JPH04107762A - Method for registering automatic access information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To register automatic access information on a terminal equipment by a simple operation by loading down the automatic access information from a center computer system to the captain terminal equipment. CONSTITUTION:An identification number inputted by keys is sent from the terminal equipment to a captain center computer CC system and transmitted through a line control device A31 to a CPU A32. The CPU A32 extracts information corresponding to the transmitted identification number from the automatic access information registered on a picture information filing device A33, edits the extracted information into a data format again and transmits the edited information through the line control device A31 to the terminal equipment. The transmitted automatic access information is sent to a microprocessing unit MPU 1, successively deciphered and registered on an automatic access information storage area. Thus, the required automatic access information is easily registered on the terminal equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is a videotex system that is a type of information retrieval system. This relates to a method for registering information for automatically accessing a terminal device in a terminal device.

(Prior art) In recent years, information retrieval systems such as the Videotex system call up a captain's center in a remote location from a terminal device via a communication network, extract and utilize necessary image information and text information from its database. The development of is remarkable.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of such a Videotex system. A1 is a terminal device, which includes a keyboard for data input, an image information display device for displaying searched image information, a modem for data communication, a control circuit for controlling the entire terminal, and the like. A2 is the Videotex communication network, which consists of a telephone line network, switching equipment, Videotex communication processing equipment, etc. A3 is a captain information center that stores image information such as characters and figures created by information providers, and sends the image information to the terminal device A1 according to instructions. A4 is a direct type information center, which is configured by an information provider's computer system, and has the same or some functions as the captain information center.

In the Videotex system configured in this way, when trying to obtain necessary information, from the terminal device A1,
Captain Information Center A3 or Direct Information Center A4
The telephone number of is sent to Videotex communication network A2.

Correspondingly, the Videotex communication network A2 is connected to the captain information center A3 or the direct information center A4,
A communication path is formed with the terminal device AI to enable information retrieval.

In the case of the Videotex system, information can be searched by selecting items displayed on the screen using a menu to obtain the necessary information, or by assigning a multi-digit screen number to each image information. There are methods such as sending the screen number and obtaining the corresponding image information.

In recent years, the amount of image information stored in captain information centers and direct type information centers has increased, and searching using one-way menus and the like has become time-consuming and communication charges have also increased. Therefore, more and more terminal devices are equipped with an automatic access function. The automatic access function allows you to register telephone numbers and screen numbers for accessing the necessary information in the terminal device's memory in advance, select them using the keyboard, etc., automatically send the telephone number, and connect the line. The rest is a function to send the screen number and arrive at the required image information.

The conventional automatic access information registration method described above will be mainly described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of a conventional terminal device. 1 is an MPU (microprocessing unit) that processes captain commands and keyboard data;
2 is a ROM (read only memory) that stores programs for controlling the operation of the MPU 1, and 3 is a RAM (random access memory) that stores initial setting data, automatic access data, and the like. Further, 4 is a backup power source that backs up the RAM 3 when the power is turned off to prevent data loss, and 5 is a display control IC 16 that outputs timing signals and image signals for displaying image information, etc., and is managed by the display control IC 5. A video RAM 7 stores image information, etc. as display data, and is a display control T05.
8 is a system control IC that manages addresses of the ROM 2, RAM 3, etc., and controls input/output devices. Furthermore, 9 is a keyboard for data input, 10 is a modem for converting transmitted data into a frequency modulated signal within the audio band and demodulating phase-modulated received data, and 11 is a terminal device and a Videotex communication network. This is a network control circuit for controlling connections with

Regarding the terminal device configured as described above, the automatic access operation and automatic access information registration method will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows a memory configuration example of access information registered in the RAM 3 of FIG. 5 and a display screen. As shown in Figure (a), the access information is divided into three items: abbreviation, dial number, and access number.The abbreviation indicates the meaning and content of the information, and the dial number is the number of the captain information center, direct information center, etc. Telephone numbers and access numbers include screen numbers and switching numbers to direct information centers, etc., in ASCII codes and J
The IS code is registered, and in this example, it is assumed that 10 pieces of access information from 0 to 9 can be registered. Also,
For the first item, the abbreviation is "News", the dial number is r 16636100J (this is the current Captain Information Center phone number), and the access number is r*0
It is assumed that 051 #J (screen number of the news menu of the captain information center) is registered. Even if the terminal device is powered off, this access information will not be lost unless it is rewritten because the RAM 3 in FIG. 5 is backed up by the backup power supply 4.

6(b) to 6(e) show the screen contents displayed on the display monitor 7 (FIG. 5) during the automatic access operation. FIG. 6(b) shows the initial screen when the power is turned on, and a menu of abbreviations for access information is displayed together with numbers O through 9. As a result, when a single number corresponding to the required information is input from the keyboard 9, an automatic access operation is started. Here, it is assumed that "O" is input to select "News J". Then, the display on the display monitor 7 changes to the one shown in FIG. 6(C), and the MPU
1 reads "r16636100" registered in the dial number item of the access information "News" in RAM 3 according to the program in the ROMZ, and sequentially sends the video tick one digit at a time via the system control IC 8 and the network control circuit 11. 1st communication network. The Videotex communication network decodes the telephone number sent and input as described above, identifies the corresponding party (in this case, the Captain Information Center), and forms a communication path between the terminal device and the Captain Information Center. do. After forming the communication channel, the captain information center sends initial screen data as shown in FIG. 6(d) to the terminal device, and the terminal device connects the network control circuit 11 and modem 10
The initial screen data is demodulated into a normal digital signal via the system control IC 8, and the system control IC 8 inputs the digital signal to the MPU I as data. M P Ul interprets the received data and displays it as screen data on the control IC.
5 to write the screen data to a predetermined position in the video RAM 6. Furthermore, the display control IC 5 controls the video R.
The screen data is sequentially read from the AM 6 and sent to the display monitor 7 as an image signal in accordance with the display timing, and the image signal is displayed. Next, after receiving the initial screen data shown in FIG. 6(d), after a certain period of time of about 3 to 5 seconds has elapsed, the MPU 1 retrieves the data from the automatic access information in the RAM 3.
The screen number book 0051# of the item corresponding to the access number is read out and sent again to the captain information center via the system control IC 8, modem 10, and network control circuit 11.
The captain information center that received it sends back the news menu screen data corresponding to the above number to the terminal device, and the terminal device performs the same process as the initial screen data described above to display the data on the display monitor 7 as shown in Figure 6. Display a screen like (e). In this way, it is possible to reach the desired information with the minimum number of key operations (in the above case, only pressing the rQJ key) through automatic access operations.

The automatic access information as described above can be registered in the RAM 3 in the following manner.

First, by pressing the "registration" key on the keyboard 9 from the initial screen of the terminal device shown in FIG. 6(b), the automatic access registration menu shown in FIG. 7(a) is displayed.

Here, 10 pieces of automatic access information from 0 to 9 can be registered, and if ``0'' is selected, the screen changes to the one shown in FIG. 7(b).

Therefore, predetermined access information is input using the cursor keys on the keyboard 9 or the kana numeric keys. In this example, as shown in Figure 7 (C), the abbreviation is "News", the dial number is r16636100J, and the access number is r.
0051 # Enter J. This input information is stored in RAM by MPU1 in the format shown in Figure 6(a).
registered within. After registration is complete, press the key to display the image shown in Figure 7 (d).
), return to the automatic access registration menu, and then proceed to Figure 6 (
It is possible to return to the initial screen of b), and the automatic access operation as described above becomes possible.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, with the automatic access information registration method described above, key operations are extremely complicated for users who are not familiar with such terminal devices, and screen numbers are difficult to read. In addition to being long (6 to 11 digits) and unrelated to the information content, it has problems such as a high possibility of erroneous input.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for easily registering automatic access information in a terminal device using simple operations for general users.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention achieves the above object by providing a captain terminal device having automatic access information storage means, storing image information and the automatic access information as a database, and communicating with the captain terminal device. In an information retrieval system comprising a CC system having means, automatic access information specified by a terminal device is downloaded from the CC system to the terminal device.

(Function) With the above configuration, the automatic access information specified by the terminal device can be registered in the terminal device by a simple operation for general users, simply by downloading the automatic access information specified by the terminal device from the CC system to the terminal device. can.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a method of registering automatic access information in a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Note that the configuration of the terminal device and the automatic access operation in the present invention are the same as those in the conventional example described above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for registering automatic access information to a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a CC system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, A31 is a line control device that connects the CC system and the Videotex communication network and sends and receives data to and from terminal devices. A32 is a CPU (central control unit) that controls the entire CC system. A
Reference numeral 33 denotes an image information file device) which stores image information and automatic access information created by information providers as a database. A34 is an image information input/editing terminal device, through which an information provider creates image information, inputs it to the image information file device A33, and edits the input image information.

FIG. 3(a) is an example of a memory configuration of automatic access information stored in the image information file device A33, in which the identification number for distinguishing automatic access information, the abbreviation of automatic access information, and the CC system are the captain information center. It is divided into four items: a switching number if the screen number is not registered (in the case of the captain information center, it is not registered, here indicated by rJ), and an access number for registering the screen number.

FIG. 3(b) shows an example of the automatic access information registration menu screen displayed on the display monitor of the terminal device, and FIG. 3(c) shows an example of the automatic access information registration menu screen displayed on the display monitor of the terminal device. Indicates the data format, the automatic access registration command code, abbreviation, delimiter code, telephone number, delimiter code, switching number and access number, indicating that the following data is automatic access information, and the end of automatic access information. Consists of the exit code indicated.

Regarding the terminal device and CC system configured as described above, the automatic access information registration operation will be explained below based on the flowchart of FIG. 1. First, the terminal device sends the telephone number of the CC system, such as the Captain Information Center, to the Videotex communication network. and the CC system (Sl in Figure 1). At this time, the captain's initial screen as shown in FIG. 6(d) is displayed on the display monitor of the terminal device.

Next, select the automatic access information registration menu screen on the captain's initial screen, or send the menu screen number to display the automatic access information registration menu screen as shown in Figure 3(b) on the display monitor. (Figure 1 32).

Here, select the automatic access information necessary for the user from the displayed menu screen, and enter the corresponding identification number from the keyboard of the terminal device. For example, for news, select "
1". If the displayed menu does not contain the necessary information, the next page of menu screen is displayed by pressing the key. The key-entered identification number is sent from the terminal device to the CC system (S3).

The identification number sent to the CC system is sent to the CPU A3 via the line control device A31 in the CC system in FIG.
Sent to 2. CPUA32 is image information file device A
From the automatic access information registered in 33 as shown in Figure 3(a), the information corresponding to the sent identification number is extracted and edited into the data format as shown in Figure 3(c). It is sent to the terminal device via the control device A31 (S4).

The sent automatic access information is sent to the MPU 1 in the terminal device shown in FIG. 5 via the network control circuit 11, modem 10, and system control IC 8.

MPU 1 receives the sent automatic access information as shown in Figure 3 (
The data is sequentially decoded according to the format C) and registered in the automatic access information storage area in RAMa in the configuration shown in FIG. 6(a) (S5).

As a result of the above, the necessary automatic access information has been registered in the terminal device, and to check whether it has been registered without error, the above registration is performed using the same memory configuration as shown in Fig. 6 (a) explained in the conventional example. Therefore, it can be confirmed by displaying the screen shown in FIG. 7(c) on the display monitor of the terminal device using the operation explained in the operation of the conventional example described above. Furthermore, information registration in the format shown in FIG. 3(a) on the image information file device A33 in the CC system shown in FIG. C
The PUA 32 registers the image information in the image information file device A 33 according to the format shown in FIG. 3(a).

Note that parameters specific to each terminal device, such as passwords and extension numbers (secondly, by sending the necessary parameters to the CC system in a conversational manner via the terminal device before downloading automatic access information from the CC system), The automatic access information and these parameters may be combined on the CC system side and downloaded to the terminal device in a format as shown in FIG. 3(C).

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above detailed description, the present invention provides a terminal device having automatic access information storage means, image information,
By configuring an information retrieval system consisting of a CC system that stores the automatic access information as a database and has means for communicating with the terminal device, automatic access information can be registered in the terminal device with simple operations for general users. It has made it possible to do this, and its use has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an automatic access information registration method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the CC system, and FIG. 3 is an auxiliary diagram for explaining the present invention, and is an automatic access information registration menu. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional Videotex system, Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional terminal device, and Figure 6 is a display of a conventional terminal device during automatic access operation. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display screen when registering automatic access information of the terminal device. 1.MPU1 2.ROM, 3...RAM,
4...Backup power supply, 5...Display control IC
16...Video RAM, 7...Display monitor, 8...System control IC19...Keyboard, 10...Modem, 11...Network control circuit. Figure 1 Patent applicant Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Figure 2 A32 Demand 3 (b) (c) Figure 6 (a) (b) (d) (c) (e) Figure 7 (a) (c ) (d)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An information retrieval system comprising a captain terminal device having means for storing automatic access information, and a center computer system having means for storing image information and the automatic access information as a database and communicating with the captain terminal device. A method for registering automatic access information, comprising registering the automatic access information in the captain terminal device by downloading the automatic access information specified by the device from the center computer system to the captain terminal device. .