JPH10222446A - Device, system and method for internet access using information memory type card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily enable internet access by automatically executing series of processes from connection to a network to the possession of internet information. SOLUTION: This system is composed of a card interface part 9 for reading information stored in an information memory type card 9a storing the telephone number of internet access point, the ID of card user and the password of card user and an information memory type card 9b storing URL information for designating the storage place of home page while freely attachably and detachably loading these cards 9a and 9b, communication interface part 10 for automatically originating a call to the internet access point and connecting it to a WWW server based on the information read from the card 9a, information processing part 11 for possessing and processing WWW information by accessing the WWW server based on the information read from the card 9b, and media interface part 12 for presenting the WWW information to the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information storage type card such as an IC card or a magnetic card and a user represented by the Internet through a communication line by utilizing information stored in the card. The present invention relates to an Internet access apparatus and system using an information storage type card which enables connection to a computer communication network and reception of multimedia information, and a method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general method for receiving multimedia information by connecting to a computer communication network represented by the Internet will be described with reference to FIG. First, a personal computer 2 is prepared as hardware,
A connection program 4 for connecting to a WWW (World Wide Web) server 6 installed at an access point using a communication line 1 such as a telephone or ISDN by a method called dial-up, and an Internet 7
A program 5 called a browser for accessing the multimedia information published above and receiving / displaying the information is installed. Further, it is necessary to prepare a system to which the communication interface 3 such as a modem and a terminal adapter is connected. Using this system, connection and information are obtained in the following procedure.

(1) The connection program 4 is activated and transmitted to the access point 6 to execute a procedure for connecting to the Internet 7 (input of a user ID, confirmation of a password, etc.).

(2) Activate the browser program 5 to connect to the Internet 7, access multimedia information such as a homepage, and select and receive necessary information.

[0005] In the above system, the user has to make settings relating to communication on the network in advance for these programs. Further, in step (1), a connection program is started to set a telephone number of a connection destination, and a user ID and a password must be input at the time of connection. Further, at the stage (2), the information can be accessed only by starting another program and inputting a tag called a URL (uniform resource locator) designating an access destination of the multimedia information.

[0006]

In the above-mentioned conventional method, the user has to go through complicated setting procedures before obtaining actual information. Even if the user is interested in the Internet, but is not familiar with the handling of computers and communication networks using computers, it is extremely difficult to access the Internet smoothly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and automatically executes a series of processes from connection to a network to acquisition of Internet information, thereby enabling a user who is a novice personal computer. Another object of the present invention is to provide an Internet access apparatus and system using an information storage type card which enables easy Internet access, and a method therefor.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first method for storing a telephone number of an Internet access point, an ID of a card user, and a password of the card user. An information storage type card and a second information storage type card storing URL information for specifying a storage location of a home page are detachably mounted,
A card interface unit for reading information stored in the first and second information storage type cards, and automatically transmitting information to an Internet access point based on the information read from the first information storage type card to WWW A communication interface unit for connecting to a server;
W based on the information read from the information storage card of
An information processing unit that obtains and processes WWW information by accessing a WWW server, a media interface unit that presents the WWW information to a user, and an operation interface unit that receives a user operation on the presented information. An internet access device using an information storage card, comprising:
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the card interface unit detects that the first information storage type card is inserted, activates each unit, and stores the first information storage type card in the first information storage type card. The first information storage type card is read out, and the operation of each unit is terminated upon detecting that the first information storage type card has been removed. Claim 3
According to the invention described in the above, the card interface unit detects that the second information storage type card has been inserted, reads out the information stored in the second information storage type card, and transmits the information to the communication interface unit. The information stored in the first and second information storage cards is transferred to connect to a WWW server and access to WWW information, and it is detected that the second information storage card has been removed. And terminates the connection with the WWW server.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the URL information for designating a storage location of a home page, the information processing unit can set a time during which the second information storage type card can be connected to WWW information. When the prescribed data is stored, the connectable time stored in the second information storage type card is read through the card interface unit, and the connectable time is connected according to the time connected to the WWW server. The present invention is characterized in that the connectable time stored in the second information storage type card is updated to a subtraction result via the card interface unit by reducing the required time. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the case where the information processing unit further stores login information required for displaying WWW information on the first information storage card, Receiving the log-in procedure request, the log-in information stored in the first information storage card is read via the card interface unit, and the log-in information is transmitted. Further, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the information processing section is further configured to store the point information necessary for displaying WWW information in the second information storage card, When a point request is received, the point information stored in the second information storage type card is read through the card interface unit, and the point information is processed in accordance with the point request. And updating the point information stored in the second information storage type card to a processing result.

Next, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the telephone number of the Internet access point and the I
D and a first information storage card storing a password of a card user, and a second information storage card storing URL information for specifying a storage location of a home page, and the first and second information storage cards are used. A card information processing device for reading the information stored in the first and second information storage type cards upon detecting the insertion of the information storage type card and activating the system; A communication processing device for automatically transmitting to the Internet access point based on the information read from the storage type card and connecting to the WWW server; and a WWW server based on the information read from the second information storage type card. An information processing device that acquires and processes WWW information such as a homepage by accessing the media, and a media in which presents the WWW information to a user And over the face unit, an internet access system using information storage type card, characterized in that it is composed of an operation interface device for manipulating information indicated 該提. Claim 8
According to the invention, the card information processing apparatus detects that the first information storage type card is inserted, activates a system, and reads out information stored in the first information storage type card. The system is characterized by detecting that the first information storage card has been removed and terminating the system. According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the card information processing apparatus, the information stored in the second information storage type card is read by detecting that the second information storage type card has been inserted. Transfer the information stored in the first and second information storage type cards to the communication processing device, and connect to the WWW server;
The method is characterized in that access to W information is performed, the connection with the WWW server is terminated upon detecting that the second information storage type card has been removed.

[0011] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus, the second information storage card includes WWW in addition to URL information designating a storage location of a homepage.
When data defining a connectable time for information is stored, the connectable time stored in the second information storage type card is read via the card information processing device, and connected to the WWW server. The connectable time is reduced according to the connected time, and the connectable time stored in the second information storage type card is updated to a subtraction result via the card information processing device. . Further, in the invention according to claim 11, when the information processing apparatus further stores login information required for displaying WWW information on the first information storage card, the information processing apparatus displays the WWW information. Receiving the log-in procedure request, the log-in information stored in the first information storage card is read via the card information processing device, and the log-in information is transmitted. In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, when the information processing apparatus further stores point information required for WWW information display on the second information storage card, When a point request is received, the point information stored in the second information storage type card is read through the card information processing device, and the point information is processed in accordance with the point request. It is characterized in that the point information stored in the second information storage card is updated to the processing result via the device.

[0012] Next, the invention according to claim 13 is characterized in that the telephone number of the Internet access point and the I
D, and automatically transmits to the Internet access point based on the information read from the first information storage card storing the password of the card user, and
Connects to a server, obtains WWW information by accessing a WWW server based on information read from a second information storage card storing URL information specifying a storage location of a homepage, and stores the WWW information. This is an Internet access method using an information storage card presented to a user.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the Internet access apparatus according to the present invention. The Internet access device 8 includes a card interface unit 9, a communication interface unit 10, an information processing unit 11, a media interface unit 12, and an operation interface unit 13. The Internet access device 8 is a minimum one required for Internet access, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, a modem or a terminal adapter, among the components in the personal computer 2 and the communication interface 3 shown in FIG. Configuration or personal computer 2
The communication interface 3 can be realized by adding the card interface unit 9 to the integrated configuration.

The card interface section 9 detachably mounts two information storage type cards 9a and 9b capable of storing information in advance in an IC or a magnetic stripe. 9b, or reads information stored in the information storage card 9a,
For example, predetermined information is written in 9b. The communication interface unit 10 provides an interface function for the communication line 1 such as a telephone or ISDN. In the present invention, the communication interface unit 10 automatically sends an Internet access point based on information read from the information storage type cards 9a and 9b. And a function to connect to a WWW server that is to be an access point. In the following, the server installed at the access point is called a “WWW server”, and homepage information obtained from this “WWW server” or a server on the Internet connected via the “WWW server” is referred to. "W
It is called “WW information” or “multimedia information”.

The information processing section 11 obtains WWW information such as a homepage by accessing information in a WWW server based on the information read from the cards 9a and 9b, and processes the information. The media interface unit 12 has a function of presenting the user with the WWW information acquired by the information processing unit 11 and the information inside the Internet access device 8, and a display device such as a CRT and a sound information output device such as a speaker. Function as an interface for outputting a signal to the The operation interface unit 13 provides an interface function for a user to operate information presented by the media interface unit 12, and includes an interface for operators such as a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, and a remote control unit. I have.

The media interface unit 12
Instead of the above, it is possible that the display unit and the audio information output unit are provided by themselves to directly present information to the user. It is also possible to have it.

The two types of information storage type cards 9a and 9b mounted on the card interface unit 9 store, for example, the telephone number of the Internet access point, the ID of the card user, and the password of the card user in one of the cards 9a. By doing so, the information for connecting to the WWW server is input and the URL information for specifying the storage location of the homepage is stored in the other card 9b, so that the information for accessing the WWW information is stored. input. The card interface unit 9 detects that the card 9a for connecting to the WWW server is inserted, activates each unit in the device 8, and activates the card 9a.
The information stored in “a” is read, and it is detected that the card 9a has been removed. Also,
The card interface unit 9 detects that the card 9b for accessing the WWW information is inserted, reads out the information stored in the card 9b, and stores the information stored in the communication interface unit 10 in the cards 9a and 9b. The information is transferred to connect to the WWW server and access the WWW information. The card interface unit 9 detects that the card 9b has been removed,
A process for terminating the connection with the WWW server is performed. Also,
The card interface unit 9 detects that the card 9b has been removed,
2 is transmitted to the user and information for determining the continuation / termination of the connection with the WWW server is presented to the user, and the user's selection is received via the operation interface unit 13 and the connection continuation / Perform end processing.

It should be noted that the card 9b can store, in addition to the URL information designating the storage location of the home page, data defining the time during which the WWW information can be connected. In this case, the Internet access device 8
In the card interface unit 9, the connection time data is read when the insertion of the card 9b is detected, and the connection is started if the connection time is not zero,
During the connection, the connectable time is reduced according to the connectable time, and the information on the connectable time of the card 9b is rewritten. It is possible to have a function of presenting to the user that the connection is not possible because the time is zero. Connection time information
It can be generated by the communication interface unit 9 or generated by the WWW server of the connection destination and periodically transferred to the communication interface unit 9.

As described above, in the Internet access device 8 shown in FIG. 1, the information read by the card interface unit 9 is transferred to the communication interface unit 10 and the information processing unit 11, where the information is read.
A connection is made to a WWW server installed at the access point 6 via the communication line 1. The information processing unit 11 accesses the Internet 7 via the communication interface unit 10 to acquire multimedia information, transfers the multimedia information to the media interface unit 12, and presents the multimedia information to the user.
The user operates multimedia information via the operation interface unit 13.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the Internet access system according to the present invention.
The internet access system 20 shown in FIG. 2 is configured by combining the components of the internet access device described with reference to FIG. 1 with devices that operate independently (for example, combining a personal computer or a workstation with its input / output peripheral devices). Card information processing device 14, communication processing device 15, information processing device 16, media interface device 17, operation interface device 18 It is composed of FIG.
Card information processing device 14, communication processing device 15, information processing device 16, media interface device 17,
And the operation interface device 18 are respectively shown in FIG.
Provides the same functions as the card interface unit 9, communication interface unit 10, information processing unit 11, media interface unit 12, and operation interface unit 13 shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, the card information processing apparatus 1
The information obtained in step 4 is transferred to the information processing device 15. The information processing device 16 first receives a telephone / I
A connection is made to a WWW server installed at the access point 6 via the SDN line 1. Next, the information processing device 16
Then, the user accesses the Internet 7 via the communication processing device 15 to acquire multimedia information, transfers the multimedia information to the media interface device 17, and presents it to the user. The user operates the multimedia information via the operation interface device 18.

The card information processing device 14 uses two types of information storage type cards 9a and 9b, and the first card 9a contains the telephone number of the Internet access point, the card user ID, and the card user password. By storing it, it is used only for connecting to the WWW server, and by storing the URL information for specifying the storage location of the home page in the second card 9b,
It can only be used to access WWW information.

In the card information processing device 14, WW
It is possible to detect that the card 9a for accessing the W information has been removed and terminate the connection with the WWW server. Also, the card information processing device 14
Then, when the card 9b for accessing the WWW information is detected to be removed, a request is transmitted to the information processing device 16 and the information for determining the continuation / end of the connection with the WWW server is transmitted to the media interface device 1.
7, the user's selection can be received via the operation interface device 18, and processing can be performed based on the selection.

Further, in the card information processing device 14,
When the insertion of the card 9b is detected, the connectable time data is read, the connection is started if the connectable time is not zero, and the connectable time is reduced according to the connect time during the connection,
The information of the connectable time of the card 9b is rewritten, and if it is zero, the connection is terminated and a request is transmitted to the information processing device at the same time, and the media interface device 1 notifies that the connectable time is zero and the connection is impossible.
7 can be provided to the user.

The connection time information is stored in the communication processing device 15.
Alternatively, it may be generated by the information processing apparatus 16 or generated by the connection destination WWW server and periodically transferred to the information processing apparatus 16.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are flowcharts showing an example of the flow of processing in the Internet connection device and system according to the present invention. Connectors in the flowcharts shown in the respective drawings are denoted by common reference numerals for the respective drawings. Accordingly, like-numbered connectors shown in the same drawing or in other drawings are joined together. FIG. 3 shows a flow of the main processing. The main processing is
The processing is started by inserting a card 9a (hereinafter, referred to as an ID card) into the card interface unit 9 or the card information processing apparatus 14, and the processing is ended by removing the card 9a.
When the ID card insertion check routine S1 confirms the insertion of the ID card, the operation mode is started (S2) and the ID card removal check routine S3 is started. When the removal of the ID card is confirmed, the operation mode is forcibly terminated even if the processing of the operation mode is being executed (S4), and the process returns to the ID card insertion check routine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing in the operation mode started in step S2 in FIG.
In the operation mode, first, the information stored in the ID card is read (S5), and the media interface 12
Alternatively, an initial screen for notifying the user that the operation mode has been started by the media interface device 12 is displayed (S6), and the card interface unit 9 is displayed.
Alternatively, the insertion check routine S7 of the card 9b (hereinafter, referred to as a URL card) into the card information processing device 14
Move to When the insertion of the URL card is confirmed, the processing of the access mode is started (S8), and the process proceeds to a URL card removal check routine S9. URL
Even if the processing of the access mode is being executed at the time of confirming the removal of the card, the line is forcibly disconnected to terminate the processing (S10), and the processing returns to the URL card insertion check routine S7.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the access mode process started in step S8 of FIG. In the access mode, first, information stored in the URL card is read (S11). Next, a call is made to the access point using the telephone number of the access point stored in the ID card to make a dial-up connection (S12). In order to connect to a WWW server,
The ID information of the user read from the ID card is transmitted to the access point S13, the password information for user authentication is transmitted (S14), and the connection to the WWW server is completed. Then, the URL information obtained from the URL card is transmitted to the Internet via a WWW server (S15), and the multimedia information received via the WWW server (S16) is displayed (S17). Then, after the process in the operation mode is started (S18), the process ends.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the operation mode process started in step S18 in FIG. At the same time as the start of the operation mode (S19), a check routine S20 for inputting operation information is started. When an input of operation information is detected by the operation interface unit 13 or the operation interface device 18, operation information processing is performed (S
21), Check routine for input of operation information after completion S20
Return to processing.

FIG. 7 shows an example of another process relating to the operation mode started in step S2 of FIG.
Compared to the operation mode of FIG. 4, the process further includes a process for confirming with the user whether or not the access mode is to be ended.

First, the information stored in the ID card is read (S22), and an initial screen for notifying the user that the operation mode has been started is displayed (S23).
The process proceeds to the RL card insertion check routine S24.
When the insertion of the URL card is confirmed, the processing of the access mode is started (S25), and the process proceeds to a URL card removal check routine S26. Even if the access mode processing is being executed when the removal of the URL card is confirmed, a screen for confirming whether the operation mode can be terminated by forcibly interrupting the operation mode is displayed (S27) and the input from the user is checked. (S28). If the end is selected, the line is disconnected and the access mode is ended (S29), and then the URL card insertion check routine S
The process returns to 24. If continuation is selected, the process returns to the URL card insertion check routine S24 while the line is connected.

FIG. 8 shows an example of another process of the access mode started in step S8 of FIG. In the access mode processing example of FIG. 8, when the time that can be connected to the URL card is recorded, the connection time is calculated in the Internet access device or the Internet access system, and the time that the URL card can be connected is updated. It is a flowchart at the time of performing.
In the access mode, first, URL information and connectable time information stored in the URL card are read (S
30). It is determined whether the connectable time has not expired (S31), and if the connectable time is zero, the URL
The connection mode is terminated by the same processing as that at the time of card removal (S41). If connectable time is not zero, ID
A call is made to the access point using the telephone number of the access point stored in the card to make a dial-up connection (S32). Further, in order to connect to the WWW server, the ID information of the user read from the ID card is transmitted to the access point (S33), the password information for user authentication is transmitted (S34), and the connection to the WWW server is completed. Then, the URL information obtained from the URL card is transmitted to the Internet (S35), and WW
The multimedia information received via the W server (S36) is displayed (S37), and the operation mode process is started (S37). At the same time, the calculation of the connection time is started (S39), and the connectable time is updated at regular intervals and the URL is updated.
At the same time, the process is returned to the routine S31 for determining whether the connectable time is not zero or not (S40).

FIG. 9 shows an example of another process of the access mode started in step S8 of FIG. In the access mode processing example of FIG. 9, when the time that can be connected to the URL card is recorded, this connection time is set to W
It is a flowchart at the time of updating the connectable time of a ULR card obtained from a WW server. In the access mode, first, the URL information and the connectable time information stored in the URL card are read (S42). It is determined whether the connectable time has not expired (S4).
3) If the connectable time is zero, the connection mode is terminated by the same processing as when the URL card is removed (S5).
3). If the connectable time is not zero, a dial-up connection is made by calling the access point using the telephone number of the access point stored in the ID card (S44). Further, in order to connect to the WWW server, the ID information of the user read from the ID card is transmitted to the access point (S45), the password information for user authentication is transmitted (S46), and the connection to the WWW server is completed. And the URL obtained from the URL card
The information is transmitted to the Internet via the WWW server (S47), and is received via the WWW server (S4).
8) The multimedia information is displayed (S49), and the operation mode process is started (S50). At the same time, the connection time is periodically received from the WWW server (S51), the connectable time is updated at regular intervals and stored in the URL card (S52), and the routine S43 is performed to determine whether the connectable time is not zero. Back.

As described above, in the case where the connectable time is stored in the URL card, the URL card is sold at a charge corresponding to the stored connectable time, and the multimedia access device or the system shown in FIGS.
By operating in the access mode described in the above section, it is possible to give the URL card the character as a prepaid card.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing of the access mode started in step S8 of FIG. The processing example of the access mode in FIG. 10 is such that when login information required for displaying WWW information is further stored in the ID card, and a login procedure request for displaying WWW information is received, It is a flowchart at the time of transmitting the stored login information.

In the access mode, first, the URL information stored in the URL card and the login information for accessing the home page indicated by the URL information from the ID card are read (S61). Next, a dial-up connection is made by calling the access point using the telephone number of the access point stored in the ID card (S62). Further, in order to connect to the WWW server, the ID information of the user read from the ID card is transmitted to the access point (S63), and the password information for user authentication is transmitted (S64).
Complete the connection to the WWW server. Then, the URL information obtained from the URL card is transmitted to the Internet (S65).

When a login procedure request for displaying multimedia information is sent from a server on the Internet storing the homepage information indicated by the URL information via the WWW server (S66), the request is obtained from the ID card. The login information for displaying the multimedia information is transmitted to the server on the Internet via the WWW server (S67), and the login procedure is completed. Then, it is received via the WWW server (S
68) The multimedia information is displayed (S69), and the operation mode process is started (S70). In the above operation, in step S61, the URL is converted from the ID card
The user reads the login information for accessing the homepage indicated by the information, but when the login procedure is requested (S66), the UR is read from the ID card.
The login information for reading the home page indicated by the L information may be read, and the login information may be transmitted to the Internet (S67) to complete the login procedure.

As described above, the U stored in the URL card is
The login information of the homepage indicated by the RL information is stored in the ID card and distributed to the user, and the multimedia access apparatus or system operates in the access mode described in FIG. You can give the character as a key to see. In addition, by strictly storing the ID card storing personal information,
The access of non-members can be sufficiently restricted. Note that the ID card contains login information of the homepage indicated by the URL information stored in each URL card.
A plurality of RL information can be stored.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing another processing example of the access mode started in step S8 of FIG. The processing example of the access mode shown in FIG. 11 is based on the case where point information required for displaying WWW information is further stored in a URL card, and when a request for points for displaying WWW information is received, the URL card is stored in this URL card. It is a flowchart at the time of updating point information. In the access mode, first, the URL information stored in the URL card and the point information for displaying the multimedia information necessary for viewing the home page indicated by the URL information are read (S7).
1). Next, a dial-up connection is made by calling the access point using the telephone number of the access point stored in the ID card (S72). Further, in order to connect to the WWW server, the ID information of the user read from the ID card is transmitted to the access point (S73), and the password information for user authentication is transmitted (S74), and the connection to the WWW server is completed. I do. Then, the URL information obtained from the URL card is transmitted to the Internet (S75).

When a request for points required for displaying multimedia information is sent from a server on the Internet that stores homepage information indicated by the URL information via a WWW server (S7).
6) The points are processed in accordance with the contents of the request, and the point information of the URL card is updated (S77). For example, if the requested content is to reduce the requested number of points, the UR is determined in step S71.
The requested point number is subtracted from the point information obtained from the L card, and the point information of the URL card is updated by rewriting the point information with the result of the subtraction in the URL card. This step S77
In the above, if the result of subtracting the requested number of points is negative, or if the points are already zero, the user is notified to that effect and the access mode is terminated. If the requested content is to add the requested number of points, the requested point number is added to the point information obtained from the URL card in step S71, and the point information is added to the result of addition in the URL card. By rewriting, the point information of the URL card is updated. Next, the multimedia information received via the WWW server (S78) is displayed (S79),
The process in the operation mode is started (S80).

In the above operation, step S71
Is reading the point information from the URL card, and if a point request is made (S76), the U
The point information may be read from the RL card, the requested number of points may be processed, and the point information of the URL card may be updated based on the processing result (S77). In addition, the point request is not made only once when accessing the homepage, but the content of the multimedia information displayed by being operated in the operation mode,
Alternatively, the request may be made sequentially according to the display time, and the point information of the URL card may be updated for each request in the Internet access device or the Internet access system.

As described above, the point information is stored in the URL card together with the URL information, and the URL card is sold at a charge corresponding to the amount of the point information. By operating in the mode, the URL card can be given the character of a prepaid card for viewing the home page indicated by the URL information. In addition, when the URL card is distributed free of charge, the personal computer is given a character as a sample card for confirming the contents of the home page that allows the user to view the home page indicated by the URL information stored in the URL card by the stored number of points. be able to. Note that the URL
There may be a case where a membership procedure is required in advance to view the home page indicated by the URL information stored in the card, and points are required to view the home page. In such a case, assuming that the login information for viewing the home page is stored in the ID card and the point information is stored in the URL card, the operation in the access mode is the same as the operation combining FIG. 10 and FIG. Become.

By the way, it is preferable to use a contact type or non-contact type IC card as the ID card and the URL card which are the information storage type cards in consideration of price, portability and function. As described above, the ID card mainly contains personal information such as the telephone number of the Internet access point, the ID of the card user, and the password of the card user, which are information for connecting to the WWW server serving as the access point. Is stored. Therefore,
Since high security for protecting such personal information is required, it is preferable to use an IC card with a built-in processor capable of performing encryption processing in the card, for example, an IC card compliant with ISO7816. On the other hand, URL cards
After connecting to a WWW server serving as an access point with an ID card, information on what service / information is used on the Internet is stored. Specifically, the URL information for specifying the storage location of the homepage is stored as described above, but this information does not require high security. Since this information can be used in combination with any ID card, a low-cost serial memory card should be used in consideration of the distribution.

By dividing into two cards in this way, an ID card is issued to a user one by one through a distribution route that can secure security, and one URL card is used for a person who wants to widely disclose address information of a homepage. This facilitates distribution by direct mail or attachment to a magazine through a route that does not require much security other than the ID card. Also,
The ID card is a key for connecting to a WWW server serving as an access point, and the URL card is a URL to be recorded.
It can have a character as a key for connecting to a home page indicated by information. Therefore, the user needs only one I
U of homepage where I want to receive D card and service / information
By having a plurality of URL cards each storing RL information, it becomes possible to easily access each homepage where the user wants to receive the service / information simply by replacing the URL card.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a series of operations from connection to a WWW server to access to WWW information and acquisition of data are simplified, and a user can access the Internet. An easy environment is realized. In the above-described embodiment, the Internet has been described as an example of the computer communication network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is applicable to other computer communication networks. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an information storage card (IC card) has been described as a preferred embodiment as an ID card or a URL card, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to other storage media. It is possible.

Further, a program for controlling each unit and each device in the Internet access apparatus in FIG. 1 and the Internet access system in FIG. 2 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium for realizing the operation described above. The operation may be realized by causing a computer to read a program recorded on the recording medium and executing the program.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, from the connection to the network, the Internet information (WWW information)
A series of processes up to the acquisition of the information can be automatically executed, and an environment where the user can easily access the Internet can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an Internet access apparatus described in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an Internet access system described in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a main process according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation mode process according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an access mode process according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation mode process according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of another process relating to the operation mode of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process related to an access mode according to the present invention when a connectable time is recorded in a URL card.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of another process related to the access mode of the present invention when a connectable time is recorded in a URL card.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing relating to an access mode of the present invention when login information for displaying multimedia information is recorded on an ID card.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of another process related to the access mode of the present invention when point information for displaying multimedia information is recorded on a URL card.

FIG. 12 is a system configuration diagram showing one mode of a conventional system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication line (telephone / ISDN line) 2 Personal computer 3 Communication interface 4 Connection program 5 Browser program 6 Access point / WWW server 7 Internet 8 Internet access device 9 Card interface section 9a Information storage type card (ID card; first card) Information storage card) 9b Information storage card (URL card; second information storage card) 10 Communication interface unit 11 Information processing unit 12 Media interface unit 13 Operation interface unit 14 Card information processing device 15 Communication processing device 16 Information processing Device 17 Media interface device 18 Operation interface device 20 Internet access system

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Iwata 3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A first information storage card storing a telephone number of an Internet access point, an ID of a card user, and a password of the card user, and a second information storing URL information specifying a storage location of a home page. A card interface unit which detachably mounts the information storage type card and reads the information stored in the first and second information storage type cards; and information read from the first information storage type card. A communication interface unit for automatically transmitting to an Internet access point and connecting to a WWW server based on the information read from the second information storage type card, and accessing the WWW server based on information read from the second information storage card.
Information comprising: an information processing unit that acquires and processes information; a media interface unit that presents the WWW information to a user; and an operation interface unit that receives a user's operation on the presented information. Internet access device using storage card. 2. The card interface section detects that the first information storage type card has been inserted, activates each section, and reads out information stored in the first information storage type card. 2. The Internet access device using an information storage card according to claim 1, wherein the operation of each section is terminated upon detecting that the first information storage card is removed. 3. The card interface unit detects that the second information storage type card has been inserted, reads out information stored in the second information storage type card, and transmits the information to the communication interface unit. The first
And transferring the information stored in the second information storage type card to connect to the WWW server and access the WWW information, and detecting that the second information storage type card has been removed, and 2. The Internet access device using an information storage card according to claim 1, wherein the connection with the server is terminated. 4. The information processing unit, wherein the second information storage type card stores, in addition to URL information designating a storage location of a homepage, data defining a time available for connection to WWW information. In, the connectable time stored in the second information storage card is read via the card interface unit,
The connectable time is reduced according to the time of connection to the WWW server, and the connectable time stored in the second information storage card is updated to a subtraction result via the card interface unit. An Internet access device using the information storage card according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. When the first information storage type card further stores login information required for WWW information display, the information processing section sends a login procedure request for WWW information display. If received, read the login information stored in the first information storage card via the card interface unit,
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the login information is transmitted.
An Internet access device using the information storage type card according to claim 3. 6. The information processing unit receives a point request for displaying WWW information when point information necessary for displaying WWW information is further stored in the second information storage card. In the case, the point information stored in the second information storage type card is read via the card interface unit, and the point information is processed according to the point request,
The information storage type card according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the point information stored in the second information storage type card is updated to a processing result via the card interface unit. Internet access device using. 7. A first information storage card storing a telephone number of an Internet access point, an ID of a card user, and a password of the card user, and a second information storing URL information for specifying a storage location of a homepage. Detecting that the first and second information storage type cards have been inserted and activating the system, and simultaneously storing the information in the first and second information storage type cards. A card information processing device for reading the read information, a communication processing device for automatically transmitting to an Internet access point based on the information read from the first information storage card and connecting to a WWW server; WWW information such as a homepage is obtained by accessing a WWW server based on the information read from the information storage type card of , An information processing device for processing, a media interface device for presenting the WWW information to a user, and an operation interface device for operating the presented information. Internet access system. 8. The card information processing device detects the insertion of the first information storage type card, activates a system, and reads out information stored in the first information storage type card. 8. The Internet access system using an information storage card according to claim 7, wherein the system is terminated upon detecting that the first information storage card is removed. 9. The card information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting that the second information storage type card is inserted, reading out information stored in the second information storage type card, and reading the information stored in the second information storage type card. The first and second
Transfer the information stored in the information storage type card of WWW
8. The information according to claim 7, wherein connection to a server and access to WWW information are performed, and the connection with the WWW server is terminated upon detecting that the second information storage card is removed. Internet access system using a storage card. 10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second information storage type card stores, in addition to the URL information designating the storage location of the homepage, data specifying a connectable time to the WWW information. In the above, the connectable time stored in the second information storage type card is read via the card information processing device,
The connectable time is reduced according to the time connected to the WW server, and the connectable time stored in the second information storage card is updated to a subtraction result via the card information processing device. An Internet access system using the information storage type card according to any one of claims 7 to 9. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the first information storage card further stores login information necessary for displaying WWW information, the information processing apparatus sends a login procedure request for displaying WWW information. 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein when receiving the log-in information, the log-in information stored in the first information storage type card is read through the card information processing device, and the log-in information is transmitted. An internet access system using the information storage card described in any of the above. 12. The information processing device, when the second information storage type card further stores point information required for displaying WWW information, receives a point request for displaying WWW information. In the case, the point information stored in the second information storage type card is read via the card information processing device, and the point information is processed in accordance with the point request, via the card information processing device, 10. The Internet access system according to claim 7, wherein the point information stored in the second information storage card is updated to a processing result. 13. An automatic transmission to an Internet access point based on information read from a first information storage card storing a telephone number of the Internet access point, an ID of a card user, and a password of the card user. To connect to the WWW server and obtain the WWW information by accessing the WWW server based on the information read from the second information storage card storing the URL information specifying the storage location of the home page. An internet access method using an information storage card that presents WWW information to a user.