JP2004164377A - Portable terminal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal apparatus which enables a user to acquire/display/re-display information such as required commodity information by user's simple operation and enables the user to easily share the information with other information sharers. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal apparatus connectable to the Internet and capable of displaying information acquired through the Internet acquires and displays the information of a Web page specified by a URL from the information of the URL included in a barcode or the information of the URL made to correspond to the barcode by using a barcode reading means included in the portable terminal apparatus or a barcode reader connected to the portable terminal apparatus and stores the data of the read barcode into a prescribed storage means. In displaying the information of the Web page again, the information of the Web page is acquired again on the basis of the stored barcode data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone and a mobile information terminal that can be connected to the Internet, and more particularly to a mobile terminal device that can easily acquire and display information such as product information by a simple operation using a barcode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, merchandise information has been presented to consumers via various media for advertisement and the like. Representative examples include commercials using video and audio from TV broadcasts and radio broadcasts that have been used for a long time, print media such as magazines and leaflets, and more recently via the Internet. There is also a form of presenting product information by electronic advertisement or the like.
On the other hand, mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants have become widespread, and such mobile terminal devices are becoming connectable to the Internet, and information acquisition and information provision via the Internet is generally performed. It has become to be.
As described above, the use of the Internet is becoming popular. However, the information sources are diverse and users need only know a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location in order to obtain necessary information. When the user inputs the information and accesses it, and if he does not understand, he accesses using a so-called search engine.
[0003]
However, the method of inputting a URL and the method of using a search engine as described above are troublesome and may result in erroneous input. Under such circumstances, it has been desired that information such as necessary product information can be easily obtained. As a solution to this problem, for example, Patent Literature 1 below discloses an invention of a homepage search service method that can access a homepage that provides product information by a simple operation. One aspect of the present invention is to provide a database that associates code information assigned to identify a product with a homepage address of an information homepage that provides information on the product, and stores the code information included in the read barcode in a database. By providing a product information search page that searches the homepage address of the information homepage from the database based on the above, consumers can simply enter the code information included in the barcode into the product information search page using a barcode scanner. In this way, the user can easily browse the information homepage. Patent Document 2 discloses an invention in which URL information is added to a barcode itself and a corresponding homepage can be easily accessed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2001-350782
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-09-204389
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-215135 A
[Patent Document 4]
JP 2001-184141 A
[Patent Document 5]
JP 2001-249840 A
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the portable terminal is configured to be able to access a Web page that provides desired information (based on information included in the barcode) by simply reading the barcode using the barcode, It is not preferable to store the obtained information in the portable terminal device due to the limitation of the storage capacity of the device. However, if the acquired information is not stored, the barcode is read again to refer to the same information, but if the medium on which the barcode is printed is not at hand, the desired information is viewed again. It is not possible.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables a user to acquire, display, and redisplay desired product information and the like with a simple operation, and further to share the information with another information sharer. A portable terminal device that can be easily shared is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet and displays information acquired via the Internet. Information disclosure means for acquiring and displaying information of a Web page specified by the URL from URL information of the barcode to be read or information of a URL associated with the barcode, and reading the read barcode data into a predetermined format. Information re-display means for re-acquiring and re-displaying the web page information based on the bar code data stored in the storage means when re-displaying the web page information stored in the storage means; And the following.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable terminal device capable of connecting to the Internet and displaying information acquired via the Internet, wherein an interface circuit for connecting to a barcode reader is provided. Information disclosure means for acquiring and displaying information on a Web page specified by the URL from information on the URL of the barcode read by the connected barcode reading device or information on the URL associated with the barcode; When the read barcode data is stored in a predetermined storage unit and the Web page information is displayed again, the Web page information is acquired again based on the barcode data stored in the storage unit. And an information redisplay means for redisplaying the information.
[0009]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the predetermined storage means is a mailbox of a mail server, and the storage of the read barcode data is not performed. The method is characterized in that the barcode data is included in an e-mail, transmitted to the mailbox, and stored.
[0010]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the read barcode data is transmitted by e-mail to another information sharing person who shares the information. Information sharing means for sharing information on the Web page by allowing the information sharer to refer to the Web page based on the transmitted barcode data. And
[0011]
In the portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, when an operation of reading a barcode is performed using the barcode reading unit or the barcode reading device, the mobile terminal device reads the barcode and reads the barcode. From the data, the barcode information (information decoded according to the standard to be used) is obtained. If the bar code information itself contains URL information, the URL is used as a basis, or if the bar code information itself does not contain a URL and the bar code information is associated with the URL information, Based on the corresponding URL, the information of the Web page specified by this URL is acquired via the Internet, and the content is displayed. In this way, simply by reading the barcode, the information of the Web page specified by this URL is automatically acquired and displayed from the URL information of the barcode itself or the URL information associated with the barcode. Is done.
A business operator who wants to disclose information such as product information to a user of a portable terminal device prepares a Web page that provides information such as product information, and distributes a medium recording a barcode that enables access to the Web page. By doing so, it becomes possible to provide the user of the portable terminal device of the present invention with product information and the like.
[0012]
The read barcode data is stored in a predetermined storage unit. When redisplaying the URL information of the barcode or the Web page information specified by the URL associated with the barcode, based on the barcode data stored in the predetermined storage unit, Web page information is acquired again and displayed again. According to the present invention, desired information can be displayed again even when the user does not have a medium or the like on which the corresponding barcode is printed. In addition, information related to the barcode once read can be redisplayed at any time in this way, and there is no need to store this information in the portable terminal device itself.
[0013]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the barcode data is stored in the mailbox of the mail server as an e-mail including the data, the storage capacity of the storage means provided in the portable terminal device is not consumed. It is suitable for a portable terminal device having a small storage capacity.
According to the invention described in claim 4, the information of the Web page is shared by giving the read barcode data by e-mail to another information sharer who shares the information. As described above, since the bar code data with a small data amount is transmitted and received between the information sharing persons, it is suitable for a portable terminal device with a small storage capacity, and the data amount to be communicated is small and the communication fee is reduced. be able to.
[0014]
The bar code data may be digital signal data obtained according to the intensity of light reflected from the bar code by a bar code reading unit or a bar code reading device, or may be imaged by a bar code reading unit or a bar code reading device. It is assumed that the data is one of contrast pattern data based on luminance obtained by performing image processing from the obtained barcode image, and barcode information obtained by decoding the digital signal according to the standard of a barcode to be used. The barcode includes information on the URL of the Web page or is separately associated with the URL of the Web page.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016]
The mobile phone 1 shown in this figure includes a generally retractable antenna 1a, and this antenna 1a is connected to a communication unit 13 having a modulation / demodulation function. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 executes the telephone function program, the Internet connection function program, and a control program for realizing the mobile phone 1 as a mobile terminal device of the present invention (details will be described later), thereby executing the mobile phone 1. It controls the operation of each unit, and has a clock function inside. The RAM 11 is a semiconductor memory for storing data. The ROM 12 is a read-only memory in which a program of the CPU 10 is stored, and in which music data of a ring tone, a hold tone, and a BGM sound is stored in advance. The music data may be distributed and stored in the RAM 11.
[0017]
The communication unit 13 demodulates a signal received by the antenna 1a, modulates a signal to be transmitted, and transmits the modulated signal from the antenna 1a. In the modulation and demodulation method, QPSK (four-phase modulation) or the like is used to improve the utilization rate of the radio frequency. Further, a TDD (time division two-way communication) method, a CDMA (code division multiple access) method, a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular System) method, or the like may be used. The reception signal demodulated by the communication unit 13 is decoded by an audio processing unit 14 including a coder / decoder, output to a speaker 22 via a music reproduction unit 15, and pronounced as audio. The voice signal for transmission input from the microphone 21 is compression-encoded in the voice processing unit 14 and output to the communication unit 13. As described above, the audio processing unit 14 performs high-efficiency compression encoding / decoding of the audio signal, and includes, for example, a coder / decoder of a CELP (Code Excited LPC) system or an ADPCM (adaptive differential PCM encoding) system. I have. The music reproduction section 15 forms a ringtone, a hold tone, and a BGM sound, and reproduces predetermined music data stored in the ROM 12 at a predetermined timing under the control of the CPU 10.
[0018]
The interface (I / F) 16 is an interface (I / F) for connecting an external device 25 such as a barcode reader (see FIG. 2B) or a personal computer. The input unit 17 is an input unit including numeric keys “0” to “9”, a function key, a jog dial, and the like provided in the mobile phone 1. The display unit 18 is a display device that displays a menu of telephone functions and other functions and a display according to an operation of the input unit 17. The vibrator 19 is a vibrator for notifying a user of an incoming call by vibrating the main body of the mobile phone 1 instead of a ring tone at the time of an incoming call. The barcode reading unit 20 includes a camera (CCD camera, CMOS camera, or the like) for reading a barcode or an optical scanner (see FIG. 2A). In this embodiment, an example using an optical scanner will be described. Of course, the barcode may be read using a camera. Each functional block exchanges data and instructions via the bus 24.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the barcode itself includes URL information (for example, a CODE-code that can represent alphanumeric characters and some symbols, and a combination thereof can represent all characters of an ASCII code). The URL can be represented by a barcode by using a barcode of the 39 standard), generally, barcode information of a barcode printed on a product or the like, and a URL of a product information site that provides product information of the product. May be provided separately, and the URL may be obtained based on barcode information of a general barcode using this search server. The barcode is printed and used on a product pamphlet, a poster, a magazine advertisement, an advertisement installed in a train or a bus, a box for packing a product, or the like (see FIG. 3).
[0020]
Here, the schematic configuration and operation of the barcode reading unit (optical scanner) 20 built in the mobile phone 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4 (electric connection is omitted), the barcode reading unit 20 includes a light source 20a, a lens 20b, a translucent mirror 20c, a mirror 20d, a scanning motor 20e, a photodetector 20f, An A / D converter 20g is provided. In order to scan the bar code, the laser beam output from the light source 20a is optically converted by the lens unit (optical system) 20b so as to form a beam spot having a certain size at a predetermined distance where the bar code is read. It is adjusted to. The laser light output along the optical path shown in FIG. 2 is applied to the bar code portion, and the reflected light is input along the optical path.
[0021]
The light source 20a made of a semiconductor laser or the like introduces laser light to the axis of the lens unit 20b. This laser light passes through the translucent mirror 20c and is reflected by the mirror 20d. The mirror 20d is coupled to a scanning motor 20e, and vibrates in the scanning direction by the scanning motor 20e. Therefore, the laser light output from the light source 20a is scanned in a predetermined scanning direction by the vibration of the mirror 20d.
The laser light reflected from the bar code portion irradiated with the laser light passes through the transmission window 20h, is reflected by the mirror 20d and the translucent mirror 20c, and is incident on the photodetector 20f. The photodetector 20f detects the intensity of the laser light reflected from the bar code portion, and generates an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the light. This electric signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 20g and supplied to the CPU 10.
[0022]
The barcode reading unit 20 is configured as described above.
The CPU 10 receiving the digital signal according to the intensity of the reflected light from the bar code provided from the bar code reading unit 20 decodes the data according to the standard of the bar code to be used (for example, CODE-39). Then, it is converted into barcode information composed of a character (alphanumeric / symbol) / code sequence. When a camera is used as the barcode reading unit 20, a barcode is imaged by the camera, and image data of the imaged barcode is provided to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 performs well-known image processing on this image data, extracts barcode contrast pattern data based on luminance, decodes this contrast pattern data according to the standard of the barcode to be used, and converts the data into barcode information. Convert. In the present embodiment, the data of the digital signal or the contrast pattern data is referred to as “barcode data”, and the data is decoded according to the standard of the barcode to be used, and the data as a character code string is referred to as “barcode data”. Code information ".
[0023]
Next, the operation according to the present invention of the mobile phone 1 of the present embodiment thus configured, that is, processing of a control program for realizing the mobile phone 1 as the mobile terminal device of the present invention will be described ( (See FIG. 5).
In addition, operations such as incoming call, outgoing call, and Internet connection are the same as those in the related art, and the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, the barcode data to be stored is described as the “barcode data”, but may be the “barcode information”.
[0024]
First, in step S01, it is determined whether a predetermined operation for starting barcode reading has been performed on the mobile phone 1. If it is determined that a predetermined operation has been performed (Yes determination), the process proceeds to step S02.
In step S02, an operation (operation) of reading a barcode is performed by the user, and the barcode is read from the barcode reading unit 20 (note that a state of reading the barcode using a barcode reader which is an external device is illustrated. 6). As described above, the digital signal that is optically read by the barcode reading unit 20, A / D converted, and output is sent to the CPU.
[0025]
Next, in step S03, the CPU 10 decodes the data of the digital signal received from the barcode reading unit 20 according to the standard of the barcode to be used, and obtains a URL from the decoded barcode information. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the barcode itself includes URL information. Here, if the URL cannot be obtained, that is, if a barcode that does not include the URL information is read, an error message to that effect is displayed and the process ends.
[0026]
When the URL can be obtained in step S03, it is determined in step S04 whether an operation for connecting to the product information site has been performed. At this stage, a message indicating that the URL has been obtained from the read barcode is displayed, and the user is prompted to perform an operation as to whether or not to connect to the product information site, and an input of the operation is received.
In step S05, when it is determined that the user has performed an operation to instruct connection to the product information site (determination of Yes), connection to the product information site specified by the URL is made based on the acquired URL ( (See FIG. 7: (1)). The process here is a process of connecting to a normal Internet site.
[0027]
Next, in step S06, the product information indicated by the URL is downloaded from the connected product information site (see (2) in FIG. 7), and the product information is displayed (see FIG. 8).
Then, in step S07, the barcode data of the read barcode is stored. This bar code data is stored in a mailbox of a predetermined mail server provided for this purpose (see FIG. 7: (3)). Of course, since the barcode data itself has a small data amount, it may be stored in the RAM 11. Further, as the mailbox, a user himself / herself may use a mailbox used for sending and receiving a normal electronic mail. In this case, in order to identify whether or not the barcode data is included in the e-mail, a character string based on a separately defined rule is set for the title (subject), etc. Good.
[0028]
Next, in step S08, it is determined whether or not an operation for sharing the obtained product information has been performed. At this stage, the user is prompted to perform an operation as to whether or not to share the acquired product information with another specific user (information sharer), and receives an input of the operation.
If it is determined in step S09 that an operation for sharing information has been performed (determination of Yes), an e-mail including the barcode data is generated, and a predetermined e-mail used by the information sharer is generated. The address is transmitted to the address (see FIG. 7: (4); in this figure, a common mail server is used). The barcode data may be inserted as text in the body of the e-mail, or may be included in an attached file. The information sharer who has received the e-mail including the barcode data can refer to the product information by using his / her own mobile phone 1 through the processing of steps S11 to S15 described later (FIG. 7: (5)). reference). On the other hand, if the determination in step S07 is No, the process ends.
[0029]
Here, the processing when the determination of No is made in step S01 will be described.
If No is determined in step S01, the process proceeds to step S10.
In step S10, it is determined whether or not a predetermined operation for redisplaying the obtained product information or displaying the product information notified by another user has been performed.
If it is determined in step S10 that an operation of instructing redisplay of the product information or display of the product information notified by another user is performed (determination of Yes), the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if the determination is No, the process shifts to step S16 to execute other predetermined processing (processing of a normal telephone call function and processing of other functions provided in the mobile phone 1).
[0030]
In step S11, barcode data is obtained. Here, in the case of merchandise information redisplay from a predetermined mailbox used by the user, the stored e-mail including the previously acquired barcode information is downloaded, and the barcode data is read from this e-mail. Is extracted. On the other hand, when displaying the product information notified by another user, a mail including the barcode data notified by the other user is downloaded, and the barcode data is extracted from the electronic mail.
[0031]
For e-mails containing barcode data saved by the user in the mailbox or e-mails containing barcode data notified by other users, the product information associated with this barcode data is identified in the body or title. It is preferable to add a name, an abstract, etc. for (discrimination). This is because the CPU 10 may extract the title, headline, and the like from the product information once downloaded and insert it into the e-mail, or the user may write the name or summary into the e-mail as appropriate. It may be. As a result, the user can select and download an e-mail including the barcode data associated with the desired product information.
[0032]
Next, in step S12, the barcode data is decoded according to the standard of the barcode to be used, and a URL is obtained from the decoded barcode information.
Then, in step S13, it is determined whether or not an operation for connecting to the product information site has been performed. At this stage, a message indicating that the URL has been obtained is displayed to prompt the user to perform an operation as to whether or not to connect to the product information site, and an input of the operation is received.
If a server for decoding barcode data is prepared on the Internet and the server is used to decode the barcode data in step S12, the mobile phone 1 does not need to have a decoding function. The present invention can be realized.
[0033]
If it is determined in step S13 that the user has performed an operation to instruct connection to the product information site, the process proceeds to step S14 to connect to the product information site specified by the URL based on the acquired URL.
Next, in step S15, the product information is downloaded from the connected product information site, and the product information is displayed.
The operation of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment has been described above.
[0034]
Note that the operation flow described above is an example, and is not limited to the above processing flow.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a configuration and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example. However, the present invention provides, for example, a PHS (registered trademark) (Personal Handyphone System) terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a personal computer that can be connected to the Internet. And so on.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the information of the Web page specified by the URL is acquired from the URL information of the bar code to be read or the URL information associated with the bar code. Since the display is performed, the detailed information provided on the Web page can be easily displayed simply by reading the barcode recorded on the medium that can be provided in various places using the portable terminal device. In addition, since the information can be obtained in a sense of play, when the product information is provided, the improvement of the advertising effect can be expected. Also, in the case where the medium on which the barcode is recorded is an advertisement (poster, pamphlet, etc.), it is assumed that detailed information is provided on a Web page, and that the advertisement has a minimum size other than the barcode. By describing the content, it is possible to reduce advertising costs.
[0036]
Further, the read barcode data is stored in a predetermined storage means (particularly in a mailbox of a mail server), and when the information of the Web page is displayed again, the barcode data stored in the storage means is stored. , The information of the Web page is obtained again and displayed again, so that the information can be easily managed. Further, the present invention is suitable for a portable terminal device in which the data amount of barcode data itself is small and the storage capacity is generally small. Further, by storing the barcode data, it is not necessary to read the barcode again, and the same information can be referred to at any time even if the medium on which the barcode is recorded is not at hand.
Further, according to the present invention, the information can be shared by transmitting the read barcode data by e-mail to another information sharer who shares the information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a mobile phone and a barcode reading unit thereof, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a barcode reader connected as an external device to the mobile phone.
FIG. 3 is an example showing an appearance of a medium on which a barcode is printed.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a barcode reading unit using an optical scanner.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation according to the present invention of the mobile phone of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when a barcode is read using a barcode reader.
FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the operation of the mobile phone of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a display example of the content of a downloaded Web page.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cellular telephone (portable terminal device), 10 ... CPU, 11 ... RAM, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... Communication part, 14 ... Audio processing part, 15 ... Music reproduction part, 16 ... Interface (I / F), 17 ... Input unit, 18 display unit, 19 vibrator, 20 bar code reading unit (bar code reading output stage), 20a light source, 20b lens, 20c translucent mirror, 20d mirror, 20e scanning motor, 20f: Photodetector, 20g: A / D converter, 20h: Transparent window, 21: Microphone, 22: Receiving speaker, 23: Receiving speaker, 24: Bus, 25: External device (bar code reader (bar code Reading device)), 30: product information server, 40: mail server

Claims (4)

In a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet and displays information acquired through the Internet,
Bar code reading means,
Information disclosure means for acquiring and displaying information on a Web page specified by the URL from information on a URL of the barcode read by the barcode reading means or information on a URL associated with the barcode;
When the read barcode data is stored in a predetermined storage unit and the Web page information is displayed again, the Web page information is acquired again based on the barcode data stored in the storage unit. And an information redisplay means for redisplaying the information. In a portable terminal device that can be connected to the Internet and displays information acquired through the Internet,
An interface circuit for connecting to a barcode reader;
From the URL information of the barcode read by the barcode reader connected to the portable terminal device or the URL information associated with the barcode, obtain and display the information of the Web page specified by the URL. Information disclosure means;
When the read barcode data is stored in a predetermined storage unit and the Web page information is displayed again, the Web page information is acquired again based on the barcode data stored in the storage unit. And an information redisplay means for redisplaying the information. The predetermined storage means is a mailbox of a mail server,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the storage of the read barcode data is performed by including the barcode data in an electronic mail, transmitting the barcode data to the mailbox, and storing the data. apparatus. Further comprising information sharing means for transmitting the read barcode data by e-mail to another information sharer sharing the information,
4. The information sharing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information sharer can share the information of the Web page by making the Web page referable based on the transmitted barcode data. The mobile terminal device according to any one of the above.

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