Patent Abstract:
A page template, which serves as the prototype of a web page, contains formatter specifying information and display attribute information. The formatter specifying information is information for specifying one formatter out of a plurality of types (banner, Telop, a plurality of banner arrangements or the like). Display attribute information is information for controlling the moves of the formatter. When a page template is called by a web browser, the formatter is actuated, and selects, arranges, or controls the display sequence, display time or the like of, contents to be embedded into the template in accordance with display attributes, or effects such controls as the reduction of a display area (an area in the template available for embedding contents) to the size of contents.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a system for dynamically controlling the form of information displayed on a web browser, and in more detail relates to a system for dynamically controlling the form of data to be embedded into a page template. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Known techniques can choose information that is less likely to be changed in an HTML template and embed information more likely to be changed into this template for displaying as disclosed in the Published Unexamined Patent Application Nos. 10-198596, 11-85727, 10-334086 and 11-66152. 
   However, such techniques have adopted a system, as illustrated in  FIG. 43 , of selecting data to be embedded into the template, to designate the accessing method, to designate the layout, to designate the data format, and the like, under a CGI program. An alternative system, as shown in  FIG. 44 , embeds a program (such as JavaBeans), to accesses prescribed data, displays them in a prescribed form, and incorporates them data into the template. 
   Such a CGI program (or JavaBean), in which database names, file names, and the like are described in a fixed manner, required the occurrence of a workload to modify the CGI program or to replace the JavaBeans with new ones when it was desired to incorporate information from another database, or of another file, into the template without altering the database or the contents of the file themselves. This makes it impossible to dynamically switch prescribed displayed data. Additionally, the designer of a web page may be required to have knowledge of programming. 
   Especially when staging a campaign for various products with a web browser on the Internet. A campaign planner wants to be able to alter the contents or the layout according to the targeted customers&#39; interest or to schedule without having to edit the HTML file or to modify the server program (such as CGI). 
   Furthermore, displaying contents strictly for a prescribed user, makes it possible to enhance advertising by communicating effective information, such as advertisements, that are based on the needs of that particular user, as well as to increase sales in electronic commerce. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a system permitting alteration of the contents or layout to be embedded into a page template without having to edit the HTML file or modify the server program such as CGI. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a system permitting dynamic alteration of the contents or layout to be embedded into a page template according to the situation at the time of accessing by a user. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a versatile and low cost system permitting information on contents and layout to be embedded into a page template to be diverted to another page template. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a system permitting, on the basis of the behavior of a user having used Internet, information fitting that particular user&#39;s taste and behavioral pattern to be supplied only to the user or a group including that user. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a system reduced in resources required at the time of execution. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention, a page template which would serve as the prototype of a web page contains formatter specifying information and display attribute information. This formatter specifying information is information to specify one out of a plurality of kinds of formatters (banner, Telop, a plurality of banners arrangement, and the like). Display attribute information is information for controlling the moves of this formatter. When a page template is called by a web browser, this formatter is actuated and effects such controls as selecting, arranging, and determining the displaying sequence and time of the contents to be embedded into the template according to the display attributes, or reducing the display area (the area made available in the template for embedding the contents) to the size of the contents. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting page information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising the steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information, and   (d) processing contents to be incorporated into the page template on the basis of the display attribute, and generating page information to be displayed on the display apparatus of the information terminal.       

   In the claims of the specification under the present application, “formatter specifying information” is a concept covering information used for specifying a formatter, such as the path name, file name, database name, table name, and information to identify the type of formatter. “Contents” is a concept referring to parts registered correspondingly to display areas in an arrangement rule DB to be explained with reference to an embodiment to be described below, covering not only contents registered in parts whose display conditions have prescribed values but also contents specified by descriptions fixed by a path name and the like in display areas. And “processing” is a concept covering alteration of any content in size, shape, arrangement, background color, color of its own, and display method (such as being displayed while moving from right to left, or emerging in a grid form). 
   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising to steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) acquiring information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) generating, if it is judged that the display attributes include one indicating rotation, page information including information on a first content among the plurality of contents and generating, after the lapse of a prescribed length of time, page information including information on a second content among the plurality of contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising the steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) acquiring information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) excluding, if it is judged that the display attributes include one indicating random, information on a first content among the plurality of contents and generating page information including information on a second content among the plurality of contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising the steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) acquiring information on any content to be displayed on the page template,   (e) acquiring size information on a display area predefined to display the content from the page template,   (f) comparing the size information on the display area with the size information on the acquired content, and   (g) adjusting, if it is judged that the size information on the display area has a greater value than the size information on the acquired content and the display attributes include one to instruct adjusted displaying, the size of the display area to the size of the content and generating page information.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising the steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) searching for information on a content to be displayed on the page template,   (e) judging, if it is judged that there is no content to be displayed, whether or not information on default contents is defined in the page template, and   (f) generating, if any information on default contents exists, page information including the information on default contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing method to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising the steps of:
         (a) analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) acquiring from the page template formatter specifying information and display attribute information on a formatter to control the arrangement of a plurality of contents,   (c) acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) searching for information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) generating page information on the arrangement of the contents on the basis of information indicating the direction of arrangement contained in the display attributes.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting page information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising:
         (a) an apparatus for analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) an apparatus for acquiring from the page template formatter specifying information and display attribute information,   (c) an apparatus for acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information, and   (d) an apparatus for processing, on the basis of the display attributes, contents to be incorporated into the page template and generating page information to be displayed on the display unit of the information terminal.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting page information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, comprising:
         (a) an apparatus for analyzing a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) an apparatus for acquiring formatter specifying information from the page template,   (c) an apparatus for acquiring a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information, and   (d) an apparatus for transmitting a formatter, together with the page template, to the information terminal to process, on the basis of the display attributes, contents to be incorporated into the page template and generating page information to be displayed on the display unit of the information terminal.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting page information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information, and   (d) a program code for instructing processing of contents to be incorporated into the page template on the basis of the display attributes and generation of page information to be displayed on the display apparatus of the information terminal.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) a program code for instructing acquisition of information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) a program code for instructing, if it is judged that the display attributes include one indicating rotation, generation of page information including information on a first content among the plurality of contents and, after the lapse of a prescribed length of time, generation of page information including information on a second content among the plurality of contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) a program code for instructing acquisition of information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) a program code for instructing exclusion, if it is judged that the display attributes include one indicating random, of information on a first content among the plurality of contents and generation of page information including information on a second content among the plurality of contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) a program code for instructing acquisition of information on any content to be displayed on the page template,   (e) a program code for instructing acquisition of size information on a display area predefined to display the content from the page template,   (f) a program code for instructing comparison of the size information on the display area with the size information on the acquired content, and   (g) a program code for instructing, if it is judged that the size information on the display area has a greater value than the size information on the acquired content and the display attributes include one to instruct adjusted displaying, adjustment of the size of the display area to the size of the content and for generating page information.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) a program code for instructing searching for information on a content to be displayed on the page template,   (e) a program code for instructing, if it is judged that there is no content to be displayed, judgment of whether or not information on default contents is defined in the page template, and   (f) a program code for instructing, if any information on default contents exists, generation of page information including the information on default contents.       

   According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a storage medium storing thereon a display information fixing program to be executed on a display information fixing apparatus for transmitting display information to an information terminal having a display screen and an input unit, the program comprising:
         (a) a program code for instructing analysis of a page template specified by a display information acquisition request from the information terminal,   (b) a program code for instructing acquisition of formatter specifying information and display attribute information on a formatter to control the arrangement of a plurality of contents from the page template,   (c) a program code for instructing acquisition of a formatter on the basis of the formatter specifying information,   (d) a program code for instructing searching for information on a plurality of contents to be displayed on the page template, and   (e) a program code for instructing generation of page information on the arrangement of the contents on the basis of information indicating the direction of arrangement contained in the display attributes.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of hardware configuration of an information terminal, web server and client machine according to the present invention; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are a block diagram of processing elements in a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram illustrating the state transitions of parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows message flows in a contents registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  shows message flows in a page template registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  shows message flows in a formatter object registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a conceptual diagram for describing a page template in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show message flows in a part creation procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 9  shows message flows in a part creation procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a conceptual diagram illustrating the page designer&#39;s screen configuration in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 11  shows message flows in a parts arrangement procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 12  shows message flows in a parts arrangement procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 13  shows message flows in a procedure of adding parts to a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a conceptual diagram of a part selection panel in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  shows message flows in a schedule definition procedure for arranged parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 16  shows message flows in a publishing decision procedure for contents to be embedded into a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 17A and 17B  show message flows in a generating procedure for contents to be embedded into a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 18  shows message flows in a generating procedure for contents to be embedded into a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating one example of a code to define a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 20  is a conceptual diagram of an arrangement rule DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 21  is a conceptual diagram of a component DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 22  shows message flows in a procedure of shaping contents by a formatter in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 23  is a conceptual diagram of a formatter in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 24  is a diagram illustrating one example of parameters to be set in a display area; 
       FIG. 25  is a diagram for describing arrangement of parts in a display area; 
       FIG. 26  is a flowchart of a formatter process where a standard banner form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 27  is a flowchart of a formatter process where a standard banner form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 28  is a diagram illustrating one example of parameters to be set in a display area; 
       FIG. 29  is a diagram for describing arrangement of parts in a display area; 
       FIG. 30  is a diagram for describing arrangement of parts in a display area; 
       FIG. 31  is a flowchart of a formatter process where a banner flow form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 32  is a flowchart of a formatter process where a banner flow form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 33  is a conceptual diagram for describing creation of an array of parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 34  is a conceptual diagram for describing creation of an array of parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 35  is a conceptual diagram for describing creation of an array of parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 36  shows message flows in an event monitor registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 37  shows message flows in a campaign definition procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 38  is a conceptual diagram of an arrangement rule DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 39  shows message flows in an event subscription procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 40  is a conceptual diagram showing information managed by a user management DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 41  is a conceptual diagram showing items managed by a subscription DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 42A and 42B  show message flows in an event monitoring and notification procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 43  is a prior art for embedding contents into a page template; and 
       FIG. 44  is a prior art for embedding contents into a page template. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A. Hardware configuration 
     FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of hardware configuration for realizing an information terminal  110 , a web server  120  and a client machine  130  (See  FIGS. 2A and 2B , collectively  FIG. 2 ) according to the present invention. The information terminal  110 , the web server  120  and the client machine  130  include a central processing unit (CPU)  1  and a memory  4 . To the CPU  1  and the memory  4  are connected hard disk units  13  and  31  as auxiliary memory units via a bus  2  and the like. Floppy disk units (or medium drive units  26 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  such as MOs  28  or CD-ROMs  26  and  29 )  20  are connected to the bus  2  via a floppy disk controller (or various controllers including an IDE controller  25  and an SCSI controller  27 )  19 . 
   Into the floppy disk unit (or medium drive units  26 ,  28 ,  29  and  30  such as MOs and CD-ROMs)  20  are inserted floppy disks(or media such as MOs or CD-ROMs), and these storage media such as floppy disks or the hard disk unit  13 , the ROM  14  or the like can record, working in concert with an operating system, computer program codes for giving commands to the CPU and the like and implementing the invention, and they are executed by being loaded into the memory  4 . These computer program codes can be compressed or divided into a plurality to be recorded into a plurality of media. 
   The information terminal  110 , the web server  120  and the client machine  130  can further be put together into a system provide with user interface hardware, and this user interface hardware would include, for instance, a pointing device (mouse, joystick, track ball or the like)  7  for inputting screen position information, a keyboard  6  for supporting key inputting, and displays  11  and  12  for presenting image data to the user. A loudspeaker  23  receives audio signals from an audio controller  21  via an amplifier  22 , and outputs them aurally. 
   These information terminal  110 , web server  120  and client machine  130  can communicate with other computers or the like via a serial port  15  and a modem or a communication adapter  18 , such as a token ring. 
   The present invention can be implemented with a conventional personal computer (PC), a workstation, or a computer incorporated into a household electrical appliance such as a television receiver or a facsimile machine, or a combination thereof. However, these constituent elements are cited merely as examples, but all these constituent elements are not indispensable for implementation of the invention. Particularly, since the invention is intended for dynamic alteration of contents to be embedded into a page template, such constituent elements as the audio controller  21 , the amplifier  22  and the loudspeaker  23  are dispensable in some modes of carrying out the invention. 
   The operating system on the side of the information terminal  110 , the web server  120  and the client machine  130  is not limited to any specific operating system environment, but realization is possible with what supports GUI multi-window environment as a standard function, such as Windows NT (a trademark of Microsoft), Windows 9x (a trademark of Microsoft), Windows 3.x (a trademark of Microsoft), OS/2 (a trademark of IBM), MacOS (a trademark of Apple), or Linux (a trademark of Linus Torvlds) or X-WINDOW system (a trademark of MIT) on AIX (a trademark of IBM), one for a character base environment such as PC-DOS (a trademark of IBM) or MS-DOS (a trademark of Microsoft), a real time OS such as OS/Open (a trademark of IBM) or VxWorks (a trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.) or an OS incorporated into a network computer such as Java OS. 
   B. System configuration 
     FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram illustrating the system configuration of a system including a web page generating system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in an information terminal  11  is installed a web browser  111 . The web browser  111  designates URL, and transmits an HTTP request to a prescribed web server  120 . It also receives a response transmitted from the web server  120 , and displays it on a display screen. 
   On the other hand, the web server machine  120  in the preferred embodiment of the invention is provided with a formatter  121 , a display area contents creator  123 , a schedule engine  125 , a web server program  127 , an e-mail sender  151 , an event monitor  153 , a subscription receiver  155  and a subscriber DB manager  157 . 
   The formatter  121  formats contents into a prescribed form on the basis of attribute information in which various resources are set in a display area to be described below (including the display position, height, width, style and format). 
   The display area contents creator  123  searches an arrangement rule DB for candidates of contents to be embedded into a page template, and pinpoints contents to be displayed out of the candidates according to such conditions as schedule and customer cell. It also hands over to the formatter  121  the contents to be displayed and information set in the display area, receives formatted contents, embeds them into the page template, and returns them to the web server  127 . 
   The schedule engine  125  judges whether or not the time of accessing by the user satisfies the conditions of schedule definition. The schedule definition can also set conditions combining such items as the day of the week and the time range in addition to the period. 
   The subscription receiver  155  provides the user with a list of published event parts registered with an arrangement rule DB manager  143  to be described below, and registers into a subscriber DB  157  the ID, condition formula and notification form of the parts selected by the user, together with user information extracted from a user management DB  159 . 
   The event monitor  153  periodically monitors the contents of this subscriber DB  157  to check external or internal resources to be monitored (the external web server  115  in the illustrated example). If the checked resource meets a prescribed condition, accesses the subscriber DB  157  with that condition as the key, references the notification form, and executes processing matching the notification form. 
   The e-mail sender  151  takes out e-mail parts from the arrangement rule DB  143  in response to an instruction from the event monitor  153 , generates an e-mail by embedding prescribed information, and transmits it. The user management DE  159  manages customer information. 
   The client machine  130  is provided with a template parser  131 , a resources manager  133 , a resources DB manager  135 , a page designer  137 , a component DB manager  141 , and an arrangement rule DB manager  143 . 
   The template parser  131  analyzes the page template, detects a display area contained in the page template, and extracts its attributes (including the display position, height, width, style and format). 
   The resources manager  133  provides the operator with a GUI for registering/altering/deleting JavaBeans. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, objects such as the page template, banner, Telop and button, and the customer cell (where the contents to be displayed vary with the user, a user group for whom different information is to be displayed is called a customer cell) are also registered into the resources DB as JavaBeans. Each Bean has a Java object code and attributes, and the Java object code is caused to be executed and a list of attributes held by the Bean to be taken out by making an inquiry with a common interface. In the case of a banner Bean for instance, it has such attributes as the type of Bean, part name, image file to be displayed, URL of link destination, and explanatory statement. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the page template is also registered as a JavaBean in order to enhance versatility. 
   The resources DB manager  135  manages the resources DB. The resources DB manages parts before attribute information is set. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, for a part managed by the resources DB, only its type (as to the page template, Telop, banner and so forth) and bibliographical items are registered, but no substantive attributes such as what kind of image is to be displayed are registered. This configuration contributes to increasing the speed of retrieval among other advantages. 
   The component DB manager  141  manages the component DB. The component DB manages attribute information on parts. Where the part is a banner Bean for instance, it manages such items of information as the part name, image file to be displayed, URL of link destination, and explanatory statement. 
   The arrangement rule DB manager  143  manages the arrangement rule DB. The arrangement rule DB stores information to associate display areas with parts, schedule information, and information for determining the possibility of publishing. The operator can also obtain a list of parts stored in this DB by using the page template name and the display area name as the keys. 
   The page designer  137  provides the operator with a GUI which makes possible for a part to undergo arrangement registration, schedule setting, and registration/alteration of publishing decision or the like. 
     FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram illustrating the state transitions of parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the figure, registered parts  203  (class) consist of information (metadata) registered under the management of the resources manager  133 , and permit alteration and deletion. These registered parts  203  are stored into the resources DB  135 . At this stage, for any such part, only its type (as to the page template, Telop, banner and so forth) and bibliographical items are registered, but no substantive attributes such as what kind of image is to be displayed are registered. 
   Set parts  205  (instance) associate registered parts  203  with set information (banner, Telop, list and so forth) according to the property of each part, and permit alteration and deletion. These set parts  205  are stored into the arrangement rule DB  143 . In this state, the set parts  205  have, if the part is a banner Bean for instance, such attributes as the type of Bean, part name, image file to be displayed, URL of link destination, and explanatory statement. The attributes are stored into the component DB. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in setting the properties of a part, the operator can reference and select contents registered in the resources DB. 
   Arranged parts  207  are associated with the set parts  205  with respect to display areas, and permit deletion. The set parts  205  are stored into the arrangement rule DB  143 . 
   Publishable parts  209  are arranged parts having undergone schedule setting, and permit alteration and deletion. These publishable parts  209  are stored into the arrangement rule DB  143 . Published parts  211  are publishable parts having been published. They can be returned to publishable parts  209  by unpublishing operation. These publishable parts  209  are stored into the arrangement rule DB  143 . Expired parts  213  are either publishable parts  209  or published parts  211  whose schedule has expired. 
   Incidentally, while in the preferred embodiment of the invention information to associate a display area with parts is stored in the arrangement rule DB with a view to reducing the time required to retrieve parts arranged in a prescribed display area, the invention can as well be implemented by assigning such information to individual parts. Further, out of the parts arranged in the prescribed display area, the schedule is also held incidental to individual arranged data in the arrangement rule DB to reduce the time taken to determine what satisfies the schedule condition, the invention can also be implemented by assigning this information to individual parts. Similarly, information on whether or not a given part is published is managed by the arrangement rule DB, it may as well be managed by the component DE as attributes of part. 
   Whereas each functional block shown in  FIG. 2  has been described so far, these functional blocks are logical functional block, and it is not meant that each of them is realized by an integrated set of hardware or software, but they can be combined or realized by a common set of hardware or software. Especially, while the web server  120  and the client machine  130  are mounted on different machines in this embodiment, the functions described with reference to the client machine  130  can as well be assigned to the web server  120 . Further, all the functional blocks shown in this  FIG. 2  are not indispensable constituent elements for the invention. 
   C. Procedures of operation 
   C-1. Registration of contents 
     FIG. 4  shows message flows in the contents registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the contents creator  501  opens a resources manager main panel  503  provided by the resources manager  133 , designates created contents (in the preferred embodiment of the invention the location of the contents—URL—is designated), and registers the contents (message  5001 ). 
   The resources manager main panel  503 , in response to this, generates metadata  507  on the memory (messages  5002  and  5003 ). If the generation has been completed normally, the URL of the contents is registered into the metadata  507  (message  5004 ). The resources manager main panel  503  then opens a resources metadata definition panel  505  (messages  5005 ,  5006  and  5007 ). 
   The contents creator  501  enters bibliographical items (including the creator, the date of creation and a description of contents) into this resources metadata definition panel  505 . Further in the preferred embodiment of the invention, such items as the date and hour of registration are automatically set, and the type of contents can be selected from a pulldown menu. When the contents creator  501  presses an OK button on the resources metadata definition panel  505 , metadata (including information on the link to the contents) are written into the resources DB  509 , and the inherent ID of the contents is generated and set, associated with the metadata, in the resources DB  509  (messages  5010 ,  5011 ,  5012 ,  5013 ,  5014  and  5015 ). 
   C-2. Registration of page template 
     FIG. 5  shows message flows in the page template registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the contents creator  501  opens a resources manager main panel  503  provided by the resources manager  133 , designates a page template (in the preferred embodiment of the invention the location of the contents—URL—is designated), and registers the page template (message  5101 ). 
   The resources manager main panel  503 , in response to this, generates metadata  507  on the memory (messages  5102  and  5103 ). If the generation has been completed normally, the URL of the contents is registered into the metadata  507  (message  5104 ). 
   Next, the resources manager main panel  503  hands over the URL to the template parser  511 , and requests analysis of a display area (message  5105 ). The template parser  511  accesses the page template  250  as shown in  FIG. 7 , and analyzes the display area contained in the page template  250 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it searches for SERVLET tags  261  and  263  contained in the HTML and, by detecting a character string ‘code=“icdacrt” ’, recognizes it as a servlet defining the display area. 
   If a display area is recognized, such items of information on each display area contained in a page template as the position in the sequence of display areas contained in that page template, display area name, display position, display style, width and height are recognized (message  5106 ). 
   Then the resources manager main panel  503  opens the resources metadata definition panel  505  (messages  5005 ,  5006  and  5007 ). The contents creator  501  enters bibliographical items (including the creator, the date of creation and a description of template) into this resources metadata definition panel  505 . Further in the preferred embodiment of the invention, such items as the date and hour of registration are automatically set. 
   When the contents creator  501  presses the OK button on the resources metadata definition panel  505 , the resources metadata definition panel  505  writes metadata (including information on the link to the contents) and display area information recognized by the template parser  131  (such items of information as the display area number, display area name, display position, display style, width and height) into the resources DH  509  (messages  5112 ,  5113 ,  5114  and  5115 ).
         C-3. Registration of formatter       

     FIG. 6  shows message flows in the formatter object registration procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the contents creator  501  opens a resources manager main panel  503  provided by the resources manager  133 , designates a formatter object (in the preferred embodiment of the invention the location of the contents—URL—is designated), and registers the formatter (message  5151 ). 
   The resources manager main panel  503 , in response to this, generates metadata  507  on the memory (messages  5152  and  5153 ). Then the resources manager main panel  503  opens the resources metadata definition panel  505  (messages  5154  to  5156 ). The contents creator  501  enters into this resources metadata definition panel  505  the format style (designates outputting of banners in a matrix form and so forth), output type (such as HTML, FAX or PostScript), adaptable part types (banner, Telop and so forth), formatter location (the location of the program to be actually executed) and other bibliographical items (messages  5157  to  5164 ). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, such items as the date and hour of registration are automatically set. 
   When the contents creator  501  presses the OK button on the resources metadata definition panel  505 , the resources metadata definition panel  505  writes metadata (including information on the link to the format execution program) into the resources DE  509  (messages  5168  to  5172 ). 
   C-4. Setting of attributes of part (creation of part) 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B  (Collectively  FIG. 8 ) and  FIG. 9  show message flows in the part creation procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the web page creator  521  opens from the page designer main screen a list of set parts screen  523  (message  5201 ), and as it selects part creation (message  5202 ), a part type selection screen  525  is opened. The screen configuration of a page designer  137  in the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
   As the web page creator  521  selects a part type in the parts type selection screen  525 , metadata on registered parts fitting that part type are acquired from the resources DB  135  (messages  5203  and  5204 ). Further, a distinct part ID and part name are assigned to each part type (messages  5205 ,  5206 ,  5207 ,  5208  and  5209 ). 
   Confirmation of a part type by the web page creator  521  (message  5210 ) results in generation of a new part  531  (messages  5211  and  5212 ), metadata and the creator name of the registered part are set (messages  5213  to  5216 ), and a part attribute definition panel  533  is opened (messages  5217  to  5219 ). 
   The web page creator  521  sets on this part attribute definition panel  533  prescribed properties (a list of unregistered Telop messages, URL of link destination and so on), part name and explanatory statement (messages  5221  to  5227 ). 
   The web page creator  521  can as well open a contents selection panel  537  from this part attribute definition panel  533  and access images, texts and the like registered in the resources DB  527  (messages  5228  to  5234 ). If it is a banner part, for instance, a list of images to be displayed and URL of link destination among others can be obtained or, if it is a Telop part, a list of messages to be outputted can be obtained. 
   When the web page creator  521  selects prescribed contents from a list of contents, contents information stored in the resources DB  135  is registered as part properties (messages  5235  to  5241 ). Then, as the web page creator  521  makes final confirmation on the part attribute definition panel  533 , part information, parts ID and alteration history information are registered into the component DB  535  (messages  5242  to  5249 ). 
   C-5. Arrangement of parts 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B  (Collectively  FIG. 11 ) and  FIG. 12  show message flows in the parts arrangement procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the web page creator  531  first accesses a part selection panel  543  via a part arrangement panel  533  (messages  5301  and  5302 ), and acquires a display area in which to arrange parts registered in the resources DB  537  (messages  5303  and  5304 ). Then it acquires attribute information (including the display position, height, width, style and format) on the display area (messages  5305  and  5306 ). 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention, items of attribute information on a display area include what is known as a display area style. This display area style is an item of attribute information to designate the form of displaying a part (by using HTML) selected (according to the conditions of cell and schedule). Available display styles include, for instance, bannerFlow and itemizedList. 
   With each display style, the type of display-shapable parts is associated in advance by a resources manager. For instance, Banner part (image file with a link) is associated with the bannrFlow style, and LisIitem part (1 line text with a link), with itemizedList. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this association is designated when a formatter to generate HTML according to each display style is registered with a resources manager. 
   A list of parts that can be pasted in a display area shows the type of parts displayable in the display area, selected out of set parts on the basis of information associating a display area style with displayable part types (messages  5303  to  5331 ). 
   Then, as the web page creator  531  selects a desired part out of this list, the part is associated with a display area, and the association is stored into the arrangement rule DB  553 . 
   C-6. Addition of parts to display area 
     FIG. 13  shows message flows in the procedure of adding parts to a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there is a separate GUI panel for selecting and associating display areas and parts as illustrated in  FIG. 14 . When a display area  621  is selected from this display area list  630  on this panel and a “parts arrangement” button  643  is pressed, messages  5301  to  5331  in the sequential  FIGS. 11 and 12  are processed.  FIG. 13  shows subsequent message flows. 
   When the web page creator  541  selects a prescribed part out of the parts list displayed on the part selection panel  543  (message  5401 ), an arranged object  545  is newly generated on the memory. Then, a part ID and a display area ID are set on this generated arranged object  545  (messages  5404  to  5409 ), and written into the arrangement rule DB (messages  5410  to  5414 ). 
   C- 7 . Schedule definition 
     FIG. 15  shows message flows in the procedure of schedule definition of arranged parts in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 15 , the web page creator  551  first designates a set of a display area and parts in the parts arrangement panel  553 , opens a schedule definition panel  555  (messages  5501  and  5502 ), and accesses an arranged part to undergo schedule registration (revision) by the web page creator  551  (messages  5503  and  5504 ). 
   If that arranged part is not published, a schedule currently set for the part is acquired to newly set or alter a schedule (message  5505 ). If no schedule is set, a schedule registration screen with no data thereon will be outputted or, if a schedule is already set, there will emerge a schedule revision screen. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, no schedule alteration can be done unless no part is published (in an unpublished state). This is intended to prevent a part display schedule from being changed when general users are watching it. 
   C-8. Publishing decision 
     FIG. 16  shows message flows in the procedure of publishing decision on contents to be embedded into a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , as the web page creator  571  designates a display area and parts on a part arrangement panel  573  and designates publishing, a publish flag is set on an arranged object  575  (messages  5701  to  5703 ), and the contents of the arranged object are written into the arrangement rule DB. Cancellation of publishing (unpublishing) can be designated in a similar procedure. 
   C-9. Generation of contents for display area 
     FIGS. 17A and 17B  (Collectively  FIG. 17 ) and  FIG. 18  show message flows in the procedure of generating contents to be embedded into a display area in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , as a user  561  transmits an HTTP request from the web browser  111  to the web server  127 , the web server  127  acquires a page template matching that HTTP request. 
   The web browser  127  detects a servlet tag contained in the page template, hands over a code ( FIG. 19 ) contained in the servlet tag to the display area contents creator  123  (message  5601 ), and stands by until the result is received. 
   Then the display area contents creator  123  acquires a display area (messages  5602  and  5603 ), and acquires metadata of a template containing that display area from the resources DB  567  (messages  5604  and  5605 ). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, display areas are managed by a display area name  701 , and the resources DB  567  and the arrangement rule DB  565  can be accessed with this display area name  701  as the key. 
   With these display area name  701  and page template ID  725  (acquired by message  5605 ) as the keys, the arrangement rule DB of this display area is accessed, and arranged objects are acquired (messages  5606  and  5607 ). Incidentally, while arranged objects are acquired with the display area name  701  and the page template ID  725  as the keys in the preferred embodiment of the invention, they can as well be accessed with only the display area name as the key by providing a display area name that can uniquely specify every page template. 
   In the example of  FIG. 20 , arranged objects  0001  and  0002  are acquired. Schedule information pieces  727  and  728  are taken out of these acquired arranged objects (messages  5608  and  5609 ), and a schedule engine  571  is inquired of about their validity (messages  5610  and  5611 ). It is further checked whether or not their parts are published (messages  5612  and  5613 ). In the example of  FIG. 20 , both the arranged objects  0001  and  0002  are published. Incidentally, supposing that the current date and hour are 19:00 on Jul. 26, 1999, in the example of  FIG. 20 , the arranged object  0001  does not meet the schedule condition while the arranged object  0002  does meet the schedule condition. 
   If it is judged that the scheduled is a valid one and a published part, a component DB  575  is accessed, and such items of information matching that part as the display image file, URL of link destination and explanatory statement are acquired (messages  5714  and  5715 ). 
     FIG. 21  is a conceptual diagram of the component DB in the preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a banner  750 , list item  760 , Telop  770  and so forth are registered as objects, instead of a simple table, to match a plurality of types of objects. Contents information items such as items of information to specify the display image of a banner (the bus name, directory name and file name) are set as properties of a banner object  750 . The system can acquire contents information and make available to itself image information and the like by making an inquiry with the part name or the part ID as the key. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 17 , a display area contents creator  563  acquires display attributes  703  ( FIG. 19 ) (message  5616 ) and, using a formatter  577 , shapes the contents to adapt them to the display area (messages  5617  to  5631 ). 
     FIG. 22  shows message flows in the procedure of shaping the contents by the formatter in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the display area contents creator  563  takes out of formatter metadata  578  a format style registered as a category, compares it with the style of the display area, and judges whether or not those contents can be displayed (messages  5651  to  5653 ). It further takes out the type of output registered as a subcategory of metadata, and checks if the output form is HTML (messages  5654  to  5656 ). 
   While the formatter to be used is thus specified according to the type of part or output means such as the banner (standard), (a plurality of) banners, Telop and list item in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also acceptable to adopt a method by which the formatter is specified by using an ID which uniquely identifies a specific formatter or a method to specify a formatter by calculating a prescribed assessment value. 
   Then, information indicating the location of an actual format program (Identifier) is acquired from metadata  578  (messages  5657  and  5658 ), and a format program is loaded on the basis of that information (message  5659 ). This loaded format program is defined as the formatter to be used for this processing (messages  5660  and  5661 ). 
     FIG. 23  is a conceptual diagram of a formatter  780  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, it has a parameter defining section (setStyleParm), width defining section (setWith), height defining section (setHight), overfull processing defining section (setoverfull), underfull processing defining section (setUnderfull) and format processing defining section (render). 
   The parameter defining section is a portion wherein a parameter received for each formatter is defined. The width defining section and the height defining section are portions where the size of a display area is acquired. The overfull processing defining section is a portion to acquire the type of processing to be performed when the size of any part to be displayed in a display area is greater than the display area, while the underfull processing defining section is a portion to acquire the type of processing to be performed when the size of any part to be displayed in a display area is smaller than the display area. The format processing definition section (render) is information to specify the location of the actual format program. 
   This formatter is such that, where for instance the definition in the display area is in a standard banner form (banner is set as the style) as shown in  FIG. 24 , the four banners to be displayed are replaced every two seconds in the display area as shown in  FIG. 25  if, in an overfull case, the rotation is to take place at two second intervals (rotation=2 is set in partsOverful). 
   Further, as “shrink” is set in partsUnderful, when the size of any part to be displayed in a display area is smaller than the display area, the display area is displayed in a size shrunken to the size of the banner. Moreover, since an image is set on “default,” the image defined here is displayed if there is no banner to be displayed. 
     FIGS. 26 and 27  are flowcharts showing the formatter process where a standard banner form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention. First, the formatter acquires the number of parts (step  401 ), and checks that number of parts. In one aspect of the present invention, whereas the number of parts registered corresponding to a display area in the arrangement rule DB  720  and whose display conditions  727  to  729  have prescribed values matches the number of parts, in one aspect of the invention the contents to be displayed in a specific display area are stated in a bus name and the like in a fixed manner, and the number of such statements, or the number of contents as the result of acquisition thereby accomplished, corresponds to the number of parts. 
   In order to judge that the number of parts is smaller than one (the number of parts=0) (step  403 ), first the control command of partsUnderful is checked. If “none” is designated as the control command of partsUnderful (step  407 ), an HTML containing a blank area of a designated size is generated, and it is handed over to the display area contents creator  123  (step  407 ). 
   If “shrink” is designated as the control command of partsUnderful or there is no particular designation (in the preferred embodiment of the invention, partsUnderful=shrink is default), it is further judged whether or not a default display image is designated (step  409 ). If a default display image is designated, an HTML including bus information designated for default is generated, and handed over to the display contents creator  123  (step  411 ). If no default display image is designated, the absence of output information is notified back to the display contents creator  123  (step  413 ). 
   On the other hand, if the number of parts is judged to be l (step  421 ), an HTML to display the contents of the part in an area of a designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  423  (step  423 ). 
   If the number of parts is judged to be more than one (step  421 ), it is further checked whether or not partsOverfull contains a command instructing rotation (step  425 ). If PartsOverfull contains designation of random, or if there is no particular designation (in the preferred embodiment of the invention, random is default), one part is selected out of a plurality of parts at random (step  427 ), an HTML to display the contents of parts within an area of a designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  423  (step  423 ). 
   If it is judged that partsOverfull contains a command to instruct rotation, parts are selected in succession (step  429 ), an HTML to display the contents of the parts in an area of a designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  423  (step  431 ). Then, after standing by for a prescribed length of time included in the rotation command, step  429  and step  431  are repeated (step  433 ). Incidentally, while a command to generate a time out is transmitted, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, from the web server  120  side between step  431  and step  433  to instruct the browser  111  to perform replotting, it is also acceptable to transmit a formatter logic to the browser  111  side as JavaScript or the like and to let a replotting event be generated on the browser  111  side. 
   On the other hand, in a form wherein a plurality of banners are displayed side by side (bannerFlow is set as the style) as shown in  FIG. 28 , if, in an overfull case, the rotation is to take place at two second intervals (random is set in partsOverful) the four banners to be displayed, as shown in  FIG. 29 , are placed in sequence from the top left of the display area and, when the width of the display area is overstepped, shift to a stage below to be displayed. Incidentally, in this example, the direction in which the banners are placed is horizontal and the background color is set to be gray. If the direction is set to be vertical, the banners can as well be placed in a vertical direction as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
     FIGS. 31 and 32  are flowcharts showing a formatter process in which a banner flow form is designated in the preferred embodiment of the invention. First the formatter acquires the number of parts (step  441 ), and checks that number of parts. If the number of parts is judged to be smaller than one (the number of parts=0) (step  443 ), it is further judged whether or not a default display image is designated (step  481 ). If a default display image is designated, an HTML including path information designated for default is generated, and handed over to the display contents creator  123  (step  483 ). If no default display image is designated, the absence of output information is notified back to the display contents creator  123  (step  485 ). 
   If there is any part to be displayed, an array of parts to display (the contents of) every part is created (step  445 ). This array of parts constitutes data to designate which part is to be arranged on which line in which row.  FIG. 33  is a conceptual diagram for describing the creation of an array of parts at step  445  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
   The formatter first confirms that the direction of arrangement is horizontal and that the width of the display area is not smaller than the width of the parts. Then it acquires parts in succession, and allocates those parts to a position (n, m) (both are 0 in initial value). It checks whether or not the total of the widths of the parts surpasses the width of the display area and, if it does not, allocates the parts to that position, and raises m to m+1. If the total of the widths of the parts surpasses the width of the display area, with n being raised to n+1 and m reduced to 0, those parts are allocated to that position, and m is raised to m+1. This procedure is repeated for all the parts, and the maximum values of n and m are acquired. The size of the array of parts will be the part width×m and the part height×n. Further, by comparing the part height×n with the display area height every time n is incremented by one, the appropriate number of parts to be accommodated by the display area can also be acquired. The array of parts in the vertical direction can be created in a similar procedure. 
   Then it judges whether or not the height of the display area is in sufficient (in the case of arranging in the horizontal direction) or the width of the display area is in sufficient (in the case of arranging in the vertical direction) as a result of (or in the process of) arraying the parts (step  447 ). If it is judged that the display area is not too small, it is further judged whether or not there is a surplus height of the display area (in the case of arranging in the horizontal direction) or there is a surplus width of the display area (in the case of arranging in the vertical direction) (step  449 ). If it is judged that the size of the array of parts is appropriate for the display area, an HTML to display that array of parts is generated, and handed over to the display contents creator  123  (step  451 ). 
   If it is judged that the display area is too large, the control command of partsUnderful is checked. If “none” is designated as the control command of partsUnderful (step  455 ), an HTML to display the array of parts in a display area of the designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  123  (step  407 ). If “shrink” is designated as the control command of partsUnderful, or if there is no particular designation (in the preferred embodiment of the invention, partsUnderful shrink is default), an HTML to reduce the designated size of the display area and display the array of parts is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  123  (step  457 ). 
   On the other hand, if it is judged at step  447  that the display area is too small, the control command of partsoverful is checked. It is checked whether or not a command instructing rotation is contained as the control command of partsoverful (step  461 ). 
   If it is judged that partsOverfull contains a command instructing rotation, the parts are selected in succession to re-create an array of parts (step  463 ).  FIG. 34  is a conceptual diagram for describing the creation of an array of parts at step  463  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, parts in the appropriate number of parts acquired at step  445  are selected in succession, and an array of parts is created by the method described with reference to  FIG. 33 . After the lapse of a designated length of time, parts in the appropriate number of parts are selected in succession from the next part onward to re-create an array of parts. 
   Then, an HTML to display the contents of the array of parts in a display area of the designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  423  (step  465 ) and, after standing by for a prescribed length of time included in the rotation command, step  429  and step  431  are repeated (step  467 ). 
   If partsoverfull contains no designation of rotation at step  461 , it is further checked whether or not the control command of partsOverful contains “expand” (step  471 ). 
   If “expand” is contained in partsoverfull, an HTML to expand the designated size of the display area and display the array of parts is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  123  (step  473 ), if “random” is designated by partsoverfull or if there is no particular designation (in the preferred embodiment of the invention, random is default), parts in a number to be appropriately arranged in the display area are selected out of a plurality of parts at random to create an array of parts (step  475 ). 
     FIG. 35  is a conceptual diagram for describing the creation of an array of parts at step  475  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, parts in the appropriate number of parts acquired at step  445  are selected at random, and an array of parts is created by the method described with reference to  FIG. 33 . Then, an HTML to display the contents of the array of parts in a display area of the designated size is generated, and handed over to the display area contents creator  423  (step  477 ). 
   D. Example of application to campaign using Internet 
   An aspect to alter the information to be displayed for a prescribed user in accordance with the circumstances of external resources and an aspect of notification in combination with e-mail will be described below. 
   D-1. Registration of event monitor, condition determining cell parts and event cell parts 
     FIG. 36  shows message flows in a procedure to register an event monitor in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 36 , a registrant  571 , using a resources manager  573  as in the case of  FIG. 4 , can register into a resources DB  575  event monitor parts in the JavaBean form (messages  5701  and  5702 ). In an event monitor JavaBean in the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are such items as monitoring object, monitoring frequency, notification form, and path information for event cell parts. 
   Also, in a procedure similar to the foregoing, condition determining cell parts and event cell parts are also registered. Condition determining cell parts include the conditions of an event target (for instance, out of user information to be contained in the user management DB, conditions for categorizing a user such as a prescribed age bracket, prescribed occupation, prescribed income level and a prescribed official position and their explanatory statements are contained as the items). Event cell parts are cell parts for registering persons for whom an event is to be actually held, and hold as their items information to specify condition determining cell parts (parts ID), filtering conditions and e-mail part ID. E-mail parts include such items as “from”, “to”, contents and explanatory statement. 
   D-2. Definition of campaign 
     FIG. 37  shows message flows in a campaign defining procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 37 , a campaign registrant  581 , using a prescribed screen of a page designer  585  as in the case of  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 12 , accesses the resources DB  575 , and acquires a list of registered event monitors (messages  5801  to  5803 ). 
   A campaign definer  581  selects registration of a new event monitor (message  5804 ), and registers properties from the registration screen (message  5805 ). For instance, as monitoring objects, there are set an explanatory statement allowing intuitive perception of a monitoring object (such as the stock of an information company listed in the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange) and information which can identify the location where that information can be acquired (URL, information to specify a particular type of data in an HTML tag). As monitoring frequencies, such items as the default value, upper limit and lower limit are set. Notification forms which are set include the presence or absence of an e-mail notification. As path information for an event cell part, the path name, directory name and file name of the published event cell part are set. It is also practicable to set a part ID. 
   Then, as elements of campaign rules, schedule information and information on publication or non-publication are entered (message  5807 ). Incidentally, in this aspect of generating an event depending on the situation of other resources, it is desirable that an arrangement rule DB  720  manage such information as shown in  FIG. 38 . As this table shows, information including a part type  731 , event flag  733 , cell part ID  735  is added to the arrangement rule DE  720 . The part type  731  is information to distinguish the type of the part, such as a banner part, Telop part, event cell part, condition determining cell part or event monitor part. Further, the event flag  733  is a flag to determine, where subscription to be described below takes place, whether an event is validated or not, and as the cell part ID  735  is set, in the case of an event monitor part, a condition determining cell part to be used by a user having performed subscription to be described below judges whether or not prescribed conditions are met, and in other cases, an event cell part registered for persons for whom the event is actually intended is registered. 
   Then, a page designer  583  designates an arrangement object for an event monitor  589  to instruct starting of the event monitor for the event (message  5808 ). This causes the event monitor  589  to start monitoring the event. 
   D-3. Subscription to event 
     FIG. 39  shows message flows in an event subscribing procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 39 , a user  591  desiring to subscribe to an event accesses a web page (message  5901 ). An execution run time (a component including the display area contents creator  123  and the schedule engine  125  in  FIG. 2 ) accesses a user management DB  594 , and acquires a user ID with Cookie contained in the HTTP request as the key (message  5902 ). 
     FIG. 40  is a conceptual diagram showing items of information managed by a user management DB  740  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the table, the user management DB  740  manages a user ID  741 , Cookie  743 , e-mail address  745  and user profile information  747 . The user profile information  747  includes information on that user including his or her age, occupation, place of work, home address and office address. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a user registers these items of information on condition that he or she receive prescribed service on Internet. The user ID is automatically generated by the system. The system can acquire information contained in that record with the Cookie  743  and user ID as the keys. 
   If the execution run time  593  recognizes the uses as a registered member, it displays a list of published event monitor parts for the user (messages  5904  to  5906 ). Incidentally, if the execution run time  593  does not recognize the user as a registered member, a user registration panel can as well be outputted. Further, the preferred embodiment of the invention supposes subscription service for a membership, and it is also possible to provide subscription service for general public instead of a specific membership. 
   When the user has selected an event monitor, an event setting screen is displayed (messages  5907  and  5908 ). Then the user sets parameters for a condition formula and a notifying method (message  5909 ). For instance, the user can set such a condition that a notification by e-mail is desired when the stock price of Company A has risen above =Y120.00. 
   Then these set information and user management DB information are stored into a subscription DB  597  (messages  5910  to  5913 ).  FIG. 41  is a conceptual diagram showing items managed by the subscription DB  597  in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the table, a subscription DB  750  manages a subscription ID  751 , user ID  753 , part ID  755 , condition formula  757 , notification form  758 , and campaign flag  759 . Then, if the event monitor designated by the user is not started, it is started (message  5914 ). 
   D-4. Monitoring and notification of event 
     FIGS. 42A and 42B  (Collectively  FIG. 42 ) shows message flows in an event monitoring and notifying procedure in the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 42 , a started event monitor  653  monitors a monitoring object  651  containing data varying periodically or non-periodically in a period based on set monitoring frequency information (message  6501 ). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the event monitor  653  has information items including a monitoring object, event generating condition, monitoring frequency, subscription ID and event flag, and monitors objects whose event flag is on. Incidentally, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, there further is a monitor part to monitor the event monitor, turning off the event flag  733  ( FIG. 38 ) whose schedule has ended and notifying the event monitor  651  of that action. 
   Then, if the event monitor  651  finds that the event generating condition has been met, it accesses a subscription DB  655  and returns a user ID and part ID matching the subscription ID (messages  6502  and  6503 ). Then, the event monitor  653  accesses an arrangement rule DB  657  with the part ID as the key, and acquires a condition determining cell part ID  735  ( FIG. 38 ). It further accesses the component DB, takes out a determining condition for condition determining cell parts, compares it with the user profile of the user management DB, and judges whether or not it is an object of the campaign (messages  6504  and  6505 ). 
   If the user is judged to be a target of the campaign, an event cell part matching the condition determining cell part is taken out, and the user ID or Cookie of that user is registered into that event cell part (message  6506 ). It is also possible to register only those users having designated a web in the notifying form. 
   Then, if the notification form  758  taken out of the subscription DB designates e-mail, the event monitor  653  hands over the ID of the e-mail part registered in the event cell part and the user ID to the execution run time  659  (message  6507 ). 
   The execution run time  659  accesses the e-mail part, acquires an e-mail sender (From) (messages  6508  to  6511 ), and requests an e-mail sender  663  to send the e-mail together with the user ID (message  6512 ). 
   The e-mail sender  663  accesses a user management DB  665 , acquires an e-mail address from the user ID, generates an e-mail on the bases “from” and contents information held as a property by the e-mail part, and transmits the e-mail (message  6515 ). 
   And, if this user has transmitted an HTTP request asking for a prescribed page template, the processing described with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18  is executed. Then, an arrangement object used for this processing judges the event flag  733  and cell part ID  735  shown in  FIG. 38 , together with the schedules  727  and  728  and publish flag  729  as display conditions. In such a case, a cell part in which this user is registered is designated in the cell part ID  735  by message  6506  of  FIG. 42 , and the event flag is also set to be on, so that an HTML to display prescribed parts (banner) in the display area is acquired. 
   Thus, since shaping of a banner part has been taken up in describing the preferred embodiment of the invention, its formatter performs shaping (to fit the size of contents) of a display area, outputting of a default image, control of the background color, selection of the contents to be displayed, and control of the displaying sequence, display position, display time and display method of contents, but in the case of a formatter shaping a Telop part, it can also control the scrolling speed, font name, font size and character color. 
   As hitherto described, according to the present invention, it is possible to alter contents and their layout to be embedded into a page template without obliging the manager of display information to edit any HTML file or modify server programs such as CGI. It is also made possible to dynamically alter contents and their layout to be embedded into a page template according to the circumstances of accessing by a user. It is further made possible to provide information seeming to fit each user&#39;s preference only to that particular user or a group including that user and to enhance the effect of advertisement or the like.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6