JPH08292916A - External storage medium readout control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent stored information from being used without limitation by enabling downloading for the first time when a key word stored in an external storage medium matches a key word stored in a floppy disk. CONSTITUTION: A key word readout means 217 reads the key word out of the floppy disk and stores it in a buffer memory (2) 218. A comparing means 219 checks whether or not a flag-set key word stored in a buffer memory (1) 215 is the same as the key word stored in the buffer memory (2) 218. When the key words match each other, the comparing means 219 informs an installer program control means 214 of that. The control means 214 inquires whether or not downloading is started of an external storage medium readout means 211 by using a message according to an installer program. When it is confirmed that the downloading is to be started, data are downloaded to a storage means 211.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an external storage medium in which a plurality of typeface information and the like are stored, such as an optical disk RO.
The present invention relates to an external storage medium read control system capable of reading at least one piece of information from M, a magneto-optical disk ROM, etc., into an information processing apparatus, for example, a computer, a workstation, a personal computer, a word processor, etc. and using it. In the present specification, the optical disc ROM, the magneto-optical disc ROM and the like are simply referred to as compact disc ROM and the like. Further, in this specification, a computer, a workstation, a personal computer, a word processor, and the like are simply referred to as an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, since a compact disc ROM or the like has a large storage capacity, it is possible to store a large number of information such as a plurality of typeface information, dictionaries, or a plurality of image information, and each information has a high value. have.
On the other hand, a compact disc ROM or the like has a large storage capacity, and thus storing each typeface information, one dictionary, and one image information requires too much labor for storage and sale, which is inexpensive to the user. Information cannot be provided.
In general, a compact disc ROM or the like stores a plurality of pieces of information and is provided to a user at the same time as selling a data processing device or at a low cost. The user
Looking at the contents of the compact disc ROM or the like, if there is a necessary one, the manufacturer or the distributor of the compact disc ROM or the like is requested to pay a keyword for opening the keyword.
Users get the information they need, when they need it, by paying a reasonable price.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Compact disc R
The OM or the like is passed from the manufacturer or the seller to the user through the distributor. When the user wants to obtain the information in the compact disc ROM or the like, the user can obtain the keyword by paying the price for the information to the manufacturer or the seller. In this case, the distributor who sells the compact disc ROM or the like will not be paid for the provision of the keyword. Therefore, the distributor is reluctant to sell the compact disc ROM and the like, and as a result, the compact disc ROM and the like are not widely distributed to users. That is, the manufacturer or distributor of the compact disc ROM or the like does not bring profits to the distributor, no matter how valuable the information is stored, and thus there is a problem that such information cannot be disseminated to users.

The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and provides an external storage medium read control system in which a predetermined price can be obtained when a distributor selling compact disc ROMs or the like provides a keyword. The purpose is to provide. Another object of the present invention is to provide an external storage medium read control system capable of efficiently reading a plurality of pieces of information from a large number of pieces of information stored in a compact disc ROM or the like. Further, according to the present invention, in order to protect the profit of the manufacturer or the seller of the compact disc ROM or the like, the keyword reading is restricted, so that the information can be prevented from being used indefinitely. The purpose is to provide a scheme.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the external storage medium read control system of the present invention stores information stored in the external storage medium 14 on a floppy disk 15.
Is read by the keyword stored in
An external storage medium 14 in which an installer program, a plurality of pieces of information, and an index and a keyword of the information are stored, and a floppy disk 15 in which a keyword for opening at least one piece of information in the external storage medium 14 is stored. And a comparison means 219 for reading out the keyword for the desired information stored in the external storage medium 14 and the keyword stored in the floppy disk 15 and checking whether the keywords match each other, and a matching signal of the comparison means 219. The information processing apparatus has means for downloading desired information of the external storage medium 14 to the storage means 221.

The information stored in the external storage medium 14 according to the present invention is hierarchically stored as a tree structure, and an index and a keyword are added to the above information, node, and root. And

Floppy disk 15 in the present invention
Is characterized in that the reading of keywords is restricted.

While the information stored in the external storage medium 14 of the present invention is being used in the information processing apparatus, the keywords stored in the floppy disk 15 are also moved to the information processing apparatus. .

[0009]

[Operation] An external storage medium, such as a compact disc ROM, which stores a large amount of information is necessary for storing a large amount of information and downloading the information to the storage means of the information processing device. A simple installr program is stored. When the user wants to obtain the information stored in the external storage medium, the user inserts the external storage medium into the drive of the information processing apparatus and then stores the install program stored in the external storage medium in the information processing apparatus. Then, the information processing device activates the installer program, and prepares to use the information stored in the external storage medium according to the installer program.

When a compact disc ROM or the like is inserted into the drive of the information processing device, for example, the display means
According to the installer program, a message asking whether the information is downloaded or not is displayed. The user confirms that the desired information is downloaded. By this confirmation, the installer program displays all the indexes of the information stored in the external storage medium in a tree structure on the display means. The user looks at all the indexes hierarchically displayed in a tree structure and selects one of the index representing one piece of information, the node index attached to multiple pieces of information, or the root index attached to all information. Or select. When the user selects the index, the installer program displays a message on the display means to insert the floppy disk having the keyword into the drive. Upon seeing the message, the user inserts the floppy disk storing the keyword corresponding to the selected index into the drive of the information processing device.

The keyword reading means reads a desired keyword and then stores it in the buffer memory (2). On the other hand, the information processing device reads the keyword from the compact disc ROM or the like and stores the keyword in the buffer memory (1) according to the installer program. The comparing means in the information processing apparatus compares the keyword attached to the index of the selected information with the keyword read from the floppy disk according to the install program to check whether or not they are the same. . The information confirmed to be the same by the comparison means is transmitted to the installer program control means, and only the information matching the keyword in the external storage medium is stored in the information processing device according to the installer program. Downloaded to the means.

When the keyword reading is unlimited,
Information with high added value is dissipated. In order to prevent this, the information processing device or the floppy disk is provided with a limiting means. For example, when predetermined information is downloaded to the storage means by executing the installer program, the floppy disk side is notified that the download is completed. For a floppy disk, this signal causes the counter in the read number storage unit to increment by one. That is, in order to prevent unlimited use of the storage of the external storage medium by the keyword, the preset number of times of read setting is stored in the floppy disk, and the keyword read permission means is the storage means of the information processing device. When the number of times of downloading to the number of times exceeds the number of times of read setting described above, the next keyword cannot be read.

Further, when the keyword is read from the floppy disk, the information processing device prevents the keyword from remaining on the floppy disk. By doing so, the keyword can be used only for one information processing device. Then, when the information is returned from the information processing device to the compact disc ROM or the like, the keyword can also be returned to the floppy disc. As described above, since the information and the keyword are in one-to-one correspondence, the user can store the information stored in the compact disc ROM or the like only in the desired information processing device, but in the plurality of information processing devices. Can't remember at the same time.

According to the present invention, since a large number of information stored in the external storage medium is hierarchically stored as a tree structure, a floppy disk storing a keyword for at least one desired information is stored. By purchasing, at least one piece of information can be obtained. Floppy disks that store keywords are easily sold by distributors because there are restrictions on reading them.
As a result, a large number of external storage media will be distributed. The installer program of the present invention includes a procedure for permitting reading of a keyword and comparing the keyword with an index for desired information, and is added to a normal environment setting program.

[0015]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an external storage medium read control system, which is a part of an example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the external storage medium read control system in the remaining part of the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are (a) and (a) ′,
(B) and (b) ', (c) and (c)', and (d) and (d) ', respectively. In the block diagram of FIG. 2, some control lines are omitted in order not to complicate the diagram. The information processing apparatus of the block configuration diagram shown in FIG. 2 shows only the portions related to the present invention. 1 and 2, the information processing device 11
Is connected to the display means 12 and the printer 13,
Information can be read from the external storage medium 14 and the floppy disk 15.

The information processing apparatus 11 includes an external storage medium reading means 211 for reading out at least one of the information hierarchically stored in the external storage medium 14 as a tree structure, and an intstler program for installing the information. ,
Alternatively, an indexer program that reads the index of the above information and its keywords, index,
Read-out means 212 for reading out the keyword, installr program storage means 213 for storing the installr program read by the read-out means 212, installr program control means 214 for executing the installr program, and the read-out Means 212
And a buffer memory (1) 215 for storing the index read by the display unit 12 and a display control for displaying the index and the message of the information hierarchically stored as a tree structure according to the execution of the installer program on the display unit 12. Means 216, keyword reading means 217 for reading the keywords stored in the floppy disk 15, and buffer memory (2) 21 for storing the keywords read by the keyword reading means 217.
8 and the keyword stored in the buffer memory (1) 215 and the keyword stored in the buffer memory (2) 218 are checked to see if they are the same. Comparing means 219 for giving permission to read information from the external storage medium 14.
And display means 1 displaying an index for information
2, the input means 220 for selecting an index for desired information and the storage means 221 for storing the information of the external storage medium 14 are provided. When the information stored in the external storage medium 14 is typeface information, the information from the external storage medium 14 is stored in the memory on the printer 13 side.

The external storage medium 14 is an optical disk ROM, a magneto-optical disk ROM, or the like, and an index-to-keyword that stores an installer program storage unit 141 and indexes and keywords for a plurality of stored information as a table, for example. The table storage unit 142 and the information storage unit 143 that hierarchically stores a plurality of pieces of information as a tree structure are configured. The floppy disk 15 also stores a keyword storage unit 151 that stores a keyword for opening the information in the external storage medium 14.
And a read number storage unit 152 that stores the number of times information is downloaded to the storage unit 221 by the keyword.
A keyword read setting number storage unit 153 for setting a keyword to be read a predetermined number of times and a keyword copy prohibition unit 154 can be provided as necessary.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are views for explaining an example of storing information in an external storage medium in an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3A, it is assumed that fonts and dictionaries are stored in the compact disc ROM or the like. The above information is hierarchically stored, for example, as a tree structure. The root name of the above information may be the trademark name of the compact disc ROM. FIG.
In (a), the compact disc ROM is "NI
SNO-F ". That is,
"NISNO-F" has font 351 and dictionary 335.
And are stored. The font 351 includes Japanese characters 341 and English characters 334. Further, Japanese characters 341 include standard characters 331, circle characters 332, and brush characters 333. Furthermore, the standard characters 331 include
There are Mincho type 311 and Gothic type 312. Circle 33
2 has a round character 313 and a round Gothic 314. The writing brush characters 333 include a writing brush (standard writing) 315 and a writing brush (line writing) 316. The English characters 334 include English characters (standard) 317 and English characters (pica) 318.
The dictionary 335 includes a concise 319 and a Japanese dictionary 320.
And Kojien 321.

As described above, the font information and the dictionary have file names, and the indexes shown in FIG. 3A are indicated by numbers. The name of the floppy disk is, for example, “NISNO font”, “NISNO Japanese character”, “NISNO English character”, “NISNO standard character”, ...
It can be attached like "Minchotai" ... "NISNO Kojien". The tree structure shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 12. The user looks at the tree structure displayed on the display unit 12 and inputs the index attached to the file name or the node name by the input unit 220.

3B and 3C are comparison tables of file names, indexes, and keywords stored in the external storage medium 14, for example. The index at this time is described by a three-digit number, but any other description may be used. Moreover, even if the keyword is actually written, it is not read by the eyes. The form of storing in the external storage medium 14 is as shown in FIG.
Either (b) or (c) can be selected.
Further, the indexes and keywords stored in the floppy disk 15 are also stored in a form substantially similar to that shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C. The keywords stored in the floppy disk 15 are
As a matter of course, I try not to read it with my eyes. At that time, the index may be directly used as a keyword.
At that time, the index is invisible, so the user
It is necessary to directly input the file name, the node name, etc. by the input means 220.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an external storage medium read control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for storing the number of times of reading on the floppy disk which is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
An external storage medium read control method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The information processing device 11 is
It starts up when the power is turned on (step 4
11). The information processing device 11 checks whether or not the external storage medium 14 is inserted into the drive of the information processing device 11 (step 412). The install program, index, and keyword reading means 212 in the information processing device 11 reads the install program in the external storage medium 14 (step 413). The read instal program is the instal program control means 2
It is activated by 14.

The information processing apparatus 11 reads all the file names and indexes in the external storage medium 14 and stores them in the buffer memory (1) 215 according to the execution of the installer program, and at the same time, the display control means 2
It is displayed on the display means 12 under the control of 16 (step 4).
14). The user selects the index assigned to the desired file from the all file names and indexes hierarchically displayed as a tree structure by the input means 220 (step 415). For the keyword in the buffer memory (1) 215, for example, a flag indicating that it has been selected is set. By selecting the index above, the installer program will
A message is displayed on the display means 12 to insert the floppy disk 15 into the drive. Information processing device 11
Checks whether the floppy disk 15 has been inserted into the drive (step 416).

The keyword reading means 217 reads the keyword stored in the floppy disk 15 and stores it in the buffer memory (2) 218 (step 41).
7). The comparing means 219 checks whether the flagged keyword stored in the buffer memory (1) 215 and the keyword stored in the buffer memory (2) 218 are the same (step 418). ). When the keywords match each other, the comparison means 219 informs the installer program control means 214 of the fact. The installr program control means 214,
According to the installer program, the external storage medium reading means 211 is instructed by a message as to whether to start downloading the information of the selected file from the information storage unit 143 in the external storage medium 14 to the storage means 221. Contact the user (step 41)
9).

When the user confirms the download of the above information, the information is downloaded to the storage means 221 according to the installer program (step 42).
0). If the selected information is not downloaded in step 419, the process returns to the beginning. Step 41
In 8, the information cannot be read if the keywords do not match, so the display control means 216 is requested to display an error display on the display means 12 (step 4).
21).

Next, a case where the reading of the floppy disk is restricted will be described. If the floppy disk is to be read out indefinitely, much information stored in a compact disk ROM or the like may be easily copied. As a method for preventing such a case, for example, the following method is used in the embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
There are a floppy disk in which the number of times of reading the keyword is set, a method in which the keyword cannot be copied, and a method in which the keyword is moved to the information processing apparatus side. When limiting the number of times a keyword is read, the floppy disk 15 is provided with a number-of-reads storage unit 152 that stores the number of times the keywords have been read, and a preset number-of-keyword-reading storage unit 153 that is set in advance. Further, in this case, in the information processing apparatus 11, after the keyword is read by the keyword reading unit 217, a keyword permission unit (not shown) checks the number of times the keyword has been read and the preset number of times to check the keyword. Only when the number of times of reading is less than the set number of times, the reading of the keyword is permitted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the reading of the keyword is permitted and the download is started (step 511). The information processing device 11 checks whether or not the download of the selected information is completed by the installation program (step 512). When the download is not completed, the information processing device 11 continues the search until the download is completed. The information processing device 11 is
If it is determined that the selected information has been downloaded, the read number storage unit 152 of the floppy disk 15 is notified (step 513). Floppy disk 15
Is read by the notification signal received.
For example, 1 is added to 2 (step 514).

Further, for example, the format of the floppy disk 15 is partially destroyed so that the keyword on the floppy disk 15 is not copied. In this case, as long as there is a compact disk and a floppy disk in which keywords are stored, a large amount of information in the external storage medium can be downloaded. Therefore, in order to prevent many information processing devices from copying information as described above, it is preferable to move the keyword to the information processing device side. Then, the information of the external storage medium stored in the information processing device can be easily used due to the presence of the keyword. Then, the keyword may be returned to the original floppy disk so that the information in the external storage medium cannot be used. By doing so, since the external storage medium and the keyword are in a one-to-one correspondence, the information of the external storage medium can be stored only in one of the information processing apparatuses desired by the user.

Although the present embodiment has been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Various design changes can be made without departing from the present invention described in the appended claims. In this embodiment, the contents of each block are not described in detail, but any known means may be used. Needless to say, the contents of the install program differ depending on the nature of the information and the like, and may be of any type.

Further, although the present embodiment has described the case where various typefaces and dictionaries are stored in the external storage medium, as information, in addition to various typefaces and dictionaries, what kind of image and other information But it's okay. For example, in the case of a typeface, a PostScript font compatible printer needs to store the Postscript font installer program in an external storage medium.

[0030]

According to the present invention, when the keyword stored in the external storage medium and the keyword stored in the floppy disk match, the information in the external storage medium is downloaded to the storage means in the information processing apparatus for the first time. be able to. According to the present invention, in order to prevent unlimited use of the information stored in the external storage medium by the keyword, it is possible to preliminarily limit the reading to the floppy disk. According to the present invention,
Since many pieces of information stored in the external storage medium are hierarchically stored as a tree structure, a desired number of pieces of information can be efficiently stored in the storage device of the information processing apparatus. According to the present invention, a floppy disk storing a keyword is easily sold by a distributor, and as a result, an inexpensive external storage medium is distributed through a large number of distributors.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an external storage medium read control system according to a part of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram for explaining an external storage medium read control system in the remaining part of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 1 and 2 are (a), (a) ′, and (a). b) and (b) ', (c) and (c)', and (d) and (d) ', respectively.

3A to 3C are diagrams for explaining an example of storing information in an external storage medium according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an external storage medium read control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for storing the number of times of reading on a floppy disk which is an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Information processing device 12 ... Display means 13 ... Printer 14 ... External storage medium 141 ... Instal program storage unit 142 ... Index pair keyword table storage unit 143 ... Information storage unit 15 ... .. Floppy disk 151 .. Keyword storage unit 152 .. Reading count storage unit 153 .. Keyword reading setting count storage unit 154 .. Keyword copy prohibition unit 211 .. External storage medium reading means 212 ... Instler program, index ,
Keyword reading means 213..Instler program storing means 214..Instler program control means 215..Buffer memory (1) 216..Display control means 217..Keyword reading means 218..Buffer memory (2) 219 .. Comparing means 220 ··· Input means 221 ··· Storage means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An external storage medium read control method for reading information stored in an external storage medium by a keyword stored in a floppy disk, wherein an installer program, a plurality of information, and an index and a keyword of the information are stored. External storage medium, a floppy disk in which a keyword for opening at least one information in the external storage medium is stored, a keyword for desired information stored in the external storage medium, and a keyword stored in the floppy disk And an information processing device having a comparing means for checking whether or not the keywords match each other and a means for downloading to the storage means for storing desired information of the external storage medium by a match signal of the comparing means, External storage medium reading characterized by Control system. 2. The information stored in the external storage medium is
The external storage medium read control method according to claim 1, wherein the information, the node, and the root are hierarchically stored as a tree structure, and an index and a keyword are added to the information, the node, and the root. 3. The external storage medium read control method according to claim 1, wherein reading of keywords from the floppy disk is restricted. 4. The keyword stored in the floppy disk is also moved to the information processing device while the information stored in the external storage medium is being used in the information processing device. External storage medium read control method described.