described embodiment, the test application information113tiis prepared to be distributed to the test terminal3for change content confirmation, the actual application information113piis prepared to be distributed to the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . .used by the general users8a,8b,and8c . . . ,the provisional application is edited for the test application information113ti,the edited content is not reflected in the actual application information113piuntil the editing is confirmed, and the test notification is made to the test terminal3to which the test application information113tiis distributed when the test notification is made, and the actual notification is made to the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . .to which the actual application information113piis distributed after the distribution content is confirmed, so that the notification content can be confirmed in advance, whereby the notification content can be confirmed by the application after the change even when the notification content is accompanied by the change content of the application. In addition, in the terminals4a,4b,4c, . . .,it is possible to continue to use the application with the content of the state before the change until the change is confirmed, whereby flexible notification and application update can be implemented.

In addition, the common applications311and411installed in the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . .are configured to be capable of executing all the functions311fand411f,and the functions to be used/not to be used are defined by the configuration information1130tiand1130piincluded in the test application information113tiand the actual application information113pi.Therefore, it is not necessary to redistribute the changed application to the test terminal3and the terminals4a,4b,and4c . . . ,that is, without the need of downloading and reinstalling the changed application, the change content can be reflected in the application of the terminal, and a notification related to the change content can be made after the reflection.

Other Embodiments

The embodiments are not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the embodiments.

For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the notification of the test terminal3is accompanied by the change of the application has been described, but the notification of the test terminal3may not be accompanied by the change of the application. In addition, the case where the notification content includes a link to an application with a change has been described, but the notification content may include a link to an application before the change without including a link to an application with a change.

In addition, for example, the normal push notification can be received by the terminals4a,4b,and4cin which the corresponding application is installed only at the timing notified from the notification server6, and if the timing at which the application is installed in the terminal4cis later than the timing notified from the notification server6, the terminal4ccannot receive the notification. However, in order to reacquire the configuration information at the time of activating the application (S301), the application execution means401of the present application may store the notification content in the application management server1in advance, and acquire the notification content from the application management server1at the timing of acquiring the configuration information as illustrated inFIG.18below.

FIG.18is a flowchart for explaining a notification acquisition operation at the time of the first startup of the application.

When receiving the actual notification request from the editing terminal2(S140), the notification means104of the application management server1performs the notification processing as described in “(4) Actual notification operation” (S141), and stores the notification content information112ain the storage unit11.

In the terminal4c,when the application is newly installed (S440) and the first start operation is performed (S441), the application execution means401of the terminal4crequests the configuration information to the application management server1in order to update the actual application information412p,and requests the most recently stored notification content information (S442). Note that the notification content information is not limited to the latest notification content information, and may be the latest several pieces of notification content information, or notification content information may be selected and requested on the basis of information indicating the user or the usage status stored in the terminal4c.

The information distribution means102of the application management server1receives the request from the terminal4c(S143), and transmits the configuration information and the latest notification content information112ato the terminal4c(S144).

When receiving the configuration information and the latest notification content information112afrom the application management server1(S443), the application execution means401of the terminal4cfirst displays the notification content on the display unit43on the basis of the notification content information (S444), and then starts the application (S445). The notification content displayed on the display unit43may be notification content displayed at the OS level or notification content displayed at the application level.

With such a configuration, even if the timing at which the application is installed on the terminal4cis later than the timing notified from the notification server6, since the notification content notified from the notification server6is stored in the application management server1, it is possible to display the notification as if the terminal4chas received the notification when starting up the application after the installation. Note that the timing of the notification is not limited to the first startup of the application, and in a case where the notification has not been received due to a poor communication status or the like, a notification that has not been received may be received at the time of startup of the application.

In the above embodiment, the functions of the means100to104of the control unit10, the means300and301of the control unit30, and the means400and401of the control unit40are realized by the program, but all or a part of the means may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC. In addition, the program employed in the above embodiment can be provided in a state of being stored in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. Furthermore, replacement, deletion, addition, and the like of the steps described in the above embodiment can be made within such a scope that the gist of the embodiments is not changed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Provided are an application management program, an information processing device, and an application management system that make it possible to confirm a notification to an application and the content of the notification in advance on a specific terminal and make it possible to confirm the notification in advance even when a change is made to the application.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST