JP2008033881A - Remote code reader system, host computer, executing method for host computer, program for executing function of host computer, and computer readable recording medium recorded with this program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote code reader system which can be accessed without need for installing exclusive software. <P>SOLUTION: The local bar code readers 7 deliver bar codes 11 to a host computer 1 via Internet 3 and corresponding terminals 5f, 5m. The host computer 1 uses the bar codes 11 delivered by the local bar code readers 7 for executing predetermined processing. The host computer 1 transmits HTML information to the terminals 5f, 5m depending on the predetermined processing to display it on the terminals 5f. 5m. The terminals 5f, 5m present various displays depending on the received HTML information. In this case, the local bar code readers 7 output the bar codes 11, an URL of the host computer 1 and commands, and the terminals 5f, 5m transmit the bar codes 11 to the host computer 1 in response to the commands. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote code reader system that collects and processes codes (for example, bar codes) sent from a local code reader and related technology.

  Patent Document 1 uses a database in which code information such as a barcode and a homepage address are stored in association with each other, receives a code information input, and displays a link to the corresponding homepage or directly displays the homepage Is disclosed.

  In this system, the terminal includes a personal computer, a display, and a barcode scanner. The barcode scanner is connected to a bus line of a personal computer via an interface, and a storage device such as a hard disk stores barcode scanner control software and web browser software. Code information read from a barcode attached to a product by a scanner can be input to a product information search page provided by the server.

JP 2001-350782 A

  However, it is necessary for the personal computer to install bar code scanner control software, which is troublesome for the user. In particular, the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is intended to construct a system that allows an elderly person and a young person to easily access a homepage, so that the installation work is extremely troublesome.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a remote code reader system and related technology that can be accessed without installing dedicated software.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a remote code reader system includes a plurality of local code readers (for example, local bar codes) that are connected to corresponding communication terminals that can be connected to the Internet and read codes (for example, bar codes). A code reader) and a host computer for receiving the plurality of codes sent from the plurality of local code readers, each of the local code readers reading the read code into the Internet and the corresponding communication terminal. Sending means for sending to the host computer, the host computer includes processing means for executing a predetermined process using the code sent by the local code reader, the sending means, The code, the address information of the host computer (for example, RL), and the command, and outputs to the communication terminal, the code by the communication terminal in response to the command, via the Internet, is transmitted to the host computer in which the address information indicates.

  According to this configuration, the address information and command of the host computer are output to the communication terminal together with the code by the local code reader. In response to this command, the communication terminal transmits a code to the host computer. That is, the code is transmitted with the code scan as a trigger. For this reason, the user of the local code reader can transmit the code to the host computer only by reading the code with the local code reader without operating the communication terminal. In addition, the user does not need to install software for transmitting a code to the host computer in the communication terminal or input address information of the host computer. As a result, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  In addition, arbitrary and plural local code readers are connected to the host computer via the Internet and arbitrary and plural communication terminals connected thereto. That is, arbitrary and a plurality of various local code readers are connected to the host computer beyond the boundaries of individuals and companies. Therefore, the host computer can collect and process any and a plurality of various codes globally.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the host computer includes a receiving unit that receives the code transmitted from the local code reader, and a classifying unit that classifies the received code into one of a plurality of groups. The processing means executes processing corresponding to the group to which the code belongs using the received code.

  According to this configuration, the host computer can execute processing according to the group to which the code belongs, and can transmit content corresponding to the group and content corresponding to the code to the communication terminal. Therefore, the communication terminal can display various contents according to the code. In other words, the user of the local code reader can be provided with various services according to the code from the host computer in response to sending the code to the host computer. In this case, the user can be provided with various different services as long as the user has at least one local code reader. In addition, the user of the local code reader does not need to search a site for receiving a desired service or content, and can immediately receive a service or content corresponding to the code by scanning the code.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the sending means outputs the code, the address information, and the command to the communication terminal as keyboard data. The command is a command for an operating system installed in the communication terminal. For example, the operating system is Windows (registered trademark), and the command is a command for starting the browser on the communication terminal, and is keyboard data corresponding to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) key + R key of the keyboard. is there.

  Since a command for an OS having a large share such as Windows is output to a local code reader, most communication terminals can be connected to a communication terminal (for example, a personal computer) simply by connecting the local code reader to this system. Available for.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the processing means transmits information for display on the communication terminal to the communication terminal in accordance with the predetermined process to be executed.

  According to this configuration, the user of the communication terminal can receive a service corresponding to a predetermined process from the host computer in response to the transmission of the code to the host computer.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the processing means executes different processing on the same code depending on the installation location of the communication terminal.

  According to this configuration, even with the same code, the host computer can provide effective services and contents in consideration of the situation where the user is placed. Here, a case where the host computer receives a code attached to a product and provides the communication terminal with a web site on which a link related to the product is placed or a web site related to the product is given as an example. In this case, according to the present invention, the stage for the user's product (for example, before and after purchase, the store and the home) and the psychological state can be executed, so the stage and the psychological state for the user's product are considered. Provide effective services and content. This is because the stage or psychological state of the user's product depends on the installation location of the communication terminal (it can also be said to be the code transmission source or the connection location of the local code reader), that is, the location where the user is present. Because it can change.

  Therefore, for example, the installation location of the communication terminal is at least a personal home and a store, and the processing means recognizes that the communication terminal is installed in the personal home from the communication terminal installed in the personal home. The information which can recognize that the said communication terminal is installed in the store is received from the said communication terminal installed in the store.

  In addition, regardless of the hardware performance of the communication terminal, only the installation location of the communication terminal is considered in the processing. Therefore, when the category of the installation location of the communication terminal (for example, store and personal house) is different, the host computer executes different processing even if the hardware performance of the communication terminal is equivalent, and the hardware of the communication terminal Even if the performance is different, the host computer executes the same process if the category of the installation location of the communication terminal is the same. Of course, not only can the processing be varied depending on the installation location, but the processing can be further varied depending on the hardware performance of the communication terminal.

  As described above, even if the hardware performance of the communication terminal is equivalent, different services (including content) can be provided for the same code depending on the installation location of the communication terminal.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, at least one of the groups is a group of common product codes.

  According to this configuration, the host computer classifies the received code into the common product code group and the other group, and executes processing according to the classification result. The common product code is created for the purpose of use in the POS system and is not created for this system. That is, the common product code exists regardless of the present system, and is already widely used for the above purpose. Therefore, this system can provide a service by using a common product code that is already widely used in the world. On the other hand, codes other than the common product code are created for the purpose of providing a specific service using this system, and are not intended to be used for the POS system. That is, codes other than the common product code exist on the premise of this system. Therefore, for codes other than the common product code, various services can be provided by this system according to the purpose of creating each code.

  In this way, the common product code is different in character and character from other codes, but without being aware of it, the user can scan them with the same code reader and put them into a group of common product codes. It is possible to receive provision of corresponding services, and it is also possible to receive provision of various services corresponding to various codes of other groups.

  In addition, if it is assumed that a user can easily obtain an article with a common product code that is already widely used and that the network environment is in place, this system can be used immediately if there is a code reader. Can be used. On the other hand, the user can receive various services provided by scanning a group of codes other than the common product code.

  Furthermore, since the common product code that has already been widely used can be used for the system building side, the labor for introducing the system can be reduced as compared with the case of using only other codes.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the common product code is a code used for a POS (Point Of Sale) system. For example, the common product code is a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, when the received code is an in-store code, the processing means returns a predetermined message (for example, a message indicating that the service cannot be used) to the communication terminal. This is because the in-store code is a bar code set by the retailer and used only in the store, and is not necessarily unique when viewed from the whole market.

  Furthermore, in the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, when the received code belongs to the group of common product codes, the processing means generates a product-specific portal screen corresponding to the received code. Information for generating the searched portal screen is transmitted to the communication terminal.

  According to this configuration, when a user who is interested in a product or a user who has purchased the product transmits code information unique to the product to a terminal installed in a store or a private house, the terminal The information for generating the portal screen (referred to as “individual portal screen”) can be received from the host computer, and the individual portal screen can be displayed. Since this individual portal screen is a product-specific screen indicated by the code information, it includes link information to a server of a manufacturer, a distributor, etc. (advertiser) that transmits information related to the product. Therefore, the user of the terminal can easily access a server such as a manufacturer or a distributor of the product via the individual portal screen, and can easily browse information on the desired product.

  Advertisers such as manufacturers and distributors can provide information about the product to the pinpoint via the individual portal screen for those who are actually interested in the product or who have purchased the product. There is an advantage. This is a significant difference from the traditional affiliate model.

  On the other hand, if the user of the terminal is interested in the product or wants to investigate something about the purchased product, the terminal user can simply send code information specific to the product to the individual portal specific to the product. A screen is displayed on the terminal. The user can easily access the target site via the individual portal screen. For this reason, using a general-purpose search engine, you can search by entering text that seems to be related to the product, or by using a conventional portal site service, It is much easier to obtain information about a product than to search for information on a desired product from inside.

  In addition, with conventional methods such as general-purpose search engines and portal site services, multiple product sites with the same or similar names appear in the search results, and the user does not know which information he wants. Although it may occur, this situation can be avoided. In addition, these conventional methods often hit confusing sites, informal sites, etc., which hinders advertisers from directing viewers to their servers. .

  As a result, the client terminal can efficiently support access to the advertiser's server that transmits information about the product.

  By the way, an operator of a host computer that distributes an individual portal screen (referred to as a “system operator”) can make money by obtaining a price from an advertiser in creating the individual portal screen. For example, only the advertiser's homepage link information is displayed on the individual portal screen without requesting the consideration, and the consideration is obtained from the advertiser who wants to display more link information on the individual portal screen. . As a result, the link information on the individual portal screen increases.

  The fact that there is a lot of link information displayed on the individual portal screen means that the product can be advertised from various angles, and the user is more willing to purchase than when there is little link information displayed on the individual portal screen. Can irritate. In other words, for the same type of product, the product sales amount of the advertiser of the individual portal screen with a lot of link information is expected to be larger than the product sales amount of the advertiser of the individual portal screen with a little link information. Therefore, it is expected that advertisers such as product manufacturers and distributors will be prompted to display additional link information even if they pay the price.

  For the same reason, it is clear that there is a difference in sales between stores such as retail stores that have introduced this system and stores that do not. Therefore, it can be expected that businesses that operate stores also introduce this system. In this case, the system operator can increase the profit by acquiring the consideration from the operator who operates each store.

  Further, in the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the codes belonging to a group other than the group of common product codes are assigned to the codes, and the contents corresponding to the codes are transmitted via the host computer. A code assigned to provide to a communication terminal, excluding a common product code, which is a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and a person The information includes images, sounds, programs, and data. On the other hand, the common product code includes information for identifying the manufacturer or sales source of the product and information for identifying the product.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the processing means searches for information for generating a portal screen corresponding to the received code, and acquires information for generating the searched portal screen. Send to communication terminal.

  This portal screen is a page serving as a relay for accessing a WEB site (referred to as a “direct site”) directly related to the “thing” to which the code is assigned, and an example thereof is the individual portal screen described above. Here, “things” includes tangible objects including goods and real estate, intangible objects including information and services, goods, and living organisms including humans and animals, and information includes video, audio, programs, and data. Including.

  The user always accesses the direct site via such a portal screen that serves as a relay. Therefore, the system operator can quickly obtain statistical data on “things” to which codes are assigned by collecting and analyzing the status of user access to each portal screen and the link destinations posted there. Can do. For example, market analysis of “things” is possible based on the obtained statistical data. In addition, comparative analysis of the same kind of “things” is also possible. These are also economically valuable and can be a source of revenue for system operators. Furthermore, the system operator can also make a profit like the individual portal screen unique to the product. In this way, the provision of the portal screen can increase the opportunities for the system operator to earn revenue. Incidentally, if a user can immediately access a direct site by scanning a code, the system operator cannot recognize the status of access to each direct site.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a product indicated by the code information. For example, the link information purchases the link information to the advertiser's home page of the product indicated by the code information, the link information to the site that distributes the commercial video of the product indicated by the code information, and the product indicated by the code information. Link information to a site that can be used, link information to a site that displays an image of the product indicated by the code information, link information to a site that provides a description of the product indicated by the code information, and the code information indicates Link information to a site where user registration regarding the product can be performed, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire regarding the product indicated by the code information, or link information to a site where information on after-sales service related to the product indicated by the code information is posted, Or any combination thereof. According to this configuration, information on the product itself can be provided to the user from various angles via the portal screen. In particular, it is possible to conduct market research on various products by posting link information to sites that conduct questionnaires on the portal screen. Moreover, quick and real-time results can be obtained. In this way, the system operator can obtain useful information.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site where a questionnaire is conducted, or any combination thereof. According to this configuration, it is also possible to collect user information and questionnaires that do not depend on “things” to which codes are assigned via the portal screen.

  Furthermore, in the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a store or a retailer that sells the product indicated by the code information. According to this configuration, not only the convenience of the user can be further improved, but also the system operator can obtain compensation from a store or the like.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the code is assigned to a thing, which is a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and a living thing including a person and an animal. The information includes video, audio, programs, and data. In this case, the code may be a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and / or a code stored in an IC tag. For example, the one-dimensional code is a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional code is a QR code, and the IC tag is an RFID tag. In particular, the system can be further spread by using the barcode widely used for identifying individual products and specifying their manufacturers.

  In the remote code reader system according to the first aspect, the local code reader can be unspecified. Therefore, an unspecified local code reader is connected to the host computer. That is, the host computer does not necessarily need to identify individual local code readers, and is not primarily intended to identify from which user the code was sent. Of course, in the present invention, it is also possible for a user to perform user registration via his / her communication terminal, and to specify processing from which user the code is transmitted in the host computer.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the host computer is any one of the remote code reader systems according to the first aspect. The effect is the same as that of the remote code reader system according to the first aspect.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the host computer is connected to a corresponding communication terminal that can be connected to the Internet, and the Internet and the corresponding communication terminal are connected to a plurality of local code readers that read codes. A host computer connected via a receiving means for receiving the plurality of codes sent by the plurality of local code readers; a processing means for executing a predetermined process using the received codes; The receiving means responds to a command output by the local code reader and, based on address information output by the local code reader, outputs the code transmitted via the Internet by the communication terminal. Receive.

  The host computer according to the third aspect further includes classification means for classifying the received code into any of a plurality of groups, and the processing means uses the received code to assign the group to which the code belongs. The process corresponding to is executed.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the processing means transmits information for display on the communication terminal to the communication terminal in accordance with the predetermined process to be executed.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the processing means executes different processing on the same code depending on the installation location of the communication terminal.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the processing means receives from the communication terminal information capable of recognizing the installation location of the communication terminal, and executes processing using the code according to the information. For example, the installation location of the communication terminal is at least a personal home and a store, and the processing means can recognize from the communication terminal installed in the personal home that the communication terminal is installed in the personal home. The information is received, and the information recognizing that the communication terminal is installed in the store is received from the communication terminal installed in the store.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, at least one of the groups is a group of common product codes.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the common product code is a code used for a POS (Point Of Sale) system. For example, the common product code is a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, when the received code is an in-store code, the processing means returns a predetermined message to the communication terminal.

  Furthermore, in the host computer according to the third aspect, when the received code belongs to the group of common product codes, the processing means generates a product-specific portal screen corresponding to the received code. Information is searched, and information for generating the searched portal screen is transmitted to the communication terminal.

  Furthermore, in the host computer according to the third aspect, the codes belonging to a group other than the group of common product codes are assigned to the codes, and the contents corresponding to the codes are transmitted to the communication terminal via the host computer. Is a code assigned to provide information to a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and humans and animals. The information includes images, sounds, programs, and data.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the processing means searches for information for generating a portal screen corresponding to the received code, and transmits information for generating the searched portal screen to the communication terminal. Send to.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site related to the product indicated by the code information. For example, the link information purchases the link information to the advertiser's home page of the product indicated by the code information, the link information to the site that distributes the commercial video of the product indicated by the code information, and the product indicated by the code information. Link information to a site that can be used, link information to a site that displays an image of the product indicated by the code information, link information to a site that provides a description of the product indicated by the code information, and the code information indicates Link information to a site where user registration regarding the product can be performed, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire regarding the product indicated by the code information, or link information to a site where information on after-sales service related to the product indicated by the code information is posted, Or any combination thereof.

  Further, in the host computer according to the third aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire, or any combination thereof.

  Furthermore, in the host computer according to the third aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site relating to a store or a retailer that sells the product indicated by the code information.

  In the host computer according to the third aspect, the code is assigned to a thing, and the thing includes a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and an organism including humans and animals. The information includes video, audio, program, and data. In this case, the code is a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and / or a code stored in an IC tag. For example, the one-dimensional code is a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional code is a QR code, and the IC tag is an RFID tag.

  The host computer according to the third aspect described above has the same effects as the remote code reader system according to the first aspect.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the code processing method, each of the code and the corresponding communication terminal is connected to a corresponding communication terminal connectable to the Internet, and a plurality of local code readers that read the code are connected to the Internet and the corresponding communication terminal. A code processing method executed by a host computer connected via a plurality of codes, a reception step for receiving the plurality of codes sent by the plurality of local code readers, and a predetermined process using the received codes In the receiving step, the communication terminal via the Internet based on the address information output by the local code reader in response to the command output by the local code reader. And receiving the transmitted code.

  The code processing method according to the fourth aspect further includes a classification step of classifying the received code into any of a plurality of groups, and the processing step utilizes the received code and the code belongs to the code processing method. Including a step of executing processing corresponding to the group.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the processing step includes a step of transmitting information for display on the communication terminal to the communication terminal in accordance with the predetermined process to be executed.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the processing step includes a step of executing different processing on the same code depending on an installation location of the communication terminal.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the processing step includes a step of receiving information capable of recognizing an installation location of the communication terminal from the communication terminal, and executing a process using the code according to the information. . For example, the installation location of the communication terminal is at least a personal home and a store, and the processing step can recognize from the communication terminal installed in the personal home that the communication terminal is installed in the personal home. Receiving the information, and receiving from the communication terminal installed in the store the information recognizable that the communication terminal is installed in the store.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, at least one of the groups is a group of common product codes.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the common product code is a code used for a POS (Point Of Sale) system. For example, the common product code is a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the processing step includes a step of returning a predetermined message to the communication terminal when the received code is an in-store code.

  Furthermore, in the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, when the received code belongs to the group of common product codes, the processing step generates a product-specific portal screen corresponding to the received code. And the step of transmitting information for generating the searched portal screen to the communication terminal.

  Furthermore, in the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the codes belonging to a group other than the group of common product codes are assigned to the codes, and the contents corresponding to the codes are transmitted to the communication via the host computer. A code assigned to be provided to a terminal, excluding a common product code, which is a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and a person and Including living organisms including animals, the information includes video, audio, programs, and data.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the processing step searches for information for generating a portal screen corresponding to the received code, and transmits the information for generating the searched portal screen to the communication Sending to the terminal.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a product indicated by the code information. For example, the link information purchases the link information to the advertiser's home page of the product indicated by the code information, the link information to the site that distributes the commercial video of the product indicated by the code information, and the product indicated by the code information. Link information to a site that can be used, link information to a site that displays an image of the product indicated by the code information, link information to a site that provides a description of the product indicated by the code information, and the code information indicates Link information to a site where user registration regarding the product can be performed, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire regarding the product indicated by the code information, or link information to a site where information on after-sales service related to the product indicated by the code information is posted, Or any combination thereof.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site where a questionnaire is conducted, or any combination thereof.

  Furthermore, in the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a store or a retailer that sells the product indicated by the code information.

  In the code processing method according to the fourth aspect, the code is assigned to a thing, and the thing includes a tangible object including goods and real estate, an intangible object including information and services, a commodity, and an organism including humans and animals. The information includes video, audio, program, and data. In this case, the code is a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and / or a code stored in an IC tag. For example, the one-dimensional code is a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional code is a QR code, and the IC tag is an RFID tag.

  The code processing method according to the fourth aspect described above has the same effects as the remote code reader system according to the first aspect described above.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the code processing program is a computer program for executing the code processing method according to the fourth aspect. The effect is the same as that of the remote code reader system according to the first aspect.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium that records a code processing program according to the fifth aspect. Examples of the recording medium include a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, a CD (including a CD-ROM and a Video-CD), a DVD (including a DVD-Video, a DVD-ROM, and a DVD-RAM), a ROM. Cartridges, RAM memory cartridges with battery backup, flash memory cartridges, non-volatile RAM cartridges and the like.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is incorporated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a remote barcode reader system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the remote barcode reader system includes a host computer 1 and a plurality of and arbitrary local barcode readers 7 that read an arbitrary barcode 11. As the local barcode reader 7, any type of barcode reader such as a pen scanner, a CCD touch scanner, a hand laser scanner, a fixed laser scanner, or a slot reader can be used.

  Here, the bar code is a comprehensive expression of bar code information and a bar code pattern, and when it is not necessary to strictly distinguish these, the term bar code is simply used. From another point of view, the barcode includes intangibles such as objects (tangibles such as goods and real estate, information (including video, audio, programs, and data) and services), living things such as goods, people and animals. ), A code assigned to something that can be identified by some other means.

  Bar code information means character strings such as numbers, letters, and symbols. The barcode pattern means a pattern in which barcode information is expressed by a combination of a black bar and a white space. The same reference symbol “11” is attached to the barcode and the barcode pattern.

  The host computer 1 and each local barcode reader 7 are connected via the Internet 3 and a fixed terminal 5f or a portable terminal 5m. The fixed terminal 5f is an arbitrary stationary computer such as a desktop computer having a communication function. The portable terminal 5m is an arbitrary portable computer such as a notebook computer having a communication function, or an arbitrary portable communication terminal such as a cellular phone and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish the fixed terminal 5f and the portable terminal 5m, these are described as the terminal 5.

  The illustrated example will be described. A personal local barcode reader 7 is connected to the Internet 3 via a fixed terminal 5f and an access network (not shown), and is further connected to the host computer 1 via an access network (not shown). Another personal local barcode reader 7 is connected to the Internet 3 via the portable terminal 5m and an access network (not shown), and further connected to the host computer 1 via the access network. A local barcode reader 7 in a certain private home is connected to the Internet 3 via a fixed terminal 5f, a user network 9 such as a LAN, and an access network (not shown), and further connected to the host computer 1 via the access network. The

  A local barcode reader 7 of company A (for example, a company that develops a convenience store chain) is connected to the Internet 3 via a fixed terminal 5f, a user network 9 such as a LAN, and an access network (not shown). To the host computer 1. A local barcode reader 7 of a store (for example, a convenience store) operated by company A is connected to the Internet 3 via a fixed terminal 5f, a user network 9 such as a LAN, and an access network (not shown). Via the host computer 1.

  A local barcode reader 7 of a store operated by a rival company B, which is different from company A, is connected to the Internet 3 via a fixed terminal 5f, a user network 9 such as a LAN, and an access network (not shown), It is connected to the host computer 1 via an access network.

  Here, the local barcode reader 7 and the fixed terminal 5f of each store of the A company and the B company are not POS terminals. However, it is also possible to use a POS terminal.

  The illustration is an example, and the host computer 1 is connected to various arbitrary and various local barcode readers 7 through various networks including the Internet 3 beyond the boundaries of individuals and companies. Therefore, the host computer 1 can collect an arbitrary and a plurality of various barcodes globally. Bar codes 11 are classified into a plurality of groups. The host computer 1 performs processing according to the group to which the barcode 11 belongs, and provides a service to the user through the processing. In this case, the host computer 1 can provide services (including contents) via the Internet 3 and the terminal 5. However, based on the processing result of the host computer 1, not only the Internet 3, but also a service can be provided not only by the WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), other networks, and a combination of these networks. . The same applies to the collection of the barcode 11. Note that the WAN includes a telephone line network, a dedicated line, a power line communication network, a CATV, and the like. Further, the service can be provided by another route (broadcast, postal mail, other communication means, home delivery service, etc.) in response to the processing result of the host computer 1 without going through the network. In other words, a network is required to collect the barcode 11, but the service provided to the user may be provided by any method.

  Here, the above group into which the barcode 11 is classified is exemplified. The first example is a group of barcodes printed on a paper medium such as a magazine, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode and relates to the paper medium on which the barcode is printed or its description (for example, advertisement). The URL of the WEB site where the information is posted is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it. The second example is a group of barcodes assigned to each company in a printed matter in which stock price information such as company quarterly information is described. The host computer 1 receives the barcode and obtains stock price information of the corresponding company. The URL of the posted WEB site is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it.

  The third example is a group of barcodes assigned to each company in a printed matter in which job posting information is described, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode and receives the job information of the corresponding company. The URL is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it. The fourth example is a group of barcodes assigned to each landscape in a printed matter in which landscape photographs are described, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode, and the URL of the WEB site on which the details of the corresponding landscape are posted. Is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it.

  The fifth example is a group of barcodes assigned to each article in a newspaper, and the host computer 1 receives this barcode and gives the URL of the WEB site on which the details of the corresponding article are posted to the terminal 5. The terminal 5 displays this. The sixth example is a group of barcodes assigned to a business card, and the host computer 1 receives this barcode and gives the terminal 5 the URL of the WEB site where the detailed information of the owner of the corresponding business card is posted. The terminal 5 displays this.

  The seventh example is a group of barcodes assigned to each item in the book, and the host computer 1 receives this barcode and gives the URL of the WEB site on which details of the corresponding item are posted to the terminal 5. The terminal 5 displays this. The eighth example is a group of barcodes assigned to each title in a music CD or movie DVD, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode and receives a WEB site where the corresponding music or movie can be viewed. The URL is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it.

  The ninth example is a group of barcodes assigned to each attached drawing in the trading card, and the host computer 1 receives this barcode and returns the URL of the WEB site where information on the corresponding drawing is posted. This is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it. The tenth example is a group of barcodes printed on a receipt issued after shopping, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode and relates to a store that has issued a receipt on which the barcode is printed. The URL of the WEB site where the information (for example, sale information) is posted is given to the terminal 5, and the terminal 5 displays it.

  The eleventh example is a group of common product codes, and the host computer 1 receives the barcode of this group and gives the terminal 5 a URL in which information related to the product indicated by the barcode is posted. Is displayed. The common product code is a code used for a POS (Point Of Sale) system, for example, a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, and a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.

  As described above, in this system, the barcode 11 is classified into one of a plurality of groups, and the host computer 1 executes processing according to the group to which the received barcode 11 belongs, and content corresponding to the group. The content corresponding to the received barcode 11 is provided to the terminal 5. Needless to say, the above group is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the local barcode reader 7 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing how the ROM 19 built in the MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 15 of FIG. It is an illustration figure which shows the storage state of a program and data. With reference to FIG. 2A, the local barcode reader 7 includes a scanner 13, an MCU 15, and a communication device 17. The scanner 13 optically reads the barcode pattern 11 and converts the bar and space into an electrical signal (scanning). As described above, an arbitrary method can be adopted as the scanning method in this case. An electrical signal corresponding to the barcode pattern 11 from the scanner 13 is given to the MCU 15.

  The MCU 15 includes a CPU (not shown), a RAM (not shown), an A / D converter, a ROM 19 shown in FIG. The ROM 19 includes a decoding program 21, a keyboard emulation program 23, an output control program 25, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) 27 of the host computer 1 represented by keyboard data, a command 29 to the terminal 5 represented by keyboard data, a keyboard The serial number 30 represented by data and other necessary programs and data are stored.

  The command 29 is a command for instructing the terminal 5 to start a browser and access the host computer 1 indicated by the URL 27. For example, when the OS (Operating System) is Windows (registered trademark), the command is keyboard data corresponding to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) key + R key in Windows 98 or later. With this command, a browser (Internet Explorer) is activated in Windows. That is, this command is prepared in advance in Windows as an OS. Note that the Windows GUI key is commonly called the Windows key. Since a command for an OS having a large share such as Windows is stored in the local barcode reader 7 and outputted, most of the terminals 5 can be connected to the terminal 5 simply by connecting the local barcode reader 7 to the terminal 5. Available for. Therefore, the local barcode reader 7 does not need to store a plurality of commands in advance, recognize the OS for each terminal 5, and select and use a command corresponding to the OS.

  The serial number 30 is a unique number assigned to identify the local barcode reader 7.

  The MCU 15 executes the decoding program 21, decodes the electric signal corresponding to the input barcode pattern 11, and acquires barcode information. Then, the MCU 15 executes the keyboard emulation program 23, converts the barcode information into keyboard data, and stores it in the RAM. Then, the MCU 15 executes the output control program 25, acquires the command 29, URL 27, and serial number 30 from the ROM 19, acquires barcode information from the RAM, and passes these keyboard data to the communication device 17.

  The communication device 17 is, for example, a USB controller or the like, and transmits keyboard data (command 29, URL 27, barcode information, and serial number 30) received from the MCU 15 to the terminal 5. Then, in response to the received command 29, the terminal 5 transmits the received barcode information and serial number 30 to the host computer 1 via the Internet 3 based on the received URL 27. Note that personal information can be arbitrarily registered by the user from the terminal 5, but care must be taken in handling it. Since the host computer 1 acquires the serial number 30, it must be handled particularly strictly.

  Note that an EEPROM, a flash memory, or the like can be mounted outside the MCU 15 so that the URL, program, and the like can be changed. In the figure, the MCU 15 and the communication device 17 are illustrated as separate ones, but may be integrated.

  Referring to FIG. 3, in step S1, local barcode reader 7 reads barcode pattern 11 in response to a user operation. In step S3, the local barcode reader 7 decodes the barcode pattern 11 based on a known barcode decoding method.

  In step S5, the local barcode reader 7 converts the barcode information, which is the decoding result, into keyboard data and stores it in the RAM. In step S 7, the local barcode reader 7 acquires the URL 27 (for example, “http://www.ssd.co.jp”) of the host computer 1 as keyboard data from the ROM 19, and ends the URL 27. Are added with barcode information (for example, “4560256580016”) and serial number 30 (for example, “132222159”) as keyboard data, and a new URL (for example, “http://www.ssd.co.jp/”) is added. ? Bc = 4560256580016 & sn = 13222159 ").

  In step S9, the local barcode reader 7 obtains from the ROM 19 a command 29 in the form of keyboard data that instructs the terminal 5 to activate the browser and access the host computer 1, and stores it in the RAM. In step S 11, the local barcode reader 7 outputs keyboard data (command 29 and URL (URL 27 + barcode information + serial number 30)) to the terminal 5.

  The terminal 5 receives the keyboard data output from the local barcode reader 7. In step S21, the terminal 5 starts the browser in response to the command 29 given from the local barcode reader 7, and in step S23, based on the URL received from the local barcode reader 7, the host 5 Access the computer 1. At this time, the URL is transmitted to the host computer 1.

  Then, the host computer 1 receives the URL (including the barcode information and the serial number 30). In step S31, the host computer 1 executes processing corresponding to the group to which the received barcode information belongs, and generates content corresponding to the group and corresponding to the barcode information. In step S33, the host computer 1 transmits content corresponding to the barcode information (for example, described in HTML) to the terminal 5 in accordance with the processing in step S31.

  In step S25, the terminal 5 displays the content transmitted from the host computer 1 on the display (for example, analyzes the received HTML information and displays the WEB page). In step S27, the terminal 5 performs processing and communication with the host computer 1 in accordance with an input from the user. Similarly, in step S <b> 35, the host computer 1 performs processing and communication with the terminal 5 in response to access from the terminal 5. The content provided from the host computer 1 to the terminal 5, that is, the content provided to the user is an example of a service provided to the user. Examples of services provided to users will be described below as application examples of the system.

  A supplementary explanation of step S23 will be given. In step S23, more specifically, the terminal 5 accesses a DNS (Domain Name System) server and acquires an IP address corresponding to the domain name (in the above example, “www.ssd.co.jp”). Then, the URL including the barcode information and the serial number 30 together with the IP address is transmitted to a network including the Internet 3 to access the host computer 1 and transmit the barcode information and the serial number 30 to the host computer 1. However, since these processes are performed by a well-known protocol, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, arbitrary and plural local barcode readers 7 are connected to the host computer 1 via various networks including the Internet 3 and arbitrary and plural terminals 5 connected thereto. Connected to. In other words, the host computer 1 is connected with various arbitrary and various local barcode readers 7 beyond the boundaries of individuals and companies. Therefore, the host computer 1 can collect an arbitrary and a plurality of various barcodes 11 globally. Then, the host computer 1 executes processing corresponding to the group to which the barcode 11 belongs, and transmits content corresponding to the group and content corresponding to the barcode 11 to the terminal 5. Therefore, the terminal 5 can display various contents according to the barcode 11. In other words, the user of the local barcode reader 7 can be provided with various services according to the barcode 11 from the host computer 1 in response to the transmission of the barcode 11 to the host computer 1. In this case, as long as the user owns at least one local barcode reader 7, the user can be provided with various different services. For example, the user can receive the services of the first to eleventh examples described above with one local barcode reader 7. In addition, the user of the local barcode reader 7 does not need to search a WEB site for receiving a desired service or content. By scanning the barcode 11, the user of the service or content corresponding to the barcode 11 is immediately scanned. You can receive the offer.

  In this embodiment, the local barcode reader 7 outputs the URL 27 and the command 29 of the host computer 1 together with the barcode 11 to the terminal 5. In response to this, the terminal 5 transmits the barcode 11 to the host computer 1. That is, the barcode 11 is transmitted with the scanning of the barcode 11 as a trigger. Therefore, the user of the local barcode reader 7 can transmit the barcode 11 to the host computer 1 without operating the terminal 5 by simply reading the barcode 11 with the local barcode reader 7. In addition, the user does not need to install software for transmitting the barcode 11 to the host computer 1 in the terminal 5 or input the URL 27 of the host computer 1. As a result, the convenience of the user can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the serial number 30 of the local barcode reader 7 is transmitted to the host computer 1, the user can determine the content of the content for the user regardless of the terminal 5 to which the local barcode reader 7 is connected. You can receive the offer. That is, as long as the user uses his / her local bar code reader 7, the user can be provided with content for himself / herself at any terminal 5. Of course, in this case, the host computer 1 executes processing associated with the serial number 30 of the local barcode reader 7 and transmits the content corresponding to the serial number 30 to the terminal 5. By the way, transmission of the serial number 30 from the local barcode reader 7 or the terminal 5 is an option, and does not necessarily have to be transmitted.

  In the above example, the host computer 1 functions as a WEB server. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in that case, a protocol corresponding to the server is used and the URL is also different. The host computer 1 can also have a plurality of types of server functions.

  Next, an application example of the remote barcode reader system of FIG. 1 will be described.

  (Application 1)

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an advertisement support system to which the remote barcode reader system of FIG. 1 is applied. With reference to FIG. 4, the advertisement support system includes an advertisement support server 31 connected to a network 33. The network 33 includes various networks such as the Internet and a LAN (Local Area Network).

  A personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 43 is installed in each of the personal residences 41-1 to 41-n (n is an integer of 1 or more), and a barcode attached to the product is provided on the PC 40. Is connected to the barcode reader 7. The PC 43 is connected to the network 33.

  A computer 37 is installed in each of the stores 35-1 to 35 -k (k is an integer of 1 or more). The computer 37 has a monitor 39 and a barcode reader 7 for reading a barcode attached to the product. Is connected. A plurality of sets are installed in each of the stores 35-1 to 35 -k, and each computer 37 is connected to the network 33.

  A server 77 is installed in each of the store head offices 75-1 to 75 -p (p is an integer of 1 or more) and connected to the network 33.

  A server 47 is installed in each of the advertisers 45-1 to 45 -m (m is an integer of 1 or more) of various products, and is connected to the network 33.

  Here, the personal homes 41-1 to 41-n are collectively referred to as personal homes 41-N, the stores 35-1 to 35-k are collectively referred to as stores 35-K, and the advertiser 45 -1 to 45-m are collectively referred to as an advertiser 45-M, and the store headquarters 75-1 to 75-p are collectively referred to as a store headquarter 75-P.

  As the advertisement support server 31, the advertiser 47-M server 47, and the store head office 75-P server 77, various well-known servers can be used. In this embodiment, an example using a WEB server is given. Further, the advertiser 45-M refers to a business located mainly in the upstream of distribution, such as a product manufacturer or a merchant of the product, and the store headquarters 75-P is mainly located in the downstream of distribution such as a retailer. The business operator is located, the store 35-K indicates a store managed by the store headquarters 75-P, and the personal home 41-N indicates a consumer home.

  Here, the advertisement support server 31 corresponds to the host computer 1 of FIG. The PC 43, the computer 37, and the monitor 39 correspond to the fixed terminal 5f in FIG. The bar code reader 7 corresponds to the local bar code reader 7 of FIG.

  Next, an outline of the advertisement support system in FIG. 4 will be described. In this case, communication among the advertisement support server 31, the personal residence 41-N, and the advertiser 45-M is taken as an example.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an outline of the advertisement support system. Referring to FIG. 5A, in step S50, the barcode reader 7 scans and decodes the barcode pattern 11 in response to the user's operation, and displays the barcode information represented by the barcode pattern 11. get.

  In step S51, the PC 43 receives the barcode information output from the barcode reader 7, and transmits it to the advertisement support server 31 via the network 33 in step S52. In step S <b> 53, the advertisement support server 31 transmits information for displaying the individual portal screen corresponding to the barcode information received from the PC 43 to the PC 43 via the network 33. Then, the PC 43 displays an individual portal screen based on the received information.

  The individual portal (entrance) screen is a screen that is prepared for each type of product and displays link information related to the product. That is, the individual portal screen is prepared for each product on a one-to-one basis.

  FIG. 5B is an illustration of a first individual portal screen 100 that is a first example of an individual portal screen prepared for a certain product. Referring to FIG. 5B, the first individual portal screen 100 is for purchasing a product indicated by the barcode button 102 of the homepage (HP) of the advertiser 45-M of the product indicated by the barcode information and the barcode information. WEB site link button 104, WEB site link button 106 that distributes commercials (CMs) indicated by barcode information, WEB site link button 118 for bar code information after-sales service, bar Link button 108 to the WEB site for explaining the product indicated by the code information, Link button 116 to the WEB site for the product related to the product indicated by the barcode information, Link button 110 to the WEB site for user registration , And a link button 112 to a WEB site for conducting a questionnaire. A cursor 114 is displayed on the first individual portal screen 100. In this example, the related product indicated by the link button 116 is a product provided by the advertiser 45-M of the product indicated by the barcode information. The link button 110 is assumed to be a link to a site for performing user registration for this system. However, it may be a link to a site where user registration for the product indicated by the barcode information is performed, or may be both of them. Collecting user information is quick and easy.

  Furthermore, the link button 112 is a link to a site for conducting a questionnaire for the product indicated by the barcode information. Accordingly, it is possible to conduct market research on various products. Moreover, quick and real-time results can be obtained. In this way, the advertisement support provider can obtain useful information. However, the link button 112 may be a link for conducting a questionnaire for other purposes instead of a link to a site for conducting a questionnaire for the product indicated by the barcode information. In this case, it is possible to collect questionnaires that do not depend on products to which barcodes are assigned.

  However, as a default (no charge from the advertiser 45-M), the link button 102 on the home page of the advertiser 45-M, the link button 110 for performing user registration of this system, and the link button 112 for performing a questionnaire Only is displayed. The other link buttons 104, 106, 108, 116 and 118 are optional only when the advertiser 45 -M becomes a member of the advertising support system of the business operator (advertising support business operator) that operates the advertising support server 31. Is displayed. However, when the link button 104 is not a link to the purchase site of the advertiser 45-M but a link to the purchase site of another merchandise seller, the link button 104 is displayed as a default. This is because, in this case, the advertisement support business can obtain income from the affiliate.

  As a charging method from the member, a fixed cost type such as annual fee collection, a click type that charges according to the number of clicks (presses) of the link button displayed on the first individual portal screen 100, or a result (product of product) Any of the performance-reward types that receive rewards from members according to purchase, etc., or a combination thereof may be used.

  When the user of the PC 43 presses any of the link buttons 102, 104, 106, 108, 116, and 118, the PC 43 is based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button in step S54 of FIG. Then, the server 47 of the advertiser 45 -M is accessed via the network 33. Then, in step S55, the server 47 transmits information for displaying the WEB page corresponding to the pressed link button to the PC 43 via the network 33. In response to this, the PC 43 displays the WEB page.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the computer 37 and the monitor 39 of the store 35 -K correspond to the PC 43 of the personal home 41 -N, and the bar code reader 7 of the store 35 -K is the bar code reader 7 of the personal home 41 -N. It corresponds to. Therefore, communication among the advertisement support server 31, the store 35-K, and the advertiser 45-M is performed between the advertisement support server 31, the personal residence 41-N, and the advertiser 45-M shown in FIG. This is the same as the communication between the two, and the description is omitted.

  Further, the content of the individual portal screen displayed on the monitor 39 of the store 35-K is the same as the content of the first individual portal screen 100 of FIG. 5B displayed on the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N. Description is omitted. However, in this case, a link button unique to the store 35-K, for example, a link button to a WEB site on which sale information, privilege information, etc. of the store 35-K can be displayed on the individual portal screen.

  When introducing the advertisement support system to the store 35-K, the business operator operating the advertisement support server 31 asks the business owner of the store 35-K to become a member and collects a fixed fee such as an annual membership fee. It is preferable (fixed cost type). As for the link button unique to the store 35-K, a click type or a result reward type can be adopted as in the case of the advertiser 45-M.

  Next, details of the advertisement support server 31 will be described.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the advertisement support server 31 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 6A, the advertisement support server 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 52, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 54, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 56, and an input / output. An interface (input / output I / F) 66, an output unit 58, an input unit 60, a communication unit 62, a drive 64, and a bus 68 are included.

  A RAM 52, ROM 54, HDD 56, and input / output I / F 66 are connected to the CPU 50 via a bus 68. The input / output I / F 66 includes an output unit 58 such as an LCD display, an input unit 60 such as a mouse or a keyboard, a communication unit 62 such as a LAN card or USB controller that manages connection to the network 33, and a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. A drive 64 for a removable recording medium 65 such as is connected to each other.

  The hardware configurations of the PC 43, the computer 37, the server 47, and the server 77 are the same as the hardware configuration of the advertisement support server 31, and a description thereof is omitted. The hardware configurations of the host computer 1 and the fixed terminal 5f in FIG. 1 are the same as the hardware configuration of the advertisement support server 31. Furthermore, the hardware configuration of the portable terminal 5m in FIG. 1 is well known.

  FIG. 6B is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the storage area 200 of the advertisement support server 31. As shown in FIG. 6B, the HDD 56 of the advertisement support server 31 and the storage area 200 of the ROM 54 include a program storage unit 210, a first individual portal screen file 230, a user registration file 240, and a questionnaire file 260. .

  The first individual portal screen file 230 includes a database in which barcode information 232 assigned to each type of product and individual portal screen information 234 corresponding to the product indicated by the barcode information 232 are associated with each other.

  FIG. 6C is a diagram showing the configuration of the first individual portal screen file 230. Referring to FIG. 6C, the first individual portal screen file 230 is a file in which the barcode information 232 and the individual portal screen information 234 are associated with each product. The individual portal screen information 234 includes the URL of the advertiser home page corresponding to the link button 102 in FIG. 5B, the URL of the product description site corresponding to the link button 108, the URL of the product purchase site corresponding to the link button 104, and the link. The URL of the product commercial site corresponding to the button 106, the URL of the user registration site corresponding to the link button 110, the URL of the questionnaire site corresponding to the link button 112, the URL of the related product site corresponding to the link button 116, and the link button 118 URL of the after-service site corresponding to. In FIG. 6C, the protocol (http: //) is omitted.

  Returning to FIG. 6B, the user registration file 240 includes the user identification information (ID) 242 and the first individual portal screen 100 displayed on the PC 43 of the personal residence 41 -N and the monitor 39 of the store 35 -K. The user information 244, the point information 246, and the household account book information 248 registered through the (link button 110) are configured by a database associated with each other. The user information is various information related to the user such as name, sex, age, date of birth, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and occupation. The point information 246 is a point added under certain conditions when the link button on the first individual portal screen 100 is pressed. When a certain point is accumulated, a privilege is given to the user. The household account book information 248 is a file that stores the daily expenditure of the user. The user can access the household account book information 248 from the PC 43 or the computer 37 by inputting the user ID and password.

  The questionnaire file 260 is configured by a database that stores questionnaire results collected via the first individual portal screen 100 (link button 112) displayed on the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N or the monitor 39 of the store 35-K. The

  The program storage unit 210 includes a communication control unit 212, a first individual portal screen search unit 214, an individual portal screen generation unit 215, a user registration unit 216, a household account book creation unit 218, and a questionnaire totaling unit 220. Each of these functional units is a computer software program installed in the ROM 54 and / or the HDD 56 or a subroutine in one program. These programs are stored in the removable recording medium 65 and are then installed in the advertisement support server 31. Each of these functional units will be described using the following flowchart.

  Next, a communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N, and the advertisement support server 31 will be described using a flowchart.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication procedure of the advertisement support system. In FIG. 7, communication using a well-known protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) and HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is performed, and thus detailed description of these communication procedures is omitted. The

  Referring to FIG. 7, in step S <b> 200, PC 43 of personal residence 41 -N starts a browser in response to a command given from barcode reader 7. In step S202, the PC 43 accesses the advertisement support server 31 based on the URL given from the barcode reader 7, and the URL given from the barcode reader 7 (including the barcode information and the serial number 30). Is transmitted to the advertisement support server 31. Here, the processing of the barcode reader 7 before the PC 43 receives these pieces of information is the same as steps S1 to S11 in FIG. Note that the URL 19 of the advertisement support server 31 is stored in the ROM 19 of the barcode reader 7.

  The communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 receives the URL including the barcode information and the serial number 30. In step S300, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 of the advertisement support server 31 accesses the first individual portal screen file 230, and the URL associated with the received barcode information (FIG. 6C). Search).

  In step S302, the individual portal screen generation unit 215 of the advertisement support server 31 displays HTML (HyperText Markup Language) for displaying the first individual portal screen 100 including the link button corresponding to the URL acquired in step S300 on the PC 43. Generate information. In step S304, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the generated HTML information to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N.

  Here, for each barcode information, an HTML file for displaying the first individual portal screen 100 is created in advance, the HTML file is searched using the barcode information as an index, and this is transmitted to the PC 43. Also good.

  The PC 43 receives the HTML information of the first individual portal screen 100, analyzes the HTML information in step S204, and displays the first individual portal screen 100. In step S206, the PC 43 determines whether any one of the link buttons 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 116, or 118 on the first individual portal screen 100 has been pressed. Returns to step S206, and if pressed, proceeds to step S208.

  If the link button pressed in step S206 is one of the link buttons 102, 106, 108, 116, and 118, the PC 43 proceeds to step S210 (step S208), and either of the link buttons 110 and 112 is selected. If it is, the process proceeds to step S216 (step S208), and if it is the link button 104, the process proceeds to step S1060 in FIG. 8 (step S208).

  In step S210, the PC 43 accesses the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button. Then, the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M transmits the corresponding HTML information to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N in step S100. The PC 43 receives this HTML information, analyzes it, and displays the WEB site. In this case, if the link button pressed in step S206 is the link button 108, a WEB site for explaining the product indicated by the barcode information transmitted in step S202 is displayed. The homepage of the advertiser 45-M of the product indicated by the code information is displayed. In the case of the link button 106, a WEB site that distributes the commercial of the product indicated by the barcode information is displayed. If the link button pressed in step S206 is the link button 116, the WEB site of the product related to the product indicated by the barcode information is displayed, and if the link button 118 is the link button 118, the item of the product indicated by the barcode information is displayed. A web site for after-sales service is displayed.

  In step S214, the PC 43 performs processing and communication with the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M according to the input from the user. In step S <b> 102, the server 47 performs processing and communication with the PC 43 in response to access from the PC 43.

  On the other hand, in step S216, the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N accesses the advertisement support server 31 based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button. Then, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the corresponding HTML information to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N in step S306. In this case, if the link button pressed in step S206 is the link button 110, the user registration unit 216 of the advertisement support server 31 generates HTML information of the WEB site for user registration, and the link button 112 In this case, the questionnaire totaling unit 220 of the advertisement support server 31 generates HTML information of the WEB site for conducting the questionnaire.

  The PC 43 receives and analyzes the HTML information, and displays the WEB site in step S218. In this case, if the link button pressed in step S206 is the link button 110, a WEB site for performing user registration is displayed, and if the link button 112 is the link button 112, a WEB site for performing a questionnaire is displayed. .

  In step S220, the PC 43 communicates with the processing and advertisement support server 31 in response to an input from the user. In step S <b> 308, the advertisement support server 31 performs processing and communication with the PC 43 in response to access from the PC 43. In this case, when the link button pressed in step S206 is the link button 110, the user registration unit 216 of the advertisement support server 31 executes various processes for user registration, and the result is sent to the user registration unit 216. In the case of the link button 112, the questionnaire totalization unit 220 of the advertisement support server 31 executes various processes for collecting and totaling the questionnaire, and stores the result in the questionnaire file 260.

  If it is determined in step S206 in FIG. 7 that the link button 104 has been pressed, with reference to FIG. 8, in step S1060, the PC 43 performs an electronic commerce site (that is, based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button 104). , The electronic commerce server (not shown) of the business operator who operates the product purchase site. Then, this server transmits the corresponding HTML information to the PC 43 in step S1050. In step S1062, the PC 43 receives the HTML information, analyzes it, and displays the electronic commerce site. In step S1064, the PC 43 performs communication with the processing and electronic commerce server in accordance with an input from the user. In step S1052, the server performs processing and communication with the PC 43 in response to an access from the PC 43, and accepts an order for a product indicated by the barcode information. The electrical configuration of this server is the same as that of the advertisement support server 31 in FIG.

  Here, the household account book creation unit 218 of the advertisement support server 31 will be described. User registration is performed, and a household account book creation service is provided to a desired user. The household account book creation unit 218 calculates daily expenditure based on the barcode information transmitted from the user's PC 43, creates a household account book, associates it with the user ID, and stores it in the user registration file 240. In this case, the name of the product is obtained from the barcode information, but the price of the product is input to the PC 43 by the user, and this is given to the advertisement support server 31.

  The computer 37 and the monitor 39 of the store 35-K correspond to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N, and are connected between the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the computer 37 of the store 35-K, and the advertisement support server 31. The communication procedure is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.

  Now, the first individual portal screen 100 in FIG. 5B is an example of the individual portal screen. Another example of the first individual portal screen 130 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the first individual portal screen 130 in the first application example. Referring to FIG. 9, the first individual portal screen 130 includes a frame 132 managed by the advertisement support provider alone and a frame 134 managed by the advertiser 45 -M. However, the advertiser 45-M manages the contents of the frame 134, and the system is managed by the advertisement support provider. A cursor 114 is displayed on the first individual portal screen 130.

  The frame 132 includes a personal home button 136, a purchase button 138, a questionnaire button 140, and a help button 142. When the user moves the cursor 114 to the personal home button 136 and clicks it, the personal site is displayed. This personal site is a WEB site assigned for each user, and is a WEB site for displaying and managing user-specific information. For example, the personal site performs history display and management of the barcode 11 scanned by the user. A table in which the URL of the personal site is associated with the serial number 30 of the barcode reader 7 is prepared in the HDD 56. Therefore, the advertisement support server 31 can acquire the corresponding URL by referring to this table using the received serial number 30 as an index.

  When the user moves the cursor 114 to the purchase button 138 and clicks it, a product purchase site (that is, an electronic commerce site) is displayed. This product purchase site is a site for performing a procedure for purchasing the product displayed in the frame 134, that is, the product indicated by the scanned barcode 11. When the user moves the cursor 114 to the questionnaire button 140 and clicks it, a questionnaire site is displayed. This questionnaire site is a site for the user to input an answer to the questionnaire. When the user moves the cursor 114 to the help button 142 and clicks it, a help site is displayed. This help site is a site that explains in detail how to use this system to the user.

  The frame 134 displays an image 144 of the product indicated by the scanned barcode 11, a barcode field 146 indicating barcode information indicated by the scanned barcode 11, and various types of information regarding the product indicated by the scanned barcode 11. The product information column 148, 150, 152, 154 to represent is included. The merchandise information columns 148, 150, 152, and 154 are each composed of an upper row (title column) and a lower row (text column). In the example of FIG. 9, the product information column 148 describes a title (book title) and text (XaviX dictionary). In the product information column 150, a title (author) and a text (new generation Taro) are described. In the product information column 152, a title (price) and a text (800 yen) are described. In the product information column 154, a title (publisher) and a text (new generation corporation) are described. In this example, these fields 148, 150, and 154 are link buttons. Therefore, the user can browse a WEB site that provides more detailed information regarding each piece of information by moving the cursor 114 to the desired product information column 148, 150, 154 and clicking.

  Next, a method for generating the first individual portal screen 130 performed by the advertisement support server 31 will be described. When the first individual portal screen 130 is generated, the individual portal screen table of FIG. 10 stored in the HDD 56 is referred to.

  Referring to FIG. 10, this table is a table in which barcodes are associated with priority levels, titles, texts, and URLs.

  In the “priority” column of this table, the smaller the number, the higher the order. The “priority” column defines the display priority of the product information column (148, 150, 152, 154). The higher the priority, the higher the frame 134 is displayed. The “title” column is a character string described in the upper part of the product information column. The “text” column is a character string described in the lower part of the product information column. The “URL” field is a link destination URL when the product information field functions as a link button.

  A specific example will be described. Lines 1 to 4 in the table in FIG. 10 correspond to the product information fields 148, 150, 152, and 154 in FIG. 9, respectively. And the priority order is the product information fields 148, 150, 152 and 154 from the highest. Accordingly, in the frame 134, product information fields 148, 150, 152, and 154 are displayed from the top.

  Of course, how many product information columns are displayed for one barcode 11, that is, one first individual portal screen 130, can be arbitrarily set by setting this table. It is up to the advertiser 45-M what character strings are stored in the “title” column and the “text” column, and the priority in the “priority” column is also the advertiser 45-M. The advertiser 45 -M is free to determine what URL is stored in the “URL” column.

  However, it is assumed that the advertisement support provider permits only display on the first individual portal screen 130 of one product information column as a default, that is, without charging. In this case, the advertising support provider describes the manufacturer, seller, or provider in the “title” column, the company name in the “text” column, and the company ’s name in the “URL” column. Only the URL of the homepage (not the product page but the top page of the company's WEB site) is allowed. The setting of the default product information column may be a system that can be set by the advertiser 45-M, or may be a system that is set by the advertising support provider, and both of them are possible. You can also However, since it is not preferable that the user scans the barcode 11 and no information on the product is displayed, initially, the default product information column is set by the advertisement support provider. The display of the product information column other than the default product information column is an option, and the table is set by charging from the advertiser 45 -M who desires it.

  In the example of FIG. 10, options are set for the bar code information “9784872337136” and “4928205042477” in the table, and four and two product information columns are displayed, respectively. In addition, regarding the barcode information “9784873338571” and “4928208541357”, there is no option setting, only a default, and only one product information column in which only the company name can be described is displayed.

  Returning to FIG. 9, the position of the barcode field 146 is determined in advance, and the scanned barcode information is displayed. The position of the product image 144 is determined in advance. However, it is assumed that the display of the product image 144 on the first individual portal screen 130 is an option, and charging is generated.

  Now, the communication procedure in the advertisement support system for displaying the first individual portal screen 130 is the same as that shown in FIGS. However, in step S300, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 of the advertisement support server 31 collects information necessary for constructing the first individual portal screen 130. That is, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 accesses the individual portal screen table of FIG. 10 to search the received barcode information and obtain the contents of the product information column. In addition, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 acquires the URL to be assigned to the personal home button 136 from the HDD 56 using the received serial number 30 of the barcode reader 7 as an index. The serial number of the barcode reader 7 is stored in the HDD 56 in association with the URL of the user's personal site. In addition, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 acquires the URL to be assigned to the purchase button 138 from the HDD 56 using the received barcode information as an index. The barcode information is stored in the HDD 56 in association with the URL of the product purchase site. In addition, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 acquires the address at which the product image 144 is stored from the HDD 56 using the received barcode information as an index. The barcode information is stored in the HDD 56 in association with the address information of the product image 144. The product image 144 is stored in the HDD 56.

  In step S302, the individual portal screen generation unit 215 of the advertisement support server 31 generates HTML information for displaying the first individual portal screen 130 on the PC 43 based on the information collected in step S300. In step S304, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the generated HTML information to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N.

  As described above, according to the application example 1 of the remote barcode reader system of FIG. 1, a user who is interested in a product or a user who has purchased the product reads a barcode with the barcode reader 7. When the computer 37 or the PC 43 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “terminal tm”) installed in the store 35-K or the personal residence 41-N transmits the barcode information of the product, the terminal tm The information for generating the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 can be received from the advertisement support server 31 and the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 can be displayed.

  Since the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 are product-specific screens indicated by the barcode information, the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 include link information to the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M that transmits information related to the products. . Therefore, the user of the terminal tm can easily access the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M of the product via the first individual portal screens 100 and 130, and can easily browse information on the desired product. .

  For the advertiser 45-M, information regarding the product is pinpointed to the person who is actually interested in the product or purchased the product via the first individual portal screens 100 and 130. There is an advantage that it can be provided. This is a significant difference from the traditional affiliate model.

  On the other hand, when the user of the terminal tm is interested in the product or wants to investigate something about the purchased product, the barcode is read by the barcode reader 7, and the barcode of the product is read into the terminal tm. By only transmitting information, the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 unique to the product are displayed on the monitor of the terminal tm. The user can easily access the target site via the first individual portal screens 100 and 130. For this reason, using a general-purpose search engine, you can search by entering text that seems to be related to the product, or by using a conventional portal site service, It is much easier to obtain information about a product than to search for information on a desired product from inside.

  In addition, with conventional methods such as general-purpose search engines and portal site services, multiple product sites with the same or similar names appear in the search results, and the user does not know which information he wants. Although it may occur, this situation can be avoided. Furthermore, these conventional methods often hit confusing sites, informal sites, and the like, which hinders advertisers 45-M from guiding viewers to their servers 47. Can also be avoided.

  The advertisement support company that operates the advertisement support server 31 can earn money from the business owner of the advertiser 45-M or the store 35-K in creating the first individual portal screens 100 and 130. For example, only the link button 102 of the homepage of the advertiser 45-M is displayed on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 without requesting the consideration, and more information is displayed on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130. Consideration is acquired from an advertiser 45 -M who desires to display link information. As a result, the link information of the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 increases.

  The fact that there is a lot of link information displayed on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 means that the product can be advertised from various angles, and there is less link information displayed on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130. However, it is possible to stimulate the user to purchase more. In other words, for the same type of product, the product sales amount of the advertiser on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 with a large amount of link information is larger than the product sales amount of the advertiser on the first individual portal screen 100 with a small amount of link information. It is expected that. Therefore, it is expected that the advertiser 45-M will ask for the display of additional link information even if it pays the consideration.

  For the same reason, it is clear that there is a difference in sales between a store 35-K such as a retail store where this system is introduced and a store that is not. Therefore, it can be expected that businesses that operate stores also introduce this system. In this case, the advertisement support company can increase the profit by acquiring the consideration from the company that operates each store 35-K.

  Of course, the advertisement support server 31 does not give the first individual portal screens 100, 130 to the PC 43 or the computer 37, but passes the URL of the WEB site of the product corresponding to the barcode information to the PC 43 or the computer 37, thereby directly It is also possible to display. However, in this case, there is no effect unique to the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 as described above.

  In addition, on the first individual portal screens 100 and 130, link buttons 104 and 138 corresponding to the URL of the product purchase site operated by the electronic commerce company are displayed. Accordingly, a product may be purchased through these buttons 104 and 138, and the advertisement support business operator who operates the first individual portal screens 100 and 130 can obtain income from the affiliate.

  (Application example 2)

  Even if the user accesses the advertisement support server 31 from the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N and accesses the advertisement support server 31 from the computer 37 of the store 35-K, even if the same barcode is used, the advertisement support The server 31 can also provide individual portal screens having different contents.

  When the advertisement support server 31 is accessed from the computer 37 at the store 35-K, it is considered that the user is confused about the purchase. For example, there are many links to information such as product commercials that mainly stimulate purchase intention. When the user accesses the advertisement support server 31 from the PC 43, the user is often already after purchasing the product. For example, there is a link to information on a new product or information for after-sales service. It is possible to create an individual portal screen that has many configurations and can better meet the needs of advertisers and users. In this way, individual portal screens with different configurations are provided even for the same barcode, depending on which stage the user is in for the product. In the application example 2, the stage at which the user is in the product is classified according to the installation location of the terminal tm.

  Specifically, in the application example 2, when the user accesses the advertisement support server 31 from the PC 43, the first individual portal screen 100 of FIG. On the other hand, when accessing the advertisement support server 31 from the computer 37 at the store 35-K, the second individual portal screen 101 of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11A, the second individual portal screen 101 includes a frame 166 for managing the linked content by the advertiser 45-M and a frame 164 for managing the linked content by the store head office 75-P. Including.

  The frame 166 indicates the link button 102 of the homepage (HP) of the advertiser 45-M of the product indicated by the barcode information, the link button 128 to the WEB site of the product related to the product indicated by the barcode information, and the barcode information. A link button 106 of a WEB site that distributes a commercial (CM) of a product, a link button 120 to a WEB site for explaining a product indicated by barcode information, and a WEB site for conducting a questionnaire on the product indicated by the barcode information A link button 112 is included. The frame 164 includes a link button 124 to the WEB site that posted the sale information of the store 35-K, a link button 126 to the WEB site that posted the privilege information at the store 35-K, and the homepage of the store headquarters 75-P ( HP) link button 168. Further, a cursor 114 is displayed on the second individual portal screen 101.

  However, as a default (no charge from the advertiser 45-M), only the link button 102 on the home page of the advertiser 45-M and the link button 122 for conducting a questionnaire are displayed. The link buttons 128, 106, and 120 are displayed only when the advertiser 45 -M becomes a member of the advertisement support system of the business operator that operates the advertisement support server 31. Further, the link buttons 124, 126, and 168 are displayed only when the store head office 75 -P becomes a member of the advertisement support system of the business operator that operates the advertisement support server 31.

  In Application Example 2, common points and differences between the first individual portal screen 100 and the second individual portal screen 101 will be described. First, common points will be described. The link buttons 102 and 106 are the same in both. This is because there is little significance in changing these contents between the personal residence 41-N and the store 35-K.

  Next, differences will be described. The link button 108 on the first individual portal screen 100 is different from the link button 120 on the second individual portal screen 101. For example, since the link button 108 is browsed by the user at the personal residence 41-N, the link button 108 is a link to a site on which product usage and application examples are posted, and the link button 120 is browsed by the user at the store 35-K. Therefore, it is anticipated that purchases will be taken seriously, and in addition to how to use the product, etc., a link will be made to a site that contains explanations that can encourage purchases.

  Further, the link button 116 on the first individual portal screen 100 is different from the link button 128 on the second individual portal screen 101. For example, since the link button 116 is viewed by the user at the personal residence 41-N, it is expected that the user already owns the product, and not only the usage method and application examples of the product, but also model changes and new products. The link button 128 is used as a link to the site where the information is posted, and the user browses at the store 35-K. Therefore, in order to expand purchase options, other items of the same type manufactured and sold by the advertiser 45-M are displayed. It is a link to the posted site.

  The link button 112 on the first individual portal screen 100 is different from the link button 122 on the second individual portal screen 101. This is because the store 35-K and the personal residence 41-N may have different psychological states of users, and the proportion of users who have purchased (or have not purchased) products is also different. This is because meaningful results may be obtained if different questionnaires are conducted.

  Further, the link button 104 is displayed only on the first individual portal screen 100 viewed at the personal residence 41 -N, and is not displayed on the second individual portal screen 101. This is because it is assumed that the personal home 41-N is purchased by electronic commerce, but the store 35-K is considered to be unnecessary for the second individual portal screen 101 because it is considered to be purchased directly there. .

  Further, the link button 118 is displayed only on the first individual portal screen 100 viewed at the personal residence 41 -N, and is not displayed on the second individual portal screen 101. This is because the user has not yet purchased the product at the store 35-K, but the user may have already purchased the product at the personal residence 41-N, so there is a need for after-sales service. Because it is expensive.

  Further, the link button 110 is displayed only on the first individual portal screen 100 viewed at the personal residence 41 -N, and is not displayed on the second individual portal screen 101. This is because it is unlikely that user registration is performed at the store 35-K, and generally user registration is performed at the personal residence 41-N.

  The link buttons 124, 126 and 168 are displayed only on the second individual portal screen 101 and are not displayed on the first individual portal screen 100. This is because the link buttons 124, 126, and 168 are information related to the store 35-K, and the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N does not have information on the store 35-K.

  Here, the system configuration of the application example 2 is the same as the system configuration of FIG. However, the bar code reader 7 of the store 35-K does not adopt the configuration unique to the present application shown in FIG. 2 and is a bar code reader that is generally commercially available. In addition, dedicated software that causes the browser to transmit the barcode 11 to the advertisement support server 31 is installed in advance in the computer 37 of the store 35-K. In this case, the dedicated software is automatically activated in response to the input of the barcode 11, and automatically transmits the barcode 11 to the advertisement support server 31.

  Incidentally, even if a configuration for installing dedicated software is adopted, unlike the case of the private home 41-N, there is almost no need to take care of installation in the store 35-K. This is because, in the case of the store 35-K, generally, the trader installs the computer 37, the monitor 39, and the barcode reader 7.

  The storage state of the program and data in the storage area 200 of the advertisement support server 31 is the same as that in FIG. However, instead of the program storage unit 210, the program storage unit 199 of FIG. In addition to the first individual portal screen file 230, the storage area 200 stores the second individual portal screen file 222 of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11B, a program storage unit 199 is obtained by adding a second individual portal screen search unit 228 to the configuration of the program storage unit 210. Further, the second individual portal screen file 222 in FIG. 11C includes an advertiser file 236 and a store file 254. The advertiser file 236 includes a database in which barcode information 224 attached to each product type and individual portal screen information 226 corresponding to the product indicated by the barcode information 224 are associated with each other. The store file 254 is configured by a database in which store code 256 assigned to the store 35-K and individual portal screen information 258 are associated with each other.

  With reference to FIG. 11D, the store file 254 is a file in which the store code 256 and the individual portal screen information 258 are associated with each other. The individual portal screen information 258 includes the URL of the store head office homepage corresponding to the link button 168 in FIG. 11A, the URL of the privilege information site corresponding to the link button 126, and the URL of the sale information site corresponding to the link button 124. Including.

  With reference to FIG.11 (e), the advertiser file 236 is the file which linked | related the barcode information 224 and the individual portal screen information 226 for every goods. The individual portal screen information 226 includes the URL of the advertiser home page corresponding to the link button 102 in FIG. 11A, the URL of the related product site corresponding to the link button 128, the commercial URL of the product corresponding to the link button 106, The URL of the product description site corresponding to the link button 120 and the URL of the questionnaire site corresponding to the link button 122 are included. In FIG. 11D and FIG. 11E, the protocol (http: //) is omitted.

  Now, the communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N and the advertisement support server 31 in the advertisement support system in the application example 2 is the same as that shown in FIGS. It is. However, there are also differences, which will be described in turn below.

  Referring to FIG. 7, in step S202, PC 43 of personal residence 41-N transmits a URL (for example, “http://www.ssd.com”) transmitted by dedicated software installed in computer 37 of store 35-K. "co.jp/kiosk/", bar code information and serial number omitted for simplification of description, URL ("http://www.ssd.co.jp/house/", simplification of description) Therefore, the barcode information and the serial number are omitted) to the advertisement support server 31. That is, the URL given to the PC 43 by the barcode reader 7 of the personal residence 41-N is different from the URL transmitted by the dedicated software of the computer 37 of the store 35-K. Thus, for example, the directory name arranged immediately after the domain name is different between the personal residence 41-N and the store 35-K. Also, for example, subdomains can be provided to make them different. In short, as long as the advertisement support server 31 can distinguish between the personal residence 41-N and the store 35-K, any known technique can be used. Further, the dedicated software of the computer 37 transmits the store code assigned to the store 35 -K to the advertisement support server 31.

  Further, in the application example 2, instead of steps S300, S302, and S304 in FIG. 7, the individual portal screen generation process in FIG. 12 is executed.

  Referring to FIG. 12, in step S400, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 confirms the content of the received URL, and whether it is from the personal residence 41-N or the store 35-K. Is determined. In step S401, when the communication control unit 212 determines that the received URL is transmitted by the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N, that is, in the above example, the directory name immediately after the domain name is “house”. ”, The process proceeds to step S402, the control is transferred to the first individual portal screen search unit 214, and when it is determined that the received URL is transmitted by the computer 37 of the store 35-K, that is, in the above example If the directory name immediately after the domain name is “kiosk”, the process proceeds to step S406, and control is passed to the second individual portal screen search unit 228.

  In step S402, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 accesses the first individual portal screen file 230 and searches for the URL (see FIG. 6C) associated with the received barcode information. In step S404, the individual portal screen generation unit 215 displays HTML (HyperText) for displaying the first individual portal screen 100 including the link button corresponding to the URL acquired in step S402 on the personal computer 41-N PC 43. Markup Language) information is generated.

  On the other hand, in step S406, the second individual portal screen search unit 228 accesses the advertiser file 236 of the second individual portal screen file 222, and the URL associated with the received barcode information (see FIG. 11E). ) Further, in step S408, the second individual portal screen search unit 228 accesses the store file 254 of the second individual portal screen file 222, and uses the URL associated with the received store code (see FIG. 11D). Search for. In step S410, the individual portal screen generation unit 215 generates HTML for displaying the second individual portal screen 101 including the link button corresponding to the URL acquired in steps S406 and S408 on the computer 37 of the store 35-K. Generate information.

  In step S412 after step S404, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the HTML information generated in step S404 to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N. On the other hand, in step S412 after step S410, the communication control unit 212 transmits the HTML information generated in step S410 to the computer 37 of the store 35-K.

  Next, a communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the computer 37 of the store 35-K, and the advertisement support server 31 in the advertisement support system in the application example 2 will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication procedure between the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the computer 37 of the store 35-K, and the advertisement support server 31 in the application example 2. In FIG. 13, communication using a well-known protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) or HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is performed, and thus detailed description of these communication procedures is omitted. The

  Referring to FIG. 13, in step S <b> 600, computer 37 in store 35 -K activates the dedicated software described above when given barcode information from the barcode reader. In step S <b> 602, the dedicated software transmits the barcode information given from the barcode reader and the stored store code to the advertisement support server 31 based on the URL of the stored advertisement support server 31. . The bar code reader is a general bar code reader, unlike the bar code reader 7, and provides only bar code information to the computer 37 with keyboard data. The URL and store code of the advertisement support server 31 held by the dedicated software are stored in the HDD of the computer 37, for example.

  The communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 receives the barcode information and the store code. In step S700, the advertisement support server 31 executes the individual portal screen generation process of FIG.

  The computer 37 of the store 35-K receives the HTML information of the second individual portal screen 101, analyzes the HTML information, and displays the second individual portal screen 101 in step S604. In step S606, the computer 37 determines whether any of the link buttons 102, 128, 120, 106, 122, 126, 168 or 124 on the second individual portal screen 101 has been pressed, and has not been pressed. If YES in step S606, the process returns to step S606. If pressed, the process advances to step S608.

  If the link button pressed in step S606 is one of the link buttons 102, 128, 120, and 106, the computer 37 proceeds to step S610 (step S608), and if the link button is the link button 122, step S616 is performed. (Step S608), if any of the link buttons 126, 168 and 124, the process proceeds to Step S900 of FIG. 14 (Step S608).

  In step S610, the computer 37 accesses the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button. Then, the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M transmits corresponding HTML information to the computer 37 of the store 35-K in step S500. Then, in step S612, the computer 37 receives this HTML information, analyzes it, and displays a WEB site. In this case, if the link button pressed in step S606 is the link button 120, a WEB site for explaining the product indicated by the barcode information transmitted in step S602 is displayed. The homepage of the advertiser 45-M of the product indicated by the code information is displayed. In the case of the link button 106, a WEB site that distributes the commercial of the product indicated by the barcode information is displayed. If the link button pressed in step S606 is the link button 128, the WEB site of the product related to the product indicated by the barcode information is displayed.

  In step S614, the computer 37 performs processing and communication with the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M in response to an input from the user. In step S <b> 502, the server 47 performs processing and communication with the computer 37 in response to access from the computer 37.

  On the other hand, in step S616, the computer 37 accesses the advertisement support server 31 based on the URL corresponding to the pressed link button 122. Then, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the corresponding HTML information to the computer 37 of the store 35-K in step S702. In this case, the questionnaire totaling unit 220 of the advertisement support server 31 generates HTML information of the WEB site for conducting the questionnaire.

  The computer 37 receives and analyzes the HTML information, and displays a WEB site for conducting a questionnaire in step S618.

  In step S620, the computer 37 communicates with the processing and advertisement support server 31 in accordance with an input from the user. In step S <b> 704, the advertisement support server 31 performs processing and communication with the computer 37 in response to access from the computer 37. In this case, the questionnaire totaling unit 220 of the advertisement support server 31 executes various processes for collecting and counting the questionnaires, and stores the results in the questionnaire file 260.

  If it is determined in step S608 in FIG. 13 that any one of the link buttons 126, 168, and 124 has been pressed, referring to FIG. 14, in step S900, the computer 37 corresponds to the pressed link button. Based on the URL, the server 77 of the store head office 75-P is accessed. Then, the server 77 transmits corresponding HTML information to the computer 37 of the store 35-K in step S800. In step S902, the computer 37 receives the HTML information, analyzes it, and displays a WEB site. In this case, if the link button pressed in step S606 is the link button 126, the WEB site on which the privilege information of the store 35-K indicated by the store code transmitted in step S602 is displayed is displayed. Displays the homepage of the store headquarters 75-P that manages the store 35-K indicated by the store code, and in the case of the link button 124, displays the WEB site on which the sale information of the store 35-K indicated by the store code is displayed. The

  In step S904, the computer 37 performs processing and communication with the server 77 of the store head office 75-P in response to an input from the user. In step S <b> 802, the server 77 performs processing and communication with the computer 37 in response to access from the computer 37.

  In Application Example 2, the first individual portal screen 130 of FIG. 9 can be displayed instead of the first individual portal screen 100.

  As described above, according to the application example 2, even if the barcode is the same, the advertisement support server 31 can provide effective services and contents in consideration of the situation where the user is placed. For example, since it is possible to execute processing that takes into account the stage (for example, before and after purchase, store and home) and psychological state of the user's product, effective services and contents that take into account the stage and psychological state of the user's product Can be provided. This is because the installation location of the communication terminal (37, 43) (which can also be referred to as the barcode transmission source or the connection location of the barcode reader 7), that is, depending on the location of the user, This is because the stage and psychological state of the product may change.

  In addition, regardless of the hardware performance of the communication terminal (37, 43), only the installation location of the communication terminal is considered in the processing. Therefore, when the category of the installation location of the communication terminal (for example, store and personal house) is different, even if the hardware performance of the communication terminal is equivalent, the advertisement support server 31 provides different content, and the communication terminal Even if the hardware performance is different, the advertisement support server 31 provides the same content if the category of the installation location of the communication terminal is the same. Of course, not only can the contents be varied depending on the installation location, but the contents can be further varied according to the hardware performance of the communication terminal (for example, a personal computer and a mobile phone).

  As described above, even if the hardware performance of the communication terminal is equivalent, different services (including contents) can be provided for the same barcode depending on the installation location of the communication terminal (37, 43).

  (Application 3)

  The system configuration of application example 3 is the same as the system configuration of FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings with a focus on feature points.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the third application example. Referring to FIG. 15, in application example 3, advertisement support server 31 classifies the barcode into first group 251 and second group 252 and executes processing. The bar codes of the first group 251 are made up of 13-digit and 8-digit JAN (Japan Article Number) codes 2510, and the second group 252 is made up of bar codes 2520 other than the JAN codes.

  The JAN code is a common product code in Japan (a code common to the same product), and is used in POS (Point Of Sale) systems, ordering systems, inventory and inventory management systems, and more. It is also used for payment systems such as utility bills. The first group 251 corresponds to the above-described eleventh example group. On the other hand, the bar code 2520 of the second group is, for example, a 14-digit bar code issued by an advertisement support provider corresponding to a service or content. The second group 252 corresponds to the groups of the first to tenth examples described above. In this way, when a plurality of groups for classifying barcodes are set, 14-digit barcodes belonging to the respective groups are issued so that there is no overlap between the groups, and each group corresponds to each service or content.

  In the application example 3, the advertisement support server 31 determines the number of digits of the barcode received from the PC 43 and determines whether the barcode is the barcode 2510 (that is, the JAN code) of the first group 251 or the second group 252. The barcode 2520 is determined. In this case, the advertisement support server 31 determines that the received barcode belongs to the first group 251 when the number of digits of the received barcode is 13 digits or 8 digits, and determines that the barcode belongs to the second group 252 otherwise. To do.

  Then, when the received barcode is the barcode 2510 of the first group 251, the advertisement support server 31 displays the first individual portal screen 100 (of course, the first individual portal screen 130 instead) on the PC 43. Send. On the other hand, when the received barcode is the barcode 2520 of the second group 252, the advertisement support server 31 executes processing corresponding to the group to which the barcode 2520 belongs in the second group, and responds to the group. A content corresponding to the barcode 2520 is generated and transmitted to the PC 43.

  Now, the storage state of the program and data in the storage area 200 of the advertisement support server 31 is the same as in FIG. However, instead of the program storage unit 210, the program storage unit 172 of FIG. The program storage unit 172 is obtained by adding control programs 174-1 to 174-q to the configuration of the program storage unit 210. The control programs 174-1 to 174 -q are collectively referred to as a control program 174 -Q.

  A 14-digit bar code other than the JAN code is classified into a plurality of groups, and each group is associated with various services on a one-to-one basis. Then, the content corresponding to the group to which the received 14-digit barcode belongs is provided to the PC 43. In this case, the control program 174-Q corresponding to the group is executed to generate content. Accordingly, a control program 174-Q is prepared for each group. Of course, in the storage area 200, resources used by the respective control programs 174-Q are stored in addition to the illustration.

  By the way, the communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N and the advertisement support server 31 in the advertisement support system in the application example 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. However, there are also differences, which will be described in turn below.

  In application example 3, instead of steps S300, S302, and S304 in FIG. 7, the screen generation process in FIG. 17 is executed.

  Referring to FIG. 17, in step S430, communication control unit 212 of advertisement support server 31 determines the number of digits of the received barcode information. In step S432, if the received barcode information is 13 digits or 8 digits, that is, if a JAN code is received, the communication control unit 212 proceeds to step S434, and controls the first individual portal screen search unit. If the received barcode information is other than 13 digits and 8 digits, the process proceeds to step S440, and control is passed to the control program 174-Q corresponding to the group to which the barcode information belongs.

  In step S434, the first individual portal screen search unit 214 accesses the first individual portal screen file 230 and searches for the URL (see FIG. 6C) associated with the received barcode information. In step S436, the individual portal screen generation unit 215 displays HTML information for displaying the first individual portal screen 100 including the link button corresponding to the URL acquired in step S434 on the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N. Generate. In step S438, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the HTML information generated in step S436 to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N.

  On the other hand, in step S440, the control program 174-Q creates content HTML information according to the received barcode information. In step S442, the communication control unit 212 of the advertisement support server 31 transmits the HTML information of the content generated in step S440 to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N.

  Note that the computer 37 of the store 35-K corresponds to the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N. In the application example 3, communication between the advertisement support server 31, the computer 37, and the advertiser 45-M is performed by the advertisement support server. This is the same as the communication between 31, PC 43 and advertiser 45-M, and the description is omitted.

  As described above, in the application example 3, the advertisement support server 31 classifies the received barcode into either the first group 251 or the second group, and executes processing according to the classification result. Since the first group 251 is the JAN code 2510, it is originally created for the purpose of use for the POS system, and is not created for this system. That is, the JAN code 2510 exists regardless of the present system, and has already been widely used in the world. Therefore, this system provides a service, that is, an individual portal screen, using the JAN code 2510 that is already widely used in the world. On the other hand, since the second group 252 is a bar code 2520 other than the JAN code 2510, the second group 252 is created for the purpose of providing a specific service using this system, and is used for the POS system. Not aimed at. That is, the barcode 2520 exists on the premise of this system. Accordingly, various services are provided by this system according to the purpose of creating the barcode 2520.

  As described above, the barcode 2510 belonging to the first group 251 and the barcode 2520 belonging to the second group 252 have different properties and personalities, but the user can use the same barcode without being aware of that. The reader 7 can scan them, can receive services corresponding to the first group 251, and can receive various services corresponding to various bar codes 2520 of the second group 252. it can.

  In addition, if it is assumed that a user can easily obtain an article with the JAN code 2510 that is already widely used and that the network environment is in place, the user can immediately have the barcode reader 7. This system can be used. On the other hand, the user can receive various services provided by scanning the barcode 2520 of the second group 252.

  Furthermore, since the JAN code 2510 that has already been widely used can be used also for the system construction side, the labor for introducing the system can be reduced as compared with the case where only the bar code 2520 is used.

  (Application 4)

  The application example 4 uses a camera unit 180 instead of the barcode reader 7 of FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings with a focus on feature points.

  FIG. 18 is an external perspective view of the PC 43 and the camera unit 180 of the personal residence 41-N. Referring to FIG. 18, the PC 43 includes a main body 182, a monitor 184, a wireless keyboard 188, and a wireless mouse 190. The camera unit 180 is connected to the main body 182 of the PC 43 by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable 186. Although the camera unit 180 is disposed at the lower part of the monitor 184, the camera unit 180 can be disposed at an arbitrary place such as on the monitor 184.

  When the camera unit 180 is connected to the PC 43, the PC 43 recognizes the camera unit 180 as a keyboard and a mouse. The camera unit 180 images the barcode 11 of the product directed by the user. Then, the camera unit 180 analyzes the obtained image, digitizes the barcode 11, converts it into keyboard data, and outputs it to the PC 43. A digitized barcode is called barcode information. At the same time, the camera unit 180 also functions as a mouse (pointing device). That is, when the user directs the product to the camera unit 180 and moves the product itself, the camera unit 180 calculates the movement amount of the product (each of the X axis and the Y axis) and outputs it to the PC 43. The PC 43 moves the cursor 114 displayed on the individual portal screen according to the received movement amount. That is, the cursor 114 is linked to the movement of the product. In addition, the camera unit 180 sequentially calculates the area of the image of the photographed product, and when the change in area becomes a predetermined multiple or more from small to large, that is, when the product is brought close to the camera unit 180. In addition, it is assumed that the user has indicated the intention to click, and the click information is transmitted to the PC 43. Therefore, if the PC 43 receives click information from the camera unit 180 while the cursor 114 is staying at the link button in the individual portal screen, the PC 43 determines that the link button has been pressed.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the camera unit 180 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 19, the camera unit 180 includes an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) 192, an image sensor 194 such as a CCD and an image sensor, a RAM 196, a ROM 198, an interface (I / F) 202, and a bus 204. A RAM 196, a ROM 198, and an I / F 202 are connected to the MCU 192 via a bus 204. The image sensor 194 is, for example, a VGA (Video Graphics Array). The I / F 202 includes a USB controller. The ROM 198 stores a control program shown in a flowchart described later. The RAM 196 is used as a storage location or work area for image data from the image sensor 194.

  The communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N, and the advertisement support server 31 in the advertisement support system in the application example 4 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Note that the camera unit 180 may be used instead of the bar code reader 7 of the store 35-K. Further, the communication procedure among the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M, the computer 37 of the store 35-K, and the advertisement support server 31 in the advertisement support system in the application example 4 is the same as that shown in FIG.

  Next, the processing of the MCU 192 will be described using a flowchart.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of the barcode scanning flow by the MCU 192 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 20, in step S999, the MCU 192 calculates a difference between the previous camera image (previous frame) and the current camera image (current frame), and acquires a difference image. In step S1000, the MCU 192 determines, based on the difference image, whether or not the photographed product image has moved. If there is movement, the MCU 192 returns to step S999. If there is no movement, The process proceeds to step S1001. It should be noted that the fact that there is a movement in the image of the photographed product is regarded as using the camera unit 180 as a pointing device by the user moving the product.

  In step S1001, the MCU 192 analyzes the barcode in the image captured by the image sensor 194, digitizes it, and acquires barcode information. In step S1003, the MCU 192 determines whether or not the bar code analysis is successful. If it is unsuccessful, the process returns to step S999, and if successful, the process proceeds to step S1005.

  In step S <b> 1005, the MCU 192 converts the barcode information that is the analysis result into keyboard data and stores it in the RAM 196. In step S1007, the MCU 192 acquires the URL (for example, “http://www.ssd.co.jp”) of the advertisement support server 31 as keyboard data from the ROM 198, and adds a keyboard at the end of the URL. Barcode information (for example, “4560256580016”) as data and a serial number (for example, “132222159”) of the camera unit 180 are added, and a new URL (for example, “http://www.ssd.co.jp/”) is added. ? Bc = 4560256580016 & sn = 132222159 ") and stored in the RAM 196.

  In step S <b> 1009, the MCU 192 acquires a command in the form of keyboard data that instructs the PC 43 to start the browser and access the advertisement support server 31 from the ROM 198 and stores it in the RAM 196. In step S1011, the MCU 192 outputs keyboard data (command and URL (server URL + barcode information + serial number)) to the PC 43 via the USB controller of the I / F 202. In response to this command, the PC 43 activates the browser and transmits the barcode information and the serial number to the advertisement support server 31.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of mouse processing by the MCU 192 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 21, in step S1030, MCU 192 performs pattern recognition on the basis of an image that is a result of imaging by imaging element 194, and the amount of movement of a moving product (that is, a product that the user moves with hand) ( (In the X-axis and Y-axis directions). In step S1032, the MCU 192 transmits the calculated movement amount to the PC 43 via the USB controller of the I / F 202. Receiving this information on the amount of movement, the PC 43 can link the cursor 114 on the individual portal screen with the movement of the product with the barcode that the user moves with the hand.

  In step S1034, the MCU 192 calculates the area of the moving product. That is, when the user holds the product in his hand and approaches the camera unit 180, the image area of the product increases. In order to detect the enlargement of the area, the process of step S1034 is performed. In step S1036, the MCU 192 determines whether the area of the image of the product has been enlarged a predetermined time (a value exceeding 1 time) or more compared to the previous time, and if not, In step S1030, if the image is enlarged, it is determined that the user has brought the product closer to the camera unit 180, and the process proceeds to step S1038. If the area of the image of the product is enlarged by a predetermined factor or more compared to the previous time, it is considered that the user has made an intention to click (equivalent to a mouse click), and in step S1038, the MCU 192 Click information is transmitted to the PC 43 via the USB controller of / F318. The PC 43 can recognize that the click operation has been performed by receiving the click information.

  As described above, in the application example 4, the convenience of the user is further enhanced by using the camera unit 180 as an input means to the terminal tm.

  That is, the terminal tm automatically transmits the barcode information to the advertisement support server 31 in response to a command from the camera unit 180 simply by causing the camera unit 180 to photograph the barcode attached to the product. The individual portal screen can be displayed on the monitor of the terminal tm without a troublesome operation by the user (no need to operate the terminal tm). Moreover, since the terminal tm performs an operation for realizing the present system in accordance with the command of the camera unit 180, it is possible to save the user's trouble such as installing a new program in the terminal tm.

  Further, the camera unit 180 not only functions as a barcode information acquisition unit but also functions as a mouse (pointing device). Therefore, after the user causes the camera unit 180 to photograph the barcode attached to the product for obtaining the barcode information to be transmitted to the advertisement support server 31, the user simply moves the product toward the camera unit 180. The cursor 114 displayed on the individual portal screen can be operated, and the configuration is very user-friendly.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

  (1) In the above, a configuration is adopted in which it is unnecessary to install special software on the terminal 5 that causes the browser to transmit the barcode 11 to the host computer 1 by causing the local barcode reader 7 to output the command 29. . However, such dedicated software may be installed in the terminal 5 without adopting a configuration in which the local barcode reader 7 outputs the command 29. In this case, it is preferable that the software is activated in response to the input of the barcode 11 and automatically transmits the barcode 11. Alternatively, the local barcode reader 7 may output a command for such dedicated software, and the software may transmit the barcode 11 to the host computer 1 in response to the command.

  In the above description, a configuration is adopted in which it is unnecessary to input the host URL 27 to the terminal 5 by causing the local barcode reader 7 to output the URL 27 of the host computer 1. However, the local barcode reader 7 does not adopt the configuration for outputting the URL 27, and the user inputs the URL 27 of the host computer 1, or the above software is provided with the URL 27 and is brought to the terminal 5. It may be left.

  The local barcode reader 7 that does not output the URL 27 and the command 29 is the same as a general barcode reader. Therefore, it is possible to use a general bar code reader for this system by installing the above-described software in the terminal 5.

  (2) Although the example shown in FIG.5 (b), FIG.9, and FIG.11 (a) was given as a structure of an individual portal screen, a link button is not limited to these. In addition, the advertisement support provider can arbitrarily determine which link button is the default. Also, the advertisement support company can arbitrarily determine which link button is the link button with consideration.

  Furthermore, the content displayed on the individual portal screen is not necessarily limited to the link button. Further, the advertisement support server 31 can return the URL of the WEB site related to the product indicated by the received barcode to the PC 43 or the like without providing the individual portal screen, and can directly display the WEB site. The information regarding the product posted on the WEB site includes all information that the advertiser 45 -M wants to convey to the user before or after purchasing the product. This also applies to information relating to products provided from the link destination by the link button on the individual portal screen.

  (3) The link destinations from the link buttons 102, 106, 118, 108, and 116 on the first individual portal screen 100 are files in the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M. However, this server 47 does not physically mean a single server, but these link destinations may be composed of a plurality of servers. The same applies to the case where the link destination on the first individual portal screen 130 is a file in the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M. The same applies when the link destination on the second individual portal screen 101 is a file in the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M.

  Further, the user registration function, the questionnaire function, and the household account book function of the advertisement support server 31 can be configured by separate servers. Of course, the processing of the advertisement support server 31 can be distributed to a plurality of servers.

  Furthermore, the link destinations corresponding to the buttons 126, 168, and 124 displayed on the frame 164 of the second individual portal screen 101 are files in the server 47 of the store head office 75-P. However, this server 77 does not physically mean a single server, but these link destinations may be composed of a plurality of servers.

  (4) In the above description, the barcode 11 is adopted as information to be transmitted to the host computer 1 or the advertisement support server 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an electronic tag (IC tag) such as an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification System) tag can be used. In this case, however, information stored in the electronic tag is read by an electronic tag reader (IC tag reader) instead of the barcode reader 7. It is preferable that the electronic tag reader (IC tag reader) issue the same command as the barcode reader 7 and output the URL of the host computer 1. In the above description, a one-dimensional bar code, which is a one-dimensional code, is used. However, a two-dimensional bar code, a QR code, or the like, which is a two-dimensional code, can also be used.

  (5) The host computer 1 and the advertisement support server 31 can be physically configured by one computer, or can be configured by distributing processing to a plurality of computers. Of course, the installation locations of each computer in the case of distributed processing may be in the same country, or may be distributed and installed in a plurality of countries. The host computer 1 and the advertisement support server 31 are used as a concept including hardware and software.

  (6) In the application examples 1 to 4, when the advertisement support server 31 receives the in-store code from the barcode reader 7 or the camera unit 180, the advertisement support server 31 sends a predetermined message (for example, notification that the service cannot be provided). It can also be returned to the terminal tm. The in-store code is a bar code set by the retailer and used only in the store. Therefore, it is rejected because it is not necessarily unique when viewed from the whole market.

  (7) As the barcode reader 7, a barcode recognition function using a camera of a mobile phone can be used. The same applies to QR code recognition. In this case, for example, software for transmitting a barcode to the host computer 1 or the advertisement support server 31 is installed in the mobile phone.

  (8) In the above description, the first group 251 is a JAN code. However, an EAN (European Article Number) code and / or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code may be included in the first group 251.

  (9) Application example 2 and application example 3 may be combined. That is, the advertisement support server 31 classifies the received barcode into the first group 251 and the second group 252 and executes the process. In this case, when the advertisement support server 31 receives a barcode belonging to the first group 251, the user accesses the advertisement support server 31 from the PC 43 of the personal residence 41-N and the computer of the store 35-K. Even when the same barcode is accessed when the advertisement support server 31 is accessed from 37, individual portal screens having different contents are provided for both.

  (10) In the above application example 2, based on the URL given from the terminal tm, it is determined whether the terminal tm is installed in the store 35-K or in the personal residence 41-N (FIG. 12 step S400). However, the method is not limited as long as the advertisement support server 31 can determine the installation location of the terminal tm.

  (11) In the application example 3, the barcode is classified into either the first group 251 or the second group 252 depending on the number of digits of the received barcode (step S430 in FIG. 17). However, the method is not limited as long as the type of barcode can be determined. For example, the barcode reader 7 or the terminal tm can also perform classification by giving the advertisement support server 31 information indicating the type of the barcode together with the barcode.

  (12) Although the control programs 174-1 to 174 -q of FIG. 16 are executed on the advertisement support server 31, they can be executed on separate computers. In this case, the communication control unit 212 gives the barcode 2520 of the second group 252 to the computer on which the corresponding control program 174-Q is executed, and provides the corresponding content from the computer to the terminal tm.

  (13) The individual portal screen (100, 130, 101) is an example of the portal screen of the present invention. This portal screen is a page serving as a relay for accessing a WEB site (referred to as a “direct site”) directly related to a “thing” to which a code (barcode, QR code, RFID, etc.) is assigned, One example is the individual portal screen described above, where “thing” includes tangible objects including goods and real estate, intangible objects including information and services, goods, and organisms including humans and animals. , Video, audio, programs, and data.

  In the present invention, the user always accesses the direct site via such a portal screen serving as a relay. Accordingly, the business operator who operates the host computer 1 and the advertisement support server 31 collects and analyzes the status of the user's access to each portal screen and the link destination posted there, and the “thing” to which the code is assigned. Can be obtained quickly. For example, market analysis of “things” is possible based on the obtained statistical data. In addition, comparative analysis of the same kind of “thing” is also possible. These are also economically valuable and can be a source of revenue for the operator. Furthermore, the business operator can also make a profit like the individual portal screen unique to the product. In this way, the provision of the portal screen can increase the opportunities for the business operator to earn revenue. Incidentally, if the user can immediately access the direct site by scanning the code, the operator cannot recognize the status of access to each direct site.

  (14) In this specification, means does not necessarily mean a physical means, but includes cases where the functions of each means are realized by software. Furthermore, the function of one means may be realized by two or more physical means, or the functions of two or more means may be realized by one physical means.

1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a remote barcode reader system according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) It is a figure which shows the electrical constitution of the local barcode reader 7 of FIG. (B) It is an illustration figure which shows the storage state of the program and data to ROM19 incorporated in MCU15 of Fig.2 (a). It is a figure which shows an example of the communication procedure between the local barcode reader 7, the communication terminal 5, and the host computer 1 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the advertisement assistance system using the remote barcode reader system of FIG. (A) It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of an advertisement assistance system. (B) It is an illustration figure of the 1st individual portal screen 100 which is the 1st example of the individual portal screen prepared with respect to a certain goods. (A) It is a figure which shows the electrical structure of the advertisement assistance server 31 of FIG. (B) It is an illustration figure which shows the storage state of the program and data to the storage area 200 of the advertisement assistance server 31 of Fig.6 (a). (C) It is a figure which shows the structure of the 1st separate portal screen file 230 of FIG.6 (b). It is a figure which shows an example of the communication procedure in the advertisement assistance system of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication procedure between the said server after having been judged as URL which shows an electronic commerce server by step S208 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a first individual portal screen 130 in application example 1; It is an illustration figure of the individual portal screen table referred when producing the 1st individual portal screen 130 of FIG. (A) It is an illustration figure of the 2nd separate portal screen 101 in the example 2 of an application. (B) It is a conceptual diagram of the program storage part 199 in the application example 2. FIG. (C) It is a conceptual diagram of the 2nd separate portal screen file 222 in the example 2 of an application. (D) It is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd separate portal screen file 222 in the example 2 of an application. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for generating an individual portal screen in application example 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication procedure between the server 47 of the advertiser 45-M in the application example 2, the computer 37 of the store 35-K, and the advertisement support server 31. It is a figure which shows an example of the communication procedure between the server 77 and the computer 37 after having been judged as URL which shows the server 77 of the store headquarters 75-P in FIG.13 S608. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an application example 3. FIG. FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a program storage unit 172 of application example 3. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of screen generation processing of application example 3. It is a perspective view of the camera unit 180 of the application example 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows the electrical constitution of the camera unit 180 of FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a barcode scanning flow by the MCU 192; 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of mouse processing by an MCU 192.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 3 ... Internet, 5 ... Terminal, 5f ... Fixed terminal, 5m ... Portable terminal, 7 ... Local barcode reader, 9 ... User network, 11 ... Bar code, 13 ... Scanner, 15 ... MCU, 17 ... Communication device, 19 ... ROM, 21 ... decode program, 23 ... keyboard emulation program, 25 ... output control program, 27 ... URL, 29 ... command, 31 ... advertising support server, 33 ... network, 35-1 to 35-k ... Store, 41-1 to 41-n ... Private home, 45-1 to 45-m ... Advertiser, 75-1 to 75-p ... Store headquarters, 100, 130 ... First individual portal screen, 101 ... Second individual Portal screen, 180 ... camera unit, 251 ... first group (JAN), 252 ... second group (other than JAN).

Claims (49)

A plurality of local code readers, each of which is connected to a corresponding communication terminal capable of connecting to the Internet and reads a code;
A host computer that receives the plurality of codes sent by the plurality of local code readers,
Each of the local code readers includes sending means for sending the read code to the host computer via the Internet and the corresponding communication terminal,
The host computer includes processing means for executing predetermined processing using the code sent from the local code reader,
The sending means outputs the code, the address information of the host computer, and a command to the communication terminal,
The remote code reader system, wherein the code is transmitted to the host computer indicated by the address information via the Internet by the communication terminal responding to the command. The host computer
Receiving means for receiving the code sent by the local code reader;
Classifying means for classifying the received code into any of a plurality of groups;
The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means executes processing corresponding to the group to which the code belongs using the received code.   The remote code reader system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sending means outputs the code, the address information, and the command to the communication terminal as keyboard data.   The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the command is a command for an operating system installed in the communication terminal.   The remote code reader system according to claim 4, wherein the operating system is Windows (registered trademark).   The remote code reader system according to claim 5, wherein the command is keyboard data corresponding to a GUI (Graphical User Interface) key + R key of the keyboard.   The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the command is a command for causing the communication terminal to activate a browser.   The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means transmits information for displaying on the communication terminal to the communication terminal in accordance with the predetermined process to be executed.   9. The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the processing means executes different processing on the same code according to a place where the communication terminal is installed.   The remote code reader system according to claim 9, wherein the processing means receives information from the communication terminal that can recognize an installation location of the communication terminal, and executes processing using the code according to the information. The installation location of the communication terminal is at least a private house and a store,
The processing means receives, from the communication terminal installed in a private house, the information capable of recognizing that the communication terminal is installed in a personal house, and from the communication terminal installed in a store, the communication terminal The remote code reader system according to claim 10, wherein the information that can be recognized as being installed in a store is received.   The remote code reader system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the groups is a group of common product codes.   13. The remote code reader system according to claim 12, wherein the common product code is a code used for a POS (Point Of Sale) system.   14. The remote code reader system according to claim 13, wherein the common product code is a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.   15. The remote code reader system according to claim 12, wherein the processing means returns a predetermined message to the communication terminal when the received code is an in-store code.   When the received code belongs to the group of common product codes, the processing means searches for information for generating a product-specific portal screen corresponding to the received code, and generates the searched portal screen. 16. The remote code reader system according to claim 12, wherein information for performing transmission is transmitted to the communication terminal. The code belonging to a group other than the group of common product codes is a code assigned to one and assigned to provide content corresponding to the code to the communication terminal via the host computer. , The code excluding the common product code,
Such includes tangibles including goods and real estate, intangibles including information and services, goods, and organisms including humans and animals,
The remote code reader system according to claim 12, wherein the information includes video, audio, a program, and data.   18. The processing means searches for information for generating a portal screen corresponding to the received code, and transmits information for generating the searched portal screen to the communication terminal. Remote code reader system.   The remote code reader system according to claim 16 or 18, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a product indicated by the code information.   The link information may be a link information to an advertiser's homepage of the product indicated by the code information, a link information to a site that distributes a commercial video of the product indicated by the code information, or a purchase indicated by the code information. Link information to a site that can be created, link information to a site that displays an image of the product indicated by the code information, link information to a site that describes a product related to the code information, and a product indicated by the code information Link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire regarding the product indicated by the code information, or link information to a site where information on after-sales service related to the product indicated by the code information is posted, or 20. The remote code stream according to claim 19, comprising any combination thereof. Da system.   21. The remote code reader according to claim 16, 18, 19 or 20, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire, or any combination thereof. system.   The remote code reader system according to claim 16, 18, 19, 20, or 21, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a store or a retailer that sells the product indicated by the code information.   The code is assigned to things, which include tangible objects including goods and real estate, intangible objects including information and services, goods, and organisms including humans and animals, and the information includes video, audio, program 23. The remote code reader system according to claim 1 to 22, comprising data.   The remote code reader system according to claim 1, wherein the code is a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and / or a code stored in an IC tag.   The remote code reader system according to claim 24, wherein the one-dimensional code is a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional code is a QR code, and the IC tag is an RFID tag.   The host computer according to any one of claims 1 to 25. Each of which is a host computer connected to a corresponding communication terminal connectable to the Internet and connected to a plurality of local code readers for reading codes via the Internet and the corresponding communication terminal;
Receiving means for receiving the plurality of codes transmitted by the plurality of local code readers;
Processing means for executing a predetermined process using the received code;
The receiving means receives the code transmitted via the Internet by the communication terminal based on address information output by the local code reader in response to a command output by the local code reader. Host computer. Further comprising classification means for classifying the received code into any of a plurality of groups;
28. The host computer according to claim 27, wherein the processing means executes processing corresponding to the group to which the code belongs using the received code.   The host computer according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the processing means transmits information for display on the communication terminal to the communication terminal in accordance with the predetermined process to be executed.   30. The host computer according to claim 27, wherein said processing means executes different processing on the same code depending on an installation location of said communication terminal.   31. The host computer according to claim 30, wherein the processing means receives information capable of recognizing an installation location of the communication terminal from the communication terminal, and executes processing using the code according to the information. The installation location of the communication terminal is at least a private house and a store,
The processing means receives, from the communication terminal installed in a private house, the information capable of recognizing that the communication terminal is installed in a personal house, and from the communication terminal installed in a store, the communication terminal 32. The host computer according to claim 31, wherein said host computer receives said information that can be recognized as being installed in a store.   30. The host computer of claim 28, wherein the at least one group is a group of common product codes.   34. The host computer according to claim 33, wherein the common product code is a code used in a POS (Point Of Sale) system.   35. The host computer according to claim 34, wherein the common product code is a JAN (Japan Article Number) code, an EAN (European Article Number) code, or a UPC (Universal Product Code) code.   36. The host computer according to claim 33, wherein the processing means returns a predetermined message to the communication terminal when the received code is an in-store code.   When the received code belongs to the group of common product codes, the processing means searches for information for generating a product-specific portal screen corresponding to the received code, and generates the searched portal screen. 37. The host computer according to claim 33, wherein information for performing transmission is transmitted to the communication terminal. The code belonging to a group other than the group of common product codes is a code assigned to one and assigned to provide content corresponding to the code to the communication terminal via the host computer. , The code excluding the common product code,
Such includes tangibles including goods and real estate, intangibles including information and services, goods, and organisms including humans and animals,
38. The host computer according to claim 33 to 37, wherein said information includes video, audio, program, and data.   39. The processing means searches for information for generating a portal screen corresponding to the received code, and transmits information for generating the searched portal screen to the communication terminal. Host computer.   40. The host computer according to claim 37 or 39, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a product indicated by the code information.   The link information may be a link information to an advertiser's homepage of the product indicated by the code information, a link information to a site that distributes a commercial video of the product indicated by the code information, or a purchase indicated by the code information. Link information to a site that can be created, link information to a site that displays an image of the product indicated by the code information, link information to a site that describes a product related to the code information, and a product indicated by the code information Link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire regarding the product indicated by the code information, or link information to a site where information on after-sales service related to the product indicated by the code information is posted, or 41. The host computer of claim 40, including any combination thereof. .   42. The host computer according to claim 37, 39, 40 or 41, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site where user registration is possible, link information to a site conducting a questionnaire, or any combination thereof.   43. The host computer according to claim 37, 39, 40, 41, or 42, wherein the portal screen includes link information to a site related to a store or a retailer that sells the product indicated by the code information.   The code is assigned to things, which include tangible objects including goods and real estate, intangible objects including information and services, goods, and organisms including humans and animals, and the information includes video, audio, program 44. The host computer according to any one of claims 27 to 43, comprising: and data.   45. The host computer according to claim 27, wherein the code is a one-dimensional code, a two-dimensional code, and / or a code stored in an IC tag.   46. The host computer according to claim 45, wherein the one-dimensional code is a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional code is a QR code, and the IC tag is an RFID tag.   47. A method executed by a host computer according to any one of claims 27 to 46.   The program for performing the function of the host computer of any one of Claims 27-46.   47. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the function of the host computer according to any one of claims 27 to 46.

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