Abstract:
Collectively predicting input operations for plural operation object items (subwindows) belonging to a same window. A proposal window PG stores in a statistics information database and manages information about the input entity and an operation object of an input operation accepted from a user, and a window to which the operation object belongs, along with transition information indicating the transition of active windows concerned in previous input operations. When an active window transitions because of an input operation accepted from the user, it searches the statistics information database for information that contains information about a new active window and is associated with transition information matching the transition of active windows concerned in previous input operations.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority from Japanese application JP 2005-245740 filed on Aug. 26, 2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a technique for assisting input operations of a computer, particularly a computer in which a multiwindow system is installed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A device for assisting operations on a computer is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-27089. In the device, an operation record storage part identifies the types of applications operated by an operator, and the types of operated operation objects, and stores them in a time series as operation record information along with operation commands. An operation record search part searches operation records for a location in which the same operations as an operation command string of the most recent operation procedure is performing are performed. An operation procedure analyzing part investigates an application in the operation records, the types of operation objects in the searched operation records, and the transition of the operation objects and the like in the searched operation records, and extracts an operation procedure considered to match the purpose of the most recent operation from the search results. A next operation predicting part predicts a next operation command from the extracted operation procedure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-27089 extracts an operation procedure matching the most recent operation procedure from previous operation records, and predicts a next operation command from the extracted operation procedure. Thus, with the technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-27089, the scope of a predicted input operation is limited to a next operation command, that is, one input operation. The technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10(1998)-27089 does not take a collective prediction of plural input operations into account.  
         [0005]     The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to enable a collective prediction of plural input operations.  
         [0006]     To address the above-described problem, the present invention assists input operations of a computer in which a multiwindow system is installed. The present invention stores in a storage device and manages the input entity and an operation object of an input operation accepts from a user, and information about a window (an active window when the input operation is accepted) to which the operation object belongs, along with transition information indicating the transition of active windows concerned in previous input operations. When an active window transitions because of an input operation accepted from the user, it searches the storage device for information that contains information about a new active window and is associated with transition information matching the transition of active windows concerned in previous input operations. The searched information is classified by operation objects contained in the information. For each of the operation objects, at least one of input entities contained in the information classified into the operation object is outputted as a prediction value of a next input operation.  
         [0007]     The present invention, which is a device for assisting input operations for a multiwindow system, includes a collecting section for collecting record information containing information about the input entity and an operation object of an input operation which the multiwindow system accepts from a user, and a window to which the operation object belongs; a storing section for storing statistics information of the record information collected by the collecting section along with transition information indicating the transition of active windows before the input operation corresponding to the record information; and a predicting section, when an active window transitions because of an input operation that the multiwindow system accepts from a user, for searching the storing section for statistics information that contains information about a new active window and is associated with transition information matching the transition of active windows before the input operation, classifying the searched statistics information by operation objects contained in the statistics information, and for each of the operation objects, outputting at least one of input entities contained in statistics information classified into that operation object as a prediction value of a next input operation for the operation object.  
         [0008]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, for each of operation objects belonging to a same window, next input entities can be predicted collectively. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a software block diagram of a computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing an example of the hardware configuration of the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a drawing for explaining a multiwindow system;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a drawing for explaining the hierarchy of some windows displayed by the OS 11;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of a hierarchy definition TL  16 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of the record information database  17 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of a statistics information database  18 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a hooking PG  12 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a statistics information generation PG  13 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a proposal window PG  14 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11A ,  FIG. 11B , and  FIG. 11C  are drawings for explaining windows allocated to one of the APs  15   1  to  15   n  by the OS 11;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a case where an item “employee portal” is selected from a main menu, and a real window  60  for displaying an employee portal is switched to an active window;  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 12 , an ID and PW are directly or indirectly inputted to the ID input sub-window  511  and the PW input sub-window  512  of the employee portal window being displayed in the application window  60 , and the ID and PW are passed to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated;  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 13 , the selection button  513  corresponding to an item “task menu” of an employee portal window being displayed in the application window  60  is directly or indirectly selected, and the fact is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 15  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 14 , the selection button  514  corresponding to an item “business trips” of a task menu window being displayed in the application window  60  is directly or indirectly selected, and the fact is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a software block diagram of a computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in the diagram, the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations includes an OS  11 , a hooking PG (program)  12 , a statistics information generation PG  13 , a proposal window PG  14 , different application PGs (AP)  15   1  to  15   n , a hierarchy definition TL (table)  16 , a record information database  17 , and a statistics information database  18 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a drawing showing an example of the hardware configuration of the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in the drawing, the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations is a general computer that includes a CPU  21 , memory  22 , an auxiliary storage  23  such as a HDD, a reading device  24  that reads data from storage media  27  such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and an IC card, an interface  25  for connecting to a display  28  and an input device  29  such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a bus  26  for connecting these devices. The OS  11 , the hooking PG  12 , the statistics information generation PG  13 , and the proposal window PG  14 , and the different application PGs (AP)  15   1  to  15   n  are loaded onto the memory  22  by the CPU  21  and executed. These programs are installed from the storage medium  27  to the auxiliary storage  23  via the reading device  24 , and then loaded onto the memory  22 . Although a program is a principal of operation for the sake of simplicity in the descriptions below, actually, the CPU  21  that executes the program is a principal of operation.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is referred to back to continue the description. The OS  11  has functions as a multiwindow system. The multiwindow system is a system in which plural display windows called windows are displayed at the same time on a screen, and different applications, and modules or their subsets constituting the applications are allocated to the different windows so that the applications, and modules or their subsets constituting the applications can perform display on the windows allocated to them. Typical multiwindow systems are Windows(R) 2000 being an OS of Microsoft Corporation, and Mac OS being an OS of Apple Computer Inc.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a drawing for explaining a multiwindow system. As shown in the drawing, in the multiwindow system, plural windows  32  and  33  are displayed on a screen  31  at the same time. A different application, a-module constituting the application, or its subset is allocated to each of the windows  32  and  33 , and display is performed by the allocated application, a module constituting the application, or its subset. A user switches to an active window by selecting the window by moving a mouse cursor  34  using a pointing device such as a mouse. Key input by the keyboard and click operations by the mouse are effective for an active window  33 , and ineffective for inactive windows  32 . The windows  32  and  33  include a sub-window  35  for displaying a keyed character string, and select buttons  36  by which selection is made by single- or double-clicking by the mouse cursor  34  in an active state. In  FIG. 3 , the reference numeral  37  denotes a key cursor indicating that the sub-window  35  allows key input.  
         [0029]     In this embodiment, windows displayed by the OS  11  can be hierarchically managed.  FIG. 4  is a drawing for explaining the hierarchy of some windows displayed by the OS  11 . In the drawing, “main menu”, which is the first window displayed on the screen first when the OS  11  is activated, is classified as the first hierarchy  41 . “Employee portal”, which is a window displayed on the screen by single- or double-clicking on an item “employee portal” displayed in the “main menu”, is classified as the second hierarchy  42 . “Notice”, “task menu”, “announcement”, and “welfare”, which are windows displayed on the screen by single- or double-clicking on items “notice”, “task menu”, and “announcement”, and “welfare” respectively displayed in the “employee portal”, are classified as the third hierarchy  43 . “Business trips”, “visitor”, “publication”, “labor affairs”, “dispatch”, “purchase”, “training”, “budget”, “allowance”, and “annual adjustment”, which are windows displayed on the screen by single- or double-clicking on items “business trips”, “visitor”, “publication”, “labor affairs”, “dispatch”, “purchase”, “training”, “budge”, “allowance”, and “annual adjustment” respectively displayed in “task menu”, are classified as the fourth hierarchy.  
         [0030]     The APs  15   1  to  15   n  run on the OS  11  and display information on windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  by the OS  11 . They receive a command from the user via the windows and perform processing according to the command. This embodiment assumes that one of the APs  15   1  to  15   n  is a business operation support application that supports business operation procedures of employees.  
         [0031]     A hierarchy definition TL  16  registers definition information about hierarchies to which windows displayed by the OS  11  belongs.  FIG. 5  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of the hierarchy definition TL  16 . As shown in the drawing, in the hierarchy definition TL  16 , a record  1600  is registered for each of the windows or sub-windows. The record  1600  has a field  1601  that registers identification information on a window or a sub-window, a field  1602  that, when the identification information registered in the field  1601  is a sub-window, registers identification information on a window to which the sub-window belongs, and a field  1603  that, when the identification information registered in the field  1601  is a window, registers information on a hierarchy to which the window belongs, while when a sub-window, information on a hierarchy to which a window identified by the identification information registered in the field  1602  belongs.  
         [0032]     In the record information database  17 , record information on user&#39;s input operations. on the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations is registered.  FIG. 6  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of the record information database  17 . As shown in the drawing, in the record information database  17 , a record  1700  is registered for each of user&#39;s input operations on the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations. The record  1700  has a field  1701  for registering a record ID being identification information of the record, and at least one subrecord  1702 . The subrecord  1702  is provided for each of unit operations.  
         [0033]     The unit operation refers to an operation obtained by splitting user&#39;s input operations on the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations into the smallest unit. Examples of the unit operation are a click operation and a drag operation by the mouse, and a key operation on one key of the keyboard.  
         [0034]     The input operation refers to a meaningful operation consisting of at least one unit operation (as a command for the computer  1  with functions for assisting input operations). For example, when a unit operation is a click operation or a pulldown selection operation, the operation alone is a meaningful operation (selection of a clicked item, or selection of an item from a pulldown menu). Accordingly, when a unit operation is a click operation or a pulldown selection operation, the number of subrecords  1702  is one (see records  1700  of record IDs  00001 , and  00004  to  00006 ). On the other hand, when a unit operation is a key operation on one key of the keyboard, the operation alone is not a meaningful operation. When a character string inputted by key operations on plural keys is converted into kanji characters by operating a conversion key, then an enter key is operated, these operations form a meaningful operation (input of a word or sentence). Accordingly, when a unit operation is a key operation on one key of the keyboard, the number of subrecords  1702  is plural (see records  1700  of record IDs  00008  and  00011 ).  
         [0035]     The subrecord  1702  has a field  1703  for registering identification information of an input window being a window or sub-window on which a unit operation has been performed, a field  1704  for registering the input entity of the unit operation, a field  1705  for registering the hierarchy of a window on which the unit operation has been performed or a window to which a sub-window on which the unit operation has been performed belongs, and a field  1706  for registering an input data of the unit operation.  
         [0036]     In the statistics information database  18 , statistics information of record information registered in the record information database  7  is registered.  FIG. 7  is a drawing schematically showing the registration contents of the statistics information database  18 . As shown in the drawing, in the statistics information database  18 , a record  1800  is registered in combination of transition information, input window, and input information. The input information refers to the information of an input entity indicated by an input operation. The transition information is information indicating the transition of active windows (limited to windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n ) until an input operation indicated by input information corresponding to the transition information has been performed.  
         [0037]     The record  1800  has a field  1801  for registering a statistics ID being record identification information, a field  1802  for registering transition information, a field  1803  for registering identification information of an input window being a window or sub-window on which an input operation was performed, a field  1804  for registering input information, and a field  1805  for registering a statistics value. Transition information registered in the field  1802  is information about the transition of a predetermined number of active windows (three in  FIG. 7 ). As a statistics value registered in the field  1805 , a statistics value of record information having a combination of transition information, input window, and input information that are shown in the fields  1802  to  1804  is registered. Statistics values are the total number of previous occurrences of the record information, a frequency indicating the number of occurrence of the record information in a predetermined unit period, and a cycle indicating an occurrence interval of the record information.  
         [0038]     The hooking PG  12  hooks user&#39;s input operations (input window, input entity, input hierarchy, and input date) notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  from the OS  11 , and registers the contents in the record information database  17 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the hooking PG  12 .  
         [0040]     The hooking PG  12  monitors a unit operation notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  from the OS  11  (S 101 ). On detecting the notification of a unit operation to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  from the OS  11  (YES in S 101 ), the hooking PG  12  adds a new record  1700  to the record information database  17  and registers a unique record ID to the field  1701  of the record  1700  (S 102 ).  
         [0041]     The hooking PG  12  adds a subrecord  1702  to the record  1700 , registers an input window of the detected unit operation in the field  1703  of the subrecord  1702 , registers the input entity of the detected unit operation in the field  1704 , registers the hierarchy of an input window of the detected unit operation in the field  1705 , and registers the detection date of the detected unit operation in the field  1706  (S 103 ). The hierarchy of an, input window is a hierarchy registered in the field  1604  of a record  1600  of which the input window is registered in the field  1601 , in the hierarchy definition TL  16 .  
         [0042]     The hooking PG  12  checks whether the detected unit operation is a key operation of the enter key, a click operation on the mouse, or a pulldown operation (S 104 ). In the case of a unit operation such as a key input operation of the enter key, a click operation on the mouse, or a pulldown operation, that unit operation is the last unit operation to constitute input operations. Accordingly, in this case (YES in S 104 ), notification of input operations consisting of one unit operation from the OS  11  to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  is completed. In this case, the hooking PG  12  returns to S 101  to monitor notification of a unit operation constituting new input operations from the OS  11  to the APs  15   1  to  15   n . On the other hand, when the detected unit operation is other than a key input operation of the enter key, a click operation on the mouse, or a pulldown operation (NO in S 104 ), it means that notification of the input operations from the OS  11  to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  is not completed. In this case, the hooking PG  12  further monitors a unit operation notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  from the OS  11  (S 105 ). On detecting the notification of a unit operation to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  from the OS  11  (YES in S 105 ), the hooking PG  12  returns to S 103  to create a subrecord  1702  and add it to the record  1700 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 1  is referred to back to continue the description. The statistics information generation PG  13  updates the statistics information database  18  on the basis of record information registered in the record information database  17 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the statistics information generation PG  13 .  
         [0045]     The statistics information generation PG  13  monitors active windows of the multiwindow system offered from the OS  11  (S 201 ). When an active window switches from an existing window to another window (a window allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n ) (YES in S 201 ), it updates transition information owned by it (S 202 ). The statistics information generation PG  13  holds a predetermined number of active windows from the past to the present (limited to windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n )  
         [0046]     The statistics information generation PG  13  monitors the record information database  17  (S 203 ). If a new record  1700  is added to the record information database  17  (YES in S 203 ), it checks whether a record  1800  having transition information owned by it, an input window of a series of subrecords  1702  contained in the record  1700 , and input information identified by the input entities of the series of subrecords  1702  that are respectively registered in fields  1802  to  1804  is registered in the statistics information database  18  (S 204 ). If it is registered (YES in S 204 ), the statistics information generation PG  13  updates a statistics value registered in the field  1805  of the record  1800  (S 205 ). For example, when the type of the statistics value is a total number, it increments the value of the statistics value by one. When the type of the statistics value is frequency, it calculates the number of records  1700  having a series of subrecords  1702  matching input information of the record  1800 , generated from a predetermined previous unit period to the present, on the basis of input date (field  1706 ) of the records  1700  registered in the record information database  17 . The calculating result is registered as a statistics value. When the type of the statistics value is a cycle, it calculates the occurrence interval of records  1700  having a series of subrecords  1702  matching input information of the record  1800 , on the basis of input date (field  1706 ) of the records  1700  registered in the record information database  17 . The calculating result is registered as a statistics value.  
         [0047]     On the other hand, in S 204 , when a record  1800  having transition information owned by the statistics information generation PG  13 , an input window of a series of subrecords  1702  contained in the record  1700  newly added to the record information database  17 , and input information identified by the input entities of the series of subrecords  1702  that are respectively registered in fields  1802  to  1804  is not registered in the statistics information database  18 , the statistics information generation PG  13  newly creates the record  1800  and adds it to the statistics information database  18  (S 206 ) A statistics value of the field  1805  of the record  1800  is 1 when the type of the statistics value is a total number or frequency, and null when cycle.  
         [0048]      FIG. 1  is referred to back to continue the description. The proposal window PG  14  uses the record information database  17  and the statistics information database  18  to support input operations on an active window being displayed.  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the proposal window PG  14 .  
         [0050]     The OS  11  allocates two windows to the proposal window PG  14  by the multiwindow system. The proposal window PG  14  uses one of the two windows allocated by the OS  11  as a record window, and displays transition information held by it on the record window (S 301 ). The proposal window PG  14  holds transition information of a predetermined number of active windows (limited to windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n ) from the past to the present.  
         [0051]     The proposal window PG  14  monitors an active window of the multiwindow system offered from the OS  11  (S 302 ). When an active window switches from an existing window to another window (a window allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n ) (YES in S 302 ), it updates transition information owned by it and displays the updated transition information in the record window (S 303 ).  
         [0052]     The proposal window PG  14 , when any one of windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  is an active window, checks whether a record  1800  having input information with a sub-window belonging to the window as an input window, and the same transition information as that held by it is registered in the statistics information database  18  (S 304 ). Specifically, it refers to the hierarchy definition TL  16  to search for a record  1600  having information about the window that is registered in field  1602 . When such a record  1600  exists, the identification information of a sub-window registered in the field  1601  of the record  1600  is registered in field  1803  as an input window, and it checks whether a record  1800  having transition information held by it that is registered in field  1802  is registered in the statistics information database  18 .  
         [0053]     When such a record  1800  is registered in the statistics information database  18  (YES in S 304 ), for each of sub-windows belonging to the active window, it extracts records  1800  having input information with a sub-window belonging to the window as an input window, and the same transition information as that held by it from the statistics information database  18  (S 305 ). For each of sub-windows, it displays input information registered in field  1804  of the extracted records  1800  on the proposal window in the order of priority determined according to a statistics value registered in field  1805  of the records  1800  (S 306 ), and then proceeds to S 307 . The order of priority is determined so that, when the type of the statistics value is a total number or frequency, the order of priority is higher if the statistics value is greater, and when the type of the statistics value is cycle, the order of priority is higher if the statistics value is smaller.  
         [0054]     In S 307 , when the proposal window PG  14  receives an OK command of the record window from the user via the OS  11  (YES in S 307 ), from input information displayed in the record window in units of sub-windows, it determines input information selected by the user for each of the sub-windows. Next, for each of the sub-windows it generates a record  1700  of input operations corresponding to the selected input information and registers it in the record information database  17 . Then, it registers a unique record ID in field  1701  of the registered record  1700 , and includes subrecords  1702  of unit operations constituting the input operations in the record  1700 . Moreover, it records a sub-window in field  1703  of each subrecord  1702 , the input entity of a unit operation in field  1704 , the hierarchy of an active window defined in the hierarchy definition TL  16  in field  1705 , and current date in field  1706  (S 308 ), and then proceeds to S 309 . On the other hand, in S 307 , when the proposal window PG  14  receives an NG command of the record window from the user via the OS  11  (NO in S 307 ), it immediately proceeds to S 309 .  
         [0055]     In S 309 , the proposal window PG  14 , when any one of windows allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  is an active window, checks whether a record  1800  having input information with the window as an input window, and the same transition information as that held by it is registered in the statistics information database  18 . Specifically, it refers to the hierarchy definition TL  16  to search for a record  1600  having information about the window that is registered in field  1601 . When such a record  1600  exists, the identification information of a window registered in the field  1601  of the record  1600  is registered in field  1803  as an input window, and it checks whether a record  1800  having transition information held by it that is registered in field  1802  is registered in the statistics information database  18 .  
         [0056]     When such a record  1800  is registered in the statistics information database  18  (YES in S 309 ), it extracts records  1800  having input information with an active window as an input window, and the same transition information as that held by it from the statistics information database  18  (S 310 ). It displays input information registered in field  1804  of the extracted records  1800  on the proposal window in the order of priority determined according to a statistics value registered in field  1805  of the records  1800  (S 311 ), and then proceeds to S 312 . The order of priority is determined so that, when the type of the statistics value is a total number or frequency, the order of priority is higher if the statistics value is greater, and when the type of the statistics value is cycle, the order of priority is higher if the statistics value is smaller.  
         [0057]     In S 312 , when the proposal window PG  14  receives an OK command of the record window from the user via the OS  11  (YES in S 312 ), it determines input information selected by the user from input information displayed in the record window. Next, it generates a record  1700  of record information of input operations corresponding to the selected input information, and registers it in the record information database  17 . Then, it registers a unique record ID in field  1701  of the registered record  1700 , and includes subrecords  1702  of unit operations constituting the input operations in the record  1700 . Moreover, it records a sub-window in field  1703  of each subrecord  1702 , the input entity of a unit operation in field  1704 , the hierarchy of an active window defined in the hierarchy definition TL  16  in field  1705 , and current date in field  1706  (S 313 ), and then proceeds to S 302 . On the other hand, in S 312 , when the proposal window PG  14  receives an NG command of the record window from the user via the OS  11  (NO in S 312 ), it immediately proceeds to S 302 .  
         [0058]     The following describes the operation of the proposal window PG  14  shown in  FIG. 10 , using a screen example.  
         [0059]      FIG. 11A ,  FIG. 11B , and  FIG. 11C  are drawings for explaining windows allocated to one of the APs  15   1  to  15   n  by the OS  11 . A window shown in  FIG. 11A  is an employee portal window  51  displayed by single- or double-clicking an item “employee portal” displayed in a window “main menu” of the first hierarchy displayed in the first screen displayed when the OS  11  is activated. The window belongs to the second hierarchy. As shown in the drawing, the window has a sub-window  511  for inputting an employee ID, a sub-window  512  for inputting PW, and a selection button  513  for newly displaying windows of “notice”, “task menu”, “announcement”, and “welfare”.  
         [0060]     A window shown in  FIG. 11B  is a task menu window  52  displayed by single- or double-clicking the item “task menu” displayed in the window “employee portal” of the second hierarchy. The window belongs to the third hierarchy. As shown in the drawing, the window has selection buttons  514  for newly displaying windows of “business trips”, “visitor”, “publication”, “labor affairs”, “dispatch”, “purchase”, “training”, “budget”, “allowance”, and “annual adjustment”.  
         [0061]     A window shown in  FIG. 11C  is a business trips window  53  displayed by single- or double-clicking the item “business trips” displayed in the window “task menu” of the third hierarchy. The window belongs to the fourth hierarchy. As shown in the drawing, the window has a sub-window  531  for inputting (selecting) approver specification, a sub-window  532  for inputting date specification, a sub-window  533  for inputting the purpose of a business trip, a sub-window  534  for inputting the starting point of the business trip, and a sub-window  535  for inputting the ending point of the business trip, and a sub-window  536  for registering settlement amounts.  
         [0062]     To describe the operation (input operation assistance) of the proposal window PG  14 , the following uses an example that (1) the item “employee portal” is selected from the main menu to display the employee portal window  51 , (2) the item “task menu” is displayed from the employee portal window  51  to display the task menu window  52 , and then (3) the item “business trips” is selected from the task menu window  52  to display the business trips window  53 .  
         [0063]     FIGS.  12  to  15  show examples of windows displayed in a display screen. As shown in the drawings, the display screen has an application window  60  being a window allocated to the APs  15   1  to  15   n , and a record window  70  and a proposal window  80  that are allocated to the proposal window PG  14 .  
         [0064]      FIG. 12  shows a case where the item “employee portal” is selected from the main menu, and a real window  60  for displaying an employee portal is switched to an active window. In this case, S 302  and S 303  of  FIG. 10  are executed, and in the record window  70 , transition information indicating transition from a main menu  71  of the first hierarchy to an employee portal  72  of the second hierarchy is displayed as transition information. Next, S 304  to S 306  in  FIG. 10  are executed, and the active window is switched from an application window  60  to the proposal window  80 . At the same time, in the proposal window  80 , for each of ID input sub-window  811  and a PW input sub-window  812  that belong to the employee portal window, input information with a sub-window concerned as an input window that is associated with the same transition information as transition information being displayed in the record window  70  is displayed in descending order of statistics values. However, in this embodiment, record information of input operations for the ID input sub-window  811  and PW input sub-window  812  is not registered in the record information database  17 . Accordingly, in the proposal window  80 , ID input sub-window  811  and PW input sub-window  812  for which no information is inputted are displayed.  
         [0065]     In  FIG. 12 , when the user inputs his (her) own ID and PW to the ID input sub-window  811  and the PW input sub-window  812  displayed in the proposal window  80 , respectively, and selects an OK button  81  by using the mouse or the like, information about the inputted ID and PW is reflected in the ID input sub-window  511  and the PW input sub-window  512  of the employee portal window being displayed in the application program window  60 . At the same time, the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application program window  60 . Thereby, the ID and PW are passed to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. As described above, record information of input operations for the ID input sub-window  511  and PW input sub-window  512  is not registered in the record information database  17 . Accordingly, in this case, S 308  is not executed. On the other hand, in  FIG. 12 , when the user selects the NG button  82  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse and the like, the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60  without the input information of the ID input sub-window  811  and the PW input sub-window  812  being reflected in the ID input sub-window  511  and the PW input sub-window  512  of the employee portal window being displayed in the application program window  60 . In this case, the user directly inputs an ID and a PW to the ID input sub-window  511  and the PW input sub-window  512  of the employee portal window by key input operations.  
         [0066]      FIG. 13  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 12 , an ID and PW are directly or indirectly inputted to the ID input sub-window  511  and the PW input sub-window  512  of the employee portal window being displayed in the application window  60 , and the ID and PW are passed to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. In this case, S 309  to S 311  of  FIG. 10  are executed, and the active window is switched from an application window  60  to the proposal window  80 . At the same time, in the proposal window  80 , input information  821  with the employee portal window as an input window that is associated with the same transition information as transition information being displayed in the record window  70  is displayed in descending order of statistics values.  
         [0067]     In  FIG. 13 , when the user checks any of check boxes  83  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse or the like, and selects the OK button  81 , input information  821  corresponding to the checked check boxes  83  is reflected in the selection button  513  being displayed in the application window  60 , and the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60 . Thereby, the selection of the selection buttons  513  corresponding to the input information  821  is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. On the other hand, in  FIG. 13 , when the user selects the NG button  82  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse and the like, the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60  without the contents of the proposal window  80  being reflected in the selection buttons  513  of the employee portal window being displayed in the application window  60 . In this case, the user directly selects any of the selection buttons  513  being displayed in the employee portal window directly by using the mouse and the like.  
         [0068]      FIG. 14  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 13 , the selection button  513  corresponding to the item “task menu” of the employee portal window being displayed in the application window  60  is directly or indirectly selected, and the fact is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. In this case, S 302  and S 303  of  FIG. 10  are executed, and in the record window  70 , transition information indicating that the main menu  71  of the first hierarchy transitions to the employee portal  72  of the second hierarchy, which transitions to the task menu  73  of the third hierarchy, is displayed. Since the task menu window has no sub-window as shown in  FIG. 11B , S 305  to S 308  of  FIG. 10  are not executed. S 309  to S 311  of  FIG. 10  are executed, and the active window switches from the application window  60  to the proposal window  80 . At the same time, in the proposal window  80 , input information  831  with the task menu window as an input window that is associated with the same transition information as transition information being displayed in the record window  70  is displayed in descending order of statistics values.  
         [0069]     In  FIG. 14 , when the user checks any of check boxes  83  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse or the like, and selects the OK button  81 , input information  831  corresponding to the checked check boxes  83  is reflected in the selection buttons  514  being displayed in the application window  60 , and the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60 . Thereby, the selection of the selection buttons  514  corresponding to the input information  813  is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. On the other hand, in  FIG. 14 , when the user selects the NG button  82  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse and the like, the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60  without the contents of the proposal window  80  being reflected in the selection buttons  514  of the task menu window being displayed in the application window  60 . In this case, the user directly selects any of the selection buttons  514  being displayed in the task menu window directly by using the mouse and the like.  
         [0070]      FIG. 15  shows a case where, in the screen example shown in  FIG. 14 , the selection button  514  corresponding to the item “business trips” of the task menu window being displayed in the application window  60  is directly or indirectly selected, and the fact is notified to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. In this case, S 302  and S 303  of  FIG. 10  are executed, and in the record window  70 , transition information indicating that the main menu  71  of the first hierarchy transitions to the employee portal  72  of the second hierarchy, which transitions to the task menu  73  of the third hierarchy, which transitions to the business trips  74  of the fourth hierarchy is displayed. Next, S 304  to S 306  of  FIG. 10  is executed, and the active window switches from the application window  60  to the proposal window  80 . At the same time, in the proposal window  80 , for each of an approver specification sub-window  841  of the business trips window, a date specification sub-window  842 , a business trip purpose sub-window  843 , a starting point sub-window  844 , an ending point sub-window  845 , and a settlement amount sub-window  846 , input information with a sub-window concerned as an input window that is associated with the same transition information as transition information being displayed in the record window  70  is displayed in descending order of statistics values.  
         [0071]     In  FIG. 15 , in the sub-windows  841  to  846  displayed in the proposal window  80 , when the user checks desired check boxes  83  and selects the OK button  81  by using the mouse or the like, input information corresponding to the checked check boxes  83  is reflected in corresponding sub-windows  531  to  537  of the business trips window being displayed in the application window  60 , and the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60 . Thereby, contents reflected in the sub-windows  531  to  537  are passed to the APs  15   1  to  15   n  to which the application window  60  is allocated. On the other hand, in  FIG. 15 , when-the user selects the NG button  82  displayed in the proposal window  80  by using the mouse and the like, the active window switches from the proposal window  80  to the application window  60  without the contents of the proposal window  80  being reflected in corresponding sub-windows  531  to  537  of the business trips window being displayed in the application window  60 . In this case, the user directly inputs information to the sub-windows  531  to  537  belonging to the business trips window by key input operations.  
         [0072]     Hereinbefore, one embodiment of the present invention has been described.  
         [0073]     In this embodiment, input operations on plural operation target items belonging to same window can be predicted collectively.  
         [0074]     The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be modified in various ways within the scope of the main purports of the present invention. For example, although, in the above-described, a window or sub-window is eligible as an input window, input operations may be predicted with a tab, tag, spread sheet, and the like as input windows.  
         [0075]     In the above-described, the record information database  17  and the statistics information database  18  may be provided for each user, and the record information database  17  and the statistics information database  18  that are to be used may be changed for each user. Which record information database  17  and statistics information database  18  to use may be managed by a user&#39;s employee ID and determined by an ID inputted to the ID input sub-window  511 .