JP2001022669A - Network access system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network access system which enables a person to easily access desired information on a network similarly to the case of utilizing one system for one person without invading privacy even when utilizing one system for a lot of unspecified persons. SOLUTION: An IC card 6 having an address history map and a bookmark area can be freely attached to and detached from a reader/writer 7 which is provided for reading/writing information from/to the loaded IC card 6, and the history of accessed addresses or address to be bookmarked is read/written to the IC card 6 loaded on the reader/writer 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a network access system for accessing arbitrary information (for example, a homepage on the Internet) on a network (for example, the Internet).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a conventional network access system for accessing a homepage on the Internet. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a "PC"), 2 denotes a communication interface such as a modem or a terminal adapter,
3 is a communication line such as a telephone or ISDN, and 4 is WWW (Worl
d Wide Web) server, 5 is the Internet.

The personal computer 1 has a connection program 11 for connecting to a WWW server 4 installed at an access point using a communication line 3 by a method called dial-up, and a connection program to the Internet 5 and a connection program to the Internet 5. A program 12 called a “browser” for accessing an arbitrary homepage published on the PC 5 and receiving the accessed homepage and displaying the received homepage on a display device of the personal computer 1 is installed.

In such a system, a user can access a desired homepage on the Internet by performing operations in the following procedure. First, the connection program 11 is started. As a result, a call is automatically made to the WWW server 4 and a dial-up connection with the WWW server 4 is established.

Next, a procedure for connecting to the Internet 5 (input of an ID for user authentication and a password for a server, etc.) is performed. Next, the browser 12 is started. This connects to the Internet 5.
Thereafter, the user accesses the desired homepage by inputting its address, or accesses the homepage for search and then inputs a keyword.

In the above procedure, in order to access a desired homepage, the address must be recorded in a memo or the like or must be remembered. In addition, it is troublesome to input an address each time, and there is a case where re-input is required due to an input error. Even when accessing via a search homepage, it is necessary to follow the same procedure each time, which is troublesome.

Therefore, the browser 12 automatically stores the history of the address of the homepage accessed by the user, and responds to a predetermined input from the user to respond to the address of the accessed homepage. Is stored. Hereinafter, storing the address of the homepage by the user performing the predetermined input is referred to as “bookmarking”.

When accessing the homepage, in response to a predetermined input from the user, an address stored as an access history or an address stored as a bookmark is read and read. The homepage of the address selected by the user among the addresses is accessed. As a result, the user can access the home page without entering an address and without going through the search home page, and can easily access a desired home page.

[0009]

However, in the above-described conventional network access system, the history of the addresses accessed by the user and the bookmarked addresses are stored in the HD (hard disk) as storage means in the personal computer 1. Therefore, when one system is used by an unspecified number of persons, the following problems occur.

First, the bookmarking function is provided for the purpose of bookmarking the address of a frequently accessed homepage and making it easy to access the frequently accessed homepage. However, if it is assumed that an unspecified number of users bookmark the address of a homepage that is frequently viewed, from the viewpoint of each user, the homepage address that does not need to be viewed is bookmarked. In order to select a homepage that the user wants to browse from the bookmarked addresses, it is necessary to select from a considerable number of homepage names, which is quite troublesome.

On the other hand, as for the function of keeping a history of accesses, since the history of accesses by all users is stored, in addition to the above-described problem of the function of bookmarking, the history of accesses by a user Will be known to the next user and privacy will be violated.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention provides a system in which a single system is used by an unspecified number of persons without infringing on privacy and in the same manner as when one system is used by one person. An object of the present invention is to provide a network access system capable of easily accessing desired information on a network.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus for processing information obtained by accessing a network, and an information processing apparatus for communicating with the network by the information processing apparatus. In a network access system including a communication interface, a storage unit having an address history area and a bookmark area is detachable, and a read / write device for reading and writing information from and to the mounted storage unit is provided. The information processing apparatus controls the address information written in the access history area and the bookmark area of the storage unit mounted on the read / write device in response to a predetermined input, so that the information is read from the storage unit. The network is determined based on the address information selected from the read address information. While accessing information on the work, control is performed such that address information of the accessed information is written in an address history area of the storage means mounted on the read / write device, and further, in response to a predetermined input, The control is performed so that the address information of the obtained information is written in the bookmark area of the storage means mounted on the read / write device.

The program information for reading / writing the address information from / to the address history area and the bookmark area of the storage means may be written in a predetermined area of the storage means.

According to the above configuration, the history of the addresses accessed by the user and the addresses to be bookmarked are read / written from / to the storage means detachable from the system.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a network access system for accessing a homepage on the Internet. The same parts as those of the network access system shown in FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 6 denotes an IC card as a recording medium, and reference numeral 7 denotes a reader / writer. The IC card 6 is distributed to each user of the network access system, and the IC card 6 is provided with an access history area and a bookmark area. In the present embodiment, I
As the access history area and the bookmark area of the C card 6, areas for storing address information (addresses and identification names) for ten homepages are secured. An IC card 6 is detachable from the reader / writer 7, and the reader / writer 7 reads and writes information from / to the mounted IC card 6.

The operation of the network access system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the user mounts the IC card 6 on the reader / writer 7 (Y in # 1), the connection program 11
Is automatically activated (# 2). Thus, a dial-up connection is made to the WWW server 4.

Next, when an ID for user authentication and a password for server are input by the user, the input ID and password are transmitted to the WWW server 4 and a reply that the transmitted ID and password are correct is sent. Is sent from the WWW server 4 (Y of # 3),
The browser 12 is automatically started (# 4). This connects to the Internet 5.

If a reply to the effect that the transmitted ID and password are correct is not sent from the WWW server 4 (N of # 3), the user is prompted to input the ID and password again. When the input for terminating the connection program is performed (Y of # 5), the connection program 1
1 is terminated (# 6), and thereafter, the process proceeds to # 14 described later.

When connection to the Internet 5 is completed,
The mode shifts to the access mode (# 7). In the access mode (# 7), as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the user inputs a predetermined input for referring to the access history (for example, clicks on a specific part displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1). When this operation is performed (Y in # 701), all the address information stored in the access history area of the IC card 6 mounted on the reader / writer 7 is read, and all the read address information is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1. (# 702).

In the access mode (# 7), when a predetermined input for referring to a bookmark is performed by the user (Y in # 703), the IC mounted on the reader / writer 7 is set.
All the address information stored in the bookmark area of the card 6 is read, and all the read address information is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1 (# 704).

As described above, the address information read from the access history area or the bookmark area of the IC card 6 is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1. In this state, a predetermined input for selection is performed by the user. As a result, when the address information is selected from the displayed address information, the homepage of the address indicated by the selected address information is accessed (# 70).
5). Then, the accessed home page is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1 after passing through # 706 described below (# 707).

In the access mode (# 7), it is also possible for the user to input an address or access the homepage via a search homepage (# 708, # 709, # 710). , # 71
1).

In step # 706, the address information of the accessed home page is automatically written into the access history area of the IC card 6 mounted on the reader / writer 7. Since the access history area can store only 10 pieces of address information of the homepage, the oldest one of the stored address information is automatically deleted and newly added address information is stored. I have. That is,
In the access history area, address information of the ten most recently accessed homepages is written.

Next, when a predetermined input is performed by the user while the homepage is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1 (Y in # 8), the address information of the displayed homepage is attached to the reader / writer 7. The data is written in the bookmark area of the IC card 6 (# 9).

[0027] The bookmark area is on homepage 1.
Since only 0 pieces of address information can be stored, if the user tries to bookmark new address information in a state where 10 pieces of homepage address information are already stored, all of the 10 stored homepage pieces of information are already stored. The address information is displayed on the display device of the personal computer 1, and when the user selects the address information therefrom, the selected address information is deleted, and new address information is written in the obtained area. I have. Also, the user can arbitrarily delete the bookmarked address information.

When the user inputs another command (Y in # 10), a process corresponding to the input command is performed (# 11). To end browsing the homepage, the browser 12 may be ended. When the user performs a predetermined input for terminating the browser (Y in # 12), the browser 12
Is terminated (# 13). Thereafter, the IC card 6 is automatically ejected from the reader / writer 7 (# 14).

As described above, according to the network access system of the present embodiment, an unspecified number of users
Even if two systems are used, the IC card 6
Is distributed to each user, the IC card 6 stores only its own information (history of addresses accessed by the user and addresses bookmarked by the user). A desired homepage can be easily accessed without inputting an address or going through a search homepage. Also, there is no problem that privacy is violated.

The address of the address information of the accessed history and the address information to be bookmarked are read / written to / from the IC card 6 mounted on the reader / writer 7 instead of reading / writing from / to the HD (hard disk) in the personal computer 1. However, this processing may be realized by changing the program contents of the browser 12, or a program for realizing the above processing is written in the IC card 6, and based on the program contents. Alternatively, it may be realized by operating the device.

The IC card 6 may be used only for reading and writing the address of the access history and the address for bookmarking, or the user authentication ID.
It may also be used as an IC card storing the password of the server or the server, or an IC card for charging.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the recording medium for reading and writing the history of accessed addresses and the address to be bookmarked is an IC card. However, the present invention is not limited to this. No problem. However, considering security, storage capacity, portability, and price for protecting personal information,
The C card is best. In addition, regarding the configuration of the network access system, another information processing device other than the personal computer may be used, or a network other than the Internet may be used.

[0033]

As described above, in the network access system according to the present invention, the history of accessed addresses and the reading and writing of addresses to be bookmarked are performed on the storage means which is detachable from the system. Therefore, even when an unspecified number of people use one system, if the storage means is distributed to each user, as in the case of using one system alone, Desired information on the network can be easily accessed. Also, there is no problem that privacy is violated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network access system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed by a network system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation in an access mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional network access system.

[Description of Signs] 1 Personal computer 2 Communication interface 3 Communication line 4 WWW server 5 Internet 6 IC card 7 Lead writer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04M 11/08 H04M 11/08

Claims (2)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus for processing information obtained by accessing a network and a communication interface for the information processing apparatus to communicate with the network. And a read / write device for reading / writing information from / to the mounted storage means, wherein the information processing device responds to a predetermined input to read / write information. Control is performed so that the address information written in the access history area and the bookmark area of the storage unit mounted on the writing device is read, and the address information selected from the address information read from the storage unit is stored. Access information on the network based on Information is written to the address history area of the storage means mounted on the read / write device, and further, in response to a predetermined input, the address information of the accessed information is transmitted to the read / write device. A network access system, which controls so as to be written in a bookmark area of the attached storage means. 2. Program information is written in a predetermined area of the storage means, and when the information processing apparatus operates based on the program information, the program information of the storage means attached to the read / write device is written. 2. The network access system according to claim 1, wherein reading / writing of address information from / to an address history area and a bookmark area is controlled.