JP3573838B2 - Information use system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information utilization system for utilizing various information using a network such as the Internet.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Advances in electronics and multimedia service technologies are turning new information services that could not be realized by telephone or television broadcasting into reality.
[0003]
In such a new service, a personal computer is generally considered as an important information terminal, but there is a problem that the operation is not always easy for a general user to be familiar with.
[0004]
Of course, easy-to-use operation systems such as Windows have been developed and improved, and many efforts and attempts have been made in school education to improve computer literacy. Will be improved.
[0005]
However, in order to maintain the versatility of personal computers, some training is required for users, and this is for the general public who seeks to use new information as a tool for living, especially for the elderly. There are a number of opinions and research materials that could become barriers that could not be easily overcome and hindered diffusion.
[0006]
For example, in a certain personal computer communication system, about 80% of users are men aged 20 to 30, and most of them are for hobby use. Moreover, even such users often complain that they have to make considerable efforts to find the location of desired information.
[0007]
Under such circumstances, there is a strong demand for the development of a system that can easily obtain newly provided information.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an information use system that can use a multimedia information service with the operation of a remote control of a television or a video, and in particular, an information use system mainly for electronic consumers for general consumers. I do.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information use system according to the present invention includes a network, a plurality of servers connected to the network, a centralized management device connected to the network, and a terminal connected to the centralized management device via a public line. In an information use system in which information provided is used on a terminal side, the terminal accesses a server via a centralized management device, and communication control means for obtaining information provided by the server; A monitor for displaying and an input device for inputting various information are provided. The input device obtains a server address from a server card in which a server address issued for each server is recorded , and a user-specific information. the user-specific data from the user card which records the data includes a card reader for reading, the central control device, the user-specific de Personal information of the user in relation to the motor is provided with a stored database, the server address recorded in the server card is input through the card reader, the server address is transmitted to the central control device When the server needs to obtain personal information of the user accessing the server, the server prompts the user to input user-specific data recorded on the user card via the terminal, and When user-specific data is input via a card reader, personal information of the user is acquired from the centralized management device based on the input user-specific data .
[0015]
Further, an information use system according to the present invention includes a network, a plurality of servers connected to the network, a centralized management device connected to the network, and a terminal connected to the centralized management device via a public line. In an information utilization system in which information provided by a server is used on a terminal side, the terminal accesses a server via a centralized management device to obtain information provided by the server; A monitor for displaying information and an input device for inputting various information are provided. The input device includes a card reader that reads a server address from a server card in which a server address issued for each server is recorded. The centralized management device has a database in which personal information of the user is stored in relation to the data unique to the user. When the server address recorded on the server card is input via the card reader, the server address is transmitted to the central management device, and the server needs to acquire the personal information of the user accessing the server. When there is, the personal information of the accessing user is obtained by inquiring of the centralized management device about the personal information of the accessing user.
[0016]
In the information utilization system, each server provides an information selection screen on which a selection item can be selected with a single numeric key. The input device has a predetermined number of numeric keys, and can use the numeric keys to select a selection item from an information selection screen displayed on the monitor.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a subscriber information utilization system using the Internet.
[0021]
A plurality of servers 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 subscribing to the subscriber information utilization system are connected to the Internet 1. In this example, the server 11 is a server managed by a department store, the server 12 is a server managed by a mail order dealer, the server 13 is a server managed by a travel agency, and the server 14 is a server managed by a travel agency. The table of contents server 15 is a server managed by the dedicated provider 21. The servers 11, 12, 13, and 14 other than the table of contents server 15 create cards (server cards) in which their own server addresses are stored. Each of the servers 11, 12, 13, and 14 provides a server card to a desired subscriber.
[0022]
The table-of-contents server 15 manages information on programs and the like provided by a plurality of other servers 11, 12, 13, and 14 subscribing to the subscriber-based information use system. Provide guidance information for making the user select.
[0023]
The dedicated provider 21, together with the table of contents server 15, is for centralized management of the subscriber information use system. The dedicated provider 21 issues a card (subscriber card) recording subscriber-specific data to a subscriber who has subscribed to the subscriber information utilization system. The dedicated provider 21 has a personal information database 22 for managing the personal information of the subscriber. The personal information database 22 stores information such as a subscriber's name, address, credit card number, and the like in association with data unique to the subscriber.
[0024]
The dedicated provider 21, the table of contents server 15, and the personal information database 22 constitute a centralized management device 20 referred to in the claims.
[0025]
The dedicated provider 21 is connected via a public line 2 to a customer terminal 100 provided at a subscriber's home subscribing to the subscriber information utilization system.
[0026]
It should be noted that, in addition to the servers 11 to 15, a general server (not shown) not connected to the subscriber information utilization system is connected to the Internet 1. In addition to the dedicated provider 21 managing the subscriber system, the general provider 23 for non-subscribers who do not subscribe to the subscriber system is connected to the Internet 1. Have been. The general provider 23 is connected via the public line 2 to a personal computer terminal 200 provided at a non-subscriber's home that has not subscribed to the subscriber information utilization system.
[0027]
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the customer terminal 100 provided at the subscriber's house.
[0028]
The customer terminal 100 includes a television system 101, a communication control device 102 connected to the television system 101, and a remote controller 103 for remotely operating the television system 101 and the communication control device 102.
[0029]
FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration of the communication control device 102.
[0030]
Communication control device 102 is controlled by CPU 111. The CPU 111 includes a ROM 112 for storing the program and the like, a RAM 113 for storing necessary data, a communication control unit 114 including a modem, a video output unit 115 for outputting a video to the television system 101, and a signal from the remote control 103. A remote control unit 116 and the like for receiving and sending to the CPU 111 are provided. Software for using the Internet 1 is mounted on the ROM 112. Note that a personal computer may be used as the communication control device 102.
[0031]
On the operation surface of the remote control 103, a power key, a TV key and an information key for switching between the television system 101 and the communication control device 102, numeric keys 1 to 12, and an UP key and a DOWN key for adjusting a volume Is provided.
[0032]
Inside the remote control 103, a card reader for reading customer-specific data recorded on the subscriber card and a server address recorded on the server card is provided. On the operation surface of the remote control 103, a groove 121 for scanning a card is formed. Further, on the operation surface of the remote controller 103, indicators 122 and 123 indicating whether the reading of the card has succeeded or failed have been provided.
[0033]
The remote controller 103 outputs information input by various keys and information read by a card reader.
[0034]
Next, a description will be given of the operation of the subscriber when obtaining information using the above-mentioned subscriber system. It is assumed that the television system 101 and the communication control device 102 are powered on in advance.
[0035]
First, the information key of the remote controller 103 is pressed. Then, the communication control device 102 is connected to the table of contents server 15 via the public line 2, the dedicated provider 21, and the Internet 1. Then, the data making up the top menu is sent from the table of contents server 15 to the communication control device 102, and the top menu is displayed on the display of the television system 101 as shown in FIG.
[0036]
In this example, the selection items include “notice”, “travel”, “shopping”, “event information”, hotel reservation ”, and“ others ”, and each item includes a numeral“ 1 "to" 6 "are added.
[0037]
Here, when the subscriber wants to do online shopping, the subscriber presses the numeric key "3" of the remote controller 103. Then, the selection information is output from the remote controller 103, and the communication control device 102 is sent to the contents server 15 via the public line 2, the dedicated provider 21, and the Internet 1. Based on this selection information, the table-of-contents server 15 sends data constituting the server selection screen to the communication control device 102, and the server selection screen is displayed on the display of the television system 101 as shown in FIG. You.
[0038]
In this example, the selection items include “top menu”, “A mail order”, and “A department store”, and numbers “1”, “2”, and “3” are appended to each item. “A mail order” corresponds to the server 12, and “A department store” corresponds to the server 11. "Top menu" is an item for returning to the top menu of FIG.
[0039]
Here, when the subscriber wants to perform online shopping at the department store A, the subscriber presses the numeric key “3” of the remote controller 103. Then, the selection information is output from the remote controller 103 and sent to the communication control device 102. The communication control device 102 recognizes that the server 11 has been selected by receiving the selection information, and based on the information indicating the address of the server 11 that has already been received from the table of contents server 15 together with the data constituting the top menu, 102 is connected to the server 11.
[0040]
When the communication control device 102 is connected to the server 11, the server 11 sends data constituting the top menu of the server 11 (top menu for online shopping) to the communication control device 102, and as shown in FIG. The top menu of online shopping is displayed on the display of the system 101.
[0041]
In this example, the selection items include “top menu”, “clothing clothing”, “electrical products”, “furniture and furniture”, “daily miscellaneous goods”, and “others”. “6” is added. The item of “top menu” is an item for returning to the top menu of FIG.
[0042]
When the subscriber selects an item other than the “top menu” using the remote controller 103, data constituting a lower layer selection screen is sent from the server 11 and displayed according to the selected item. When a specific product is ordered by such a selection operation, data composing a message screen "Please enter personal information" is sent from the server 11, and the television system 101 Displayed on the display.
[0043]
Based on this display, the subscriber scans the subscriber card along the groove 121 of the remote control 103. Thereby, the customer-specific data recorded on the subscriber card is read by the card reader and sent to the server 11.
[0044]
The server 11 sends the customer-specific data sent to the dedicated provider 21 and inquires about the subscriber's personal information. When the server 11 obtains the personal information of the subscriber from the dedicated provider 21, the server 11 sends data constituting a screen for confirming the personal information to the communication control device 102. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7 , a screen for confirming the personal information is displayed on the display of the television system 101.
[0045]
In this example, the screen for confirming the personal information displays the name and address of the subscriber, the number of the ordered product, and the selection items “Yes” and “ "No" is displayed. Each selection item is appended with a numeral “1” or “2”.
[0046]
When the subscriber presses the numeric key “1” of the remote control 103, the online shopping ends.
[0047]
When the server address is input by scanning the server card, the server can be directly selected without selecting the server with the numeric keys of the remote controller 103. For example, when the server menu of the server 11 is scanned and the server address is input when the top menu of FIG. 4 is displayed, the communication control device 102 uses the communication control device without using the information of the table of contents server 15. 102 is directly connected to the server 11. Thereby, the screen of FIG. 6 is sent from the server 11 and displayed.
[0048]
In the above embodiment, when a product is ordered, the subscriber inputs customer-specific data recorded on the subscriber card via the card reader and sends the data to the server 11, and the server 11 sends the data. The personal information of the subscriber is obtained from the dedicated provider 21 based on the data unique to the customer. However, since the dedicated provider 21 can identify the subscriber who is currently accessing the server 11, when an order for a product is made, the dedicated provider 21 is sent from the server 11 to the dedicated provider 21 which is currently accessing the server 11. The person may be directly inquired of personal information.
[0049]
It is also possible to access the server subscribed to the subscriber information utilizing system from the personal computer terminal 200 in the non-subscriber's home who has not subscribed to the subscriber information utilizing system via the general provider 23. is there.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which online shopping is performed has been described in detail. However, in the above-described subscriber-based information use system, concert information, entertainment information, and ticket reservations are performed. It is also possible. It is also possible to make a reservation for travel guide information and its ticket. Further, it is also possible to reserve hotels and obtain various information such as newspaper information and weather forecast.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the selection of the server and the selection of various information can be performed by operating a single numeric key. Further, the server address can be input by a simple operation such as scanning a server card. Further, input of customer-specific data can be performed by a simple operation such as operating a subscriber card. Therefore, the information provided by the server can be obtained with a very simple scan. In addition, it is possible to use a client terminal having a simpler configuration than a personal computer.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a multimedia information service can be used with a very simple operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a subscriber information utilization system.
FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a customer terminal.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the communication control device.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a top menu provided by a table of contents server.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a selection screen provided by a table of contents server when “shopping” is selected based on the top menu of FIG. 4;
6 is a schematic diagram showing a top menu provided by a server managed by A department store when “A department store” is selected based on the selection screen of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a personal information confirmation screen provided by a server managed by A department store when a product order is placed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internet 2 Public line 11-14 Server 15 Table of contents server 20 Central management device 21 Dedicated provider 22 Personal information database 23 General provider 100 Customer terminal 200 Personal computer terminal

Claims (3)

A network, a plurality of servers connected to the network, a centralized management device connected to the network, and a terminal connected to the centralized management device via a public line. In the information use system used on the machine side,
The terminal accesses a server via a centralized management device, and includes communication control means for obtaining information provided by the server, a monitor for displaying various information, and an input device for inputting various information. Equipped,
The input device includes a card reader that reads a server address from a server card in which a server address issued for each server is recorded , and a user-specific data from a user card in which user-specific data is recorded. ,
The centralized management device has a database in which personal information of the user is stored in association with data unique to the user,
The server address recorded in the server card is input through the card reader, the server address is transmitted to the central control device,
When the server needs to acquire personal information of a user accessing the server, the server prompts the user to input user-specific data recorded on the user card via the terminal,
When the user-specific data is input via a card reader, the personal information of the user is obtained from a centralized management device based on the input user-specific data. . A network, a plurality of servers connected to the network, a centralized management device connected to the network, and a terminal connected to the centralized management device via a public line. In the information use system used on the machine side,
The terminal accesses the server via the centralized management device, and includes communication control means for obtaining information provided by the server, a monitor for displaying various information, and an input device for inputting various information. Equipped,
The input device includes a card reader that reads a server address from a server card in which a server address issued for each server is recorded,
The centralized management device includes a database in which personal information of the user is stored in association with user-specific data,
When the server address recorded on the server card is input via the card reader, the server address is transmitted to the central management device,
When the server needs to obtain the personal information of the user accessing the server, the server obtains the personal information of the user by querying the central management device for the personal information of the accessing user. An information utilization system characterized by: Each server provides an information selection screen that allows selection of selection items with a single numeric key,
The information use system according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a predetermined number of numeric keys, and the numeric keys can select a selection item from an information selection screen displayed on a monitor.

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