JP2002223311A - Communication auxiliary apparatus, communication system and communication support method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication auxiliary apparatus capable of reducing the burden on a user when the user accesses a Web site. SOLUTION: When the communication auxiliary apparatus 8, in which an address used to access the homepage information stored in a server device 2 is stored, is connected to a portable telephone system 7, the communication auxiliary apparatus 8 automatically outputs the address to the telephone system 7. The communication auxiliary apparatus 8 automatically accesses the homepages information through the telephone system 7 and displays the homepage information on the display of the telephone system 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a communication assisting device, a communication system, and a communication assisting method which can reduce a burden on a user when accessing a Web site (homepage) on the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a user can access an enormous number of homepage information (Web sites) stored in a server device connected to the Internet from a communication terminal device such as his / her personal computer. When accessing a Web site, a user operates a keyboard or the like to operate a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating an address of the Web site on a network.
Is input to a terminal device such as a personal computer. The URL is composed of numbers, alphabets, symbols, and the like. Websites are effective for businesses, such as stores and service providers, to advertise their products and services. Therefore, such businesses are required to advertise their magazines and billboards, The URL is posted.

[0003]

However, in recent years,
With the increase in the number of Web sites, the number of characters constituting the URL has increased, and the user writes down the URL of the Web site seen in a magazine, a signboard, etc., and inputs it by operating the keyboard on the terminal device. There is a problem that the burden is large.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a communication auxiliary device, a communication system, and a communication support method that can reduce the burden on a user when accessing a Web site.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and achieve the above-mentioned object, a communication auxiliary device according to a first aspect of the present invention is detachably connectable to a communication device. Interface means for inputting and outputting information to and from a device; storage means for storing an address on the network of information accessible by the communication device via a network; and the interface means connecting to the communication device. Control means for reading the address from the storage means and outputting the address to the communication device via the interface means.

[0006] The operation of the communication auxiliary device of the first invention is as follows. Interface means is connected to the communication device. Then, an address of information accessed by the communication device via the network is read from the storage device by the control device, and the address is output to the communication device via the interface device. The communication device automatically accesses the information using the input address.

[0007] In the communication auxiliary device of the first invention, preferably, the storage means stores a plurality of addresses corresponding to the plurality of pieces of information, and the communication auxiliary device is stored in the storage means. There is further provided a selecting means for selecting one address output to the communication device via the interface means from among the plurality of addresses.

[0008] In the communication auxiliary device according to the first invention, preferably, the control means instructs the communication device to access the address information when the interface device is connected to the communication device. Automatically output the access instruction signal to the communication device via the interface means.

[0009] In the communication assisting apparatus according to the first invention, preferably, the storage means further stores an identifier and a password of an access source required for accessing the information, and the control means includes: When connected to the communication device, the communication device outputs the identifier and the password to the communication device via the interface unit.

[0010] In the communication auxiliary device according to the first aspect of the present invention, preferably, when the communication device is a telephone device, when the interface device is connected to the communication device, the control device preferably controls the communication device. Requesting the communication device via the interface means at least one of a telephone number and an identifier of the communication device attached before shipment of the communication device, wherein the communication device accesses the information; A request is made to the communication device via the interface means, and the telephone number and the identifier of the communication device input from the communication device are output to the communication device.

[0011] In the communication assisting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, preferably, the interface means is detachably connectable to a computer and inputs and outputs information to and from the computer. At least one of the address of the information and the identifier of the access source and the password required for accessing the information, which are input from the computer via the computer, are written in the storage unit.

[0012] The communication assisting device of the first invention is preferably a housing accommodating the interface means, the storage means and the control means, and rotatably fixed to the housing, within a predetermined rotation angle range. A lid for exposing the connector of the interface means to the outside, and accommodating the connector in a space formed between the connector and the housing in a range of other rotation angles;

[0013] The first communication auxiliary device is preferably such that the communication device is a mobile phone device, and the information is information stored in a server device connected to the network.

[0014] A communication system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a communication device detachably connected to each other and transmitting information between each other at the time of arrival, and a communication auxiliary device.
A first interface unit that is detachably connectable to the communication device and that inputs and outputs information to and from the communication device at the time of arrival; and information that the communication device can access via the network on the network. A storage unit for storing an address, and a control for reading the address from the storage unit and outputting the address to the communication device via the first interface unit when the first interface unit is connected to the communication device. Means, and the communication device is detachably connectable to the communication auxiliary device, the second interface means for inputting and outputting information to and from the communication auxiliary device at the time of arrival, the second interface Communication control means for automatically accessing the information using an address input from the communication auxiliary device via the means.

A communication support method according to a third aspect of the present invention is a communication support method for supporting access to homepage information stored in a server device by a communication device using a communication auxiliary device distributed to a user. When the communication auxiliary device storing the address used for accessing the homepage information is connected to a communication device, the communication auxiliary device automatically transmits the address stored in the communication auxiliary device to the communication device. The communication device,
Using the address input from the communication auxiliary device,
The homepage information is automatically accessed via a network, and the homepage information is displayed on display means of the communication device.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in a communication system 1, a server device 2 storing homepage information and a server device 5 of a mobile phone carrier are connected via a communication network 4 such as the Internet. In the communication system 1, the server device 5 and the mobile phone device 7 (the communication device of the present invention) are connected via a communication network 6 such as a mobile phone communication network. A communication auxiliary device 8 (communication auxiliary device of the present invention) is detachably attached to the mobile phone device 7, and information is input and output between the mobile phone device 7 and the communication auxiliary device 8 when the mobile phone device 7 is attached.

Hereinafter, each component shown in FIG. 1 will be described. [Server device 2] The server device 2 is, for example, an advertiser C_
No. 1 homepage information HP_1, advertiser C_2 homepage information HP_2, and advertiser C_3 homepage information HP_3 (information of the present invention) are stored.

[Server Device 5] The server device 5 controls communication between the server device 2 connected to the communication network 4 and the portable telephone device 7 connected to the communication network 6.

[Mobile Phone 7] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone 7. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone device 7 includes a communication interface unit 10 (second embodiment of the present invention).
Interface unit), a display unit 11, an operation unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14 (communication control unit of the present invention). The communication interface unit 10 includes the communication auxiliary device 8
This is an interface that has a connector that is detachably attached to a connector of a communication interface unit described later, and that inputs and outputs information to and from the communication auxiliary device 8 when attached. The display unit 11 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the control unit 1
Based on the control of No. 4, an image corresponding to the display signal is displayed.

The operation unit 12 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and transmits an operation signal corresponding to an operation by a user to the control unit 14.
Output to The storage unit 13 stores, for example, an EEPROM (Ele
ctronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memor
y), and stores information necessary for processing of the mobile phone device 7. In addition, the storage unit 13 stores the serial number (identifier of the communication device of the present invention) and the telephone number of the mobile phone device 7 in a state where it cannot be rewritten by the user before shipment. The control unit 14 generally controls the processing of the mobile phone device 7.

[Communication Auxiliary Device 8] FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining access information stored in the storage unit 21 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the communication auxiliary device 8 includes a communication interface unit 20 (an interface unit and a first interface unit of the present invention), a storage unit 21 (a storage unit of the present invention),
RL switching unit 22 (selecting means of the present invention) and control unit 23
(Control means of the present invention). The communication interface unit 20 has a connector that is detachably attached to the connector of the communication interface unit 10 of the mobile phone device 7, and is an interface that inputs and outputs information to and from the mobile phone device 7 when the mobile phone device 7 is attached. The communication interface unit 20 can be connected to a communication interface unit of a computer in addition to the mobile phone device 7.

The storage unit 21 is, for example, an EEPROM which is a non-volatile memory capable of electrically erasing the stored contents. As shown in FIG. 4, home page information HP_1, HP-page information stored in the server device 2 shown in FIG. HP_2, HP
_3 access information AC_1, AC_2, AC
_3 is stored. As shown in FIG.
C_1 is U which is the URL of the homepage information HP_1
RL_1, an access source identifier ID_1 used for authentication when accessing the homepage information HP_1, and a password PASS_1. Also, the access information AC_2 includes a URL_2 which is a URL of the homepage information HP_2, an access source identifier ID_2 used for authentication when accessing the homepage information HP_2,
Password PASS_2. The access information AC_3 includes a URL_3 which is a URL of the homepage information HP_3 and an access source identifier ID_3 used for authentication when accessing the homepage information HP_3.
And a password PASS_3.

The URL switching unit 22 is, for example, a mechanical switch. As shown in FIG. 5, the URL switching unit 22 stores the access information AC_1, AC_2, and AC_3 stored in the storage unit 21 in accordance with the operation of a finger or the like by the user. The access information selected according to the position of the switching operation unit 51a is transmitted to the communication interface unit 20 based on the control of the control unit 23.
Output to The control unit 23 controls the processing of the communication auxiliary device 8 as a whole.

FIG. 6A is a front view of the communication auxiliary device 8 with the lid 41 closed, and FIG. 6B is a view of the communication auxiliary device 8 viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. Side view, FIG. 7
7A is a front view of a circuit board housed in the housing of the communication assisting device 8, FIG. 7B is a side view of the circuit board shown in FIG. FIG. 8A is a front view of the communication assisting device 8 with the cover opened, and FIG.
9A is a side view of the communication assisting device 8 viewed from the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9A is a front view of the communication assisting device 8 mounted on the mobile phone device 7, and FIG. It is the side view.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the lid 41
When the is closed, the lid 41 is locked by the projection 40 a of the housing 40. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B,
The communication auxiliary device 8 is provided in a disk-shaped casing 40 as shown in FIG.
The circuit board 50 shown in FIGS.

On one surface of the circuit board 50, a URL switching unit 22 including a switching unit main body 51 and a switching operation unit 51a, an oscillation circuit 52, a control unit 23, and a storage unit 2
1 is provided. On the other surface of the circuit board 50, U
A battery 53 that supplies power to the RL switching unit 22, the oscillation circuit 52, the control unit 23, and the storage unit 21 is provided. Further, a connector 20a constituting the communication interface unit 20 shown in FIG. 3 is provided at an end of the circuit board 50. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, when the lid 41 is closed, the connector 20a shown in FIG.
And a housing 40.

When the user rotates the lid 41 in the direction of the arrow around the rotation shaft 42 shown in FIG. 6A with a finger or the like, the connector 20a and the URL switching are performed as shown in FIGS. The part 22 appears. The user operates the connector 20a
Is attached to the concave connector 7a of the communication interface unit 10 of the mobile phone device 7, and the switching operation unit 51a is moved with a finger or the like to access information AC_1 and AC_2.
, AC_3 is selected.

Hereinafter, an operation example of the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the communication system 1 shown in FIG. As a premise that the communication system 1 performs the following operation, for example, the advertiser C_1,
C_2 and C_3 themselves or the advertiser requests others, and the communication auxiliary device 8 is distributed to the user of the mobile phone device 7. Then, the user opens the lid 41 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B and sets the switching operation unit 5.
1a, for example, as shown in FIG.
1. The access information AC_1 stored in No. 1 is selected. 9A and 9B, the user inserts the connector 20a of the communication auxiliary device 8 into the connector 7a of the mobile phone device 7. Thereby, information can be input and output between the mobile phone device 7 and the communication auxiliary device 8.

Step ST1: When the control unit 23 of the communication auxiliary device 8 shown in FIG. 3 detects that the connector 20a has been inserted into the connector 7a of the portable telephone device 7, the control unit 23 transmits the portable telephone device 7 through the communication interface unit 20. RE to request
Q1 is output. The request REQ1 is input to the communication interface unit 10 of the mobile phone device 7 shown in FIG.

Step ST2: The control unit 14 of the portable telephone device 7 shown in FIG.
In response to Q1, the serial number and the telephone number of the mobile telephone device 7 are read from the storage unit 13 and output to the communication auxiliary device 8 via the communication interface unit 10. The serial number and the telephone number are input to the communication interface unit 20 of the communication auxiliary device 8 shown in FIG.

Step ST3: The control unit 23 of the communication auxiliary device 8 shown in FIG. 3 transmits the access information AC_1 selected by the switching operation unit 51a as shown in FIG.
And the serial number and the telephone number of the mobile phone device 7 stored in step ST2 are read from the storage unit 21. Then, the control unit 23 sends a request RE including the read information.
Q2 is generated and output to the mobile phone device 7 via the communication interface unit 20. The request REQ2 is input to the communication interface unit 10 of the mobile phone device 7 shown in FIG. 2, and the information included in the request REQ2 is stored in the storage unit 13.

Step ST4: The control unit 14 of the portable telephone device 7 shown in FIG.
URL_1 of homepage information HP_1 stored in T3
, The server device 5 is accessed from the communication interface unit 10 via the communication network 6, and the server device 2 is accessed via the communication network 4 based on the control of the server device 5. At this time, the control unit 14 determines in step ST3
The access source identifier ID_1, the password PASS_1, and the serial number and the telephone number of the mobile phone device 7 included in the access information AC_1 stored in the communication interface section 10 are used as authentication information, and are transmitted from the communication interface unit 10 to the communication network 6, the server device 5, and the communication device. The data is transmitted to the server device 2 via the network 4.
When the server device 2 performs authentication processing of the access source based on the access source identifier ID_1, the password PASS_1, the serial number and the telephone number of the mobile phone device 7 received from the mobile phone device 7, and determines that the user is an appropriate user. Then, the access by the mobile phone device 7 is permitted. Thereby, the homepage information HP_1 stored in the server device 2 is transmitted to the mobile phone device 7 via the communication network 4, the server device 5, and the communication network 6, and a screen corresponding to the homepage information HP_1 is displayed on the mobile phone device 7. Display unit 11
Will be displayed.

As described above, according to the communication system 1, the user of the portable telephone device 7 simply attaches the communication auxiliary device 8 to the portable telephone device 7, and receives the URL stored in the portable telephone device 7. Automatically access homepage information. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the operation unit 12 of the mobile phone device 7 to input the URL, and the burden is greatly reduced. Also, for the advertiser who has established the URL, a high advertisement effect can be obtained by increasing the access from the user. Further, according to the communication system 1, the access source identifier ID_1, the password PASS_1, the serial number and the telephone number of the mobile phone device 7 are automatically transmitted from the mobile phone device 7 to the server device 2 by the function of the communication auxiliary device 8. Is transmitted to the server device 2, the server device 2 can eliminate unauthorized access, and security is enhanced. Further, according to the communication system 1, the communication auxiliary device 8
Is convenient because a plurality of URLs are stored and the user can arbitrarily rewrite the URL stored in the communication auxiliary device 8.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, three URs are stored in the storage unit 21 of the communication auxiliary device 8.
L is stored, and three homepage information is accessed by selecting them.
The number of URLs that can be stored and selected in the URL is arbitrary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the URL is stored in advance in the storage unit 21 of the communication auxiliary device 8 has been described, but the communication interface unit 2 of the portable telephone device 7 is described.
0 is connected to a communication interface of a computer such as a personal computer, so that a new URL can be stored in the storage unit 21 from the computer,
May be rewritten. In this way, the user simply connects the communication auxiliary device 8 to the mobile phone device 7 and operates the arbitrary UR without operating the operation unit 12 of the mobile phone device 7 having a small number of buttons.
L can access the homepage information.

The URL stored in the storage unit 21
May be referenced from a computer.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the mobile phone device 7 accesses a plurality of homepage information stored in a single server device has been described, but the plurality of homepage information stored in the plurality of server devices may be accessed. The present invention is also applicable when the mobile telephone device 7 accesses.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a communication auxiliary device, a communication system, and a communication support method that can reduce a burden on a user when accessing information on a network such as homepage information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the communication auxiliary device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining access information stored in a storage unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a function of a URL switching unit shown in FIG. 3;

6 (A) is a front view of the communication assisting device with the lid closed, and FIG. 6 (B) is a side view of the communication assisting device viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 6 (A). FIG.

7A is a front view of a circuit board housed in a housing of the communication auxiliary device, and FIG. 7B is a side view of the circuit board shown in FIG. FIG.

8 (A) is a front view of the communication assisting device with the lid opened, and FIG. 8 (B) is a side view of the communication assisting device viewed from the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 8 (A). It is.

FIG. 9A is a front view in a state where the communication auxiliary device is mounted on a mobile phone device, and FIG. 9B is a side view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an operation example of the communication system shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 2 ... Server apparatus, 4 ... Communication network, 5 ...
Server device, 6 communication network, 7 mobile phone device, 8 communication auxiliary device, 10 communication interface unit, 11 display unit, 12 operation unit, 13 storage unit, 14 control unit, 20
... Communication interface unit, 21 ... Storage unit, 22 ... URL
Switching unit, 23 ... Control unit, AC_1, AC_2, AC_3
... Access information, 40 ... Case, 41 ... Lid, 20a ... Connector, 51a ... Switching operation unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 1/00 H04M 1/56 1/56 1/725 1/725 1/738 1/738 H04B 7/26 109M F-term (Reference) 5K027 AA11 EE04 HH26 5K030 GA17 HA08 HC01 HD03 JL01 JL07 JT09 KA01 KA06 KA13 5K036 AA07 DD11 DD48 5K067 AA21 BB04 DD17 DD51 EE02 FF02 FF07 HH23 NN15 NN15 NN01

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An interface means detachably connectable to a communication device for inputting and outputting information to and from the communication device, and an address on the network of information accessible by the communication device via the network. A communication auxiliary device comprising: a storage unit that stores the address; and a control unit that, when the interface unit is connected to the communication device, reads out the address from the storage unit and outputs the address to the communication device via the interface unit. . 2. The storage device stores a plurality of addresses corresponding to a plurality of the information, and the communication assisting device stores a plurality of addresses stored in the storage device through the interface device. 2. The communication assisting device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that selects one address output to the communication device by the communication device. 3. The control means, when the interface means is connected to the communication device, sends, via the interface means, an access instruction signal for instructing the communication device to access the address information. 1 or 2 which automatically outputs the data to the communication device.
A communication auxiliary device according to item 1. 4. The storage means further stores an identifier and a password of an access source required for accessing the information, and the control means, when the interface means is connected to the communication device, The communication auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the identifier and the password are output to the communication device via the interface unit. 5. When the communication device is a telephone device, when the interface device is connected to the communication device, the control device includes: a telephone number of the communication device; Requesting at least one of the attached identifiers of the communication device to the communication device via the interface means, and requesting the communication device to access the information by the communication device via the interface means. And outputting the telephone number and the identifier of the communication device input from the communication device to the communication device.
5. The communication auxiliary device according to any one of 4. 6. The interface means is detachably connectable to a computer and inputs and outputs information from and to the computer. The control means controls the information inputted from the computer through the interface means. 6. The communication assisting device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an address of the user and an access source identifier and a password required for accessing the information is written in the storage unit. 7. A housing accommodating said interface means, said storage means and said control means, and is rotatably fixed to said housing, and a connector of said interface means is exposed to the outside within a predetermined rotation angle range, 2. A lid for accommodating the connector in a space formed between the connector and the housing in another rotation angle range.
The communication assisting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 8. The communication auxiliary device according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is a mobile phone device, and the information is information stored in a server device connected to the network. 9. A communication device, which is detachably connected to each other and transmits information between each other when wearing, and a communication auxiliary device, wherein the communication auxiliary device is detachably connectable to the communication device. First interface means for inputting and outputting information to and from the communication device when arriving at the storage device; storage means for storing an address on the network of information accessible by the communication device via the network; Control means for reading the address from the storage means when the first interface means is connected to the communication device, and outputting the address to the communication device via the first interface means; A second interface unit that is detachably connectable to the communication auxiliary device and inputs and outputs information to and from the communication auxiliary device when wearing; A communication control unit for automatically accessing the information by using an address input from the communication auxiliary device via a communication unit. 10. A communication support method for supporting access to home page information stored in a server device by a communication device using a communication auxiliary device distributed to a user, wherein the method includes the steps of: When the communication auxiliary device that stores the address used for the communication device is connected to a communication device, the communication auxiliary device automatically outputs the address stored in the communication auxiliary device to the communication device, and the communication device A communication support method for automatically accessing the home page information via a network using the address input from the communication auxiliary device, and displaying the home page information on display means of the communication device.