JPH08194666A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a new manager, etc., from being troubled since a password for managing an information processor is not taken over. CONSTITUTION: Concerning this KARAOKE device, a central controller 31 decides the fluctuation of an installing place based on the change of a telephone number and when the installing place is fluctuated, the password stored in a hard disk 33 is deleted. Since the fluctuation of the installing place accompanies the fluctuation of an owner or the manager with high probability, the former password is deleted with the fluctuation of the installing place as a trigger and the new password can be set. Thus, the new manager or the like is prevented from being troubled because the password is not taken over.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information storage means for storing information,
There is an information processing device having an information processing execution means capable of executing a predetermined process using this information, and examples thereof include a video game machine installed in a karaoke machine, a game center, or the like. In some information processing apparatuses, some or all of the functions can be set to be enabled or disabled depending on the purpose of use, installation environment, or the like. As an example of such a function setting for a karaoke device, a game other than karaoke (for example, bingo) that selects / does not send / receive information to / from a central management device called a center, or does not allow / not attach a coin box, etc. Game, intro guessing quiz, etc.), whether to receive the song data of a new song automatically or manually, to register the owner name, to receive the new song data There are settings etc.

In performing such function selection / setting, it is necessary to put the information processing apparatus into a state (management mode) in which operations for function selection / setting can be executed.
Normally, a password is required to enter this management mode. The password is not set at the time of shipment from the factory, and is designed to be entered and set by the owner or administrator of the information processing device. In addition, the password can be set arbitrarily in the unset state, but it is necessary to enter the already set password to change the set once, and people who do not have management authority (= know the password No one) could not select and set the above functions.

[0004]

By the way, the manager or the like of the information processing apparatus may change due to the transfer of the ownership. In this case, if the password is not taken over, a new administrator cannot perform the above-described function selection / setting operation, which is inconvenient.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid inconvenience to a new administrator or the like because the password is not handed over.

[0006]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is capable of executing a predetermined process by using information storage means for storing information and the information. An information processing apparatus having information processing execution means, wherein a setting means for selecting / setting all or a part of the functions of the information processing apparatus according to a setting operation, a password storage means for storing a password, and a password The information including password input means for inputting and password accepting means for collating the input password with the password stored in the password storage means and permitting the setting operation when both match. In the processing device, when the installation location of the information processing device is changed, the password stored in the password storage means is deleted. The cancellation means is provided that.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
In the information processing apparatus described above, a determining means for determining a change in the installation location of the information processing apparatus is provided, and the erasing means is provided in the password storage means when the variation in the installation location is determined by the determining means. The stored password is deleted.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 2.
In the information processing apparatus described above, the connection means connectable to the public telephone line is provided, and the determination means is configured to determine the change of the installation location by changing the telephone number of the connected public telephone line.

An information processing apparatus according to claim 4 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1.
In the information processing device described in any one of 3 to 3, the erasing means is notified from the host device connected via the public telephone line that the telephone number of the public telephone line to which the information processing device is connected has been changed. At this time, the password stored in the password storage means is deleted.

[0010]

In the information processing apparatus having the above structure, the erasing means erases the password stored in the password storing means when the installation location of the information processing apparatus is changed.

That is, if the installation location of the information processing device changes, the password stored in the password storage means is erased. Therefore, a new password is input through the password input means, and this is stored in the password storage means. Can be stored in. Since there is a high probability that changes in the installation location will result in changes in the owner, administrator, etc., if the old password is deleted and a new password can be set using the changes in the installation location as a trigger, the password will not be inherited. In addition, it is possible to avoid inconvenience to new managers.

In the information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
When the judging means judges a change in the installation location of the information processing device, the deleting means deletes the password stored in the password storing means. In order to judge the change of the installation place by the judgment means, if the index and conditions that are closely related to the change of the owner, the administrator, etc. are set, the password will not be handed over and the new administrator It is possible to more surely avoid such problems.

The determination means is not particularly limited in its configuration and the like as long as it can determine the variation of the installation location of the information processing device, but the GPS (Global Positioning System)
And a method of using the telephone number described in claim 3 is exemplified. In the information processing apparatus according to claim 3, the information processing apparatus can be connected to the public telephone line by the connecting means, and the determining means detects a change in the installation location by changing the telephone number of the connected public telephone line. judge.

As described above, a change in the owner, the administrator, etc. is accompanied by a change in the installation site with a high probability, but in many cases, a change in the installation site is a change in the telephone line to which the information processing device is connected = With changes. Therefore, it may be considered that the telephone number is changed, that is, the owner, the administrator, or the like is changed.

Further, since the telephone number to which the information processing device is connected is given to the information processing device from the telephone line side, there is no special obstacle when the judging means obtains the telephone number.
Therefore, no special structure is required. In this way, if the telephone number is used as an index for determining the variation of the installation place, the determination can be surely made without making the structure complicated.

In the information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
The erasing means is the password stored in the password storing means when the host device connected via the public telephone line is notified that the telephone number of the public telephone line to which the information processing device is connected has been changed. To erase.

Since it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for detecting a change in telephone number on the information processing device side, the device configuration can be simplified. Further, since the telephone number to which the information processing device is connected is given to the host device from the telephone line side, there is no special obstacle in obtaining the telephone number by the host device,
Therefore, no special structure is required.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a karaoke piece information usage fee charging system according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke apparatus which is a component of the system, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a charging center which is a management center of the system.

As shown in FIG. 1, this karaoke piece information use fee charging system is constructed by connecting a charging center 1 and a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 10 via a charging communication network 5. The karaoke device 10 is connected to the billing communication network 5 as a terminal of the public telephone line 6.

Next, the structure of the charging center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The billing center 1 is a host computer 5
1, a storage device 53, an input device 55, a communication control device 57, a printer 59, and a CRT 61.
The storage device 53 is for storing various control programs for operating the host computer 51, billing information for each of the information processing devices 10, and the like.

Various commands can be input from the input device 55. For example, a billing record or the like can be created based on billing information for each information processing device 10 stored in the storage device 53. Can be printed by the printer 59 or displayed on the CRT 61.

The billing communication network 5 has a function of billing for information charges, such as a videotex communication network or a dial queue to communication network. In Japan today, Videotex network and dial queue two network are known as the representative ones. The dial queue-to network is basically a time-based pay-as-you-go calculation, and the videotex network can set an arbitrary fee for each information content,
It is used in so-called captain systems.

A videotex communication network will be described as an example of the charging function. Specifically, the videotex communication network is, for example, a public telephone line connected to each karaoke device 10 and a videotex communication processing device (VCP).
It consists of and. This VCP connects / exchanges to / from the billing center 1 of the public telephone line 6 (currently, the public telephone line 6 dialing the special number 166 and the 5-digit billing center number) trying to access the Videotex communication network.
Management and billing center of information processing device which is a user terminal 1
Management of subscribers, communication fees and information usage fees collected by the telephone company, conversation control between the information processing device and the billing center 1, communication processing such as conversion processing such as protocol conversion and code / pattern conversion Provide the function. Also, the telephone number of the public telephone line 6 to which the karaoke device 10 is connected can be notified to the karaoke device 10 and the charging center 1.

Next, the structure of the karaoke apparatus 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the central control unit 31 stores a billing control program 31a, and the central control unit 31 can execute a predetermined billing control process according to the billing control program 31a. Further, the central control device 31 stores various data such as karaoke piece information and also stores an operation program of the central control device 31, and is connected to a hard disk 33 corresponding to a storage means of the present invention. . Further, the hard disk 33 can store a password and also functions as a password storage means of the present invention. The central control unit 31 can execute processing for karaoke performance and various processing associated therewith according to an operation program stored in the hard disk 33. That is, the central controller 31 corresponds to the information processing execution means of the present invention. Further, the central controller 31
It also functions as a password accepting unit, a determining unit, and a deleting unit of the present invention, the details of which will be described later.

In the central control unit 31, all or some of the functions of the karaoke apparatus 10 are selected / selected according to the setting operation.
The multipurpose input key 32 for inputting various instructions, the voice reproduction circuit 35, the screen display control device 26, and the communication control device 2 serving as the connection means of the present invention correspond to the setting means for setting.
7, a mixer amplifier 38 is provided in the audio reproduction circuit 35, and a television monitor 29 is provided in the screen display control device 26.
Are connected respectively. A speaker 41 and a microphone 43 are connected to the mixer amplifier 38.

It should be noted that the hard disk 33 previously stores information on several thousand karaoke songs, and further,
New song data can be received from the billing center 1 and stored in the hard disk 33. The karaoke piece information for one piece of music is composed of piece number information, which is identification information for identifying pieces of music, and substance information. The substantive information in this is MIDI (Mu
sical Instrument Digital Interface) performance information, lyrics information and background video information. The background video information is encoded video information corresponding to each song.

However, the karaoke piece information of the new piece data is scrambled, for example, and cannot be used as it is. In order to use, the charging control network 5 is connected through the communication control unit 27, and the central control unit 31 executes the charging control program 31a to perform a predetermined charging process using the charging function by the charging communication network 5. Thus, the karaoke piece information can be used.

The process of making the karaoke song information of the new song data usable will be described with reference to FIG. 4 by taking the case where the new song data is scrambled as an example. As described above, the new song data transmitted from the billing center 1 is received and stored in the hard disk 33, and then the central control unit 31 requests the billing center 1 to connect via the communication control unit 27. Then, the central controller 3
1 waits for an incoming connection request to the billing center 1 and sends an ID number for identifying itself.

When the charging center 1 receives the ID number from the karaoke device 10, the host computer 51 performs terminal verification, and if the karaoke device 10 is registered in the charging center 1, the verification is normal and an ID confirmation signal is sent. Send it back. When the ID confirmation signal is received, the central controller 31
In accordance with the charging control program 31a, transmits to the charging center 1 a request for transmitting scramble release permission information (charging information) for new song data. That is, the central controller 31
At the same time as requesting the transmission of the billing information, which is the descrambling permission instruction for the new song data, the billing process is requested.

In the billing center 1, when the transmission request for the scramble release permission information (billing processing request) is received, the host computer 51 sends a preset scramble release permission command (billing information) via the communication control unit 57. Then, it is transmitted to the karaoke device 10 side. When a command is transmitted from the charging center 1, a fee set in advance for the transmission of this command is charged to the subscriber of the telephone line to which the karaoke device 10 is connected. This fee is collected by proxy together with the telephone line usage fee.

When the karaoke apparatus 10 receives the scramble release permission command, it sends a communication disconnection request to the charging center 1. When the charging center 1 receives this request, the charging center 1 ends the communication with the karaoke device 10. After the communication disconnection request is transmitted, the karaoke device 10 descrambles the new song data described above to make the karaoke performance possible.

When the karaoke piece information of the new song data becomes available after the above processing is performed (other than the new song data can already be used), the user can use the multipurpose input key 3
2 Or select a song you want to sing by operating a remote control not shown. Then, the central control unit 31 executes a karaoke performance process according to a predetermined karaoke performance program. Briefly, the central control unit 31 reads the performance information, the lyrics information and the background video information corresponding to the selected song from the hard disk 33, the performance information is stored in the audio reproduction circuit 35, and the lyrics information and the background video information are displayed in the screen. The data is transferred to the display control device 26.

The performance information output to the voice reproduction circuit 35 is converted into an analog performance signal, then sent to the mixer amplifier 38 to be electrically amplified, and the user's singing voice input via the microphone 43. And is mixed in a proper ratio. The mixed audio signal is output to the outside as a performance sound by the speaker 41.

On the other hand, the lyrics information output in synchronization with the performance information is combined (superimposed) with the background image information in the screen display control device 26 and is then displayed on the television monitor 29.
Is displayed in. As a result, the lyrics telop is displayed on the TV monitor 29 in a state where the lyrics telop is combined with the background image.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, a description will be given of the telephone number collation processing executed by the karaoke apparatus 10 each time the above-mentioned charging center 1 communicates. The target password here means that the karaoke device 10 is
This is a management password for making the operation for selecting and setting the function executable (management mode).
Further, as the function setting, as described above, the charging center 1
Select whether or not to send / receive information to / from the central control device, attach / disable a coin box, etc., play / not play a game other than karaoke (for example, bingo game, intro quiz, etc.) This includes setting whether to automatically or manually receive the song data, register the owner name, and set a reception execution command key when manually receiving the new song data.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the telephone number collation processing, the central control unit 31 connects to the billing communication network 5 via the communication control unit 27 (S1). Subsequently, the central control device 31 receives the telephone number of the telephone line which is being connected (that is, the karaoke device 10 is connected) transmitted from the charging communication network 5 to the karaoke device 10 (S2). continue,
The central controller 31 collates the telephone number stored in the hard disk 33 with the telephone number received in S2 (S3). If the two match by this collation (YES in S4), the central controller 31 ends the processing of this routine.

On the other hand, if the two telephone numbers do not match as a result of the collation (NO in S4), the central control unit 31 instructs the hard disk 33 to delete the stored password (S5). Subsequently, the central control unit 31 issues an instruction to the hard disk 33 to delete the already stored telephone number and store the telephone number received in S2 above in the hard disk 33 (S6), and execute the processing of this routine. finish.

Here, when a negative determination is made in S4, S5
The reason why the processes of to S6 are executed will be described. The negative determination in S4 is that the karaoke apparatus 10 has the telephone number of the line that was once connected (the telephone number stored in the hard disk 33) and the telephone number of the line that was connected in this communication (billing communication network). 5 is different from the telephone number transmitted from 5, so this is the karaoke device 10
It can be considered that the installation location of has been changed. Also, changes in the installation location are highly likely to be linked to changes in owners, managers, etc. Therefore, the change of the telephone number to which the karaoke device 10 is connected can be regarded as the change of the owner, the administrator, or the like.

In this case, if the password is not inherited,
A new owner, administrator, etc. cannot perform the function selection / setting operation of the karaoke apparatus 10. However, S5
The old password is deleted by the processing of, so that a new password can be set. Therefore, when a new owner, an administrator or the like sets some or all of the functions of the karaoke device 10 such that the function is enabled or disabled depending on the purpose of use and the installation environment of the karaoke device 10, a new password Is set, and it is possible to avoid inconvenience to the new owner, the administrator, etc. because the password is not inherited.

Further, since a new telephone number is stored in S6, even if the telephone number is changed next (even if there is a change in the owner, the administrator, etc.), a new telephone number is stored. It is avoided that the owner, the administrator, etc. suffer inconvenience. As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, the karaoke device 10 corresponds to the information processing device, the hard disk 33 corresponds to the information storage means and the password storage means, and the central control device 31 corresponds to the information processing execution means. , It functions as a password acceptance means, a judgment means, and a deletion means. Further, the communication control device 27 corresponds to a connection means, and the multipurpose input key 32 corresponds to a password input means and a setting means. (Modification) In the above example, the karaoke device 10 detects the change of the telephone number and deletes the password.
A configuration is also possible in which the charging center 1 side detects the change of the telephone number and notifies the karaoke device 10 of the change.

As an example, the host computer 5
An ID / telephone number table in which the ID number and the telephone number of each karaoke device 10 are linked is stored in the first storage device 53. The host computer 51 receives the ID number transmitted from the karaoke apparatus 10 via the charging communication network 5 as described above, and also acquires the telephone number of the karaoke apparatus 10 from the charging communication network 5. Next, the host computer 51 collates the received ID number and telephone number with the ID number and telephone number in the ID / telephone number table. The telephone number in the telephone number table is updated to the new telephone number (the telephone number of the public telephone line used for this communication).

When the karaoke device 10 receives the fact that the ID number and the telephone number do not match, the karaoke device 10 deletes the password stored in the hard disk 33 as described above. According to this structure, the karaoke device 10 does not need to have a mechanism for detecting a change in the telephone number, so that the device structure can be simplified. In this modification,
The billing center 1, particularly the host computer 51 thereof, corresponds to the host device according to claim 4.

Although the present invention has been described above according to the embodiments and modifications, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and the like, and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention. Yes. For example, in the embodiment, the change of the telephone number is regarded as the change of the installation place, but the means for determining the change of the installation place of the information processing device is not limited to this, and the GPS is not limited to this.
It is also possible to use (Global Positioning System).

Further, the information processing device is not limited to the karaoke device of the embodiment.

[0045]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the first aspect, if the installation location of the information processing apparatus changes, the password stored in the password storage means is deleted. A new password can be input via the password input means and stored in the password storage means. Since there is a high probability that changes in the installation location will result in changes in the owner, administrator, etc., if the old password is deleted and a new password can be set using the changes in the installation location as a trigger, the password will not be inherited. In addition, it is possible to avoid inconvenience to new managers.

According to the information processing apparatus of the second aspect, the index or condition for judging the change of the installation place by the judging means is an index or condition closely related to the change of the owner, the manager, etc. By setting, it is possible to more surely avoid inconvenience to a new administrator or the like because the password is not handed over.

According to the information processing apparatus of the third aspect, it is determined that the installation location has changed by changing the telephone number of the public telephone line to which the information processing apparatus is connected. If the telephone number is used as an index for judging the variation of the installation place, it can be surely judged without making the structure complicated.

According to the information processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, the erasing means changes the telephone number of the public telephone line to which the information processing apparatus is connected from the host apparatus connected via the public telephone line. When this is notified, the password stored in the password storage means is deleted.

Since it is not necessary to provide a mechanism for detecting a change in telephone number on the information processing device side, the device configuration can be simplified. Further, since the telephone number to which the information processing device is connected is given to the host device from the telephone line side, there is no special obstacle in obtaining the telephone number by the host device,
Therefore, no special structure is required.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a karaoke piece information usage fee charging system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a karaoke device which is a component of the karaoke piece information usage fee charging system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a billing center which is a management center of a karaoke piece information usage fee billing system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of communication performed between a charging center and a karaoke device in the karaoke piece information usage fee charging system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a telephone number matching process executed by the karaoke apparatus of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Billing center (host device), 5 ... Billing communication network, 6 ... Public telephone line, 10 ... Karaoke device (information processing device), 27 ... Communication control device (connecting means) , 31 ... Central control device (information processing execution means, password acceptance means, determination means, deletion means), 31a ...
-Charging control program, 32 ... Multipurpose input key (password input means, setting means), 33 ... Hard disk (information storage means, password storage means), 51 ...
-Host computer (host device).

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: an information storage means for storing information; and an information processing execution means capable of executing a predetermined process by using the information, the information processing apparatus comprising: Setting means for selecting and setting all or some of the functions, password storing means for storing a password, password inputting means for inputting a password, the input password and the password storing means In the information processing apparatus, including a password accepting unit that verifies the password and permits the setting operation when both match, the password is stored in the password storage unit when the installation location of the information processing unit is changed. An information processing device, characterized in that a deletion means for deleting a stored password is provided. 2. A determination means for determining a change in the installation location of the information processing apparatus is provided, and the erasing means is stored in the password storage means when the change in the installation location is determined by the determination means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password is deleted. 3. A connection means connectable to a public telephone line is provided, and the determination means is configured to determine a change in the installation location by changing a telephone number of the connected public telephone line. The information processing device according to claim 2. 4. The password erasing means, when the erasing means is notified by a host device connected via a public telephone line of a telephone number of a public telephone line connected to the information processing device. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the password stored in the storage unit is deleted.