JP2000215207A - Printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make speedily accessible to a desired information by describing a bar code, for which directory information provided on a WWW server and an identification code corresponding to the URL of a file are encoded, on a printed matter. SOLUTION: A bar code B printed on the printed matter such as an article catalog shows the access destination of a file in a WWW server 4 of a company to sell that article on a WWW and concerning the URL of internet protocol(IP) address designation showing that WWW server 4, only the numeral part of an IP address is encoded. Continuously to the numeral part of that IP address, the directory information is encoded and continuously to this directory information, the identification code showing every article is encoded. Thus, it is not necessary to input the access destination information character by character and the desired information can be speedily accessed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a system for browsing files arranged in information on a computer network, and more particularly to a file browsing system capable of easily accessing a target file by a bar code.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet, which is a worldwide computer network, constitutes a data transmission path between computers located in remote places. Today, the Internet is rapidly being used by personal computers at home, including public institutions and companies. It is becoming. In particular, W which is part of the Internet
WW (World Wide Web) is a computer model and OS
(Operating System), it is possible to transfer files containing information such as text, images, sound, etc. between computers without having to rely on the WWW.
A so-called homepage has been actively established to store a file containing various information in a server placed thereon and make it public. For example, public institutions have come to be used as an effective advertising space that incorporates visual elements for companies as a public relations medium that replaces conventional public relations magazines.

[0003] In the Internet, each personal computer has a unique IP address (Internet Protocol Ad- dress).
In the case of accessing or communicating with another personal computer, the location of the personal computer on the network is specified based on the IP address, and access and communication processing is performed. This IP address is 123.23
As in 4.2.3, it is expressed by connecting four numbers (each 8 bits long) expressed only by numbers with periods.

In the WWW, URLs (Unifor
m Resource Locator) to access various information. This URL is, for example, http: /
It is represented by a character string such as /www.abc.co.jp. Http indicates the protocol name and www.abc.co.jp
Represents a host (server) name (domain name).
The host name (domain name) is converted into an IP address by a DNS (Domain Name System) constructed on the Internet.

[0005] As described above, the IP address is merely a sequence of numbers and is difficult for a user to remember. Therefore, the domain represented by a character string as shown above (a character string including alphabets as well as numbers). First name URL
It is generally used for

In this specification, http://www.abc.co.
A URL form using a domain name such as jp is called a URL specifying a domain name, and an IP such as http://123.234.2.3
A URL form using an address directly is referred to as a URL for IP address designation.

[0007] By the way, even if a user can connect to the Internet and access a WWW homepage by using a browser, in order to display a desired homepage, a URL indicating the location of the homepage on the WWW is displayed on the browser. Must be entered in the designated field. For example, http: /
If you enter the URL /www.abc.co.jp, this URL
Although L has a minimum number of digits to indicate a WWW server installed in Japan, it is still necessary to input a total of 20 characters.
When calling a file stored in the W server, if the URL is a domain name specification, for example, http: //www.ab
c.co.jp/abc.htm, which requires input of 28 characters, which requires extremely complicated work. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the user cannot call up a desired homepage even if the user makes an erroneous entry of the URL by one character.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-171758, a unique identification code assigned to a URL is represented by a bar code, and the bar code is read and input by a bar code reader. It is not necessary to type

This system includes a system server connected to the WWW via a communication line, an identification code database attached to the system server, an identification code assigning means for assigning an identification code, and communication with the system server. The system server comprises an identification code storage means together with an identification code database.

[0010] The identification code assigning means determines the identification code corresponding to the URL of the file on the WWW selected to be browseable by this system in a one-to-one correspondence so as not to be duplicated,
It is a means for giving. Specifically, a file storing the assigned identification code (8-digit number from 00000000 to 9999999) and the file stored in the file,
That is, it is provided with an input discriminating unit for newly assigning an identification code so as not to overlap with an identification code already assigned to a specific URL.

[0011] The identification code database stores a specific UR.
This is a database that stores L and its URL in association with the identification code assigned by the identification code assigning means. This database returns a URL corresponding to the identification code to the system server in response to an inquiry by the identification code from the system server.

The system server is a server computer including a database management system for managing the identification code database. The basic function is to inquire the identification code database of the identification code transferred from the client computer via the communication line to the identification code database, and to replace the URL returned from the database with the identification code in response to the inquiry and to transmit the same to the WWW. is there.

[0013]

However, in the proposed system, the client computer accesses a predetermined access provider and then logs in to the system server to access a desired homepage on the WWW. In order to obtain a URL from an identification code, a system server is required, and it is necessary to provide an identification code assigning unit, an identification code database, and the like in the system server. Also, by reading such a system with a bar code reader, a bar code printed with a product name is displayed by a WWW of each company showing details of the product.
When used in a so-called product catalog that can access files stored in a server, each company needs to rewrite the information of the system server every time the information is updated, and the identification code is not duplicated between the companies. Therefore, its operation becomes extremely complicated.

When the system server is also used as an access provider, it is necessary to prepare as many identification code assigning means and identification code databases as the number of access providers required for the system server. Operation becomes very complicated.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a unique URL on the Internet.
In order to browse a file stored in the WWW server 4 provided with the URL, the URL of the WWW server 4 and the W
The present invention is to provide a printed matter in which a bar code B in which directory information in which an identification code conversion table provided on the WW server 4 is stored and an identification code corresponding to the URL of the file are encoded.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a file browsing system using a printed matter on which a barcode is described according to the present invention. The file browsing system in this embodiment is
It comprises a client computer 1 that can be connected to the Internet, a remote controller (remote control device) 2 that transmits various instruction signals to the client computer 1, a barcode reader 3 provided on the remote controller 2, and WWW servers 4 and 5.

The bar code B printed on a printed material such as a product catalog is displayed on the WWW of the company that sells the product.
This indicates an access destination of a file in the WW server. In this embodiment, it is assumed that individual bar codes are given to individual products described in the product catalog.

Here, the coding of the bar code B will be described. If the URL that is the access destination information indicating the access destination of the WWW server 4 is, for example, http://www.abc.co.jp, this may be encoded as the URL information of the WWW server as it is. However, if you want to delete the number of digits of the barcode in the URL information part of the WWW server,
Only the numeric part of the IP address of the URL for address designation is encoded and used. If the URL of the IP address designation indicating the WWW server 4 is http://123.234.2.3, the numeric part (123 234) of the IP address in all the character strings
Only 2) is coded and used. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a method of coding only the numeric part of the IP address is adopted.

Then, the directory information is encoded following the numeric part of the IP address. Although the directory information may be alphabets or the like, numbers are used in this embodiment to omit the number of digits of the barcode. With this directory information, the identification code conversion table in the WWW server 5 can be accessed. For example, if the directory information is 99, the URL for specifying the IP address is http://123.234.2.3/99. In this embodiment, “/” is inserted between the IP address information and the directory information. However, any method may be used as long as it can distinguish the IP address information and the directory information.

Next, following the directory information, an identification code indicating each product is encoded. Although the identification code may be an alphabet or the like, an eight-digit number is used in this embodiment to omit the number of digits of the barcode. In the above-described identification code conversion table, it is possible to convert the identification code into a URL of a file on the WWW in which information of a product having the identification code is described. For example, a product information file of a certain product A is http: //www.ab
If the URL is c.co.jp/a.htm and the corresponding identification code is 00001234, the barcode information is 1232
It becomes http://123.234.2.3/99/00001234 when this is analyzed.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the barcode B according to the present invention is a barcode of each information of a protocol name (can be omitted), a domain name, directory information, and an identification code.

The bar code B is a product catalog,
There are various places for description, such as when printed on the side of a product photograph of a magazine advertisement, or as a printed barcode level attached to the product itself.

Next, the operation of reading the bar code B will be described with reference to FIG. The bar code B is read by the bar code reader 3 provided on the remote controller 2. The data including the numerical information of the read IP address and the data including the directory information are stored in the remote controller 2.
To the client computer 1. The numerical information and the directory information of the IP address received by the client computer 1 are converted into a URL obtained by adding the directory information to the IP address designation URL in an address conversion circuit (not shown) in the client computer 1.
(Example: http: 123.234.2.3/99) Based on the converted URL, the client computer 1
The identification code conversion table in the WWW server 4 on the WW is accessed. The WWW server 4 returns the identification code conversion table to the client computer 1. Upon receiving the identification code conversion table, the client computer 1 specifies the URL (file name) corresponding to the identification code read from the bar code B based on the identification code conversion table and completes the URL (http: //123.234). .2.3 / a.htm or http://www.abc.co.jp/a.htm). And the URL
To access.

As described above, the file browsing system according to the present embodiment uses the IP information of the WWW server as the URL information.
Since the URL information is read from the bar code B in which the numerical information of the address, the directory information, and the identification code are coded, the URL specifying the file name is used.
The amount of information to be read can be reduced as compared with the case where URL information is read from a barcode in which all of the relatively long character strings are coded, so that the accuracy of reading the URL information can be improved, and the barcode reader can be simplified and reduced in cost. Can be achieved. Of course, this information processing apparatus uses
Since the RL information is input, the user does not need to input URLs one by one, and can easily and quickly access desired information.

The bar code 11 has a smaller amount of information about the URL as a code than a bar code in which all the character strings of the URL are coded, so that the number of digits of the bar code can be reduced and the bar code graphic pattern can be reduced. Can be simplified. Therefore, in the printed matter in which the barcode 11 is described, the URL information (access destination information) can be more accurately recognized by the apparatus side, and the barcode itself can be reduced in size, and the printing process can be simplified and reduced in cost. .

Further, since there is no need to prepare a system server for converting the identification code to the URL, capital investment is not required, and the information is updated only by updating the WWW server and the product catalog of each company. , Information can be easily updated.

Further, since the identification code conversion table for each WWW server is obtained after accessing the WWW server once, the WWW server 4 of a certain company is obtained.
The identification code of the above product and the identification code of the product on the WWW server 5 of another company may overlap, and the identification code can be freely assigned.

In the above-described embodiment, in order to operate the identification code conversion table in the client computer 1, various methods such as preparing a dedicated application or using a browser plug-in are conceivable. .

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the file browsing system using the printed matter in which the barcode is described according to the present invention, the UR of the WWW server is used as the access destination information.
L information, directory information indicating a directory in which the identification code conversion table is stored, and a bar code in which only the identification code is coded. At least URL information and directory information of the WWW server are used to convert the identification code conversion table of the WWW server to the client. Since the access destination information is obtained from the identification code by the identification code conversion table received by the computer, the system can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Of course, since the access destination information is input from the barcode, the user does not need to input the access destination information one character at a time, and can easily and quickly access desired information. In addition, it is possible to easily avoid duplication of the identification code, and to easily update information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a file browsing system using a printed matter according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing information of a barcode described in a printed matter according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B Barcode 1 Client computer 2 Remote control (remote control device) 3 Barcode reader 4,5 WWW server

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A system for storing a URL of a WWW server and an identification code conversion table provided on the WWW server for browsing a file stored in a WWW server provided with a unique URL on the Internet. A printed matter on which a bar code that encodes directory information and an identification code corresponding to the URL of the file is described.