JP2005285068A - Data transmission supporting method and distribution method of ic tag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology to support data transmission for making an application using an IC tag. <P>SOLUTION: Data for applying for application and user registration on the Internet is recorded on an IC tag to be attached to an IC tag 200 and distributed. Communication terminal equipment 1 reads the data by a reader part 102, and automatically performs access to a site designated by URL in the data, and makes a display part 107 display the application form transmitted from the site. A serial code in data read from the IC tag 200 is automatically inputted to an area for serial code input arranged on the form. Thus, it is possible to support the application through the Internet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is a technique for supporting data transmission for a user of a data processing apparatus connectable to a communication network to perform one of an application for a sweepstakes, an application for product purchase, and an application for personal registration. About.

  In recent years, communication networks have rapidly developed as information infrastructures. The Internet, a global information infrastructure that connects various communication networks, is widely used by individuals and companies for various purposes.

  On the other hand, recently, an IC tag capable of non-contact communication has attracted attention. As a result, research is now being conducted not only as a product identification and management technology that replaces barcodes, but also as a substrate technology for promoting the use of IT and automation in society. Along with this, it has been increasingly used for applications such as those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, respectively.

  Each of the IC tags described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is used for providing information to customers. However, IC tags will be used not only for providing information but also for other purposes.

  For example, some products (products) can be registered with the manufacturer. The user registration is an action in which the user who purchased the product informs the manufacturer that he / she is a purchaser. Software product manufacturers usually offer preferential services for registered users. In order to prevent unauthorized use, it is desirable that user registration be performed promptly after purchasing a product.

  Now that the Internet connection environment has become widespread, most manufacturers support user registration via the Internet. For the user registration, it is necessary to access a site established by the manufacturer or to send an e-mail to the designated address. In addition, it must be entered to inform the serial code (number) attached to the product. For this reason, user registration via the Internet is troublesome. For this reason, it should be important to make user registration easier.

The IC tag can record different information for each product. If the IC tag provides the serial code and the URL or address to be accessed as the information, the necessity of inputting the serial code can be avoided, and data transmission for user registration can be easily performed. become. For this reason, it is considered that data transmission should also be considered as an application of the IC tag. The same applies to applications for sweepstakes and product purchases via the Internet.
JP 2002-83250 A JP 2003-256695 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for supporting data transmission for an application using an IC tag.

  The data transmission support method of the present invention provides a data transmission for a user of a data processing apparatus connectable to a communication network to perform one of an application for a sweepstakes application, an item purchase application, and an individual registration application. This is a method for support, in which transmission data for realizing data transmission is recorded on an IC tag, distributed on a medium such as a product, a book, or a public notice, and recorded on an IC tag attached to the medium. Requesting the user who has acquired the data to be transmitted to the data processing apparatus to input necessary data based on the transmission data, and transmitting the necessary data input by the user by the request to the data by data transmission The processing device is transmitted via a communication network.

  The transmission data recorded on the IC tag includes at least one of a resource on the communication network to be accessed by the data processing apparatus and an address indicating a transmission destination of data transmitted by data transmission, and is recorded on the IC tag. It is desirable that the data processing apparatus that has acquired the data for transmission perform data transmission to access a resource and data transmission to an address. The transmission data recorded on the IC tag includes a different serial code for each IC tag, and the data processing device that has acquired the transmission data recorded on the IC tag automatically transmits the serial code by data transmission. It is desirable to send.

  The IC tag distribution method of the present invention includes a resource on a wireless network that can perform one of an application for a sweepstakes application, a product purchase application, and an individual registration application, and data for performing the one. The access destination data indicating at least one of the addresses of the transmission destination and the serial code for performing the one are recorded in the memory, and the access destination data and the IC tag on which the serial code is recorded are stored in the product, book, or public notice Attached to media such as

  The present invention records and distributes transmission data for performing one of an application for a sweepstakes, an application for product purchase, and an application for personal registration via an communication network, The user who has acquired the data for transmission recorded in the data processing device is requested to input the necessary data based on the data for transmission, and the necessary data entered according to the request is transmitted.

  When the transmission data includes at least one of a resource (site) on the communication network to be accessed by the data processing apparatus and an address indicating a transmission destination of the data to be transmitted by data transmission, the access to the resource or the transmission destination Can be easily specified. They can be performed automatically or semi-automatically. When the serial data is included as the transmission data, it is possible to automatically input the serial code if the application requires the input. Therefore, in any case, it is possible to assist the user of the data processing apparatus so that various applications through the communication network can be performed more easily.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data processing apparatus connectable to a communication network and an IC tag accessible by the data processing apparatus. The data processing device 1 is a mobile communication terminal device such as a mobile phone or a PHS. Here, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed to be a mobile phone and will be referred to as a “communication terminal”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the communication terminal 1 communicates with an IC tag 200 and an RF (Radio Frequency) unit 101 for mobile phone that performs frequency conversion, modulation / demodulation, and the like of a radio signal transmitted and received via an antenna AT1. A reader unit 102 for performing, an IC tag reader control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “reader control unit”) 103 for driving and controlling the reader unit 102, a CPU 104 for controlling the entire terminal, and a program executed by the CPU 104 And a program ROM 105 storing various control data, a work RAM 106 used for work by the CPU 104, two display units 107 and 108, both of which are liquid crystal display devices, and a display for displaying images on the display units 107 and 108, for example. A driver unit 109, a microphone 110 for sound input, a speaker 111 for sound emission, An operation unit 112 having a switch, an AC adapter 113 for receiving a current from the outside, a rechargeable battery (battery) 114, and a power supply circuit 115 for supplying a current to each unit are configured. Yes.

  Although not particularly illustrated, an analog audio signal output from the microphone 110 is converted into a digital audio signal by an A / D converter and then output to the CPU 104 or the RF unit 101. In addition, an analog audio signal converted by the D / A converter is output to the speaker 111 and an unillustrated earphone jack.

  The two display units 107 and 108 have different screen sizes. The screen of the display unit 107 is larger. Therefore, the display unit 107 is called a main display unit, and the display unit 108 is called a sub display unit.

  The RF unit 101 receives and processes a signal transmitted from a mobile phone network. The received signal is demodulated and output to the CPU 104 or the speaker 111 and a jack (hereinafter only the former is assumed). During a telephone call, the signal is output to the speaker 111 to emit sound from the connection destination (the telephone to which the telephone is connected). The audio signal from the microphone 110 is modulated and transmitted via the antenna AT1. When connected to the Internet, the demodulated signal (digital data) is output to the CPU 104. Data from the CPU 104 is modulated and transmitted via the antenna AT1.

  The reader unit 102 communicates with the IC tag (RFID tag) 200 in a non-contact manner, for example. The reader control unit 103 drives the reader unit 102 to read data recorded in the IC tag 200 and notifies the CPU 104 of the reading result.

  The operation unit 112 includes various switches that are operated by the user, and a detection circuit that detects operations performed by the user on the various switches. As one of the various switches, an IC tag reader switch (hereinafter abbreviated as “reader switch”) for instructing reading of the IC tag 200 is provided.

  The power supply circuit 115 monitors each output of the AC adapter 113 and the rechargeable battery 114. Thereby, it is determined whether or not a current is supplied to the AC adapter 113 from an external power source (for example, an outlet), and the determination result is notified to the CPU 104. The rechargeable battery 112 detects the voltage value and notifies the CPU 104 of it.

  One IC tag 200 includes, for example, an antenna 201 having a loop shape, a power supply circuit 202 that rectifies current generated in the antenna 201 and supplies the current to each unit, and demodulates a signal received by the antenna 201. A post-modulation circuit 203 that modulates data to be transmitted through 201, a CPU 204 that performs data processing, and a memory 205 that records data to be transmitted are configured.

  The CPU 104 of the communication terminal 1 causes the reader control unit 103 to drive the reader unit 102 when an operation to the reader switch is notified from the operation unit 112. When the reader unit 102 is driven, the IC tag 200 existing in the communication range is electromagnetically coupled via the antenna 201, and the power supply circuit 202 starts supplying power to each unit. Communication between the IC tag 200 and the communication terminal 1 is performed after the IC tag 200 returns a response to the command transmitted from the communication terminal 1 to the communication terminal 1, for example. The data recorded in the memory 205 is transmitted to the communication terminal 1 by the communication.

  Some products (products) are subject to user registration. An application for a sweepstakes may be made as a benefit to a purchaser of a product, a book such as a magazine or book, or a public notice viewer. Application for membership registration and product purchase may be performed in the same way. For this reason, in this embodiment, the IC tag 200 is distributed with a product, a book, or a public notice in order to support such an application on the Internet. Here, in order to avoid confusion, the description will be made on the assumption that the IC tag 200 is attached to the product for application for a prize. For this reason, the IC tag 200 is also called an application IC tag.

  2 and 3 are flowcharts of the reader switch process. The overall flow of processing executed when the user turns on (operates) the switch to perform communication with the IC tag 200 is shown. Hereinafter, the operations of the communication terminal 1 and the IC tag 200 and the contents of communication performed between them will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. These operations are realized, for example, when the communication terminal 1 executes the program stored in the program ROM 105 by the CPU 104 and the IC tag 200 executes the program stored in the memory 205 by the CPU 104, respectively.

  First, in step 101, the reader control unit 103 drives the reader unit 102 in response to a user operation on the reader switch. In the subsequent step 102, it is determined whether or not the application IC tag 200 has been recognized. When the IC tag 200 returns a response due to the driving of the reader unit 102 and the command transmission, the fact is notified from the reader control unit 103 to the CPU 104, so the determination is YES and the process proceeds to step 104. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 103 to determine whether or not the leader switch is turned off. When the user cancels the operation on the switch, the fact is notified from the operation unit 112, so the determination is YES, and the series of processing ends here. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 101. Thereby, the IC tag 200 is recognized or the user waits for the user to cancel the operation on the reader switch.

  In step 104, communication with the IC tag 200 is performed, the data recorded in the memory 205 is acquired, and the URL and serial code of the application destination are identified from the data. The URL is prepared on the site in order to accept an application for application. The serial code (number) is unique identification information attached to the product, and is used here to confirm on the site side that the applicant for application is a purchaser of the product.

  In step 105 following step 104, the identified URL and serial code are extracted and stored in the work RAM 106, and the driving of the reader unit 102 is terminated. In the next step 106, a connection request to the site having the URL is made. The connection request is realized, for example, by transmitting a connection request to the Internet by designating the URL from the RF unit 101. The mobile phone network side connects the communication terminal 1 to the Internet via the exchange in response to the request, and transmits the URL designated by the communication terminal 1 to the Internet.

  In step 107, which moves to step 106, it is determined whether or not a connection with the site having the URL is made by the connection request. If the site returns a response to the communication terminal 1, the data is passed from the RF unit 101 to the CPU 104, so the determination is yes and the process moves to step 109. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 108 to determine whether or not the connection has failed. The determination is made, for example, based on whether or not a response has been received after a certain time has elapsed since the connection request was made. For this reason, when the fixed time has elapsed, the determination is YES, the process returns to step 101, and the reader unit 102 is driven again in order to communicate with the IC tag 200.

  The site having the URL transmits an application form for application for application (application application screen: data described in a markup language) to the terminal device that has requested access to the URL. The application form has a screen configuration as shown in FIG. In the form, a URL area for displaying a connection destination URL, a serial code area for inputting a serial code, a name area for inputting a name, a postal code area for inputting a postal code, and an address area for inputting an address are arranged as input areas. As an icon (button), a “cancel” icon for canceling the application for application and an “submit application” icon for the application are arranged.

  Therefore, in step 109, an application form is received from the site. In the subsequent step 110 in FIG. 3, the screen is displayed on the main display unit 107. In the next step 111, for example, the URL stored in step 105 of FIG. 2 is displayed in the URL area. Thereafter, the serial code stored in step 105 of FIG. 2 is displayed in the serial code area in step 112, and the cursor indicating the character input position is displayed in the name area in step 113, and then the process proceeds to step 114.

  The screens to be displayed on the display units 107 and 108 are sent from the image data (screen, symbols, etc.) read from the program ROM 105, the RF unit 101, or the reader control unit 102 to the drawing areas respectively secured in the work RAM 106. Generated by storing image data. The change of the display content is realized by sending all or part of the display content to the display driver unit 109 and displaying it.

  In step 114, it is determined whether or not the cursor switch is turned on. If the switch is operated by the user, the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step 115, and the cursor display position is changed according to the type of switch operated by the user among the cursor switches. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 116. On the other hand, if not, the determination is no and the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 116, it is determined whether or not a character input has been performed. If the user inputs a character by operating a dial key or the like, the determination is YES, the character input at the cursor display position is displayed at step 117, and the cursor display position is aligned with the display at step 118. Then, the process proceeds to step 119. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 119.

  In step 119, it is determined whether or not the “send application” icon is turned on. If the user clicks the icon, the determination is yes, and in step 121, a process of transmitting data input on the application form shown in FIG. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 120.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the “cancel” icon is turned on. If the user performs a click operation on the icon, the determination is yes, the display of the application form is cleared and the standby screen is displayed in step 122, and then the series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 114 above. Thus, the state in which the user can input data is maintained until the user clicks on one of the “application transmission” and “cancel” icons.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the communication terminal 1 that has accessed the IC tag 200 is automatically made to access the URL prepared on the site in order to accept the application for application in accordance with the data transmitted from the communication terminal 1, The serial code is automatically entered on the application form sent later. In this way, access to the site and input of necessary data to be input are automatically performed, so that the user can apply for application by inputting only his / her personal information. As a result, the application can be made quickly and easily.
<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, the communication terminal 1 is made to access a site to request the user to input data that is necessary for the site. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, a user can apply for an application by inputting necessary data without accessing the site.

  In the second embodiment, the application form itself is recorded in the memory 205 of the IC tag 200. Thereby, the communication terminal 1 that has read data from the IC tag 200 displays the application form on the main display unit 107 without connecting to the Internet. Since connection to the Internet is not performed for obtaining the application form, the data transmission destination address is recorded in the memory 205 instead of the URL. For this reason, the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 differ from the first embodiment as follows. As shown in FIG. 6, the URL area is omitted from the application form.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the reader switch process according to the second embodiment. The flowchart is an extract of only the portion corresponding to the portion shown in FIG. Processing steps that are not different from those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and only portions different from those of the first embodiment will be described in detail.

  In the second embodiment, in step 201 where the determination in step 102 is YES and the process proceeds, communication with the IC tag 200 is performed, data recorded in the memory 205 is acquired, and the data is transmitted from the data. Identify the previous address, serial code, and application form. In the next step 202, the identified address, serial code, and application form are extracted and stored in the work RAM 106, and the driving of the reader unit 102 is terminated. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 110 in FIG.

  In step 110 and subsequent steps in FIG. 3, steps 111 and 121 are different from those of the first embodiment. Specifically, since there is no URL area in the second embodiment (see FIG. 6), the process proceeds to step 112 after the process of step 110 is executed. In step 121, a connection request to the Internet is made, and after connecting to the Internet, the data on the application form is transmitted to the address stored in step 202. As a result, the Internet connection is made only when the user actually applies for the application.

  When the application form is prepared in the IC tag 200 as described above, the amount of data that the communication terminal 1 communicates via the mobile phone network is reduced as compared with the first embodiment. The number of times itself can be suppressed. For these reasons, communication costs can be further reduced, and the application itself can be made more quickly.

  In the present embodiment (first and second embodiments), data recorded in the IC tag 200 for both the input of the serial code and the access to the site for application or the setting of the transmission destination. However, only one of them may be performed. Even with such support, the amount of work for the user to apply for is reduced. In addition, preparation for making an application is performed by reading the IC tag 200, but the user may be inquired whether or not to make the preparation, and preparation may be made according to the result. For this reason, a program that can be executed by the communication terminal 1 (data processing apparatus) may be recorded together with the IC tag 200.

  The IC tag 200 in which the data as described above is recorded in the memory 205 may be used for a purpose of making a questionnaire response or making an inquiry or request to a manufacturer (including a claim of a purchased product). good.

1 is a configuration diagram of a data processing apparatus connectable to a communication network and an IC tag accessible by the data processing apparatus. It is a flowchart of an IC tag reader switch process. It is a flowchart of an IC tag reader switch process (continued). It is a figure explaining the screen composition of an application form. It is a flowchart of IC tag reader switch processing (2nd Embodiment: Extract). It is a figure explaining the screen structure of an application form (2nd Embodiment).

Explanation of symbols

101 RF unit 102 Reader unit 103 IC tag reader control unit 104, 204 CPU
105 Program ROM
106 Work RAM
107, 108 Display unit 109 Display driver unit 112 Operation unit 200 IC tag 201 Antenna 202 Power supply circuit 203 Modulation / demodulation circuit 205 Memory

Claims (4)

A method for supporting data transmission for a user of a data processing apparatus connectable to a communication network to perform one of an application for a prize, an application for product purchase, and an application for personal registration,
The transmission data for realizing the data transmission is recorded on an IC tag and attached to a medium such as the product, book, or announcement, and distributed.
Requests the user who has acquired the data for transmission recorded on the IC tag attached to the medium to the data processing device to input necessary data based on the data for transmission, and the user inputs the data according to the request The necessary data is transmitted to the data processing apparatus via the communication network by the data transmission.
A data transmission support method characterized by the above. The transmission data recorded in the IC tag includes at least one of a resource on the communication network to be accessed by the data processing device and an address indicating a transmission destination of data transmitted by the data transmission,
Causing the data processing device that has acquired the transmission data recorded in the IC tag to perform data transmission to access the resource and data transmission to the address;
The data transmission support method according to claim 1, wherein: The transmission data recorded on the IC tag includes a different serial code for each IC tag,
Causing the data processing device that has acquired the transmission data recorded in the IC tag to automatically transmit the serial code in the data transmission;
The data transmission support method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that In the distribution method of the IC tag that can transmit the data recorded in the memory,
Access indicating at least one of the resources on the wireless network where one of the application for the sweepstakes, the application for the product purchase, and the application for the personal registration can be performed, and the address of the data transmission destination for performing the one The previous data and the serial code for performing the one are recorded in the memory,
An IC tag having the access destination data and serial code recorded thereon is attached to a medium such as a product, book, or announcement, and distributed.
IC tag distribution method characterized by the above.

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