JPH09198156A - Public computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow unspecified many people to freely use a computer by only throwing in a charge corresponding to a using quantity. SOLUTION: At the time of using a public computer 1, a user 5 throws in the using charge from a charge throw-in device 13. When the using charge is thrown in, a charge managing part 14 sets the thrown-in amount of money to a counter 15. The counter 15 subtracts a fixed amount from the set amount every fixed time. In addition the user 5 loads a floppy disk 4 storing operation data 4A and individual environment setting data 4B to a floppy disk device 16. In this way a program execution part 12 copies operation data 4A in an operation area 11A and sets the operation environment of AP(application program) according to the individual environment setting data 4B to start AP. AP can be executed by the program execution part 12 until the amount set to the counter 15 becomes 0.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a public computer that can be freely used by an unspecified number of people.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, computers are generally installed in homes, offices, etc., and can be used only by a limited number of owners. Therefore, in order for a person who does not own the computer to use the computer, he or she must purchase the computer or use the computer with the permission of the owner. Further, even a person who can freely use a computer installed in an office or a home needs to purchase a portable computer if he / she wants to use the computer while on a business trip.

[0003]

As described above, conventionally, only a limited number of people such as the owner of a computer can use the computer, and if a portable computer is not purchased, the computer can be used on the go. Since a computer cannot be used, a computer that can be used freely, such as a public telephone, is desired as long as the usage fee is paid.

The present invention satisfies the above-mentioned demands, and an object thereof is a public computer which can be freely used by an unspecified number of people as long as a charge commensurate with the usage amount of the computer is paid. To provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention achieves the above object, an application program storage unit for storing an application program, a fee input device into which a fee is input, and an input input to the fee input device. A charge management unit that manages the remaining amount of money, which is the difference between the amount of money and the amount of money used corresponding to the amount of use of the public computer, and the application program can be executed until the remaining amount of money managed by the charge amount management unit becomes zero. And a possible program execution unit.

Further, the present invention makes it possible, when using a public computer, to use data created by a home computer or a public computer before that.
In order to easily set the operating environment of the application program, the input / output device that reads and writes to the portable storage medium in which the work data and the personal environment setting data are stored, and is freely used by users of public computers And the work data stored in the storage medium loaded in the input / output device are copied to the work region and stored in the storage medium loaded in the input / output device. The configuration is such that the operating environment of the application program is set according to the personal environment setting data.

Further, according to the present invention, data created by a public computer can be used later, and when the data is used, the operating environment of the application program can be made the same as that at the time of data creation. At the end of execution of the application program, the work data stored in the work area is written to the storage medium loaded in the input / output device, and the operating environment of the currently set application program is set as personal environment setting data. As a result, a structure for writing to the storage medium loaded in the input / output device is provided.

The present invention further comprises a communication processing unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from another computer via a network so that the data managing the other computer can be accessed. The network usage fee is added to manage the balance.

According to the above structure, when a fee is charged from the fee charging device, the program execution unit can execute the application program until the balance managed by the fee management unit becomes zero. Also, when using a public computer, if a portable storage medium is loaded into the input / output device, the work data that has already been created and stored in the storage medium is copied to the work area of the public computer and stored in the storage medium. The operating environment of the application program is set according to the stored personal environment setting data. Further, the data created by the public computer and the operating environment of the application program when the data is created are written in a portable storage medium.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, in which a public computer 1, a personal computer (personal computer) 2 installed in an office or a home, a public computer 1 and a personal computer 2 are connected. And a network 3 that operates.

The public computer 1 is installed in a place where it can be freely used by an unspecified number of people.

The public computer 1 includes a storage unit 11, a program execution unit 12, a charge input device 13, a charge management unit 14 having a counter 15, a floppy disk device 16, a keyboard 17, a CRT 18, and a communication process. And a section 19.

The storage unit 11 includes a work area 11A, an application storage unit 11B, and an interrupt program storage unit 11C.

The work area 11A is a work area which can be freely used by the user of the public computer 1. The application storage unit 11B stores a plurality of applications such as word processor applications and spreadsheet applications. Further, the interrupt program storage unit 11C stores a plurality of interrupt programs.

The charge input device 13 is a public computer 1
Has a function of notifying the charge amount to the charge management unit 14 every time the user charges the use charge of the public computer 1 with cash, a prepaid card, a credit card or the like.

The charge management unit 14 is provided with a counter 15 that subtracts a fixed amount of money corresponding to the amount of use of the public computer 1 for the fixed period of time from the set amount of money every time a fixed period of time elapses. Further, the charge management unit 14 has a function of outputting an interrupt signal indicating the start of use of the public computer 1 to the program execution unit 12 when the charge insertion device 13 notifies the first payment amount.
A function of adding the input amount of money notified from the charge input device 13 to the amount of money set in the counter 15 each time the input amount of money is notified from 3, and resetting the addition result in the counter 15, which is set in the counter 15. When the remaining amount of money is equal to or less than a certain amount, a function of outputting an interrupt signal indicating that the remaining amount of money has decreased to the program executing unit 12;
2 has a function of outputting an interrupt signal indicating that there is no balance.

The floppy disk device 16 is loaded with the floppy disk 4 carried by the user 5. On the floppy disk 4, work data 4A created by the user 5 using the public computer 1 and the personal computer 2 previously installed in the office, and the work data 4A.
The personal environment setting data 4B indicating the operating environment of the application used when the file was created (for example, in the case of a word processor application, whether the input format is roman character input or kana input) is stored. Although the working data 4A and the personal environment setting data 4B are stored in the floppy disk 4 in the present embodiment, other types of storage media may be used as long as they are storage media that can be carried by the user. it can.

The program execution unit 12 has a function of executing an application program and an interrupt program stored in the application storage unit 11B and the interrupt program storage unit 11C of the storage unit 11, and rewrites the application program and the interrupt program. Has a function to prohibit.

The communication processing unit 19 has a function of transmitting / receiving data to / from another computer via the network 3.

In FIG. 1, the public computer 1
Although only one computer is shown, a large number of public computers having the same configuration are installed in a place freely usable by an unspecified number of people in a freely usable state. Further, the application programs stored in each public computer are all the same so that the data created by one public computer can be used by another public computer.

2 and 3 are flow charts showing an example of the processing of the charge management unit 14, and FIGS. 4 to 7 are flow charts showing an example of the processing of the program execution unit 12. The flow chart of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The operation will be described.

When using the public computer 1, the user first inputs the usage fee from the fee insertion device 13 using cash, a prepaid card or the like.

The charge input device 13 notifies the charge management unit 14 of the input amount when the charge is input.

When the charge management unit 14 receives the notification of the first payment amount from the charge input device 13, the program execution unit 1
An interrupt signal indicating the start of use is output to 2 (FIG. 2, S1), and then the deposit amount notified to the counter 15 is set (S2). After that, the program execution unit 12
It waits until the end signal or the billing start signal is sent from (S5, S6). When the charge amount is notified from the charge input device 13 while waiting for the end signal and the charge start signal, the amount is added to the amount set in the counter 15 ( S3, S4).

The program execution unit 12 is composed of a charge management unit 14
When an interrupt signal indicating the start of use is added from, the control is transferred to a program to be executed when the interrupt signal indicating the start of use is added to the interrupt programs stored in the interrupt program storage unit 11C. The processing shown in is performed.

First, a prompting message for prompting the loading of the floppy disk is displayed on the CRT 18 to prompt the user 5 to load the floppy disk 4 (S31).

Even after a certain period of time has passed after the prompting text was displayed, the floppy disk 4 remains in the floppy disk device 16
If it is not loaded (NO in S32, YE in S33)
In S), the program execution unit 12 outputs an end signal to the charge management unit 14 (S34).

The charge management unit 14 includes a program execution unit 12
When an end signal is sent from (YES in S2 of Fig. 2)
Then, after notifying the charge insertion device 13 of the remaining amount of money set in the counter 15, the counter 15 is set to 0 (FIG. 3, S21, S22). When the remaining amount is notified, the fee input device 13 returns the notified amount to the user 5.

When the floppy disk 4 is loaded in the floppy disk device 16 within a certain time after displaying the prompting message for prompting the loading of the floppy disk 4, the program execution section 12 (YES in FIG. 4, S32). Is
A list of application programs (AP) stored in the application storage unit 11B is displayed on the CRT 18 (S35).

When the list of application programs is displayed on the CRT 18, the user 5 moves the cursor using the keyboard 17, for example, and selects the application program to be used. If there is no desired application program in the list of application programs, the user 5 uses the keyboard 17
The use of the public computer 1 is selected by pressing the end key provided in the
S, S34).

When the application program is selected (YES in S37), the program execution section 12 selects the application selected from the work data 4A stored in the floppy disk 4 loaded in the floppy disk device 16. The work data corresponding to the program is copied to the work area 11A (S38), and then based on the personal environment setting data corresponding to the selected application program among the personal environment setting data 4B stored in the floppy disk 4. The operating environment of the application program is set (S39). After that, the program execution unit 12 activates the selected application program (S40) and outputs a billing start signal to the charge management unit 14 (S41).

When the application program is activated, the user 5 uses the application program to perform processing. The data created at that time is the work area 1
It is stored in 1A. If the user 5 needs to change the operating environment of the application program, he or she operates the keyboard 17 or the like to change the operating environment.

When the charge start signal is added (S6 in FIG. 2), the charge management unit 14 starts the subtraction operation of the counter 15 (S7). As a result, the counter 15 starts the process of subtracting a fixed amount of money, which is commensurate with the usage charge of the public computer 1 for the fixed time, from the set amount of money every fixed time.

After that, the charge management unit 14 operates the counter 15
When the balance set in is less than or equal to the predetermined amount (S
If YES in 12), an interrupt signal indicating that the remaining amount of money has decreased is output to the program execution unit 12 (S1).
3).

The program execution unit 12 is composed of a charge management unit 14
When an interrupt signal indicating that the balance is low is added from, the program executed when the interrupt signal indicating that the balance is low is added among the interrupt programs stored in the interrupt program storage unit 11C. The control is transferred, and as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5, a warning message indicating that the remaining amount has been reduced is displayed on the CRT 18 and the user 5 is prompted to additionally charge a charge (S51).

When the user 5 sees this warning message and inputs a fee into the fee input device 13, the fee input device 13
The charge amount is notified from the charge management unit 14.

When the charge amount is notified (YES in S3 in FIG. 3), the charge managing unit 14 adds the notified amount to the amount set in the counter 15 (S15). If the balance set in the counter exceeds the predetermined amount, an interrupt signal indicating cancellation of the warning message is output to the program execution unit 12 (YES in S16, S17).

When this interrupt signal is added, the program execution unit 12 controls the program to be executed when the interrupt signal indicating cancellation of the warning message is added among the interrupt programs stored in the interrupt program storage unit 11C. C, as shown in the flow chart of FIG.
The display of the warning message is erased from the RT 18 (S61).

When the balance set in the counter 15 becomes 0 (YES in S3 of FIG. 3), the charge managing unit 14 outputs an interrupt signal indicating no balance to the program executing unit 12. Yes (S23).

When this interrupt signal is added, the program execution unit 12 controls the interrupt program executed when an interrupt signal indicating that there is no remaining money is added among the interrupt programs stored in the interrupt program storage unit 11C. Move. As a result, the program execution unit 1
As shown in the flow chart of FIG.
The work data stored in A and the personal environment setting data indicating the current operating environment of the application program are written to the floppy disk 4 loaded in the floppy disk device 16 (S71), and then the data in the work area 11A is written. All are erased (S72).

Further, the program execution unit 12 allows the user 5 to execute the keyboard 1 during execution of the application program.
By operating the end key provided in 7,
When the end of the application program is instructed, an end signal is output to the charge management unit 14 and the same processing as S71 and S72 shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

The charge management unit 14 includes the program execution unit 12
When an end signal is added from (See Fig. 3, S20 is YE
S), after notifying the balance set in the counter 15 to the fee input device 13 (S21), the value of the counter 15 is set to 0.
(S22). When the charge deposit device 13 is notified of the balance, the charge deposit device 13 returns the notified balance to the user 5.

Further, the public computer 1 can communicate with other computers connected to the network 3 by using the communication processing section 19 and can access the data held by the computer. . During communication with another computer, the communication processing unit 19 outputs a charging signal to the charge management unit 14 each time the network usage charge determined by the amount of communication information reaches a predetermined amount.

When the charge signal is added from the communication processing unit 19 (YES in S3 of FIG. 3), the charge management unit 14 subtracts the above-mentioned predetermined amount from the balance set in the counter 15 (S19). . That is, the charge management unit 14
Manage the balance by adding network usage charges.

In the above-described embodiment, the usage fee of the public computer 1 is subtracted from the balance set in the counter 15 every time the usage time of the public computer 1 reaches a fixed time. The balance of the public computer 1 is managed by subtracting a fixed amount from the balance set in the counter 15 every time a fixed number of instructions are executed by the program execution unit 12. It is also possible to manage the balance.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the charge input device for inputting a charge, and the balance that is the difference between the input amount input from the charge input device and the usage amount commensurate with the usage amount of the public computer. Since it has a charge management unit that manages it and a program execution unit that can execute application programs until the balance reaches 0, anyone can use the computer as long as the charge is paid according to the amount of computer usage. be able to.

Further, according to the present invention, an input / output device for reading and writing a portable storage medium in which work data and personal environment setting data are stored, and work data on the storage medium loaded in the input / output device are stored in a public computer. It is equipped with a configuration in which the operating environment of the application program is set in accordance with the personal environment setting data on the storage medium while copying it to the work area of, and when using a public computer, create it with a home computer or a public computer before that. The data can be used, and the operating environment of the application program to be activated can be easily set.

Further, according to the present invention, at the end of execution of the application program, the work data in the work area is written to a portable storage medium, and the operating environment of the application program currently set can be carried as personal environment setting data. Since the data is written in a different storage medium, the data created by the public computer can be used later and the operating environment of the application program when the data is created can be easily reproduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since the communication processing unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from another computer via the network is provided, the data managed by the other computer can be accessed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a charge management unit 14.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a charge management unit 14.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a program execution unit 12.

5 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the program execution unit 12. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the program execution unit 12.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the program execution unit 12.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Public computer 11 ... Storage part 11A ... Work area 11B ... Application storage part 11C ... Interrupt program storage part 12 ... Program execution part 13 ... Charge input device 14 ... Charge management part 15 ... Counter 16 ... Floppy disk device 17 ... Keyboard 18 ... CRT 19 ... Communication processing unit 2 ... Personal computer 3 ... Network 4 ... Floppy disk 4A ... Work data 4B ... Personal environment setting data 5 ... User

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An application program storage unit in which an application program is stored, a fee input device into which a fee is input, an input amount input to the fee input device, and a usage amount commensurate with the usage amount of a public computer. It is characterized by further comprising: a charge management unit for managing the balance, which is a difference, and a program execution unit capable of executing the application program until the balance managed by the charge management unit becomes zero. Public computer. 2. An input / output device for reading and writing a portable storage medium in which work data and personal environment setting data are stored, a work area permitted to be freely used by a public computer user, and The work data stored in the storage medium loaded in the entry output device is copied to the work area, and the application program is executed according to the personal environment setting data stored in the storage medium loaded in the input / output device. The public computer according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for setting an operating environment of. 3. When the execution of the application program ends, the work data stored in the work area is written to the storage medium loaded in the input / output device, and the operating environment of the application program currently set is set. 3. The public computer according to claim 2, further comprising a configuration for writing the data as personal environment setting data to the storage medium loaded in the input / output device. 4. A communication processing unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from another computer via a network is provided, and the charge management unit is configured to add a network usage charge and manage the balance. Claim 3
The listed public computer.