JP2003029736A - Font providing system, font switching system, character retrieval system, font managing server, and client thereof, font providing method, font switching method, character code converting method, character retrieving method and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a large number of characters usable with a unified font in a client. SOLUTION: In a font managing system 110, a plurality of fonts prepared for every purpose of use are managed and corresponding to a request from a user terminal 201, a correspondent font file is transmitted. In the user terminal 201, the downloaded font file is stored corresponding to its own character codes. Besides, a character which is not provided in the font managing system 110, is ordered from the user terminal 201 to the font managing system 110. In a terminal for external character management, the ordered character is prepared and this is registered in the font managing server 110.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a font providing system, a font switching system, a character search system, a font management server, a client thereof, a font providing method, a font switching method, a character code conversion method, a character search method, and a program thereof. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter,
PCs) have become popular and are used in many businesses. In particular, the word processor function is used to create every kind of document, from official documents to private letters, and it is also a factor that has increased the popularity of PCs.

Not only PCs but also many computer terminals and the like use character codes and graphic characters uniquely corresponding to the character codes.
Documents are created and information is presented to users.

JIS Kanji code (coded Kanji character set for information exchange) The JIS Kanji code exists to standardize the unique correspondence between such character codes and graphic characters. The JIS Kanji code was first standardized in January 1978 (JISX 0208-19
78) was announced and revised until September 1990 (JIS X 02
08: 1990), it has become compatible with 6,879 characters.

After that, the JIS kanji code was revised again in January 1997 (JIS X 0208: 1997), and the previously ambiguous part was rigorously defined, and the shift JIS code was changed.
Also, encoding methods such as RFC1468 and RFC1468 have been incorporated.

The JIS Kanji code standard is officially called "2-byte information exchange coded Kanji character set" and defines a set of graphic characters (character set). In this character set, as the kanji excluding kana and symbols, a total of 6,355 characters classified into the first level and the second level according to the frequency of use are prepared. Here, the Chinese characters belonging to the first level are 2,965 characters, and the Chinese characters belonging to the second level are 3,390 characters.

Further, in October 1990, in addition to the above, 6,067 characters were established as an auxiliary Kanji character set (JIS X 0212-1990), and a total of 12,946 characters were expressed with the above character set. It became possible to do.

In addition, the revision in January 1997 (JIS X 020
8: 1997), the third and fourth levels, which have been considered as extensions of the JIS Kanji code, were established in January 2000 (JI
S X0213: 2000), which made it possible to support a total of 11,233 characters by adding 4,344 characters to 6,879 characters without the supplementary Kanji character set.

Classification code In such JIS Kanji code, JIS X 0208-199
In the standards of 0 and JIS X 0212-1990, a table for classifying and arranging characters (hereinafter referred to as a graphic character code table) is defined. Further, in this table, areas (classification of characters) are made by numbers called classification codes.

Here, the graphic character code table is 94 lines × 9.
It is a matrix of four columns, and character codes are assigned to the 8,836 boxes in this matrix. The division code is for dividing the lines 1 to 94 in the graphic character code table for each character type. Specifically, the classification code (1, 2) is assigned to various symbols of 147 characters, the classification code (3) is assigned to numbers and Roman letters of 62 characters, and the classification code (4) is assigned to hiragana of 83 characters. The classification code (5) is assigned to 86-character Katakana, the classification code (6) is assigned to 48 Greek characters, the classification code (7) is assigned to 66 Cyrillic characters, and the classification code (8 ) Is assigned to 32 ruled line segments, a classification code (16 to 47) is assigned to a Kanji character belonging to the first level of 2,965 characters, and a second classification code (48 to 84) is 3,390 characters. It is assigned to the kanji that belong to the level. Here, the classification codes (9 to 15) and (85 to 94) are undefined areas, and no characters are defined by default.

.JIS code (encoding method) Here, the relationship between the character set and the encoding method will be described.

[0012] The character set is a set in which the characters to which it belongs are clearly indicated by graphics. On the other hand, the encoding method is how the set of such graphic characters corresponds to a numerical code (character code). To determine. A character code is defined as "a set of unambiguous rules that defines a character set and uniquely associates a graphic character and a character code within the set".

Therefore, generally speaking, the JIS code is a character code according to a coding method in which each byte of the JIS X 0208 character set (kanji character set) is assigned to an area of 0x21 to 0x7E.

This JIS code is an international code extension method (ISO / IEC 2022-1993, Japanese translation is JIS X 020).
2-1991), 1 byte ASCII (Am
erican Standard Code for Information Interchange)
It becomes possible to use it together with the code or JIS romaji. In this case, the character set is switched by using a special character string called an "escape sequence" as a mark.

Shift JIS Code In addition to the above-mentioned JIS codes, there is a shift JIS code as a character code that can coexist with a 1-byte character code without using an escape sequence.

This shift JIS code is a character code that is most often used in the current PC, and it is JI.
The Kanji is expressed by utilizing the undefined part of the area to which the 1-byte kana is assigned in the S code. For this reason, in the shift JIS code, the area to which the character is assigned is shifted as compared with the JIS code.

EUC and Unicode Also, as other character codes, EUC (Extended
Unix Code) and Unicode exist. EUC
Is mainly used as an internal code in Japanese-compatible Unix workstations, and this Japanese version (Japanese EUC) conforms to the JIS X 0208-1997 character set standard as well as the JIS code. ISO2022-1993
The encoding is based on. Also, Unicod
"e" is a 2-byte character code, which is used to integrally express not only Japanese but also Chinese characters in Chinese and Korean.

Graphic character In addition, graphic characters corresponding to the above character codes have a plurality of types, so-called fonts, for expressing the same character. This font is uniquely created by each company (hereinafter referred to as a font providing company), and each company has a different shape even if the same typeface, such as Mincho or Gothic, is used. Therefore, the user creates a document by selecting a font according to the purpose and taste.

[0019]

However, at the present time,
The number of characters supported by the JIS Kanji code is 6,879 (12,946 when the auxiliary Kanji character set is included, and 11,223 with the expanded JIS Kanji code).
Characters) and the type of existing Kanji (including the old font (the one corresponding to the new font in the following description is called the old font) and Chinese and Korean), and the number of characters that can be used at once Although it depends on the OS (operating system), since it is limited to about 8,000 characters, there is a problem that it is difficult to use Chinese characters, symbols, etc. that are not supported.

This problem becomes particularly noticeable when preparing documents such as old texts and address books using old fonts, and is a serious problem for scholars and their creators.

However, there is also a method of making it possible to separately use Chinese characters, symbols, and the like that have not been dealt with in this way as external characters by associating them with undefined areas in the graphic character code table.

However, even when this method is used, the number of characters that can be additionally used as external characters at one time is OS.
Since it is limited by the function of, it is impossible to enable all characters and symbols.

[0023] Further, since what is currently provided including external characters does not include all kanji and symbols, when a character that is not provided is used, the user separately has to enter the external character Must place an order. Further, since the external character ordered in this way can be used only by the user who ordered, there is a problem that the external character cannot be displayed when the electronic document is sent to another user.

Furthermore, when an external character is ordered from a font providing company in this way, it takes a lot of time and labor until it is created, which is inconvenient and the target character is generally used. In many cases, it is difficult to transmit accurate character information (order contents) between the ordering party and the font producing company because it is not the case.

Since the correspondence between the characters that can be browsed and the graphic characters in each character code and the code differs depending on the character code (which generally depends on the OS) installed in the terminal used, each character code is different. There is a problem that a user who does not have a code conversion table cannot browse documents created with different character codes.

Furthermore, not only external characters, but all character fonts are created uniquely for each font providing company. Therefore, for example, while using the character font created by the font providing company'A ',' B ' When using external characters created by a font provider company, different fonts are mixed in the same document, and the balance of the characters in the entire document is lost, making it difficult to read.

As described above, the number of kanji that can be generally used at present is not sufficient, and there is a problem that a document created by treating insufficient characters as external characters lacks versatility.

Further, even in educational institutions and specialized fields (for example, physics, chemistry, medicine, etc.), there are characters and symbols that are used uniquely in those fields, so a system that can handle these characters and symbols as external characters. Is required.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a font providing system, a font switching system, a character search system, a font management server, and its client that enable many characters to be used in a unified font. , A font providing method, a font switching method, a character code converting method, a character searching method, and a program therefor.

[0030]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is directed to a font management system for managing a plurality of font data and a font management system connected via a network. A font providing system having a client that downloads a character, the client sends character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered, and the font managing system converts the character / symbol specifying information into the character / symbol specifying information. It is characterized in that the graphic character created based on this is associated with the character code in the predetermined font data and the predetermined font data is transmitted to the client.

As a result, in the invention according to the first aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since a character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

The invention according to claim 2 is a font switching system having a font management system for managing a plurality of font data, and a client for downloading font data from a font management system connected via a network. Yes, the client
Extracts the font information contained in the document, sends the font information to the font management system, the font management system identifies the font data corresponding to the received font information, and sends the identified font data to the client. The client is characterized by storing the received font data in association with its own character code.

As a result, in the invention according to the second aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

The invention according to claim 3 is managed by a font management system for managing correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes and graphic characters, and a font management system connected via a network. A character search system having a client that searches for characters, wherein the client sends part or all of character or symbol information to the font management system as a search condition, and the font management system receives the received characters or symbols. Based on a part or all of the information of the above, the corresponding graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information are specified, and the specified graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information are transmitted to the client, and the client It displays the received graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information.

As a result, in the invention according to claim 3, it is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information. Becomes

The invention according to claim 4 is a font management server for managing a plurality of font data, wherein the font data requested by a client connected via a network is transmitted to the client. There is.

As a result, in the invention according to the fourth aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, in the present invention,
It is possible for the user to obtain the character when needed.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered is received from a client, and a graphic character created based on the received character / symbol specifying information is predetermined. The feature is that the font data is transmitted to the client in association with the character code in the font data.

As a result, in the invention according to the fifth aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, in the present invention,
Since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it.

The invention according to claim 6 is a font management server for managing a plurality of font data, wherein font data corresponding to font information received from a client connected via a network is specified,
The feature is that the specified font data is transmitted to the client.

As a result, in the invention according to the sixth aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, in the present invention,
Even when a document created using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily view it on the receiving side.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that a plurality of font data are created for each intended use.

As a result, in the invention according to the seventh aspect, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client.

Further, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the font management server classifies the users who download the font data into a plurality of groups, and restricts the use of the font data according to the groups.

As a result, in the invention described in claim 8, the service to be provided can be differentiated according to the contract content, for example, and the service tailored to the user can be provided.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a font management server for managing a plurality of character codes corresponding to one graphic character, which is a first font management server connected via a network.
Characterized in that the first character code included in the document received from the client is converted into the second character code used in the second client, and the converted document is transmitted to the second client. There is.

As a result, in the invention according to claim 9, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, the user of the document transmitting side can create the document without worrying about the OS (operating system) in the user terminal of the document receiving side.

The invention according to claim 10 is a font management server that manages correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes, and graphic characters, in which characters or symbols are transmitted from a client connected via a network. Part of or all of the information is received, based on part or all of the information of the character or symbol, the corresponding graphic character and character code and the information of the character or symbol are specified, and the specified graphic character and character code Characteristic information or character information is transmitted to the terminal.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 10,
It is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined, and it is also possible to give the meaning of the character and other information.

Further, in the invention according to claim 11, the character or symbol information includes information of a plurality of parts constituting the character or symbol, and the font management server allocates the information of the plurality of parts to a hierarchical structure. Manage and the information of characters or parts is
It is characterized by including a hierarchical structure.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 11,
It is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined, and it is also possible to give the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide detailed and easily understandable information as to what component the retrieved character is composed of. Moreover, when the present invention is provided in a server existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily obtain such information at a client connected via the network.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a client for downloading font data from a font management system which manages a plurality of font data connected via a network, and requests font data from the font management system. The font data received from the font management system is stored in association with its own character code.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 12,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
It is possible to get the character when the user needs it.

Further, the invention according to claim 13 sends character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered to the font management system, and the graphic created based on the character / symbol specifying information from the font management system. It is characterized by requesting predetermined font data in which characters are defined.

Accordingly, in the invention described in claim 13,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it.

Further, in the invention according to claim 14, the predetermined area graphic character information acquiring means for acquiring the graphic information of the predetermined area of the graphic character, and the 1 acquired by the graphic character information acquiring means.
Character / symbol specific information creating means for creating character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered by combining graphic information of one or more predetermined areas.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 14,
It is possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information on the characters to be ordered.

The invention according to claim 15 is a client for downloading font data from a font management system which manages a plurality of font data connected via a network, and extracts font information contained in a document. However, the font information is transmitted to the font management system, and the font data corresponding to the font information received from the font management system is stored in association with its own character code.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 15,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Even when a document created using special characters or symbols is transmitted and received, the receiving side can easily browse it.

The invention according to claim 16 is a client for searching a character managed by a font management system for managing correspondence between character or symbol information, a character code and a graphic character connected via a network. It is characterized in that part or all of the character or symbol information is transmitted to the font management system, and the graphic characters, the character code, and the character or symbol information received from the font management system are displayed.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 16,
It is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information.

Further, in the invention according to claim 17, the information of the character or the symbol includes the information of a plurality of parts constituting the character or the symbol, and the information of the plurality of parts is assigned to the hierarchical structure. Alternatively, the information of the parts includes a hierarchical structure, and the information of a plurality of parts is displayed according to the hierarchical structure.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 17,
It is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and in detail know the information on what component the retrieved character is composed of.
Further, when the present invention is provided in a client existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily understand the information obtained from the server connected via the network in detail and easily.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, a font data requesting step of requesting font data from a font management system that manages a plurality of font data,
And a font data downloading step of downloading the requested font data.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 18,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
It is possible to get the character when the user needs it.

Further, in the invention according to claim 19, an order information transmitting step of transmitting character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered to a font management system for managing a plurality of font data, and receiving. And a character code associating step of associating the created graphic character with a character code in predetermined font data. .

As a result, according to the invention of claim 19,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it.

Further, in the invention according to claim 20, a predetermined area graphic character information acquisition step of acquiring graphic information of a predetermined area of a graphic character and a graphic of one or more predetermined areas acquired in the graphic character information acquisition step. And a character / symbol specific information creating step of creating character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered by combining the information.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 20,
It is possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information on the characters to be ordered.

According to the invention of claim 21, a font information transmitting step of extracting font information contained in the document and transmitting the font information to a font management system for managing a plurality of fonts, and the received font information. Corresponding font specifying step for specifying the font data corresponding to the information, the font data transmitting step for transmitting the specified font data to the client connected through the network, and the received font data is stored in correspondence with the character code. And a font data embedding step for performing the same.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 21,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Even when a document created using special characters or symbols is transmitted and received, the receiving side can easily browse it.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the invention, the document created by the first client based on the first character code is transmitted to a font management system that manages a plurality of character codes corresponding to one graphic character. A first document transmitting step of converting the first character code included in the received document into a second character code used in the second client; and a converted document. A second document sending step of sending to a second client;
It is characterized by having.

As a result, according to the invention of claim 22,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
The user on the document sending side can create a document without worrying about the OS (operating system) on the user terminal on the document receiving side.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, a part or all of the character or symbol information is transmitted as a search condition to a font management system that manages the correspondence between the character or symbol information, the character code, and the graphic character. A search condition transmission step to
Based on part or all of the received character or symbol information, a corresponding character information specifying step of specifying the corresponding figure character, character code, and character or symbol information, and the specified figure character, character code, and character or A corresponding character information transmitting step of transmitting the symbol information and the client connected through the network, and a corresponding character information displaying step of displaying the received graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information,
It is characterized by having.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 23,
It is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information.

The invention according to claim 24 is a program for causing a computer to realize the function of the font management server.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 24,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, the present invention allows the user to obtain the character when needed. Further, according to the present invention, since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible. Further, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it becomes possible to easily browse it on the receiving side. Further, in the present invention, for example, according to the contract content,
Services to be provided can be differentiated, and services tailored to users can be provided. Further, according to the present invention, the user of the document transmitting side can create the document without worrying about the OS (operating system) in the user terminal of the document receiving side. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined, and it is also possible to give the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined, and it is also possible to give the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide detailed and easily understandable information as to what component the retrieved character is composed of. Also,
When the present invention is provided in a server existing on a network such as the Internet, a user can easily obtain such information at a client connected via the network.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a client for downloading font data from a font management system for managing a plurality of font data connected via a network, to function as a font management system. The client is caused to execute font request processing for requesting font data and font embedding processing for matching the font data received from the font management system with its own character code.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 25,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
It is possible to get the character when the user needs it.

Further, the invention according to claim 26 is a character / symbol specific information transmitting process for transmitting character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered to the font management system, and a character / symbol from the font management system. A font data receiving process of receiving predetermined font data in which graphic characters created based on the specific information are defined, and a font embedding process of storing the received predetermined font data in correspondence with its own character code; Let the client do it.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 26,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it.

Further, in the invention according to claim 27, the predetermined area graphic character information acquisition processing for acquiring the graphic information of the predetermined area of the graphic character and the graphic character information acquisition processing 1
The client is made to execute a character / symbol specific information creating process for creating character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered by combining the graphic information of one or more predetermined areas.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 27,
It is possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information on the characters to be ordered.

The invention according to claim 28 is a program for operating a client for downloading font data from a font management system for managing a plurality of font data connected via a network, which is included in a document. The document creation font extraction process that extracts the font information that is generated, the font information transmission process that transmits the extracted font information to the font management system, and the font data that corresponds to the font information that is received from the font management system Causes the client to execute the font embedding process that corresponds to the code.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 28,
Many characters can be made available to clients in a unified font. Further, in the present invention,
Even when a document created using special characters or symbols is transmitted and received, the receiving side can easily browse it.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, a client for retrieving a character managed by a font management system that manages correspondence between character or symbol information, a character code, and a graphic character connected via a network. Which is a program for operating a search condition transmitting process for transmitting a part or all of character or symbol information to the font management system as a search condition, and a graphic character, a character code and a character received from the font management system. The client is caused to execute the corresponding character information display processing for displaying the symbol information.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 29,
It is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information.

Further, in the invention according to claim 30, the information of the character or the symbol includes information of a plurality of parts constituting the character or the symbol, and the information of the plurality of parts is assigned to a hierarchical structure. Alternatively, the component information includes a hierarchical structure, and the corresponding character information display processing displays the information of a plurality of components according to the hierarchical structure.

Accordingly, in the invention of claim 30,
It is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and it is also possible to obtain the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and in detail know the information on what component the retrieved character is composed of.
Further, when the present invention is provided in a client existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily understand the information obtained from the server connected via the network in detail and easily.

[0090]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [Characteristics of the present invention] The present invention aims to unify the fonts provided, and in particular, due to the difference in the fonts of the characters provided as external characters, a plurality of fonts are unnecessarily included in a document. Are prevented from being mixed.

Therefore, in the present invention, there is one administrator so that this administrator can manage the fonts among the users. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a uniform font to each user, balance the graphic characters, and allow the user to create a well-balanced document.

Further, according to the present invention, the characters and symbols ordered as external characters (hereinafter, described as including symbols etc. in the characters) are provided not only to the orderer but also to other users. , It enables the exchange of electronic documents containing external characters among many users.

Further, the present invention also provides a function of automatically switching the external character incorporated in the terminal of each user as needed. With this, without any trouble for the user,
To be able to accurately read documents in which external characters are used.

Further, in the present invention, when the electronic document is exchanged between different OSs, the administrator side makes an O request on the receiving side.
By converting the character code of the document according to S, O
It makes it possible to exchange electronic documents regardless of S.

As a result, in the present invention, character restrictions and OS
It is possible to create a document without considering the above, and to provide the created document to other users.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, in the following description of the embodiment, the description will be made by paying particular attention to the external character.
This is because the present embodiment aims to unify the fonts, and in order to integrate the fonts, the unification of external character fonts becomes a problem. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the external characters are integrated, and the correspondence between the integrated character code and the graphic character is provided to the user.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the flow of a service (font providing service) provided by the font providing system according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the outline of the font providing service according to the present embodiment is provided by using a font management system 110 on a font management side 100 and an external character management terminal 101. In this configuration, the font management system 110 has user terminals (201A to 201F: hereinafter,
Let an arbitrary user terminal be 201. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and many users exist. ) Is used to register the external character ordered.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the user orders an external character, the external character is edited by, for example, an external character editor (Microsof).
The font management side 100 is configured to notify the electronic data (image data or the like) of the created external character by using the t (R) company or other application. Further, this configuration can be replaced with a configuration in which a handwritten image is read by a scanner or the like and the notice is given, or a configuration in which the handwritten image or the printed out image is notified to the font management side 100 by fax or the like.

On the other hand, when an external character is ordered by electronic data, the font management side 100 corrects this electronic data in the external character management terminal 101 to create an external character, and this is stored in the database of the font management system 110. Register to. When an order is made using a fax or the like, the external character ordered is created at the external character management terminal 101, and this is stored in the external character font database 112a-.
Register to 2.

After that, the external characters registered in the font management system 110 are provided to the user side via the Internet 10.

However, in this embodiment, the users who use the font providing service are limited to contract users. The contract user is a user who has concluded a contract with the font management side 100 to receive the provided font providing service.

Further, in the present embodiment, the font providing service provided by the font management side 100 also provides the following accompanying services in order to provide the above-mentioned external characters. This is a service that provides the external character font provided corresponding to each OS (may be a character code), and confirms what external character is provided in this system or the desired external character is provided. A service to search for external characters in order to
A character search service), a service for providing information (characteristics, practical examples, etc.) of searched external characters (hereinafter referred to as external character information providing service), and the like.

As also shown above, this embodiment also provides a service for newly adding an external character that has not been provided (hereinafter referred to as a character creation service). As a result, in this embodiment, it becomes possible to provide all the required characters to the user.

(Structure of First Embodiment) Next, the structure of the font providing system according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the font providing system according to this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the font providing system according to the present embodiment includes a font management side 100 and an orderer 2.
00C and user 200E exist. Here, the orderer 200C and the user 200E are users of the user terminals 201C and 200E in FIG. 1, respectively. However,
The orderer side 200C and the user side 200E may be any persons as long as they are contractors who have joined the font providing service according to the present embodiment, or may be the same person. In this description, in order to facilitate understanding, the person who orders an external character is the orderer side 200C, and the person who uses it is the user side 200E.

In FIG. 2, the font management side 100 is
It has an external character management terminal 101 and a font management system 110. Here, the font management system 110 includes a font management server 111, a character database (DB) group 112, and a user database (DB) 113. In this embodiment, these databases may be created in a normal file format or a relational database.

In this configuration, the font management server 1
11 is connected to the network, and the user terminals 201C and 201E are also connected to the network. Therefore, the font management server 111 and the user terminals 201C and 201E can communicate with each other via the network. As the network, it is possible to apply the Internet, a dedicated line, a telephone line, or the like.
In the following description, the case of using the Internet 10 will be described.

However, if the user (the orderer side 200C or the user side 200E) is a general user, it is considered that the Internet is best used for this network, but if it is a corporate user, a dedicated line or the like is used. The configuration used is also effective. Hereinafter, a case where the Internet 10 is used will be described as an example. Also, the font management server 1
It is assumed that the external character management terminal 101 and the external character management terminal 101 are connected via a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), whether wired or wireless.

Font Providing Service The contents of the font providing service provided from the font managing side 100 to the user side (the orderer side 200C and the user side 200E) in the above configuration will be described below.

First, when using the font providing service, the orderer side 200C makes a contract with the font managing side 100 and receives its own unique user ID and password. After that, when an external character not defined in the user terminal 201C is used, the external character font including the target external character is downloaded from the font management system 110.

At this time, if the font name including the external character is clear on the orderer 200C side, this font is designated and downloaded, and if not clear, the character search service is used to determine which font Check if it is defined in and download the confirmed font.
Here, if none of the fonts are defined, the orderer 200C orders the font management side 100 to create an external character using the external character creation service.

When ordering an external character to the font management side 100, the orderer 200C transmits information on the external character to be ordered to the font management server 111 using the user terminal 201C. It is desirable that the contents transmitted here include image data of external characters. However, in the present invention, any information may be used as long as the information allows the font management side 100 to accurately determine the external character to be ordered. In the following description, the case of including image data will be described as an example.

Further, the image data may be a bitmap file, a JPEG file or a gif file created by any application. In addition, reading, practical examples, meanings of characters, and the like may be included. In the following description, these will be described as order information. Also,
Even if this order information is sent by facsimile or the like, it is preferable that the font management side 100 accepts the order. The case where an order is placed via the Internet 10 will be described below.

When an external character is ordered in this way, the font management side 100 temporarily stores the received character information in a predetermined memory area (buffer etc.) of the font management server 111. At this time, the external character management terminal 101
It is preferable to notify that an order has been made by an arbitrary user, and to display this on the monitor or the like in the external character management terminal 101.

Further, when an external character is ordered in this way and the order information is stored in the buffer of the font management server 111, the user of the external character management terminal 101 is ordered based on the stored order information. An external character graphic character is created and stored in a predetermined database (external character information database 112a-2) in the character database group 112. However, this is created for each typeface (font), and the stored graphic characters are included in the corresponding font file.

In addition, the fact that the above external character is newly added to the provided font file means that all the subscribers of this service or users who are permitted to use the service according to the conditions can send it by e-mail or the like. It may be configured to notify.

On the other hand, when the user side 200E uses the external character newly defined as described above, the user side 200E subscribes to this service in the same manner as the orderer side 200C and has a unique user ID. It is premised that you have obtained and password.

When the above-mentioned external character font is registered in the external character database, the user side 200E downloads it and installs it in its own user terminal 201E. At this time, if it is clear on the user side 200E which font the target character is defined in, it is possible to directly specify the font name, but if it is unclear, the above character search service is used. Use to specify the font in which the target external character is defined, specify it, and download it.

Character database group 112 Here, the character database group 112 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a list of databases included in the character database group 112 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, the character database group 112 according to the present embodiment.
Includes a character information database 112a and a character component database 112b.

Character Information Database 112a The character information database 112a is designed to correspond a code to a graphic character for each character, and also reads character information (on reading, kun reading) and character information such as characteristics and examples. It is something to store. In this embodiment, the character font database 1
12a will be described by further classifying it into a regular character information database 112a-1 and an external character information database 112a-2. Here, the common characters are, for example, characters (symbols defined in the first level or the second level in the case of Chinese characters) and symbols that are previously associated with the shift JIS code or the like,
The external character is a character that is not included in this character or symbol.

However, there is a limit to the number of external characters that can be defined in the character code at one time. Therefore, in this embodiment,
This is solved by, for example, creating the external character information database 112a-2 in accordance with each use such as address book creation, person name input, and symbol input.

Further, in the following description, for simplification, only the external character information database 112a-2 will be described, but the common character information database 112a-1 and the external character information database 112a-2 have substantially the same data structure. Can be configured as one.

FIG. 4 shows the external character information database 112a-
2 is a table showing a data structure of No. 2. Referring to FIG. 4, the external character information database 112a- according to the present embodiment.
2 is divided into several databases or files for each purpose of use. In the present embodiment, examples of the purpose of use are for inputting an address, for inputting a person's name, and for inputting a symbol (for example, a medical symbol). However, in addition to this, for example, inputting a Chinese sentence, inputting an old sentence, etc. Also, as a symbol, a database or a file may be created for each field in which a chemical symbol, a map symbol, or the like, and a character corresponding to each of them, such as Chinese or Korean, which is not supported by common kanji is required.

The address external character information database shown in FIG. 4 will be explained. In this database, a character ID, an external character (figure character), which is identification information associated with a character (here, an external character) in a one-to-one correspondence, Character codes that define this (for example, those provided for each OS such as WIN code, MAC code, external character S code, character codes such as JIS code, shift JIS code, EUC, Unicode, etc.), reading of this external character ( Typical on-reading and kun-reading), the characteristics of this external character (for example, what is different from similar characters (abbreviated characters and old characters)), the number of strokes, practical examples, etc. It is stored. Here, it is preferable that the external character feature and the practical example be appropriate according to the purpose of use. For example, for an address, this is the name of the municipality that actually uses this external character. Further, such a data structure is the same in other external character information databases according to this embodiment.

Character component database 112b Further, the character component database 112b in FIG.
It is necessary to configure one means for searching each character, especially the external character provided by this embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the user (orderer, user, etc.) can check whether or not the character requested by the user, especially the external character, is registered in the font management system 110 by using the function of the external character search service. It is used at the time. This allows the user to accurately specify and download a font file in which desired external characters are defined.

In the description of this embodiment, the character component database 112b is also divided into an information character component database 112b-1 and an external character component database 112b-2, as shown in FIG. The parts database 112b-2 will be described as an example.

The external character parts database 112b-2 is shown in FIG.
Shows the data structure of. In FIG. 5, the external character part database 112b-2 according to the present embodiment is divided into address input, personal name input, and symbol input, like the external character information database 112a-2 shown in FIG. Here, focusing on the address external character component database, the data structure of the external character component database 112b-2 according to the present embodiment has a character code, an external character (graphic character), a component,
Are stored in the same record. In addition to these, a typical radical, the number of strokes, each radical and the like when reading or character is divided into two radicals are stored in the same record.

Here, a part is an element that constitutes an external character. Further, this part is used as a keyword when searching for an external character. Further, in the present embodiment, each component may be divided into layers.
For example, in the case of "knowledge", the parts of the first layer are "knowledge", the parts of the second layer are "arrows" and "mouths" forming "knowledge", and the parts of the third layer are "knowledge". The parts are parts such as "one" and "person" that compose an "arrow" and parts such as "│" and "┐" that compose a "mouth".

In addition, the external character parts database 112b-2.
Is the external character information database 11 with the character ID as the primary key.
2a-2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the external character information identified from the external character component database 112b-2 using the parts, the number of strokes, the reading, etc., is the external character information database 112a-2 with the character ID as the main key.
It is specified by the user and provided to the user (orderer or user).

User database 113 Further, as the database according to the present embodiment, in addition to the database included in the character database group 112, a user database used when authenticating a user (orderer, user, etc.). There is 113. In this user database 113, the authentication information (user ID, password, etc.) for each user, contact information (phone number, address, e-mail address, etc.) and payment method (service usage charge, etc.) (card payment or transfer, etc.) ) Etc. are stored.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the data structure of the user database 113 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, in the user database 113 according to the present embodiment, the user ID, password, name, address, email address, date of birth, and payment method information (payment method information).
And are stored. The user ID and the password are assigned by the font management side 100 when the user registers as a member, and the payment method information is information about a payment method of the fee generated by using the service according to the present embodiment.

In addition to the above, the user database 113 according to the present embodiment also has a designated database (DB).
And a class (or a group) are stored. The designated database is designated by each user. That is, for example, in the various databases shown in FIG. 4, when the external address information database registered in the external character information database 112a-2 is designated, this user can use the font file stored in the external character information database. It will be possible. However, a plurality of designated databases can be registered. What is a class?
The use range is further limited. For example, even in the external address database, this is a configuration required when the usable range is configured to be different depending on the class.

(Operation of First Embodiment) Next, the flow when the font management system having the above-mentioned configuration is used will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

At the time of subscribing to the font providing service First, the flow when the user subscribes to the font providing service provided by this embodiment will be described.

This operation can be performed by the user by filling in the necessary items on the contract application form, or by the computer terminal (arbitrary terminal), the user can input the necessary items to the character management side 100 such as the font management system. It is also possible to process by sending to 110. In the following, the user terminal 201 (for convenience of explanation, the user terminal 20 shown in FIG.
1C or 201E, which may be any user terminal), and the operation when subscribing to the font providing service will be described.

In the present embodiment, the user may be an individual (general user) or a corporation (corporate user). For this reason, in the present embodiment, an initial menu as shown in FIG. 7 is presented to the user, and a contract is made or a service is used by a corresponding method.

Referring to FIG. 7, an initial menu according to the present embodiment (example of a font providing service initial menu screen)
In, items for selecting "Description of font providing service", "Member registration (general user or corporate user)", and "Use of font providing service" are presented.

Description of Content of Font Providing Service First, a case where the item “Description of content of font providing service” is selected from the above items will be described below.
This is prepared for the user to recognize what kind of service can be used according to the present embodiment. When this item is selected, a screen example having the content as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display or the like of the user terminal 201.

Referring to FIG. 8, as the services provided in this embodiment, as described above, the font providing service and the external character search service and the external character information providing service which are associated with the font providing service are currently provided. The description of the external character creation service, which orders non-external characters, is shown. However, it is preferable that the service content explanation screen example shown in FIG. 8 can be directly jumped to a screen provided for using each service.

Membership registration (general user) In addition, in the font providing service initial menu screen example shown in FIG. 7, "Member registration (general user)" is selected, or in the service content explanation screen example shown in FIG. When “member registration general user” is selected, the screen example (general user membership application screen example) shown in FIG. 9A is displayed on the user terminal 201.

Referring to FIG. 9A, the general user member application screen example according to the present embodiment has columns for inputting the name, address, mail address, and date of birth of the applying user. Further, in this screen example, a column for inputting information such as the credit card number and a bank account is provided on the assumption that a credit card is used as a method for the user to pay the usage fee. Further, in this screen example, a field for selecting the designated database or class may be provided. Also, each information input from this screen example is stored in the user database 113.

Membership registration (corporate user) In addition, in the font providing service initial menu screen example shown in FIG. 7, "member registration (corporate user)" is selected, or in the service content explanation screen example shown in FIG. When “member registration corporate user” is selected, the screen (example of corporate user membership application screen) shown in FIG. 9B is displayed on the user terminal 201.

Referring to FIG. 9B, in the corporate user member application screen example according to the present embodiment, the name of the applying corporation (company name), the person in charge, the address of the corporation, and the mail address of the person in charge are input. There is a column to do. In addition, this screen example is provided with a column for inputting the information of this bank account on the assumption that a bank user is used as a method of paying the usage fee, and is also one of means for contacting the company. There is a field for entering the homepage address. Further, in this screen example, a field for selecting the designated database or class may be provided. In addition, each information entered from this screen example,
It is stored in the user database 113.

In this way, when the predetermined items are input from each application screen example and the font management system 110 is notified of this, the font management server 111 provides the application user with information such as a user ID and password. However, the user ID and password are preferably configured so that the user who applied can specify them. Further, the user ID and password thus given to each user are also stored in the user database 113.

As described above, in the present embodiment, predetermined information is acquired from the user (general or corporate), and the user ID and password are given to the user who has notified the predetermined information to identify the user. Subscribe to the font service. When a service is requested, the font management system 110 authenticates the user by using the input user ID and password, and provides the service only when the user is permitted.

At the time of using the font providing service Next, the operation when using the font providing service provided by this embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, when the user uses the font providing service, the user clicks the item “Use font providing service” shown in FIG. 7 or the item “Font providing service” shown in FIG. An example of the font providing service use screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the display or the like of the user terminal 201.

Referring to FIG. 10, the example of the font providing service use screen according to the present embodiment is "Download font" item and "Use external character search service".
Items and "Use Gaiji Information Service" item,
"Use the external character creation service" item is provided. Here, if the user defines in advance the font in which the target external character is defined, the user can specify and download it. Further, it may be configured so that it is possible to confirm what the designated font looks like before downloading.

When the user downloads a font file, for example, it is often unclear in which font the desired external character is defined.
We provide a service to search this (external character search service). FIG. 11 shows a screen example (external character search screen example) when using this service.

.. External character search screen example Referring to FIG. 11, in this screen example, "font search" is performed.
It is configured to enter the search condition for the character that the user wants to know in the column of "," displays the list of fonts in which the target character is defined as the search result in the "Font data" column, and displays in the "Character data" column. Information on the target character in the selected font, for example, various code information, character aspects in the selected font, representative reading, character meaning, practical examples, similar characters, and target character It is configured to display constituent elements (parts) and the like.

That is, in the "Font search" column, as a search condition, for example, a method of designating "Ricoh code", "typeface code" or the like, a method of using a character handwritten with a mouse or the like as a search condition, A method for designating one or more parts (elements) is illustrated. Further, the logical search may be configured by combining these with “and”, “or”, or the like.

Further, a list of fonts in which characters that match the search conditions thus input or that meet any of the conditions are defined is displayed in the "Font data" column. Further, the characters included in the font specified in the "Font data" column and satisfying the above search conditions are displayed in the "Character data" column. Here, when there are a plurality of corresponding characters, it is preferable that any of them can be selected in the “character data” field.

The external character search screen example displays information specified from the character database group 112 based on the search condition.

.. External Character Information Providing Screen Example Further, presentation of character information by the external character information providing service of this embodiment is performed in the "character data" area in the external character searching screen example shown in FIG. That is, in this embodiment, the external character information providing service is provided by using the external character search service.

Therefore, the user inputs the search condition on the screen shown in FIG. 11, and the font management server 111 searches the character database group 112 based on the search condition, and the result is as shown in the screen example shown in FIG. Presented to the user.

In addition to such information presentation, FIG.
It is preferable that the information on the target external character (particularly, the information on the parts forming the external character) is presented by the screen example as shown in FIG. This is a screen displayed by clicking "Detailed display of element (part)" in the area for displaying character data.

External Character Information Display Screen Example Referring to FIG. 12, in this screen example, in order to explain the component information in the character information shown in FIG. 11 in more detail, in the column of component hierarchy information, the target external character is displayed. The components that make up are presented hierarchically. For example, when the first layer in FIG. 12 corresponds to the entire target character, each part when the external character is divided into some parts is presented in the second layer. Further, in the third layer, the parts that constitute the above-mentioned part (however, this part is also a part that constitutes the target external character) are divided and presented, and in the fourth layer, the further divided parts are presented.
As a result, the user can easily determine from which component the target external character is formed.

Further, in order to realize such information presentation, the external character parts database 112b-2 shown in FIG.
Parts are managed according to the hierarchy.

..External character ordering screen example Further, as a result of searching for the external character of interest in the character search service as described above, if this external character is not currently provided, the user creates this external character on the font management side. It is possible to order 100. FIG. 13 shows an example of a screen (an example of an external character ordering screen) for making this order.

Referring to FIG. 13, when an external character is ordered in the present embodiment, the orderer side 200C inputs its own user ID and password in the external character ordering screen example. Also, the orderer side 200C, in the column of order information as the information of the external character to be ordered, the image data (image) of the external character created in the user terminal 201C of its own, and the information regarding this external character (for example, reading (on reading / kun reading) Input the number of strokes, characteristics, practical examples, and so on. The order information thus input is transmitted to the font management system 110 and temporarily stored in a buffer or the like of the font management server 111.

[External Character Creation Screen Example] Here, a screen example (external character creation screen example) of the application (external character creation application) provided in this embodiment when creating an external character on the user terminal 201C will be described with reference to FIG. explain. Referring to FIG. 14, the external character creating application according to the present embodiment provides a function of combining two characters, for example. This is a function of, for example, combining one radical on the right side of the character "dragon" and the character "Otori" to create one character.

Here, for example, an outline font (Tr
When combining characters created with ue Type Font etc.), the character creation application realizes the function of copying the target part of each character and pasting it in the creation area. Further, the external character creating application may be configured to have a function of rearranging the pasted outer ring and correcting each point on the outer ring. The external character creation application is stored in any storage means (a database, a memory in the font management server 111, etc.) of the font management system 110 on the font management side 100, when the user makes a contract, or
It is the one that will be used after downloading when needed. However, this may be created as an applet (Java program) and provided via a homepage or the like.

In addition to this, an external character editor or the like built in the OS beforehand may be used to create an external character to be ordered and notify the font management system 110 of this.

-Overall Operation Next, the overall operation of the font providing service according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. However, in the following operation, the user terminal 201 and the font management server 111 communicate with each other via the Internet 10. Further, in the following operation, each screen to be transmitted is a document created in the HTML format or the XML format, and is viewed by displaying / reproducing the document on the browser or the like of the user terminal 201.

.. Overall flow (FIG. 15) Referring to FIG. 15, in using the font providing service according to the present embodiment, first, the user sends a font providing service initial menu screen from the user terminal 201 to the font management server 111 ( 7) is requested (step S201). On the other hand, the font management server 111
Reads out a source document stored in its own storage device or a database connected to itself and transmits it to the user terminal 201 (step S101).

The user terminal 201 displays the font providing service initial menu screen received above on a display or the like (step S202), and waits for the user to select any item in the menu. When any item is selected by the user, the user terminal 201 notifies the font management server 111 which item has been selected (step S204).

After that, the user terminal 201 and the font management server 111, according to which item is selected,
Each process is executed (step S205 to step S20).
7, and steps S102 to S104). However, when none of the items is selected and the input instruction is an end command (Yes in step S208), the user terminal 201 ends the process. In response to this, the font management server 111 also ends the processing. Further, if no item is selected and an incorrect instruction is input (No in step S208 and No in step S105),
The user terminal 201 returns to step S203, and the font management server 111 returns to step S102.

Description of Contents of Font Providing Service (FIG. 16) Further, in the above, when the selected item is a request for explaining the contents of the font providing service (step S20).
5, Yes in step S102), the user terminal 201 and the font management server 111 execute the operation illustrated in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 16, when the user requests a service description, the font management server 11
1 transmits the source document of the service content explanation screen (FIG. 8) to the user terminal 201 (step S111). The user terminal 201 displays the received service description screen on the display or the like (step S211). afterwards,
After any item is selected based on this service content explanation screen (step S212), the user terminal
The process proceeds to step S204 in 5. Also, the font management server 111 moves to step S102.

Membership registration (FIG. 17) In the above, when the selected item is member registration (Yes in step S206 and step S10)
3, Yes), the user terminal 201 and the font management server 111 perform the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 17, when the user requests membership registration and if this is an application to a general user member (general user in step S121), the font management server 111 causes the general user membership application screen (FIG. 9 (a)) The source document is transmitted to the user terminal 201 (step S122), and if the application is for a corporate user member (corporate user in step S121), the font management server 111 applies to the corporate user member. A screen ((b) of FIG. 9) is transmitted to the user terminal 201 (step S1)
23).

The user terminal 201 displays the received membership application screen for general users or corporate users (general / corporate user membership application screen ((a) or (b) in FIG. 9)) on the display, etc. Predetermined items are input based on the screen (step S222), and the predetermined items thus input (predetermined application items) are transmitted to the font management server 111 (step S223).

When the font management server 111 receives the predetermined application item in this manner, it issues a unique ID user ID and password to the user who has transmitted the predetermined application item (step S12
4). Thereafter, the predetermined application items received above and the issued user ID and password are stored in the same record of the user database 113 (step S12).
5) Further, the issued user ID and password are notified to the user terminal 201 (step S126). On the other hand, the user terminal 201 displays the notified user ID and password on a display or the like to notify the user (step S224). Then, the user terminal 20
1 and the font management server 111, step S202
Alternatively, the process returns to step S101 to execute the subsequent processing.

Use of font providing service (Fig. 1
8) In the above, when the selected item is the use of the font providing service (Yes in step S207)
And Yes in step S104), the user terminal 201 and the font management server 111 execute the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 18, when the user requests the use of the font providing service, the font management server 111 first transmits the source document of the font providing service using screen (FIG. 10) to the user terminal 201 ( In step S131, this screen is displayed on the display or the like in the user terminal 201 (step S23).
1).

After that, the font management server 111 provides the user terminal 201 with a font download function, an external character search service function, an external character information providing service function, and an external character creating service function (step S132). ), The user has these functions in the user terminal 20.
It is used in step 1 (step S232).

.. Concrete Flow When Using Font Providing Service Next, operation when using each service or function as described above (steps S132 and S23 in FIG. 18)
2) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 19 to 24.

First, referring to FIG. 19, in this operation, when the font management side 100 is requested to use the font providing service, the font managing server 111 displays the source document of the font providing service using screen (FIG. 10). It transmits to the user terminal 201 (step S141). The font providing service use screen thus transmitted is displayed on the display or the like of the user terminal 201 (step S241).

Thereafter, the user selects any one of the services (font download, external character search service, external character information providing service, external character creating service, etc.) presented on the font providing service use screen (step S242), The user terminal 201 requests the font management server 111 to use the selected service (step S243).

... Download of the target font (Fig. 2
0) If a font download is requested (Yes in step S142 and Yes in step S244)
s), font management server 111 and user terminal 201
Executes the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 20, when the user terminal 201 downloads a font from the font management server 111, the font management server 111 and the user terminal 20.
The user (download requester) authentication process is executed between the two (steps S251 and S151). This user authentication process will be described below with reference to FIG.

After the user authentication is established in the above,
The font management server 111 identifies the font requested by the user terminal 201 from the character data group 112 (step S152) and transmits it to the user terminal 201 (step S153). The data exchange at this time is
For example, it is executed by using FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or the like.

Thereafter, the user terminal 201 incorporates the received font data into the user terminal 201 (step S252), and then displays on the display or the like that the incorporation process is completed to notify the user (step S253). .

After such processing, the font management server 111 and the user terminal 201 return to the operation shown in FIG.

As described above, in the present embodiment, font download is an operation permitted only to the authenticated user.

Description of contents of target font (FIG. 21) In addition, in the operation shown in FIG. 19, when confirmation of the contents of the font is requested (Yes in step S143 and Yes in step S245), the font management server 111.
Also, the user terminal 201 executes the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 21, when the user terminal 201 confirms the contents of the font with the font management server 111, the font management server 111 and the user terminal 2
A user (download requester) authentication process is executed between 01 and 01 (steps S254 and S154). This user authentication process will be described below with reference to FIG.

After the user authentication is established in the above,
The font management server 111 identifies the content of the requested font (typeface, corresponding characters, codes corresponding to each character, etc.) from the character database group 112 (step S155), and transmits this to the user terminal 201. (Step S156). The contents of the font thus transmitted are presented to the user on the display or the like of the user terminal 201 (step S255).

In this display, as a display example of the typeface and the corresponding characters, it is realized by displaying a character code table, which is conventionally existing, on the browser. Further, in addition to this, it is preferable that the contents are presented to the user by using display fields for font data, character data, etc. in the screen example as shown in FIG. Furthermore, after displaying the contents of the target font as described above, it is preferable that the contents can be downloaded based on this display.

In such a configuration, when the user inputs to download (Y in step S256)
es), the user terminal 201 is the font management server 11
Request download of the target font to 1 (step S
257), and shifts to the operation shown in FIG. Further, when the download of the target font is requested (Yes in step S157), the font management server 111 similarly shifts to the operation illustrated in FIG.

On the other hand, when the font is not downloaded (No in step S156 and step S257)
No.), font management server 111 and user terminal 2
01 shifts to the operation shown in FIG.
Display the font providing service use screen on the display etc.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the browsing of the contents of the font is permitted only to the authenticated user.

External Character Search Service (FIG. 22) In addition, in the operation shown in FIG. 19, when the use of the external character search service is requested (Yes in step S144 and Yes in step S246), the font management server 11
1 and the user terminal 201 execute the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 22, in this operation,
First, the font management server 111 determines the source document (at least the font search portion) of the external character search screen (FIG. 11).
Is transmitted to the user terminal 201 (step S161).
On the other hand, in the user terminal 201, this external character search screen is displayed on a display or the like (step S261), and the user inputs search conditions based on this screen (step S262).

The search condition thus input is transmitted from the user terminal 201 to the font management server 111 (step S263), and the corresponding character is searched from the character database group 112 in the font management server 111 (step S162). . The search result is transmitted from the font management server 111 to the user terminal 201 (step S163) and displayed on the display or the like of the user terminal 201 (step S264). However, the information given as the search result is whether the corresponding character exists, in which font it is defined, image data of the corresponding character, or the like.

Thereafter, the user, based on the display,
A font including the target character is designated, and whether or not to download the font is input (step S265). If the download is requested here (Yes in step S265), the user terminal 201 requests the font management server 111 to download the target font (step S266), and shifts to the operation shown in FIG.
Further, in the font management server 111, when the download of the font is requested (step S164), the operation similarly shifts to the operation shown in FIG.

Further, the user does not currently provide the desired character in the font providing service in the above operation (it is not included in any font, that is, the desired result is not included in the search result). If it is found that this character can be ordered from the font management side 100. The operation at this time will be described in detail in the description of FIG.

[0198] Further, if the download result or the ordering of characters is not performed and the end is not instructed from the search result (No in step S269 and N in step S166).
o), font management server 111 and user terminal 201
Shifts to the operation shown in FIG. 19 and displays the font providing service use screen on the display or the like of the user terminal 201.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the character search service for browsing whether or not a desired external character exists is
It can be used by any user without limitation by user ID and password.

External Character Information Providing Service Further, in the operation shown in FIG. 19, when the use of the external character information providing service is requested (Yes in step S145).
22. Yes in step S247), the font management server 111 and the user terminal 201 provide the user with the requested character information in the same operation as the operation shown in FIG.

However, in this service, in the preceding stage of step S161 and step S261 in FIG.
The user authentication process (FIG. 24) is executed, and the search results provided in step S163 and step S264 become detailed information as shown in FIG. As a result, it is possible to differentiate from the above-mentioned external character search service, and it becomes possible to differentiate the service for users who have registered as members and the service for users who have not registered as members.

That is, in this embodiment, the user who can use the external character information providing service is only the user who has registered as a member.

External character creation service (FIG. 23) Further, in the operation shown in FIG. 19, when the use of the external character creation service is requested (Yes in step S146 and Yes in step S248), the font management server 11
1 and the user terminal 201 execute the operation shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 23, when the user requests the font management side 100 to create a character, first, the user (external character creation requester) authentication process between the font management server 111 and the user terminal 201 (see FIG. 24) is executed (steps S171 and S271).

After the user authentication is established in the above,
The font management server 111 displays the external character ordering screen (FIG. 13).
The source document of the above is transmitted to the user terminal 201 (step S172). The user terminal 201 displays the external character ordering screen thus transmitted on a display or the like (step S272).

The user selects predetermined order information (character image created by an external character editor or other application or information on this external character (number of strokes, readings, practical examples, etc.)) on the external character order screen displayed on the display of the user terminal 201. etc)
Is input (step S273), and the input order information is transmitted to the font management server 111 (step S273).
173).

When the external character is requested to be created in this way, the font management server 111 searches the character database group 112 based on the order information, and the corresponding character (requested character) is searched for in the character database group 112. It is confirmed that it is not registered in (step S173).

If the corresponding character is registered in the character database group 112 (Y in step S174).
es), the font management server 111 notifies this to the orderer (member user) using e-mail or the like (step S180), discards the received order information (step S181), and ends the process. The user confirms the content notified by e-mail or the like (step S27).
5).

If it is confirmed in step S174 that the ordered character is not registered in the character database group 112 (N in step S174).
o), the font management server 111 creates a character based on the received order information (step S175) and registers it in the character database group 112 (step S17).
6).

After that, the font management server 111 notifies the orderer (user) that the ordered character is newly registered in the character database group 112 by using e-mail or the like (step S177). The user confirms the content notified by e-mail or the like (step S27).
6).

Further, the font management server 111 informs the general user (no restriction by user ID and password) that a new character has been added to the character database group 112, for example, on the initial menu screen of the font providing service shown in FIG. Notification is given (step S178), and the process ends. At this time, if the user who can use the external character is limited, it is preferable to notify the user who can use the external character (designated database, class, etc.).

As described above, in this embodiment, in accordance with the notification from the user who is registered as a member, the addition of the missing character is requested, and this is done by the font management side 100. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the user with the characters that are always required.

User Authentication Process (FIG. 24) Next, the operation for authenticating a user will be described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 24, in this operation,
The font management server 111 requests the user ID and password from the user terminal 201 (step S1).
91). On the other hand, the user inputs the user ID and password given to himself / herself into the user terminal 201 (step S291), and the user terminal 201 transmits this to the font management server 111 (step S29).
2).

Upon receiving the user ID and password in this way, the font management server 111 receives the combination of the user ID and password and the user database 11
The user information is compared with the information of each user stored in No. 3 (step S192), and the authentication result is notified to the user terminal 201 (step S193). Here, when the user authentication is obtained (Yes in step S194 and Yes in step S294), the font management server 111 and the user terminal 201 end the user authentication process and proceed to the next process in each operation. Also,
When the user authentication is not obtained (step S194)
No. and No in step S294), the font management server 111 returns to step S191 and requests the user terminal 201 for the user ID and password again.

As described above, according to the font providing service of the present embodiment, it becomes possible to exchange documents including external characters between users who have registered as members, and the characters requested by users can be efficiently provided. It becomes possible to do.

(Billing Method) Further, in the above, a service usage fee is incurred from the font management side 100 to the user. This may be configured so that a subscription fee is paid at the time of contract or a fixed amount is charged every fixed period (for example, monthly or weekly). Furthermore, when using the service, for example, a fixed amount may be paid each time the font is downloaded or the external character information providing service is used.

However, when using the external character creation service,
It may be configured such that the fee is not generated but is generated when the font is downloaded. As a result, it is possible to prevent the orderer from paying a transitional fee, and it is possible to equally provide services to all users (those who download and use fonts). However, in order to prevent malicious orders, the font management side 100 uses the external character management terminal 1
There is a need to be configured to sort the order contents at 01.

[Second Embodiment] Next, in the first embodiment, when a character is newly added, a function of automatically installing a font including the added character in the user terminal 201 will be described. The added configuration will be described below as a second embodiment.

This embodiment can be realized with a configuration substantially similar to that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the configuration described in the first embodiment will be cited and described.

In the present embodiment, the font management server 111 newly creates an external character by the external character creation service as described in the first embodiment, and when this is registered in the character database group 112, this external character is added. The selected font is transmitted to the user terminal 201. However, at this time, since the user terminal 201 is not always in the activated state, the font management server 111 may send an inquiry from the user terminal 201 as a trigger.

That is, the user terminal 201 according to the present embodiment.
Is the font management server 111 at the time of startup or periodically.
Is inquired as to whether or not there is a font to which the external character is newly added, and in response to this, the font management server 111
However, if the font corresponding to the inquiry exists, the corresponding font is transmitted to the user terminal 201. Also, the user terminal 201 that receives this font installs it.

However, when the fonts that can be used for each user are limited as in the example of the first embodiment, the font management server 111 refers to the user database 113 and determines that the relevant font is the contractual content of the user. It is configured to determine whether or not it is included.

Further, in the above configuration, the user terminal 201
Although the fonts received by are automatically installed, it is also possible to leave the judgment at this time to the user. That is, the user terminal 201 is the font management server 1
11 and if a corresponding font exists in the font management system 110, the font management server 111 sends to the user terminal 201 the contents of this font (which may be the same as in the first embodiment) or the font. When the size (how many bytes) or the like is transmitted and displayed on the display or the like of the user terminal 201, and the user inputs an instruction to install, the font management server 111 sends the font file to the user terminal 201. The font is transmitted and installed in the user terminal 201.

Further, as described above, the font in which the external character is newly added is automatically used, or according to the user's judgment,
The function to be installed in the user terminal 201 can be configured so that it can be selected in the contract.

That is, at the time of contract or when the contract is changed thereafter, the user automatically installs the font to which the new external character is added to the font management side 100 (1), and confirms before the installation. (2) Receive the report that a new external character has been added by e-mail, fax, telephone, etc. (3), do not use any of the services of (1) to (3) above (4), etc. It is preferable to configure so that can be selected. Further, according to the contents of such a contract, the user may be charged with a fixed amount of usage fee for a predetermined period.

[Third Embodiment] Further, by applying the font management system 110 according to the first embodiment, the font management system 110 according to the first embodiment is installed in the user terminal on the receiving side according to the font included in the document exchanged between the user terminals. It is also possible to provide a service for replacing existing font files (hereinafter referred to as a font automatic switching service).

This automatic font switching service will be described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 25, this service is
Each user terminal 201 (201A to 201F) downloads a font file from the font management system 110. This is performed when browsing a document on the user terminal 201. Therefore, on the user terminal 201, it is possible to browse a document including any external character without restriction on the font.

FIG. 26 shows a system configuration for realizing this according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 26, in this embodiment, the font management system 11 according to the first embodiment is used.
0 and the user terminal 301 on the document transmitting side 300,
The user terminal 401 on the document receiving side 400 is connected via the network 20.

In this configuration, the user of the document transmitting side 300 uses the font management system 11 on the user terminal 201.
Create a document using fonts downloaded from scratch. This document may be an electronic mail, a text format, HTML, XML format, or document format document. In addition, it is assumed that this document includes external characters provided only by the font management system 110.

When such a document is transmitted to the user terminal 401, the user terminal 401 cannot correctly browse the document unless the same font is used.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the user terminal 401 browses and displays a document, the user terminal 401 identifies the font used when the document was created, and this font is used by the font management system 11
It is automatically acquired from 0 and installed on its own.

That is, a document normally created also includes data indicating which font each of the included character codes corresponds to. In the present embodiment, when the document display process is started, this data included in the document received by the user terminal 401 is specified, and it is determined whether or not the font corresponding to this data is currently installed in itself.
If not installed, font management server 11
For 1, the corresponding font is requested.

As a result, in this embodiment, the user can create a document without worrying about external characters and fonts. However, in the case of limiting the users as in the first embodiment, it is confirmed to the user whether to switch the font when the document display process is started, and if the switching is selected, the user ID and the password are input. To get
The font management server 111 is configured to request switching of fonts.

[Fourth Embodiment] Furthermore, by utilizing the fact that the character code for each OS is managed in the first embodiment, data is transmitted and received between user terminals in which different OSs are incorporated. It is also possible to provide a service for converting the character code of a document (hereinafter referred to as a character code conversion service).

This service will be described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 27, the font management system 110 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes each OS (Windows, MacOS,
The correspondence between the character code and the graphic character is managed for each font (Unix, etc.). In this configuration, for example, Win
user terminal 201 with embedded dows (registered trademark)
When the document created in A is transmitted to the user terminal 201F incorporating Unix, the character code included in the document in the font management system 110 is Wi.
Converted from Windows code to Unix code. As a result, in this embodiment, without depending on the OS,
It becomes possible to exchange documents. However, in the present embodiment, the character code used in Windows is Windows code, the character code used in MacOS is Mac code, and the character code used in Unix is Unix code.

That is, for example, WindowsMe (Micros
A document created by a terminal with built in oft (R))
When browsing with a terminal in which OS10 (manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc.) is incorporated, it is impossible to browse as it is because the character codes used in both terminals are different. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the OS incorporated in the terminal on the document transmission side and the OS incorporated in the terminal on the document reception side are managed by the font management side, and when the document is transferred, the Convert the character code to the character code used by the document receiving side. As a result, the character code conversion service according to the present embodiment can provide an environment in which documents can be exchanged regardless of the OS being used.

Here, the system configuration according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 28, the system configuration according to the present embodiment is substantially the same as the system configuration shown in FIG. 26, but the configuration of the user database 113.1 is different.

User database 11 according to the present embodiment
The data structure of 3.1 is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 29, the user database 113.1 according to the present embodiment.
In addition to the items stored in the user database 113 shown in FIG. 6, the OS newly installed in the terminal (user terminal 301, user terminal 401, etc.) used by each user.
The information of is stored.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when the font management server 111 is requested by the user terminal 301 to transmit a document to the user terminal 401, the OS of the character code of the received document is incorporated in the user terminal 401.
Is converted to a character code that can be processed by the user, and then the converted document is transferred to the user terminal 401.

However, in realizing such a configuration, the user notifies the font management server 111 of the OS installed in his user terminal at the time of contract together with the application items in the first embodiment. It is necessary for the font management side 100 to manage the OS installed in its own user terminal.

Instead of such a configuration, the font management server 111 may retain a character code correspondence table for each OS. With this configuration, the font management system 110 confirms the OS installed in the user terminal 301 of the document transmitting side 300 and the OS installed in the user terminal 401 of the document receiving side 400 when transferring the document. The character code included in the document is converted into the corresponding character code based on the above character code correspondence table.

[Other Embodiments] Each of the embodiments described above is merely an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is possible.

[0242]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, many characters can be used in a unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since a character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

According to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible.

According to the invention described in claim 4, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, the present invention allows the user to obtain the character when needed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

According to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to enable many characters in a unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it becomes possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, for example, the service to be provided can be differentiated according to the contract content, and the service tailored to the user can be provided.

According to the invention described in claim 9, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, the user of the document transmission side is set to O
Without worrying about S (operating system)
It becomes possible to create a document.

According to the invention described in claim 10, it is possible to easily give which font data the desired character is defined, and also to give the meaning of the character and other information. It will be possible.

According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily give which font data the desired character is defined, and also to give the meaning of the character and other information. It will be possible. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide detailed and easily understandable information as to what component the retrieved character is composed of. Moreover, when the present invention is provided in a server existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily obtain such information at a client connected via the network.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, the present invention allows the user to obtain the character when needed.

Further, according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to enable many characters in a unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since a character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

Furthermore, according to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information of the character to be ordered.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible.

Furthermore, according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and in detail know the information on what component the retrieved character is composed of.
Further, when the present invention is provided in a client existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily understand the information obtained from the server connected via the network in detail and easily.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, the present invention allows the user to obtain the character when needed.

Further, according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since a character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

According to the twentieth aspect of the invention, it becomes possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information of the character to be ordered.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the invention, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the invention, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, the user of the document transmitting side can create the document without worrying about the OS (operating system) in the user terminal of the document receiving side.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible.

According to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to make many characters usable in a unified font in the client. Further, in the present invention,
It is possible for the user to obtain the character when needed. Further, according to the present invention, since the character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible. Further, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it becomes possible to easily browse it on the receiving side. Further, according to the present invention, the service to be provided can be differentiated according to the contract content, for example, and the service tailored to the user can be provided. Further, according to the present invention, the user of the document transmitting side can create the document without worrying about the OS (operating system) in the user terminal of the document receiving side. Furthermore,
According to the present invention, it is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined.
It is also possible to give the meaning of characters and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily give to which font data a desired character is defined, and it is also possible to give the meaning of the character and other information. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide detailed and easily understandable information as to what component the retrieved character is composed of. Also,
When the present invention is provided in a server existing on a network such as the Internet, a user can easily obtain such information at a client connected via the network.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client. Further, the present invention allows the user to obtain the character when needed.

Further, according to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to use many characters in a unified font in the client. Further, according to the present invention, since a character required by the user is created and provided, an environment for providing the character can be constructed without excess or deficiency, and further, the character can be obtained when the user needs it. It will be possible.

Furthermore, according to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to accurately notify the font creator of the information on the characters to be ordered.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, many characters can be used in the unified font in the client. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even when a document created by using special characters or symbols is transmitted / received, it is possible to easily browse it on the receiving side.

According to the invention as set forth in claim 29, it is possible to easily know in which font data a desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible.

Further, according to the thirtieth aspect of the present invention, it becomes possible to easily know in which font data the desired character is defined, and the meaning of the character and other information can be obtained. It will be possible. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and in detail know the information on what component the retrieved character is composed of.
Further, when the present invention is provided in a client existing on a network such as the Internet, the user can easily understand the information obtained from the server connected via the network in detail and easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a font management service provided by using a font management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a font management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating databases included in a character database group according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table showing a data structure of an external character information database 112a-2 exemplified in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a table showing a data structure of an external character component database 112b-2 exemplified in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a table showing a data structure of a user database 113 exemplified in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen (an example of a service content explanation screen) for explaining the content of each service provided in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen example (user member application screen example) for a user to input predetermined items when subscribing to a font providing service in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is an example of a screen when joining as a general user, and (b) is an example of a screen when joining as a corporate user.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when using a font providing service provided by the first embodiment of the present invention (example of font providing service using screen).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen example (external character search screen example) when using the external character search service or the external character information providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen example (external character information presenting screen example) for explaining the external character component provided in the first embodiment of the present invention using a layered structure.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen example (external character order screen example) when using the external character creating service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example screen (external character creation screen example) when creating a character image as an order content when using the external character creation service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of a font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

16 is a flowchart showing a flow of browsing a service content description in the flow shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a flow when performing member registration in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an outline of a flow when using the font providing service in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow when using the font providing service in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a flow of downloading a font using the font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a flow of confirming the content of a font provided by using the font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of searching for an external character provided by using the external character search service in the font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a flow of making a request for creating an external character that is not provided using the external character creating service in the font providing service according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a flow of user authentication processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a flow of an automatic font switching service provided by using the font management system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a font management system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining the flow of a character code conversion service provided using the font management system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a font management system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a table showing a data structure of a user database 113.1 exemplified in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 font management side 101 external character management terminal 110 font management system 111 font management server 112 character database group 112a character font database 112a-1 regular character font database 112a-2 external character font database 112b character information database 112b-1 regular character information database 112b -2 External character database 112c Character parts database 112c-1 Regular character parts database 112c-2 External character parts database 113, 113.1 User database 200C Orderer side 200E User side 201, 201A to 201F, 301, 401 User terminal 300 Document transmission Side 400 Document sending side

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Atsushi Koinuma             1-28-25 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tokyo Da             Ear Building No.3 4F Ricoh Technosis             Thames Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B021 AA01 BB02 JJ05 JJ06 JJ08                 5C082 AA01 AA36 BA02 BB01 BB32                       CB06 DA32 DA87 MM06    (54) [Title of Invention] Font providing system, font switching system, character search system, font management server,                     Client, font providing method, font switching method, character code conversion method, character search method, and                     And its program

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A font providing system comprising: a font management system for managing a plurality of font data; and a client for downloading font data from the font management system connected via a network, wherein the client comprises: Character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or symbol to be ordered is transmitted to the font management system, and the font management system converts a graphic character created based on the character / symbol specifying information into a character code in predetermined font data. A font providing system characterized by transmitting the predetermined font data to the client in association with. 2. A font switching system comprising: a font management system for managing a plurality of font data; and a client for downloading font data from the font management system connected via a network, wherein the client comprises: The font information included in the document is extracted, the font information is transmitted to the font management system, the font management system identifies the font data corresponding to the received font information, and the identified font data Is transmitted to the client, and the client stores the received font data in association with its own character code. 3. A font management system for managing correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes, and graphic characters, and a client for searching for characters managed by the font management system connected via a network. In the character search system having, the client transmits a part or all of character or symbol information to the font management system as a search condition, and the font management system receives the received character or symbol information. Based on part or all, the corresponding graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information is specified, and the specified graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information is transmitted to the client, and the client Is a character that displays the received graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information. Search system. 4. A font management server for managing a plurality of font data, wherein the font management server transmits font data requested by a client connected via a network to the client. 5. The character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered is received from the client, and a graphic character created based on the received character / symbol specifying information is converted into a character code in predetermined font data. The font management server according to claim 4, wherein the font data is associated with the font data and transmitted to the client. 6. A font management server for managing a plurality of font data, wherein font data corresponding to font information received from a client connected through a network is specified, and the specified font data is specified by the client. A font management server characterized by sending to. 7. The font management server according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of font data are created for each intended use. 8. The font management server classifies users who download the font data into a plurality of groups, and restricts the use of the font data according to the groups. The font management server according to any one of items. 9. A font management server for managing a plurality of character codes corresponding to one graphic character, wherein the first character code included in a document received from a first client connected via a network is A font management server, characterized by converting to a second character code used in a second client and transmitting the converted document to the second client. 10. A font management server that manages correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes and graphic characters, and receives part or all of character or symbol information from a client connected via a network. However, based on a part or all of the information of the character or symbol, the corresponding graphic character, the character code, and the information of the character or symbol are specified, and the specified graphic character, the character code, and the information of the character or symbol, Is sent to the terminal. 11. The information of the character or the symbol includes information of a plurality of parts forming the character or the symbol, the font management server allocates and manages the information of the plurality of parts in a hierarchical structure, 11. The font management server according to claim 10, wherein the character or part information includes the hierarchical structure. 12. A client that downloads font data from a font management system that manages a plurality of font data connected via a network, requesting the font data from the font management system,
A client, characterized in that the font data received from the font management system is stored in association with its own character code. 13. A character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered is transmitted to the font managing system, and a graphic character created based on the character / symbol specifying information is defined from the font managing system. 13. The client according to claim 12, which requests predetermined font data. 14. An order is made by combining predetermined area graphic character information acquisition means for acquiring graphic information of a predetermined area of a graphic character and graphic information of one or more predetermined areas acquired by the graphic character information acquisition means. 14. The client according to claim 13, further comprising character / symbol specific information creating means for creating the character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or a symbol. 15. A client that downloads font data from a font management system that manages a plurality of font data connected via a network, extracts font information included in a document, and extracts the font information. A client which transmits to a font management system, stores font data corresponding to the font information received from the font management system in association with its own character code, and stores it. 16. A client for retrieving characters managed by a font management system that manages correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes, and graphic characters connected via a network, the font management system A client which transmits part or all of character or symbol information to and displays the graphic character, the character code, and the character or symbol information received from the font management system. 17. The character or symbol information includes information on a plurality of parts that make up the character or symbol, and the information on the plurality of parts is assigned to a hierarchical structure. 17. The client according to claim 16, further comprising: the hierarchical structure, and displaying the information of the plurality of parts according to the hierarchical structure. 18. A font data requesting step for requesting font data to a font management system for managing a plurality of font data, and a font data downloading step for downloading the requested font data. Font providing method. 19. An order information transmitting step for transmitting character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered to a font management system managing a plurality of font data, and the received character / symbol specifying information. 19. The font according to claim 18, further comprising: a graphic character creating step of creating a graphic character based on the graphic character; and a character code associating step of associating the created graphic character with a character code in predetermined font data. How to provide. 20. An order is made by combining a predetermined area graphic character information acquisition step of acquiring graphic information of a predetermined area of a graphic character and the graphic information of one or more predetermined areas acquired in the graphic character information acquisition step. 20. The font providing method according to claim 19, further comprising: a character / symbol specifying information creating step of creating the character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol. 21. A font information transmitting step of extracting font information contained in a document and transmitting the font information to a font management system managing a plurality of fonts, and a font corresponding to the received font information. A corresponding font specifying step of specifying data, a font data sending step of sending the specified font data to a client connected via a network, and making the received font data correspond to a character code,
A font switching method comprising the step of incorporating font data to be stored. 22. A first document transmitting step of transmitting a document created by the first client based on the first character code to a font management system that manages a plurality of character codes corresponding to one graphic character. , The first character code included in the received document,
A character code conversion step of converting into a second character code used in a second client; and a second step of transmitting the converted document to the second client
And a character code conversion method, which comprises: 23. A search condition transmitting step of transmitting part or all of the character or symbol information as a search condition to a font management system that manages correspondence between character or symbol information, character codes and graphic characters, and reception. Based on a part or all of the information of the character or symbol, the corresponding character information identification step of identifying the corresponding graphic character, character code, and information of the character or symbol, and the identified graphic character, character code, and character Or a corresponding character information transmitting step of transmitting the information of the symbol to the client connected through the network, and a corresponding character information displaying step of displaying the received graphic character, character code, and character or symbol information. A method for character search having. 24. A program for causing a computer to realize the function of the font management server according to any one of claims 4 to 11. 25. A program for causing a client to download font data from a font management system that manages a plurality of font data connected via a network, the font requesting font data to the font management system. A program for causing the client to execute a request process and a font embedding process that associates the font data received from the font management system with its own character code. 26. A character / symbol specifying information transmitting process for transmitting character / symbol specifying information for specifying a character or a symbol to be ordered to the font managing system, and based on the character / symbol specifying information from the font managing system. Executes to the client a font data receiving process for receiving predetermined font data in which the created graphic character is defined, and a font embedding process for storing the received predetermined font data in correspondence with its own character code. 26. The program according to claim 25 for causing the program. 27. An order is made by combining a predetermined area graphic character information acquisition process for acquiring graphic information of a predetermined area of a graphic character and the graphic information of one or more predetermined areas acquired by the graphic character information acquisition processing. 27. The program according to claim 26, for causing the client to execute a character / symbol specific information creating process for creating the character / symbol specific information for specifying a character or a symbol. 28. A program for causing a client to download font data from a font management system for managing a plurality of font data connected via a network, the document extracting font information contained in the document. Creating font extraction processing, font information transmission processing for transmitting the extracted font information to the font management system, and associating font data corresponding to the font information received from the font management system with its own character code A program for causing the client to execute the font embedding process. 29. A program for causing a client to search for a character managed in a font management system that manages correspondence between character or symbol information connected through a network, a character code and a graphic character. A search condition transmission process for transmitting a part or all of character or symbol information to the font management system as a search condition, and displaying graphic characters, character codes, and character or symbol information received from the font management system. And a program for causing the client to execute the corresponding character information display process. 30. The information of the character or the symbol includes information of a plurality of parts forming the character or the symbol, the information of the plurality of parts is assigned to a hierarchical structure, and the information of the character or the part. Includes the hierarchical structure, the corresponding character information display process, according to the hierarchical structure,
30. The program according to claim 29, which displays information on the plurality of parts.