JPH0934815A - Method and device for information communication for personal computer communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply down-load a file by personal computer communication by reading received control information and receiving marked user registration information from a host. SOLUTION: When a button is clicked from a menu, a man-machine IF section 70 is started and compressed user communication control information 202i is ready out of a storage means 40, decoded and stored in a decoding memory 68 provided in the man-machine IF section 70, a file retrieval means 78 is started and a file retrieval menu is displayed on a display means. Then a system attribute bit is set to e.g. an attribute of a file being an object of file and e.g. an offset VO is added to a reception number storage column and the result is written as a down-load command so as to make down-load marking. Furthermore, the download processing is immediately executed by clicking a button of the menu.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication method and apparatus in a personal computer communication system, and more particularly to downloading a file registered in a library of a personal computer communication host or selectively / efficiently displaying a forum message. The present invention relates to an efficient communication method and device for user registration information (messages, files, etc.) of a personal computer communication system which is effective when received.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when personal computer communication software (KmTermX, etc.) is incorporated into a personal computer, files registered on the host side via the OS (operating system) incorporated in the personal computer can be used to store the telephone number, communication speed, It was possible to send and receive while specifying protocols one by one. In addition, a personal computer communication software (for example, CSna
v, aircraft, etc.), messages of each forum and the like can be stored in a log file, or a file designated in advance can be automatically received and written in the download directory.

[0003]

In such a conventional personal computer communication system, for example, when a library file is downloaded from the forum of the personal computer communication host,
The following methods were generally performed. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, when there are communication hosts 2A to 2K and personal computer users 10a to 10m, the user 10a uses the communication software 12a to access the hosts 2A, 2B, etc., and the user 10b uses the communication software. It communicates with the host 2A etc. by the communication software 12b different from 12a,
The user 10m is adapted to communicate with the host 2K and the like using communication software 12m different from the communication software 12a and 12b. In this state, each user 10a to 10m operates the communication software 12a to 12m having a different operation method to separately access the hosts 2A, 2B, to 2K, etc. to enter each forum, conference room or session,
You can download a summary list of files registered in each library, search for a desired file name using keywords, and find out what file in which forum is the target file for each host 2
It was necessary to connect every A to 2K and confirm the location where the desired file is likely to be registered. Also, when the free software is described in an introductory article such as a personal computer communication magazine, it was possible to know the file registration destination from the content of the article. Thus, if the registration destination of the file to be downloaded can be searched / confirmed, for example, the user 10i
Starts the communication software 12i, selects the download menu, and searches for the desired searched file parameters described above (forum name, file name, file number, creator ID, transfer protocol, download directory, etc.).
Enter from the keyboard or select with the mouse,
It was supposed to set download parameters while interacting with the download menu. The operation method for such file download parameter setting operation is slightly or very different for each PC communication software, and it is very difficult for a PC communication beginner to download a file from the library on the host side. The number of users who enjoyed the convenience stayed among a few people who were significantly limited. In addition, if the desired file is not registered in the connected host, the user must switch the hosts one after another and perform a search. There was also the problem that you had to pay long-term telephone charges and host connection charges just to search the preparation files. Also, as you become more familiar with PC communication, you will repeatedly download multiple files from the same forum, but with conventional communication software, the download destination directory cannot be switched automatically for each file. If you try to download multiple files at once by connecting once, all the files are usually downloaded to the same directory at the same time, and the directory to write the files to cannot be automatically created. It often happens that an erroneous operation such as downloading twice or three times is unintentionally repeated, resulting in a wasteful communication connection being executed for a long time. Furthermore, depending on the communication software, if you make settings such as preparing a communication condition setting file for each host, it was not impossible to switch the download destination directory for each host, but the setting operation is complicated and It was not possible to switch between files and forums. Further, in the communication software normally provided by the host side of personal computer communication, it is advantageous for the host side to increase / decrease the number of times of communication and the communication time as much as possible. Therefore, in the case of file download, generally, the same file is already downloaded. Even if it existed, there was a tendency to unconditionally download the specified file. Due to the circumstances described above, it has been very difficult for a novice user of personal computer communication to download a file at a minimum cost and time.

The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is as simple as a dir command or a file attribute changing operation without knowing any special communication software operating method. It is to provide an information communication method and device for a personal computer communication system that allows even a user who has never performed personal computer communication to easily download a file by personal computer communication if such operations are possible. The host side of communication is provided with a list generation means of user registration information (information such as messages and files registered by each user on the host side) that simplifies the information reception operation on the user side, and communication time from the user side Information of PC communication system that makes the host as short as possible and allows more users to access the host efficiently And to provide a signal method and apparatus.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information communication method for a personal computer communication system, and an object of the present invention is to generate / update a list of user registration information on the host side in advance and to store the list. / Update step, reception control information generation / update step of generating the reception history from the host by inputting the list on the reception user side, and reading the reception control information based on an instruction of the reception user,
This is achieved by providing a marking step of selecting and marking desired user registration information and a receiving step of receiving the marked user registration information from the host side. The present invention also relates to an information communication device for a personal computer communication system, and the above object of the present invention is to provide a user registration information generating / updating unit for generating / updating user registration information on the host side, and a user communication as an output thereof. A user communication control information storage unit for storing control information, a DIW execution unit for reading and initializing / updating the user communication control information on the receiving user side, and reading the user communication control information for desired reception It is also achieved by including marking means for selecting target communication information and marking the user communication control information, and receiving means for reading the user communication control information and receiving the marked communication information from the host side. .

[0006]

According to the information communication method and apparatus for the personal computer communication system of the present invention, the user of the personal computer communication connects to the host online by initializing / updating the user communication control information and reproducing the user communication control information. Even if you don't do it, you can easily search for files and messages in the offline state, so communication time and fees for searching are unnecessary,
In particular, PC communication beginners can significantly reduce the search cost for registered information. Further, since only the necessary information can be easily received without duplication, the utilization efficiency on the host side is improved, and more users can efficiently use personal computer communication. Furthermore, if general disk utility software such as ecology and file master is used to mark the information to be received, the receiving user does not have to master the operation procedure for special PC communication, which is very similar to the conventional operating environment. You can enjoy PC communication efficiently in a familiar operating environment.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall block configuration for realizing the personal computer communication system of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the personal computer communication system of the present invention includes a communication host 2A.
And a plurality of user terminal devices (personal computers or the like) 10i to 10k connected to the host 2A via a communication line c, and the host 2A has a communication control unit 210 for controlling normal personal computer communication with an external user. And a storage unit 206 for storing the user registration information 204 such as a message and a library file, and an index generation for generating an index of the user registration information 204 and storing it in the storage unit 206 as the user communication control information 202a. / Update section 2
12 and the user communication control information 202.
a is transferred by the index generation / update unit 212, and is transferred to the floppy drive (FDD) 242 or MO drive (MO
D) is written to the storage medium FD or MO via 246, respectively. On the other hand, the user terminal device 10
i to 10k are generally composed of a personal computer or the like, and host 2A
Read the user communication control information 202a generated on the side,
DIW execution units 72i to 72k for writing / updating as information 202i to 202k in the storage means 40i to 40k,
Communication control units 12i to 12k for controlling communication with the outside are provided. Note that the user 10i shows an example of reading information 202a from the storage medium FD, MO, CD, etc., and the user 10k shows an example of processing of downloading the information 202a from the host 2A via the communication line c. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the user terminal devices 10i to 10k, which are interconnected with a central processing unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU) 1 such as a conventional microprocessor via a system bus 4. A personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as personal computer) / workstation or the like having a plurality of other devices. The personal computer shown in FIG. 2 has a random access memory (RAM) 6, a read-only memory (ROM) 8,
Flash memory 9 and floppy drive (FDD)
42, MO drive (MOD) 46, hard disk device 40, and other input / output adapters 14a, 14b for connecting peripheral devices to the bus 4, keyboard 16, mouse 18, speaker 20, microphone 22, touch screen, joystick, etc. User interface device 24 for connecting the user interface device to the bus 4, a communication adapter 26 and a modem 28 for connecting a personal computer to a communication network, and a display device adapter 30 for connecting the bus 4 to the display device 32. Includes and. MS-DOS / WIN is installed on this personal computer.
An operating system (OS) such as DOWS and computer software that constitutes the present invention and is incorporated as a part of the OS or a driver or application software are resident or installed.

Based on such a system configuration, an operation example of the information communication device of the personal computer communication system of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the operation of generating / updating the user communication control information 202a on the side of the host 2A will be described, and then the operation of receiving / registering user registration information from the host by the user 10i or 10k will be described. First, in the host 2A, when a user writes a message or uploads a library file via the communication line c, the communication control unit 210 writes the message in a predetermined forum, a conference room, etc. The file is also uploaded to a predetermined library and written (step S2 in FIG. 11). When the user newly writes or registers a message or file in the communication control unit 210, the index data having the data structure shown in FIG. 3 is transferred to the index generation / update unit 212 (FIG. 11). Step S4). As shown in FIG. 3, when the file is registered in the library, the index data is forum (or session) name 1000, library number (or subcommittee number) 1002, registrant ID 1004, file registration date 1006, A file capacity 1008, a file name 1010, a comment 1012, and an initial value of the number of receptions 1014 used on the receiving user side, which will be described later, are included.
In the case of a message, the forum name 1000,
Subcommittee name 1002, speaker ID 1004, registration date 1
006, utterance content (whether new utterance, reply or comment, etc.) 1012, comment destination information 1013, reception control information initial value 1014, etc. are transferred from the communication control unit 210 to the index generation / update unit 212 (see FIG. 11). Step S4). Thus, the index generation / update unit 212 includes the communication control unit 210.
Index data from a predetermined number of times (for example, 200 times, 500
(1 time, 1000 times, etc.) or when a predetermined period (1 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, etc.) has elapsed, the index data accumulated up to that point is compressed and the user communication control information 202a. Are sequentially stored in the storage means 206 (steps S6 and S8 in FIG. 11). The user communication control information 202a thus stored is downloaded to the requesting user via the communication control unit 210 in response to a transmission request from the user side, and the index generation / update unit 2
Based on 12 commands, FDD242 or MO drive 24
It is recorded on a storage medium FD, MO, CD-ROM or the like via 6 and used by the receiving user side. Next, an example of the receiving operation of the information communication method and device of the personal computer communication system of the present invention by the user 10i will be described in detail. FIG. 4 corresponding to FIG. 1 shows in detail the portion related to the receiving operation of the user 10i extracted from the personal computer communication system of the present invention. In the devices shown in FIG. 4, the devices denoted by the same numbers as in FIG. 1 perform the same functions, respectively, and a storage means such as a hard disk, MO, flash ROM, RAM or the like is provided inside the communication terminal device 10i of the user 10i. 40, a man-machine interface unit (hereinafter abbreviated as man-machine IF unit) 70, a communication control unit 12i, an FD drive 42i, an MO drive 46i, and a DIW execution unit 72 are provided, and the man-machine IF unit 70 is provided. In the inside of the marking means 73,
A file search unit 78, a marking file check unit 74, a DWN command unit 79, and a memory 68 for restoring and storing the compressed user communication control information are provided. Further, the communication control unit 12i has a download inside. The execution unit 76 and the download parameter memory 80 are provided, and the communication control unit 12i of the user 10i and the communication control unit 210 of the host 2A are connected via the communication line c. Based on the configuration as described above, the operation is shown in FIG.
~ It demonstrates with reference to the operation screen menu of FIG. First,
In FIG. 4, the user 10i obtains the floppy disk (storage medium) FD provided by the host 2A, reads the user communication control information 202a, and stores it in the storage means 40.
After that, the file AL2D. This is an example of downloading LZH by personal computer communication, and when the user 10i activates the information communication device 10i of the present invention, the man-machine IF unit 70 causes the display unit 32 to display the display unit 32 shown in FIG.
An operation menu 1040 as shown in is displayed. In the menu 1040, the button D2 is used to switch the host / network selection, and the button D4 is used to switch the host / network.
Used for online connection control to the network, button D6 is used for initializing / updating user communication control information 202i, button D8 is used for selecting a download file, and button D10 is used for immediate execution of download. Button D12 is used to set host / network connection parameters, and button D12 is used.
Reference numeral 14 is used for setting parameters of the modem 28 in the device 10i, and each button is clicked by operating a mouse or the like.

First, the user communication control information 202a is set to F
In order to read from D, when button D6 of menu 1040 is clicked with a mouse or the like, user communication control information initialization / update menu 1050 as shown in FIG.
Appears in 2. In this menu 1050, where the storage source of the user communication control information 202a is, for example,
If it is a floppy disk, it is specified by the button D20 and drive number D22, and if it is registered on the host side of personal computer communication, it is specified by the button D24, host name D26, session name D28 and the like. Further, the file name D30 of the user communication control information 202a, and
The compression format (LZH, ZIP, non-compression, etc.) of this file D30 is set in the field D32. Further, the drive name and the directory name of the storage means for generating / storing the user communication control information are set in the column D40, and the file name D42 and the compression format D44 are set to the user 1 respectively.
0i is set or selected as appropriate.

Thus, when the setting process of the buttons D20 to D44 is completed, the floppy disk FD is loaded into the FDD4
After inserting it into 2i, click the initialization button D52 (step S100 in FIG. 12). In the case of updating the user communication control information 202a, the button D50 is pressed here.
Click (steps S122 and S12 of FIG. 12).
4). Then, the DIW execution unit 72 shown in FIG. 4 is started, and in the case of the parameter setting like the menu 1050 in FIG. 6, it is checked whether the drive C: of the storage destination has the directory \ DWN, and the directory \ DWN is If not, a new directory will be created. In parallel with this directory check processing, the file DS9501. The LZH (202a) is read, copied, and stored in the directory (C: \ DWN).

Thus, the reading / generating process of the user communication control information 202a is completed (step S10 in FIG. 12).
4). In the case of the update process, the addition process to the information 202i is performed only when the new file name, the new session name, the new host name, etc. are detected in the read communication control information, and the same file name, In the case of a session name, a host name, etc., the source control information 202a may be ignored.

Next, the marking processing button D8 for selecting the download target file in the menu 1040 will be described. When the button D8 is clicked from the menu 1040, the man-machine IF unit 70 is activated, the compressed user communication control information 202i is read from the storage unit 40, restored, and provided in the man-machine IF unit 70. It is stored in the restoration memory 68 (step S in FIG. 12).
106), the file search means 78 is activated, and a file search menu 1060 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display means 32 (steps S108 and S1 in FIG. 12).
10). In menu 1060, button D68 is used for switching / selecting forum / session, and button 7
0 is used to switch / select a sub-session in the session D68, and the button D72 is used to search a desired file by inputting a keyword or the like.
The button D60 is used to select the item immediately preceding the item currently being noticed. Further, referring to the restored user communication control information in the memory 68, a list of files registered in the sub session selected by the button D70 in the session selected by the button D68 is displayed in the center of the screen of the menu 1060. The file generation number is displayed in the column 1062.
Each file name is displayed in the field 1064, the capacity of the file is displayed in the field 1066, a comment for this file is displayed in the field 1068, and the field 1070 or the field 1072 is displayed.
The reception control information of this file (for example, whether or not the size of the capacity specified in the column 1066 exists, or how many times this file is received, or the attribute of the file is the system attribute). Is set, and whether it is a download target or the like) is stored.

The marking process of the file to be downloaded will be described based on such a screen structure. As an example, the button FA is operated to select the session FA,
When the sub-session button D70 is further operated to select the sub-session L2, a list of registered files in the sub-session L2 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed at the center of the screen.
Therefore, the file selection button D90 shown on the right side of FIG. 7 is moved in the vertical direction, and the click or return key is pressed at the download target file to select the desired file (step S112 in FIG. 12). When selecting a file, the column 1066 shows the capacity of the file registered in the host, and the column 1072 shows the file capacity in the user-side storage means. You can also check whether or not. Further, the number of downloads may be registered and stored in this field 1072. For the file selected as the file, for example, the system attribute bit is set in the attribute of the file, 1-byte data or the like is created by writing a dummy file, or the offset is stored in the reception count storage field 1072. The value V0 (for example, 100) is added and written as a download command, and marking for download is performed.

When the button D72 is clicked, a keyword search window D73 is displayed in another place on the screen.
And D80 are displayed, enter a keyword or the like in the keyword column D78, enter a session name or the like in the columns D81 and D82, and click the execute button D84. Then, a file including the keyword set in the keyword column D78 is displayed. , Are sequentially displayed in the center of the screen, so
Mark the corresponding file with the marking button D90 (steps S110 and S11 in FIG. 12).
2). If a file name is set in the field D74 and the execute button D84 is clicked, the session or sub-session is sequentially switched, and the registration destination of this file can be confirmed. In the example of FIG. 7, the file ALD2.
It shows that the LZH has not been downloaded yet and has been marked. Thus, when the marking process of the download file is completed, the OK button D
92 or the cancel button D94 is pressed to end the marking menu and return to the menu screen 1040.

Next, the setting operation of the host parameter and the modem parameter common to the communication software or the communication control section will be described. First, in the host parameter setting operation, the button D is pressed from the screen of the menu 1040 in FIG.
Click 12. Then, the host parameter setting menu 1090 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and the button D66 is clicked to select the host for parameter setting. Thus, when the host registration position is selected, the host name is entered in the field D100 and the write button D102 or the cancel button D104 is clicked to register the host network name. Also, the user ID for this host is registered in the column D110, the password is registered in the column D112, the telephone number is registered in the column D114, the connector for the modem is registered in the column D116, and the communication speed of the modem is registered in the column D118. ing. Further, the type of telephone line is set by button D120 for tone line, button D122 for pulse line, and button D124 for direct connection. Since the line connection protocol is different for each host, the connection protocol for each host is set in the column D106, and the file transfer protocol at the time of download is set in the column D108. Set each of the above parameters and
When the K button D126 is clicked, the host parameters in the column D100 are written from the man-machine IF unit 70 in FIG. 6 to a predetermined storage location in the download parameter memory 80.

Next, a modem parameter setting operation will be described. For the setting operation of modem parameters, refer to FIG.
When the button D14 is clicked on the screen of the menu 1040, the modem parameter setting menu 1080 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Therefore, the parameters of the modem 28 connected to this personal computer are set in the columns of the menu 1080. First, the modem name is registered in the column D1040, and the initialization command for the modem 28 is written in the column D142. Further, the head parameter of the modem command is written in the column D144, and the end symbol of the modem command is written in the column D146. Further, a switch command to the tone line is set in the column D148, and a switch command to the pulse line is registered in the column D150. Next, the reset command is registered in the column D152, the hangup command is registered in the column D154, and the escape command and the ack command are registered in the columns D156 and D158, respectively. Further, in the columns D160 and D162, a message indicating that the connection has been established and a message indicating that the connection has failed are registered. The column D164 indicates the type of error correction and the column D166.
The type of compression method is registered in the
In 68, on / off control of the speaker of the modem is registered. Further, in the case of Japanese processing, the type of Kanji code is in the column D170 and the type of Kana shift is in the column D1.
72 should be set respectively. Thus, when the parameter setting is completed, click the button D176,
The registration process of these parameters ends. In the setting operation of the host parameter and the modem parameter described above, if the default values can be used, there is no need to input again, and if the setting operation of the user ID column D110 and the password list D112 of FIG. Is enough.

Thus, when the setting work of the host parameter and the modem parameter is completed and the marking process of the download target file is also completed, the file download work is started. In the user side communication terminal device 10i configured as shown in FIG. 4, unlike the normal download system, the host 2A never performs file marking processing.
There is an advantage that the file marking process can be executed without communication access to. Also, whether the download target file has been downloaded in the past or is downloaded for the first time can be easily checked at the marking stage, and it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as downloading the same file twice or three times.

However, there are various kinds of operation modes for downloading the marking file.
In the immediate execution mode in which the download process is immediately performed after marking, the download process is immediately started by clicking the button D10 in the menu 1040 in FIG. Another download mode has a timer activation type. In this mode, when the time set by the user 10i comes, the download process automatically starts, and the button D16 in the menu 1040 is clicked to set the download start time. It is designed to be in mode. Furthermore, when the communication software is activated next time, the marking file download process may be automatically executed.

Next, the immediate execution operation of download will be described. That is, when the button D10 is clicked from the menu 1040, the DWN command unit 79 in the man-machine IF unit 70 in FIG. 4 is activated and the download process is started (step S114 in FIG. 12). In the example of FIG. 4, first,
Restored memory 6 by marking file check unit 74
If the reception control information of the reception target file in 8 is sequentially checked and the reception control information stores that the reception is completed, the reception operation is not performed. For example, when a dummy file is created as the reception control information and the file attribute bit of this file is used as the reception control information, as an example, the system attribute bit in the file attribute is set in the above file marking step, The checking unit 4 can read the file attribute bit to determine whether or not it is the marking file for download. Thus, even if this system attribute bit is set, the actual file size of this file is checked, and if the file size is larger than the specified value, this file has already been downloaded and the file is duplicated. It is determined that the file is about to be downloaded, the system attribute bit of the file set by the user by the marking operation is reset, and the marking file check unit 74 controls not to execute the file download process. In addition, by the marking file check unit 74 described above,
Sequentially, the file capacity in the restoration memory 68 is read, and if the file capacity is larger than 0 and smaller than a preset predetermined value (for example, 1 kbyte, etc.), it is regarded as a marking file and is a download target file. You may judge. Further, the marking file check unit 74 reads the reception control information in the restoration memory 68, checks the value of the reception count column 1014, and determines whether or not the file is downloaded (for example, if the reception count is 100 or more). For example, it may be determined that the file is a marking file, and further that the file entity does not exist in the storage unit 40i, and whether or not the file is actually downloaded may be determined).

Thus, when the marking file can be extracted (step S116 in FIG. 12) and it is confirmed that this file has not been downloaded, the marking file check unit 74 sends the host name of this file,
Download file parameters such as registration session, sub-session, and file name
Passed to 6. On the other hand, when the download execution unit 76 receives the above-mentioned download file parameter, the download parameter memory 80 reads the communication parameter with the designated host from the download parameter memory 80, and the modem 2 is connected to the host 2A.
After connecting via 8i, according to the predetermined protocol,
The file download process is started, and the received file is written in a predetermined directory of the storage means 40i (FIG. 12).
After step S118), the download mark is reset and the number of times the file is received is updated (step S120 in FIG. 12). After downloading the file, the file capacity is changed to the receiving capacity as shown in FIG.

After the marking file check and download reception / write processing in the restoration memory 68 as described above are repeated for all files, the updated user communication control information in the restoration memory 68 is stored in the storage means. 40
After the data has been compressed and written (step S128 in FIG. 12), the download immediate execution mode ends. The timer start download mode is the same as the immediate execution mode except that the download start time is delayed until the user set time. Further, in the example of the menu 1040 of FIG. 5, as the setting parameter in the timer start mode, the month and the date to be downloaded are set in the columns D202 and D204, respectively, and the unit of the start time and the minute are set in the columns D206 and D208, respectively. For example, in order to avoid congestion of the line or to save a call charge, file download can be automatically executed in a time zone such as 2:00 am to 4:00 am.

Next, another example of the information communication operation of the present invention by the user 10k will be described in detail. FIG. 10 corresponding to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 shows in detail the portion related to the download operation of the user 10k extracted from the personal computer communication system of the present invention. In FIG. 4 described above, the user 10i has the floppy disk FD or the optical disk MO.
In the example shown in FIG. 10, the user communication control information 202a is read, stored in the storage unit 40, and then a desired file is downloaded. In FIG. 10, the user 10k downloads the user communication control information 202a via the communication line c. The difference is that it is written and saved in the storage means 40, and the marking process of the download target file and the marking file download process are the same as the process by the user 10i.

Now, in each device shown in FIG.
The devices with the same numbers as in FIG. 1 perform the same functions, and the man-machine I is installed inside the communication terminal device 10k.
F section 70, user communication information restoration memory 68, file marking section 73 and marking file check section 74
And a communication control unit 12k are provided, and the communication control unit 12k
DIW execution unit 72 and download execution unit 76
And a parameter memory 80 are provided. Further, in the example of FIG. 10, the user 10k sets the file reception control information 2
02k is downloaded and initialized / generated in a predetermined storage means 40k, and then a file AL2D. The following operation will be described regarding the case of downloading LZH.

FIG. 10 shows the operation based on the above configuration.
Also, description will be made with reference to the operation screen menus of FIGS. First, the user 10k is the communication terminal device 10 of the present invention.
When k is activated, the man-machine IF section 70 displays an operation menu 1040 as shown in FIG. Therefore, in order to download the user communication control information 202a and write it in the predetermined storage means 40, when the button D6 of the menu 1040 is clicked with the direction key or the mouse, the file map generation / update menu 1050 as shown in FIG. Appears on the display means 32. In this menu 1050, this time, the user communication control information 202a
Has already been registered in the host 2A and this control information 20
Since 2a is downloaded, the button D24 is selected, and the host name D26, session name D28, etc. are set / confirmed. The host name D2
6. The default value of the session name D28 is preferably incorporated in the man-machine IF unit 70 in advance. Further, in FIG. 10, the user communication control information 202a is stored in the directory C: \ DWN \ SA of the storage means 40.

When the setting of the download parameter of the user communication control information 202a is completed in this way, the button D52 in FIG. 6 is clicked with a mouse or the like. Then, FIG.
The DIW execution unit 72 shown in is activated, and the menu 1 in FIG. 6 is displayed.
In the case of parameter setting such as 050, it is checked whether or not there is a directory \ DWN in the write destination drive C :, and if there is no directory \ DWN, this directory is newly created. Next, a child directory \ SA is created under this directory, and a dummy file DS9
501. LZH is generated, and the download mark is set as the value 101 in the reception control information column, for example. Thus, when the preparation for the download to the child directory \ SA is completed, the file DS9501.DS is sent from the DIW execution unit 72 to the download execution unit 76 via the marking file check unit 74. The download command of LZH is output, and the user communication control information DS9501. The LZH (202a) is downloaded and a predetermined directory (C:
Written to \ DWN \ SA (step S1 in FIG. 12)
02). When the download processing of the user communication control information 202a is completed, the DIW execution unit 72 is activated again and the file DS9501. The LZH is decompressed and expanded in the user communication control information restoration memory 68.

Thereafter, the restored user communication control information 2
02a for the file DS9501. After the LZH reception history information 69 (for example, the number of times of reception) is changed to the initial value 001 and converted into the user communication control information 202k, the file name DS9501. LZ
It is stored as H in the directory C: \ DWN \ SA (step S104 in FIG. 12). Thus, the initialization process of the user communication control information 202k by the DIW execution unit 72 ends. In addition, the file DS95 on the host 2A side
01. If the initial value 001 or the like is written / set in advance in the above-mentioned reception control information column for LZH, the updating process on the receiving user side is unnecessary. In this example, in the initialization stage, only the subdirectory \ SA is created under the directory C: \ DWN, and other subdirectory information and file name information are stored in the file DS950.
1. Just in LZH, directory C: \ DW
There is no substance under N. That is, since there is no dummy directory or dummy file, a significant saving of disk capacity can be realized.

Next, the marking processing button D8 for selecting the download target file in the menu 1040 will be described. When the button D8 is clicked from the menu 1040, the file marking menu 73 displays the file search menu 1060 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed in. In menu 1060, button D6
8 is used for switching / selecting a forum / session, button D70 is used for switching / selecting a sub-session in session D68, and button D72 is used for inputting a keyword or the like to search for a desired file. It has become. The button D60 is used to select the item immediately preceding the item currently being noticed. Further, a list of files registered in the sub-session selected by the button D70 in the session selected by the button D68 is the above-mentioned file DS950.
1. It is restored from LZH, expanded in the work memory 68, cut out, and displayed as in the center of the screen of the menu 1060. That is, the file registration number is displayed in the column 1062, each file name is displayed in the column 1064, and the column 1
The size of the file is displayed in 066, the comment for this file is displayed in the field 1068, and the reception control information of this file is displayed in the field 1070 or the field 1072 (for example, the size of the capacity specified in the field 1066 exists, or The number of times this file is received, or whether the system attribute of the file attribute (attribute) has been set and is the target of download) is stored.

The marking process of the download target file by the file marking unit 73 will be described based on such a screen configuration. As an example, first, when the button D68 is operated to select the session FA, a registration file list in the session FA as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed at the center of the screen. Therefore, the file selection button D90 shown on the right side of FIG. 7 is moved in the vertical direction, and the click or return key is pressed at the download target file to select the desired file (step S112 in FIG. 12).
When selecting a file, the field 1066 is the capacity of the file registered in the host, and the field 1072 is the file capacity in the user-side storage means. Therefore, this capacity is compared to determine whether or not the file has been downloaded. You can check. When the file already downloaded is designated to be downloaded again, a warning or error message is output from the file marking unit 73 to a predetermined display means. Further, the number of downloads may be registered and stored in this field 1072.
For the file selected as a file, for example, the system attribute bit is set in the file attribute, a dummy file is generated and 1-byte data is written, or the file of the number of reception times is stored with an offset value, for example. The download command value 101 is written by adding V0 (for example, the value 100), and marking for download is performed. Further, when the button D72 is clicked, the file search means 78 is activated (step S1 in FIG. 12).
08), windows D73 and D80 for keyword search are displayed in another place of the screen, and the keyword column D78 is displayed.
Enter a keyword, etc. into the fields, enter the session name to search in the fields D81 and D82, and then press the execute button D8.
When 4 is clicked, the files including the keywords set in the keyword column D78 are sequentially searched from the restoration memory 68 and displayed in the center of the screen (step S110 in FIG. 12), and the corresponding file is marked with the marking button D90. Marking (step S11 in FIG. 12)
2) Good. If a file name is set in the field D74 and the execute button D84 is clicked, the session or sub-session is sequentially switched, and the registration destination of this file can be confirmed.

In the example of FIG. 10, the file AL2D.
It shows that the LZH has not been downloaded yet and has been marked. Thus, when the marking process of the download file is completed, the OK button D
92 or the cancel button D94 is pressed to end the marking menu and return to the menu screen 1040.

Next, the setting operation of the host parameter and the modem parameter common to the communication software or the communication control device will be described. First, in the host parameter setting operation, the button D12 is clicked on the screen of the menu 1040 in FIG. Then, the host parameter setting menu 1090 as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and the button D66 is clicked to select the host for parameter setting. Thus, when selecting the host registration position,
Enter the host name in the field D100 and click the write button D102 or the cancel button D104 to register the host network name. Also, user I for this host
D is registered in the column D110, the password is registered in the column D112, the telephone number is registered in the column D114, the connector for the modem is registered in the column D116, and the communication speed of the modem is registered in the column D118. Further, the type of telephone line is set by button D120 for tone line, button D122 for pulse line, and button D124 for direct connection. Since the line connection protocol is different for each host, the connection protocol for each host is set in the column D106, and the file transfer protocol at the time of download is set in the column D108. When the above parameters are set and the OK button D126 is clicked, the host parameters in the column D100 are downloaded from the man-machine IF unit 70 in FIG. 6 in the download parameter memory 80, for example, the memory 82a.
Etc.

Next, a modem parameter setting operation will be described. For the setting operation of modem parameters, refer to FIG.
When the button D14 is clicked on the screen of the menu 1040, the modem parameter setting menu 1080 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Therefore, this communication terminal device 10
The parameters of the modem 28 connected to k are set in the columns of the menu 1080. First, the modem name is registered in the column D1040, and the initialization command for the modem 28 is written in the column D142. Further, the head parameter of the modem command is written in the column D144, and the end symbol of the modem command is written in the column D146. Further, a switch command to the tone line is set in the column D148, and a switch command to the pulse line is registered in the column D150. Next, column D1
The reset command is registered in 52, the hangup command is registered in the column D154, and the columns D156 and D158 are registered.
The escape command and the ack command are respectively registered in. Further, in the fields D160 and D162, the message when the connection is established and the message when the connection is unsuccessful are registered, the type of error correction is registered in the column D164, and the type of compression method is registered in the column D166. The column ON / OFF control of the speaker is registered in the column D168. Furthermore, in the case of Japanese processing, the type of Kanji code is in column D170, and the type of Kana shift is in column D.
It is better to set each to 172. Thus, when the parameter setting is completed, the button D176 is clicked, and the registration processing of these parameters is completed. In the setting operation of the host parameter and the modem parameter described above, if the default values can be used, there is no need to input again, and if the setting operation of the user ID column D110 and the password list D112 of FIG. Is enough.

When the setting work of the host parameter and the modem parameter is completed and the marking process of the download target file is completed, the file download work is started. Incidentally, in the communication terminal device 10k having the configuration as shown in FIG. 10, after downloading the user communication control information, unlike the normal download system, the host system is never accessed for communication until the file marking process at the file name search stage. Even if it does not exist, there is an advantage that the file marking process can be executed. Also, whether the download target file has been downloaded in the past or is downloaded for the first time can be easily checked at the marking stage, and it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as downloading the same file twice or three times.

There are various kinds of operation modes for downloading the marking file. For example, in the immediate execution mode in which the download process is started immediately after marking, when the button D10 in the menu 1040 shown in FIG. Download starts. There is a timer activation type in another download mode. In this mode, when the time set by the user 10k comes, the download process automatically starts, and the button D16 in the menu 1040 is clicked to set the download start time. It is like this. Furthermore, the marking file may be automatically downloaded the next time the communication software is started.

Next, a download immediate execution operation (see FIG. 12).
Step S114) of the menu will be described.
When the button D10 is clicked from, the communication control unit 12k is activated from the man-machine IF unit 70 in FIG. 10, and the download process is started. In the example of FIG. 10, the reception control information 69 of the restoration memory 68 is sequentially checked by the marking file check unit 74. For example, when the reception control information of each file is controlled by the number of receptions, the value is a predetermined value (100) or more. If so, the file is determined to be the marking file for download (step S116 in FIG. 12). In addition, the above-mentioned marking file check unit 74 sequentially reads the above-mentioned restoration reception control information, and if this marking file does not exist in a predetermined subdirectory, it is regarded as a marking file for download and may be used as a download target file. good.

In this way, when the marking file can be extracted and it can be checked that this file has not been downloaded, in the example of FIG. 10, the marking file check unit 74 creates the subdirectory \ FA under the directory C: \ DWN. Is generated. Furthermore, the marking file check unit 74 passes the download file parameters such as the host name, registration session, sub session, and file name of this file to the download execution unit 76. On the other hand, when the download execution unit 76 receives the above-mentioned download file parameter, it reads the communication parameter 82l with the designated host from the download parameter memory 80, and the host 2
After connecting to L via the modem 28k, the file download process is started in accordance with a predetermined protocol, and the received file AL2D. After writing LZH (step S118 in FIG. 12), the download mark is reset, and the update processing of the number of file receptions and the like is performed (FIG. 12).
Step S120). After the file is downloaded, the file capacity is changed to the reception capacity and the file entity exists in a predetermined directory.

After the file check for download and the download reception / writing process using the user communication control information 202k in the restoration memory 68 as described above are repeated for all files, the restoration memory 68 is restored. The storage unit 40 compresses the updated communication control information 202k.
(Step S128 in FIG. 12), the download execution unit 76 ends the download immediate execution mode. In the timer start download mode, the download start time is only delayed until the user set time. Immediately after the download process is started, after the communication control information 202k is restored in the user communication control information restoration memory 68,
The same processing as in the immediate execution mode described above is performed. Further, in the example of the menu 1040 of FIG. 5, as the setting parameter in the timer start mode, the month and the date to be downloaded are set in the columns D202 and D204, respectively, and the unit of the start time and the minute are set in the columns D206 and D208, respectively. For example, in order to avoid congestion of the line or to save a call charge, file download can be automatically executed in a time zone such as 2:00 am to 4:00 am.

[0037]

As described above, according to the information communication method and apparatus of the personal computer communication system of the present invention, it is possible for the user side to determine whether or not the file or message to be downloaded is actually downloaded without connecting to the communication host. Since it can be checked automatically, the same file or message will not be downloaded twice or three times by mistake. In addition, the host connection time can be greatly reduced. In addition, the download destination of the file can be automatically classified and received for each forum or session.
The user does not need to rearrange the files again after receiving, and the related files can be stored in the same directory, so the file read operation after downloading becomes simple. Therefore, the present invention brings great efficiency / economy to the users of the personal computer communication system, and has an advantage that the host side can efficiently provide services to more users in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a personal computer communication system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a data structure of user communication control information of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a block diagram for explaining an information communication operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a main menu screen of the communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a user communication control information reading parameter setting screen of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a download target file marking screen of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an example of a personal computer communication host parameter setting screen of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a communication modem parameter setting screen of the present invention. is there.

FIG. 10 is a software block diagram showing another configuration example of the information communication operation of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an example of a flowchart illustrating information communication processing on the host side according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an example of a flowchart illustrating information communication processing on the user side of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional personal computer communication system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 CPU 2A communication host 6 RAM 8 ROM 10i ,. . . , 10k PC communication user terminal device 12i ,. . . , 12k, 210 Communication control unit 14, 24, 26, 30 Bus adapter 16 Keyboard 18 Mouse 28 Modem 32 Display means 40, 68, 206 Storage means (HDD, FD, MO,
Flash memory) 42,242 FD driver 46,246 MO driver 68 Recovery memory 69 Reception control information 70 Man-machine IF section 72 DIW execution section 73 File marking section 74 Marking file check section 76 Download execution section 80 Parameter memory 202a, 202i, 202k User communication control information 212 Index generation / update unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information communication method for a personal computer communication system, comprising a list generation / updating step of generating / updating and storing a list of user registration information on the host side in advance, and the list on the receiving user side. Reception control information generating / updating step of managing a reception history from the host by inputting a table, and reading the reception control information based on an instruction of the receiving user, selecting desired user registration information, and marking. An information communication method for a personal computer communication system, comprising: a marking step; and a receiving step of receiving the marked user registration information from the host side. 2. The information communication method for a personal computer communication system according to claim 1, wherein reception history initialization information on the receiving user side is added to the list on the host side. 3. The information communication method for a personal computer communication system according to claim 1, wherein the list stored on the host side is compressed and stored. 4. The receiving user side compresses and stores the reception control information.
The information communication method of the personal computer communication system described in. 5. An information communication device for a personal computer communication system, wherein a user registration information generating / updating unit for generating / updating user registration information on the host side, and user communication control for storing the output user communication control information. And a DIW execution unit for reading and initializing / updating the user communication control information on the receiving user side, reading the user communication control information, selecting desired communication information to be received, and An information communication device for a personal computer communication system, comprising: marking means for marking user communication control information; and receiving means for reading the user communication control information and receiving marked communication information from the host side. 6. The information communication device for a personal computer communication system according to claim 5, wherein the user side stores the communication information received from the host side separately for each forum or session. 7. The information communication device of a personal computer communication system according to claim 5, wherein each piece of communication information reception history information of the receiving user is added to the user communication control information of the receiving user side. 8. On the receiving user side, the receiving means is further provided with an unreceived state confirmation means for skipping a receiving operation from the host when the marked communication information has already been received. An information communication apparatus for a personal computer communication system according to any one of claims 5 to 7.