WO2001088794A1

WO2001088794A1 - Information managing system using storage medium

Info

Publication number: WO2001088794A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/004151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takashi Shigetomi; Tetsuo Saito
Original assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Optrom
Priority date: 2000-05-19
Filing date: 2001-05-18
Publication date: 2001-11-22

Abstract

A storage medium used for automatically starting up a system by loading it and for realizing quick purchase of one of various pieces of service information through a network, and information managing method and an information processing system both using such a storage medium are disclosed. The information processing system in which a large quantity of information including images, music, audio, documents can be handled at high rate and which includes a network, wherein service information to which a lock key 1 (A01) for lock is added is stored on a detachable disk having at least an information storage area where information is stored, and the lock key is opened (3)(4) when the disk is connected (1) to a computer on a network and if purchase of the service information stored on the disk is confirmed (2).

Description

Description Information management system using storage medium

Technical field

The present invention relates to a storage medium, an information management method and an information processing system using the storage medium, and in particular, to automatically start up a system by inserting an optical disk or other storage medium, and to provide various information of service information. The present invention relates to a storage medium for providing management, an information management method and an information processing system using the storage medium. Further, the present invention relates to a storage medium having an electronic circuit, an information management method using the storage medium, and an information processing system.

Background art

In recent years, the exchange of information, provision of services, and e-commerce through the network has become active, and services that can be connected to the network simply by touching the menu have been provided. became.

In this case, when purchasing service information provided via the network, enter the credit card number, etc. and authenticate, and the service information will be downloaded from the server via the network. Is controlled to be stored in non-volatile memory such as a disk. That is, when purchasing music as shown in FIG. 11, the following steps are conventionally taken.

(1) A user accesses a network server from a computer via a network.

(2) A list of music available for sale from the network server is provided to the user.

(3) The user selects the desired music from the list display, requests a download from the network server, and confirms the payment by a predetermined procedure.

(4) The music requested by the user from the network server is downloaded and played.

However, if the download is performed every time the purchase is made as in the above example, the user must wait for the download to be completed, and if the amount of service information is large, the computer is occupied for a long time. Then the user has to wait and the user feels stress. For example, downloading large-capacity file data such as music and movies via a network usually requires 20 to 30 minutes, which wastes communication costs. This is also the case. Disclosure of the invention

The present invention relates to a storage medium for automatically starting up a system by inserting a storage medium and quickly realizing purchase of various service information via a network, and an information management method using the storage medium. An information processing system is provided. In order to solve this problem, an information management method of the present invention is directed to an information management method in an information processing system including a network capable of handling a large amount of information such as images, music, voices, and documents at high speed. Further, service information is stored with a lock key for locking added to a removable storage medium having an information storage area for storing information, and the storage medium is connected to a network. It is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a work, and releases the lock key when the purchase of the service information stored in the storage medium is confirmed.

Here, the service information is stored in advance in a read-only area or a writable area of a storage medium. Further, the service information is downloaded via a network. The release of the lock key is performed by providing a release key via a network. Further, the service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different lock key is added to each piece of information. Further, the storage medium has a program storage area for storing a program, and the download of the service information or the release of the lock key is performed by processing the program stored in the program storage area of the storage medium in the information processing. This is realized by executing the device. Further, prior to the purchase instruction of the service information, a heading image corresponding to commercial information such as images, music, sound, and documents stored in the information storage area of the storage medium is displayed in a selectable manner. According to the user's instruction to select the desired heading image, Start calling out commercial information and purchasing information or corresponding information. Further, when the storage medium is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, a service provider on the network corresponding to the service information stored in the storage medium is provided. Initiate a connection.

Further, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is an information processing system or a system including a network capable of handling a large amount of information such as images, music, voices, and documents at a high speed. A removable storage medium having an information storage area for storing information; and an information processing device such as a computer on a network to which the storage medium is removable. The information storage area of the storage medium includes a server. The service information is stored with a lock key for a lock added thereto, and the information processing apparatus is instructed to purchase the service information stored in the storage medium by inserting the storage medium. In this case, the lock key is released by a release key transmitted via a network, wherein the service information is stored in a read-only area or a write-only area of a storage medium in advance. Is stored in the available area. Also, the service information is downloaded via a network. The service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different lock key is added to each piece of the information. Further, the storage medium has a program storage area for storing a program, and the information processing apparatus downloads the service information or releases the lock key when the information processing apparatus reads the program stored in the program storage area of the storage medium. It is realized by executing. Further, prior to the purchase instruction of the service information, a heading image corresponding to commercial information such as an image, music, audio, or a document stored in the information storage area of the storage medium is selectably displayed, In accordance with the user's instruction to select a desired heading image, the calling output of the corresponding commercial information and the purchase of Z or the corresponding information are started. Further, when the storage medium is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, the connection to a service provider on the network corresponding to the service information stored in the storage medium is established. Start.

Further, the storage medium of the present invention is a detachable storage medium having at least an information storage area for storing information, wherein service information is released by a release key in the information storage area. It is characterized by being stored with a lock key added. The storage medium further has a program storage area for storing a program, and the program storage area connects the storage medium to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, and stores the storage medium in the storage medium. A first program module for releasing the lock key when it is confirmed that the purchased service information has been purchased.

Here, the service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different lock key is added to each piece of information. The information storage area stores commercial information and / or a headline image of service information, and the program storage area stores the storage medium prior to the service information purchase instruction. The headline image corresponding to the commercial information such as images, music, voices, documents, etc. stored in the information storage area by the body is displayed in a selectable manner, and the corresponding commercial information is selected according to the user's instruction to select the desired headline image And / or a second program module to initiate purchase of corresponding information. Further, when the storage medium is connected to an information processing apparatus such as a computer on a network, the program storage area is provided with a service provider on the network corresponding to the service information stored in the storage medium. Includes a third program module that initiates a connection to the. Further, the storage medium has a read-only area and a writable area. The program storage area further stores a bootstrap program and a system program which is read by the bootstrap program and controls the first and second program modules. The storage medium may be an optical disk such as a CD-R or a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, an IC card, a smart card, a compact flash card, or the like. According to _c present invention is selected from such cards, the I Ri system for insertion of the storage medium as well as automatic startup, the storage medium及Pi said to rapidly achieve a purchase through the network of various service information An information management method and an information processing system using a storage medium can be provided.

In addition, the present invention provides a storage medium having an electronic circuit for automatically starting up a system by inserting a storage medium and quickly realizing purchase of various service information via a network. An information management method and an information processing system using the storage medium are provided.

In this case, the storage medium has at least a storage unit including an information storage area for storing information and an electronic circuit unit equipped with an electronic circuit for processing information, and the electronic circuit inserts the storage medium. Each of the above functions is realized in cooperation with a device.

According to the present invention, a storage medium having an electronic circuit for automatically starting up a system by inserting a storage medium and quickly realizing purchase of various service information via a network, and the storage medium An information management method and an information processing system using the information can be provided.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a computer used in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of storage of a compact disk according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the initial control according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a storage configuration example on a compact disk according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of a computer when “MP 3” is selected in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a computer when “Movie” is selected in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a computer when “Movie” is selected in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lock key and a release key for realizing the download of service information in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a procedure for realizing the download of service information in the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of the information processing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of an example of a procedure for downloading service information in a conventional information processing system.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the computer used in the information processing system of the present embodiment. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In order to describe the present invention in more detail, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In addition, one of the constituents of the information processing system of this embodiment

FIG. 1 shows an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a computer constituting the computer. In the present embodiment, an information processing system will be described as an example of an image processing system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to general information processing using a storage medium. is there. Also, CD-RW and DVD will be described as preferred examples as a medium for storing programs and data, but it is apparent that the present invention can be achieved with other storage media such as a floppy disk. It is. Further, a partial CD (CD having a read-only area and a writable area) is more preferable.

In the figure, 1 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) that controls the overall control, and 2 is a read / write control disk (hereinafter referred to as CD-RW) device 4 that the CPU described later. ROM, which stores the minimum programs for reading the bootstrap program and system program from the set CD-RW, is stored in ROM 3, which is the program read from the CD-RW device 4, processing results, etc. 4 is a CD-RW device, 5 is a keyboard, 6 is a CRT display device (hereinafter referred to as CRT), 7 is a printer that prints out processing results, etc., and 8 is this device. A system reset switch for returning to the initial state, 11 is a communication device, which is connected to the Internet or the like by a wired or wireless LAN or the like. Reference numeral 10 denotes a system bus for connecting various devices. Although Fig. 1 shows a system in which each element is commonly connected to the system bus 10, some of these elements are integrated as one device, and the other elements are connected to input / output cables and buses. Even if connected It may be configured to be connected by communication.

FIG. 2 shows a storage example of the CD-RW according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a CD-RW mounted on the CD-RW device 4, 21 denotes a bootstrap program storage area, 22 denotes a system program storage area, and 23a to 23d denote packages. This is a storage area for each of the application programs _a to d.

When using a partial CD, a read-only area 24 for storing prepaid information and fixed commercial information (information including thumbnail images) and a writable area 2 for storing download information user creation information 2 And 5. The program area may be separated into a read-only area and a writable area depending on whether the program area is fixed or needs to be changed. Further, the arrangement of the read-only area and the writable area in FIG. 2 is only an example, and is not limited to this. That is, the service information of this example may be stored in the read-only area 24 or may be stored in the writable area 25. Here, the fixed commercial information includes information prepared as a service and information prepared for a customer who purchased the storage area. That is, the storage medium of the present invention functions as a brochure guide catalog, a medium that substitutes for advertisements of newspapers and magazines, and a storage of service information (content).

The contents of the programs stored in the bootstrap program storage area 21 and the system program storage area 22 differ depending on the environment provided by the system main unit in FIG. For example, when there is no OS on the system main body side, the OS is also stored in the system program storage area 22. On the other hand, when the system main body has an OS, the main control program relating to this information management may be stored in the system program storage area 22.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the outline of programs and information stored in the CD-RW and their relations.

In FIG. 4, the storage areas of the storage medium are roughly classified into a program storage area 40 and a data storage area 50 when classified according to storage contents. The program storage area 40 has a bootstrap program area 21, a system program area 22, and an application program area 23. The application program area 23 has a specific example shown below. Net “processing application”, “HomePage” processing application, “Goods” processing application, DigiCam ”processing application,“ MP3 ”processing application Includes “Movie” processing application cases, as well as contract information, stock trading information, current affairs information, bicycle and horse racing information, cooking information, fortune-telling information, calendar information, homepage information, Guide information, sales information, rental information, etc. are guide information, such as tourist information, shopping information, book information, education information, employment information, housing information, and events. It may include information about clients, marriage, fashion, etc. From this information, it can be selected and combined based on client / user preferences, etc. or many types of information May be grouped into a hierarchical structure (tree structure), and information may be sequentially input.

The service information of the present example is stored in the data information storage area 50 with the hack key added thereto in advance.

Figure 8 shows an example of the lock key. FIG. 8 is an example, and lock Z release of a confidential key corresponding to the contents of service information can be realized by various methods.

In Fig. 8, the key A01 is added as a lock key to the service information (the main body of music and image data) stored on the disc, and the service information cannot be opened without permission. When the service provider (hereinafter also referred to as a server) and the service information purchase procedure are completed, the key A60 is provided from the server to the user, and the key A01 and the key A60 are combined to generate a new key A01A60. With this new key, service information can be opened and used.

As the key, a key having a high degree of confidentiality, such as a key that can not be read or a key for decompressing encoded service information, is used.

Further, the data information storage area 50 stores one or more sets of thumbnail images and commercial information read from the thumbnail images corresponding to the respective processing applications. Commercial information is created from still images, videos, audio, music, and combinations thereof. The data information storage area 50 may include pre-broad information.

In addition to the above-mentioned area where the user cannot rewrite, There is a storage area 25 that can be rewritten by a user. This area includes a download area where programs, data, or commercial information is downloaded via the Internet or the like, information created by a user, For example, a user data area for storing digital camera information is included.

Although not described in detail here, it is preferable that the hardware of the information processing system, the software for the information processing system, and the software for data processing of the present embodiment have the following functions. .

(Example of functional specifications)

• Select the target area with the mouse (select the outline of the object) • Resolution: 75 dpi or more

• Number of colors: 2 5 6 or more

'Supported formats: Read-in, J P G, B M P, P I C, T I F, G I F

Write — J P G, B M P

• Other functions

Color change function

Contrast change function

Brightness change function

Sharp change function

□ Square selection function: Adjustable range

☆ Free selection function: Adjustable range

Deformation: Image resizing function: Simple scaling, resolution invariable scaling 2 0 8 0 0% To fulfill these functions, the system program storage area 22 or the application program storage area 23 includes, for example, an Internet connection program, a thumbnail image creation program, and a thumbnail image management program. Program, commercial information management program, image display program, video display program, data input / output program, data storage program, image 'sound processing program, data transmission / reception program, data conversion program, Programs such as a user authentication program and a billing program are provided in the data area 24 or 25, together with parameters used by the program, commercial information, thumbnail image information, user management information, and the like. Is stored. If the data area has a large capacity, downloaded videos can be stored in the data area, but if the data area has a small capacity, this CD-RW disc is used exclusively for information management and the information itself is Roles may be divided so as to be stored in another medium.

Hereinafter, an operation example using a CD-RW disc according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following examples, registration to the network (Main menu "Net"), selective connection to the homepage (Main menu "Home Page"), product commercials and order (Main menu) Menu “Goods ,,), digital camera image management (main menu“ DigiCam ”), music“ voice commercials and orders (main menu “MP3”), movies ”video commercials And the order (main menu "Movie") has been prepared, Here, "MP3" and "Movie" which are particularly relevant to the present invention will be described.

Other network registration contract information, various contract information, stock transaction information, current affairs information, bicycle and horse racing information, cooking information, fortune-telling information, calendar information, homepage information, guidance information, sales information, rental information Guidance information may include tourist information, shopping guides, shopping guides, education guides, employment guides, housing guides, event guides, marriage guides, and fashion guides. These choices can vary in the type, number, and priority depending on the layer that sells this CD-RW disc. If the number of menus increases and it becomes cumbersome, group them and deepen the hierarchy. You might also say that.

1. After inserting the CD-RW disc, automatically start up (boot, system) and display the menu.

2 · As an example of the main menu display, a browser is used, and the menu items are “Net”, “HomePage”,,, Goods ,,,, Digi C am ,,,,, MP3 ,,,, Movie.

An example of the procedure of menu display from the above CD-RW disc input will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power of the device shown in Fig. 1 is turned on, when the system reset switch 8 is pressed down, or when the device OS is already running, the CD-RW is loaded into the drive device. Sometimes, the initial control shown in the flowchart in Fig. 3 is executed. I do.

First, in step S1, it is monitored that CD-RW is set in the CD-RW device 4, and when CD-RW is set, the process proceeds to step S2, and the CPU 1 is connected to ROM2. Access the bootstrap program storage area 21 in the CD-RW according to the built-in minimum program or device 〇S, and read the bootstrap program.

In the following step S3, check whether or not this bootstrap program can be read.If not, return to step S1 again or directly to the CRT 6 or to the outside of the device. Turn on the indicator (not shown) indicating that it is not “load impossible” or “digital CD-RW” to notify the operator (step S4).

If the bootstrap program was successfully read in step S3 and the set CD-RW was a digital CD-RW, in step S5, the bootstrap program that was just read was used. To load the system program (including the operating system (OS), for example). Thereafter, processing according to the read system program is executed.

For example, in step S6, a screen for selecting an application that can be selected and executed at the present time is displayed on the CRT 6, and in step S7, the user has a selection input. The application program is read from the CD-RW device 4, and the read application program is read as shown in step S9. Execute the process according to the program.

An example of an application selection screen, a thumbnail image display example when each of the above main menus is selected, and a display example of commercial information when one of the thumbnail images is selected are shown in FIGS. Figure 7 shows. FIG. 9 shows an outline of an example of the processing procedure of the present example, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation procedure for realizing the operation of FIG.

Hereinafter, an example of an operation procedure of the information processing system will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10. It should be noted that the effects of the present invention are not changed by changing before and after the operation procedure.

First, in step S100 of FIG. 10, in the main menu "Net, HomePage, <-oods, DigitalCam," "MP3,", "Movie" One application is selected from Here, an example in which "MP3" or "Movie" is selected will be described.

(M P 3 treatment)

If "MP3" is selected, the process proceeds from step S11 to step S12, and the music stored on this disc is stored on one network server (for music, for example, a recording session). If the music is provided by the company, it automatically connects to the corresponding website. On the other hand, when music provided by multiple network servers is mixed, a thumbnail display showing each network server, for example, as shown in a to j in FIG. Show When the user selects the desired thumbnail display from the thumbnail image display, the user is connected to the corresponding homepage. At this time, a disk ID (for example, a serial number that differs for each product sold) is sent to the server. … See (1) in Fig. 9

The server waits for access in step S 21, and if there is an access, proceeds to step 23 to wait for a download request from the user. On the other hand, the user proceeds to step S14, where the thumbnail image representing the music stored in advance on the disk and a part of the music of the music are stored in the disk program. It is possible to read out the list and display the list and listen to the preview. In this case, for example, in step S14, when the user selects a desired song by clicking with the mouse, a part of the song is output. The user selects whether or not to purchase, and if not, displays the thumbnail again and makes the next selection. If so, proceed to step S15 to request a download and proceed to step S16 for payment processing, while the server proceeds from step S23 to S24 to pay the payment method. Set and confirm the settings. … See (9) in Figure 9

When the payment is confirmed, the server selects a release key (key 2 in FIG. 10) for releasing the lock key of the song selected in step S25 and sends it to the user. The release key of the same song may be the same, but in order to eliminate injustice, use the disc ID It is preferable to use a different release key depending on the difference between the keys. … See (9) in Figure 9

When the user receives the release key from the server via the Internet in step S17, the user creates a new key by combining the lock key and the release key in step S18. Then, in step S 19, the lock is released, and the user can listen to the desired music. ... See (4) in Fig. 9

After that, it is determined whether or not the "MP3" processing application has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S14 (not shown) to display a thumbnail again and input the next input. wait.

(M o V i e processing)

When "movie" is selected, thumbnail images indicating companies or works providing movie 'videos are displayed in k to q in Fig. 6 as in "MP3" above. Next, when the desired work is selected by clicking the mouse, a part of the video is output as commercial information as shown in Fig.7. The user selects whether or not to purchase, and if not, displays the thumbnail again and waits for the next input. When purchasing, set the payment method, and when the setting is approved, the release key is downloaded via the Internet, and the released movie can be played.

After that, it determines whether or not the "Movie" processing application is terminated. If not, it displays the thumbnail again and waits for the next input.

In the above example, the contents and thumbnails are placed on the disc. An example was shown in which an image, part of a touch, etc. were stored when the disk was purchased, but as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 10, the server waited for access in step S21, and there was access. Proceeding to step 22, the disc ID may be checked to see if the product has been sold and purchased, and the server may return a list of songs stored on the corresponding disc to the user. The user receives a list of songs in step S13 and displays the list in step S14 (not shown, similar to FIG. 5).

Also, in the above example, the service information was already stored when the disc was purchased, but the whole was downloaded with a lock key after purchasing the disc, and only the release key was downloaded when purchasing the song A configuration that can be canceled by, can also be considered as a configuration that eliminates the waiting time for each purchase.

In the above embodiment, a normal storage medium has been described as an example, but the present invention can also be realized by a storage medium having an electronic circuit described below.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of an ID (Intelligence 'Disk) 20 used in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, ID 20 is composed of two layers: an electronic circuit mounting surface 200 and an information recording surface 300. In this embodiment, the electronic circuit mounting surface 200 is provided with a CPU 210, a ROM 220, a RAM 230, and an interface circuit 260 as a control unit as a control unit. Mounted to be combined with Further, these power supplies 240 are mounted to supply electricity to each electronic circuit.

(Electronic circuit)

Although the electronic circuit mounted on the electronic circuit mounting surface is illustrated in FIG. 12 as being configured with functionally separate components and elements, the electronic element is pre-mounted. It may be mounted on an insulating substrate such as a printed circuit board or a ceramic substrate. Further, each circuit may be a combination of logic elements, or may be configured with one gate, one chip, SOC (system on chip), or the like. In addition, a semiconductor circuit may be formed on a silicon substrate, a ceramic substrate, or an insulating substrate. Furthermore, these may be laminated and configured. The mounting position of the electronic circuit is preferably mounted in the center for the stability of the interface disk, but if there is a device to maintain the stability of the disk, other positions are possible. It may be. For example, an electronic circuit may be mounted on the entire surface of one of the two layers.

(Power supply)

In FIG. 12, the power supply 240 may be a battery or an air battery which generates power by chemical change or the like from the inside, or may receive energy from the outside. When receiving energy from the outside, it may be a form that receives energy through a direct contact, a power source that receives energy through light, radio, or induction, or a combination of these. Further, a method in which a signal and a power supply are superimposed and transmitted and received may be used, In addition, the power supply 240 does not only supply power to each electronic circuit mounted on the electronic circuit mounting surface 200, but also, for example, when the ID 240 operates as main control of an external system, etc. It can also be used to power external systems, in which case ID 20 can also act as an "authentication card" that allows the use of external systems. Conversely, when power is supplied from the system itself, power supply 240 is not required on ID20.

(Interface)

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 27 denotes a data processing device of the control unit and the external circuit 100 via an interface circuit 260 of the control unit mounted on the electronic circuit mounting surface 200. This is a communication path for performing communication between the data processing apparatus and the data processing apparatus 11 and an interface signal line connecting the interface circuit 260 and the data processing device 11. Practically, the interface signal line 27 is the signal of the node 250 as it is, or the signal of the path 250 is deformed, converted, amplified, or modulated. Anything may be used. Of course, those that perform parallel-to-serial conversion (parallel-serial conversion) and perform serial communication, those that are super-parallel (the communication path has a bit width larger than the bus bit width), and those that have error correction codes added It may be. Also, the interface signal line 270 is used for processing conditions such as hardware, such as electrical connection conditions such as electrical signals and timing, and mechanical processing conditions such as mechanical and mechanical connection conditions. It is desirable that methods and protocols are standardized or standardized. In addition, The interface signal line 270 may be a contact type or a non-contact type. In particular, in this example, since writing and reading on the information recording surface 300 is also light, it is considered that it is technically advantageous to use an interface using light as a non-contact type. Alternatively, it may be considered technically advantageous to use an interface using radio waves or magnetic fields as a non-contact type.

(Information recording surface)

The information recording surface 300 in FIG. 12 is a surface on which the information of the ID 20 of the present embodiment is stored, and is, for example, a single surface of an optical disk. The information stored on the information recording surface 300 may be stored in the form of a pit like a normal optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a storage medium with a different recording dye. Needless to say, this is fine. The information stored in the optical disk is read by the optical disk controller 10 as a read signal 31. In the optical disk control device 10 of the present embodiment, when an optical disk such as a normal CD, MO, or DVD is inserted, reading / writing can be performed in the same manner as a normal optical disk.

Reference numeral 31 indicates that the optical disk control device 10 optically reads information from the information recording surface 300 of ID 20. Reference numeral 1 2 denotes a signal line, which is a signal line for transmitting information recorded on the information recording surface 300 read by the control circuit 10 to the light. The signal line is transmitted to the data processing device 11, and is a data processing device. It may be a bus signal line of 11 or an input / output path. Although the external circuit 100 is shown with a simple configuration, the data processing device 11 may be a general-purpose computer or a special dedicated circuit. In the case of a general-purpose computer, the external circuit 100 may have a function of connecting to the Internet, and in the case of a dedicated circuit, the electronic circuit of the ID may have a function of connecting to the Internet. In such a case, the electronic circuit of the ID is provided with a communication circuit capable of making direct telephone communication with the outside. Further, in the above, the ID has been described in which the electronic circuit mounting surface 200 and the information recording surface 300 are both surfaces. However, the electronic circuit mounting surface 200 is an inner layer and the information recording surface 300 is both surfaces. With three layers, the storage capacity can be increased.

The operation by the ID according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as that shown in FIGS. 2 to 10 except that the electronic circuit on the ID shares all or a part of the program executed by the external device. This is the same as the extension operation. Here, the sharing of the ID electronic circuit and the information processing of the external device can be broad, from the external device-led system where the external device executes the OS etc. to the ID-led system where the ID electronic circuit executes the OS etc. Combinations are possible. Therefore, corresponding to the division of information processing, the processing module or the step is distributed to the ID electronic circuit and the external device.

In this embodiment, the storage medium is described as a CD-RW, but an optical disk such as a CD-R or a DVD, or a magneto-optical disk is used. The information processing device may be a card such as a disk, a semiconductor memory, an ic card, a smart card, a compact flash card, or the like. Is an invention having a feature in the storage of a storage medium, and if it is an information processing apparatus that can use this storage medium, it is a dedicated device such as a mobile phone, an electronic organizer, or a wired telephone / fax machine. Instead, it can be installed in all household appliances.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications, additions, and modifications may be made within the scope described in claims. And these are also included in the present invention.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. An information management method for an information processing system including a network that can handle a large amount of information such as images, music, voices, and documents at high speed.

Service information is stored in a removable storage medium having at least an information storage area for storing information, with a lock key for a lock added.

Connecting the storage medium to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, and releasing the lock key when the purchase of the service information stored in the storage medium is confirmed. Characteristic information management method.

2. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein the service information is stored in a read-only area or a writable area of a storage medium in advance.

3. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein the service information is downloaded via a network.

4. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein the release of the lock key is performed by providing a release key via a network.

5. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein the service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different key is added to each piece of information.

6. The storage medium is a program storage for storing a program. Downloading of the service information or release of the lock key is realized by the information processing device executing a program stored in the program storage area of the storage medium. The information management method according to claim 1 or 3, wherein:

7. Prior to the purchase instruction of the service information, a heading image corresponding to commercial information such as an image, music, sound, or a document stored in the information storage area of the storage medium is selectably displayed,

7. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein, in response to a user's instruction to select a desired heading image, calling output of corresponding commercial information and / or purchase of corresponding information are started.

8. When the storage medium is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, connection to a service provider on the network corresponding to the service information stored in the storage medium is established. The information management method according to claim 1, wherein:

9. The storage medium is a detachable storage medium having at least a storage unit including an information storage area for storing information and an electronic circuit unit equipped with an electronic circuit for processing information,

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium is connected to a device on a network, and processing is realized by cooperation of the device and an electronic circuit. Information management methods.

10. An information processing system including a network that can transfer large amounts of information such as images, music, audio, and documents at high speed.

A removable storage medium having at least an information storage area for storing information; and an information processing device such as a computer on a network to which the storage medium is removable.

In the information storage area of the storage medium, service information is stored with a lock key for the lock added.

When the storage medium is inserted and the purchase of the service information stored in the storage medium is instructed, the information processing apparatus releases the lock key using a release key transmitted via a network. Information processing system characterized by this

11. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the service information is stored in a read-only area or a writable area of a storage medium in advance.

12. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the service information is downloaded via a network.

13. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein the service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different lock key is added to each piece of the information.

14. The storage medium has a program storage area for storing a program, and the download of the service information or the release of the key is performed by deleting the program stored in the program storage area of the storage medium. The information processing device executes The information processing system according to claim 9 or 12, wherein the information processing system is realized by the above.

15. Prior to the purchase instruction of the service information, a heading image corresponding to commercial information such as an image, music, sound, or a document stored in the information storage area of the storage medium is displayed in a selectable manner.

15. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein according to a user's instruction to select a desired heading image, calling out of corresponding commercial information and / or purchasing of corresponding information are started.

16. When the storage medium is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, a service provider on the network corresponding to the service information stored in the storage medium. 10. The information processing system according to claim 10, wherein connection to the information processing is started.

17. The storage medium is a detachable storage medium having at least a storage unit including an information storage area for storing information and an electronic circuit unit equipped with an electronic circuit for processing information,

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the storage medium is connected to a device on a network, and processing is realized by cooperation of the device and an electronic circuit. The information processing system described in (1).

18. A removable storage medium having an information storage area for storing at least information.

The service information is stored in the information storage area by a release key. A storage medium characterized by being stored with a lock key to be released.

1 9. The storage medium further includes a program storage area for storing a program,

The program storage area connects the storage medium to an information processing device such as a computer on a network, and when the purchase of the service information stored in the storage medium is confirmed, the lock key is used. 19. The storage medium 20 according to claim 18, wherein the storage medium includes a first program module to be canceled. The service information includes a plurality of pieces of information, and a different key is added to each piece of information. 19. The storage medium according to claim 18, wherein:

21. The information storage area stores commercial information and / or a headline image of service information,

The program storage area can select a heading image corresponding to commercial information such as an image, music, sound, or a document stored in the information storage area in the storage medium prior to the purchase instruction of the service information. 10. The display apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a second program module for displaying and calling out corresponding commercial information and starting to purchase corresponding information according to a user's instruction to select a desired heading image. Storage media.

22. The program storage area corresponds to the service information stored in the storage medium when the storage medium is connected to an information processing device such as a computer on a network. 22. The storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising a third program module for starting connection to a service provider on a network to be connected.

23. The storage medium according to claim 18, wherein the storage medium has a read-only area and a writable area.

24. The program storage area further stores a bootstrap program and a system program which is read by the bootstrap program and controls the first and second program modules. The storage medium according to claim 19.

25. The storage medium is selected from optical disks such as CD-R and DVD, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memory, cards such as IC cards, smart cards, and compact flash cards. The storage medium according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the storage medium is used.

26. The storage medium is a removable storage medium having at least a storage unit including an information storage area for storing information and an electronic circuit unit equipped with an electronic circuit for processing information. And data are arranged in the storage unit and the electronic circuit unit,

The method according to any one of claims 18 to 25, wherein the storage medium is connected to a device on a network, and processing is realized by cooperation of the device and an electronic circuit. The stated storage medium.