JPH1083378A - Method for connecting host computer to terminal equipment, host computer and recording medium therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the method for connecting a host computer to a terminal equipment by which the operation for confirming the arrival of a mail is simpli fied a network traffic during the confirming is suppressed and an on-like service fee is not charged when a mail does not arrived, and to provide a host computer and recording medium therefor. SOLUTION: In a computer network having a host computer and plural terminal equipments connected to the host through a transmission line, a user's identification number and password are inputted to the host computer from a terminal equipment (step 21). Next it is judged whether the password is for inquiring information for a user is stored in the host computer or not (step 22). Then, when a judging result is YES, it is judged whether information for a user is stored in the host computer or not (step 23), and when the judging result is YES, the user can use the host computer, namely the session is logged in (step 24).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a computer network, and more particularly to a connection between a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. The present invention relates to a method, a host computer therefor, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission line, an operator of a terminal device that has registered using the host computer receives an online request from the host computer. There is known an online system that enables a service to be received.
In such an online system, for example, a personal computer is used as a terminal device and a telephone line is used as a transmission line, and data is transmitted and received between the terminal device and the host computer to communicate with an unspecified number of people. There is a so-called personal computer communication. Typical uses of personal computer communications include e-mail (hereinafter simply referred to as e-mail) that sends messages to designated recipients, and users posting messages or posting messages on a common bulletin board. There are electronic bulletin boards for reading and the like. Various electronic bulletin boards are provided for a group of unspecified number of users who are interested in a specific theme called a forum.

[0003] Inquiry of mail arrival is performed as follows. First, when the operator of the terminal device, that is, the user of the host computer, inquires whether the mail addressed to him / her has arrived, he calls the host computer, connects the telephone line, and inputs the identification number of the user. Then, when a password is input, the use of the host computer can be started, and at the same time, charging for the use of the host computer is started. The process of enabling the use of the host computer is called a login process, and the process of terminating the use is called a logout process. After the log-in process is completed, the user operates the host computer to search for mail addressed to the user, and only when the mail has arrived, the terminal device currently used by the operator from the host computer. Download the e-mail message to, and if the e-mail has not arrived, terminate the use of the host computer.

[0004]

However, the inquiry as to whether or not the above-mentioned mail has arrived cannot be confirmed until the search operation for whether or not the mail has arrived after the log-in process is completed. For this purpose, it is necessary to perform an operation, and during this time, there is a disadvantage that an online service is charged and network traffic increases. In addition, when an operator of a terminal device that has registered use of a plurality of host computers, that is, a user inquires whether each host computer has received an e-mail addressed to himself / herself, the same simple operation is performed a plurality of times. There is a problem that it is necessary to repeat each time, which wastes time and is inefficient.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the above problems,
The user confirms whether or not the mail has arrived by a simple operation, connects the host computer to the terminal device only when the mail has arrived, and starts charging for the online service. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection method between a host computer and a terminal device, which can improve operation efficiency and reduce network traffic, and a host computer and a recording medium therefor.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. In and after this figure, the numbers following S in the figure indicate step numbers. A first connection method between a host computer and a terminal device according to the present invention to achieve the above object is a host computer in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the following steps. First step: After connecting a communication line between the host computer and a predetermined terminal device, an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer are input from the terminal device to the host computer (S1). Second step: The host computer gives the user
From among a plurality of processes defined in advance corresponding to the plurality of passwords, execution of a process corresponding to the input password, for example, provision of a predetermined service such as transmission of weather information and road traffic information is started ( S2).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the second connection method of the present invention. A second connection method between a host computer and a terminal device according to the present invention, which achieves the above object, comprises a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. A method for connecting a computer and a terminal device includes the following steps. First step: An identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer are input from the terminal device to the host computer (S21). Second step: It is determined whether or not the password is for inquiring whether information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer (S22). Third step: When the determination result in the second step is affirmative, it is determined whether information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer (S23). Fourth step: When the determination result in the third step is affirmative, the user makes the host computer available (S24).

In a second connection method of the present invention,
Instead of a password, a prefix or suffix added to a user identification number may be used.

Further, in the second connection method, the information received by the host computer is, for example, an electronic mail addressed to the user.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a third connection method according to the present invention. A third connection method between a host computer and a terminal device according to the present invention that achieves the above object is provided in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. A method for connecting a host computer and a terminal device includes the following steps. First step: An identification number and a forum name of a user who uses the host computer are input from the terminal device to the host computer (S31). Second step: It is determined whether or not the forum name is for inquiring whether information addressed to the forum name is stored in the host computer (S3).
2). Third step: If the determination result in the second step is affirmative, it is determined whether or not information addressed to the forum name is stored in the host computer (S33). Fourth step: When the result of the determination in the third step is affirmative, the user makes the host computer available (S34).

[0011] In the third connection method, the first step is to add a renewal date to the forum name and input it.
The step is as follows: when the determination result in the third step is affirmative,
Compares the date of receipt of the information addressed to the forum name with the date of update, and if the date of receipt is later than the date of update,
The user may be configured to make the host computer available.

Further, in the third connection method, the first step is to add a reference version number to the forum name and input it, and the fourth step is to set the forum name when the judgment result in the third step is affirmative. Compare the read version number read from the information addressed to the name with the reference version number, and if the read version number is newer than the reference version number, make it possible for the user to use the host computer. Good.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the host computer of the present invention. A host computer according to the present invention for achieving the above object is for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having the host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. The host computer that performs the above operation is provided with the following means. Password receiving means 1: receives the identification number and password of the user who uses the host computer from the terminal device. Password determination means 2: determines whether the input password is for inquiring whether information addressed to the user corresponding to the identification number is stored in the host computer. Information storage determining means 3: When the determination result by the password determining means 2 is affirmative, it is determined whether or not the information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer. Connection means 4: When the determination result by the information storage determination means 3 is affirmative, the host computer is made usable by the user.

A host computer according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a host computer that determines use permission / non-permission based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device. A password storage means for storing a plurality of passwords correspondingly;
If the entered user identification number is stored in the password storage means and the entered password is equivalent to any of the passwords corresponding to the entered user identification number, it corresponds to the entered password. And a connection means for starting a predetermined process.

A host computer according to the present invention that achieves the above object is a host computer that determines permission / non-permission of use based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device. A password storage means for storing at least a first password and a second password in correspondence thereto, wherein the input user identification number is stored in the password storage means, and wherein the input password is input; If the password is equivalent to the first password corresponding to the user identification number, it is determined whether or not there is information addressed to the user corresponding to the input user identification number. The information is output to the terminal device and the service for the user is started, and the input user identification number is stored in the password storage means. If the entered password is equivalent to the second password corresponding to the entered user identification number, the password is determined regardless of whether there is information addressed to the user corresponding to the entered user identification number. It may be configured to include a connection means for starting a service for the user.

[0016] The recording medium of the present invention that achieves the above object,
A computer readable program for executing any of the first, second, or third connection methods is recorded on a host computer.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention provides a host computer which determines permission / non-permission based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device, and stores at least a user identification number and at least a corresponding user identification number. A password storage unit for storing a first password and a second password, and a user ID number input to the host computer, wherein the input user identification number is stored in the password storage unit, and wherein the input password is input. When the password is equivalent to the first password corresponding to the user identification number, the presence / absence of information addressed to the user corresponding to the entered user identification number is determined. The information is output to the terminal device and the service for the user is started, and the input user identification number is stored in the password storage means. And if the entered password is equivalent to the second password corresponding to the entered user identification number, whether or not there is information addressed to the user corresponding to the entered user identification number And a connection means for starting a service for the user, and a computer-readable program for causing the function to function.

[0018]

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. This figure mainly shows the host computer 20. The host computer 20 includes a main storage device,
Central processing unit (CPU) 2 including an arithmetic and control unit
1. Input device 22 including mouse, keyboard, etc., CR
T, an output device 23 such as a printer, an auxiliary storage device 24 such as a magnetic disk, and a reading device 27 for a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy disk. The host computer 20 includes a plurality of n terminal devices 2
5-1... 25-n are provided with communication lines 26-1,.
n. The host computer 20 is connected to another host computer (not shown) and can receive programs and data therefrom. In this embodiment, a telephone line network is used as the communication line.

The auxiliary storage device 24 has a user ID, a first
A user ID management table relating to data of the password and the second password is stored. In order to identify a user who has registered for use with the host computer 20,
These user ID (identification number) and two passwords (passwords) are given. The first of the two passwords
The password is for inquiring whether the information addressed to the user is received by the host computer and stored in the area in the auxiliary storage device 24, and the second password is for inquiring of permission to use the host computer 20. . Further, the auxiliary storage device 24 is provided with an area called a reception mailbox for storing a file of information addressed to each user and identified by a number starting from the user ID. Further, the auxiliary storage device 24 stores a service program for a terminal device operator such as mail transmission, mail transmission, and mail search.

Next, the loading of a program will be described. A program for executing each process of the flowchart described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the flowchart described later with reference to FIGS.
21 is loaded into the main storage device. These programs are executed by the CPU 21 by a predetermined operation.
Reading various programs recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM or a floppy disk from the reading device 27 and loading them into the auxiliary storage device 24, or loading programs stored in a recording medium of another host computer, for example, a magnetic disk To the auxiliary storage device 24 via a communication line.
To load. Of course, if the operator
After a program is directly written into one main storage device, for example, a RAM, the program may be loaded into the auxiliary storage device 24. Thereafter, the program stored in the auxiliary storage device 24 is loaded into the main storage device as needed by the processing of the CPU 21. Next, the mail arrival confirmation processing according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the mail arrival confirmation processing of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the user inquires whether the mail addressed to the user has arrived in the receiving mailbox of the host computer, and makes the host computer available only when the mail has arrived, that is, when the user logs in and has not arrived. Shows an example of not logging in. First, the user makes a telephone call to the host computer and connects a communication line between the host computer and the terminal device (step S70). Next, the operator inputs a user ID (for example, AAA00123) (step S71), and enters the first password (for example, 96061).
0) or the second password (for example, 08061)
0) is input (step S72).

In step S73, the host computer determines that the password entered in step S72 is the first password registered as an inquiry for whether the information addressed to the user is received by the host computer and stored in the storage device. Is determined, and when the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S75, and when the determination result is NO, the process proceeds to step S74. In step S74, the host computer determines whether or not the password input in step S72 is the original second password for inquiring the host computer for a normal use permission. Logs in to enable the host computer to be used (step S76),
If NO, the process returns to step S72.

On the other hand, in a step S75, it is determined whether or not the information addressed to the user is received by the host computer. That is, it is determined whether or not the mail addressed to the user is stored in the reception mailbox of the host computer, and in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the file having the number starting with AAA is stored in the reception mailbox,
If the determination result is YES, log in (step S
76) If NO, disconnect the communication line (Step S)
79). After logging in at step S76, the user downloads a file with a number starting with AAA stored in the received mailbox, that is, a mail addressed to the user from the host computer to the terminal device (step S77). The use of the host computer is terminated, that is, the user logs out (step S78), and the communication line is disconnected (step S79).

When the determination result in step S75 of the first embodiment is NO, instead of disconnecting the communication line, a message notifying that the mail has not arrived is transmitted from the host computer to the terminal device. May be displayed on the display device of the terminal device. The usage fee of the host computer by the user is charged for the time from login to logout. Therefore, when it is determined in step S75 that the mail addressed to the user is not stored in the receiving mailbox of the host computer, according to the prior art, even if there is no mail addressed to the user, the mail arrival confirmation is not performed. In contrast to the charge, the present invention does not charge for this. Also, not only do you not charge,
Since no login is required, network traffic is suppressed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the mail arrival confirmation processing according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, instead of using the first password in the second embodiment, a suffix, for example, "MAIL" is added immediately after the user ID, and the host computer reads the suffix "MAIL" and reads the user. This is an example of determining whether or not the user is inquiring whether the mail addressed to him or her has arrived at the receiving mailbox of the host computer, logging in only when the mail has arrived, and not logging in when the mail has not arrived. is there. First,
The user makes a call to the host computer and connects a communication line between the host computer and the terminal device (step S80). Next, the user enters the user ID (for example, AA
A00123) with a suffix (eg, “MAIL”) added (step S81), and the user inputs a second password (eg, 080610) for inquiring the normal use permission of the host computer (step S81).
82).

In step S83, it is determined whether or not the information addressed to the user has been received by the host computer, as in step S75 of the first embodiment. If the determination result is YES, the process proceeds to step S84, and NO In the case of, the communication line is disconnected (step S88). Step S84
Then, the host computer determines whether or not the password input in step S82 is for the user to inquire for permission to use the host computer, and when the determination result is YES, the user disconnects the host computer. The user logs in to enable the use (step S85), and returns to step S82 if NO. After logging in at step S85, as in the first embodiment, the user enters a file with a number starting with AAA stored in the received mailbox,
That is, a mail addressed to the user is downloaded from the host computer to the terminal device (step S86), the use of the host computer by the user is terminated, that is, the user logs out (step S87), and the communication line is disconnected (step S88).

The arrival confirmation processing of the e-mail according to the present invention has been described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. The present invention is also applicable to electronic bulletin board reading processing for downloading bulletin board information. In this case, this is performed by inputting the forum name registered in the host computer instead of the above-mentioned first password. This example will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an electronic bulletin board reading process according to the third embodiment. This embodiment is the same as the second embodiment except that steps S81, S83, and S86 in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 are replaced with steps S91, S93, and S96, respectively. explain. First, instead of using the first password in the first embodiment, the name of the forum to which the operator of the terminal device belongs, for example, BASEBALL and the update date 96.0.10 are added immediately after the user ID and input. (Step S91), the host computer sets the forum name BASEBALL and the update date
06.10 is read and forum BASE of a date newer than the update date is displayed on the electronic bulletin board of the host computer.
It is determined whether or not the information addressed to the BALL has been received (step S93), and only when it is determined that the information has been received, the login is performed (step S95), and the information of the forum bulletin board is transmitted from the host computer to the terminal device. Download (step S96), and then log out (step S97). On the other hand, when it is determined that the communication line has not been received, the communication line is disconnected without logging in (step S98).

As another embodiment, instead of inputting the update date in step S91 in FIG.
2.0, the host computer reads the forum name BASEBALL and the reference version number V2.0 in step S93 of FIG. 8, and the version number V3. B of 0
It is determined whether or not information addressed to ASEBALL is received, and the number of read versions V3.0 read from the information addressed to the forum name BASEBALL is compared with the reference version V2.0, and the number of read versions is determined. The user may log in when the version is newer than the reference version and log out when the version is not newer.

In the embodiment described above, a computer network using a telephone line network as a communication line has been described. However, the present invention comprises a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected via a digital communication line wired in the premises. The present invention can be similarly applied to a LAN (local area network) except that the operation of connecting and disconnecting a telephone line is not required. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied between one terminal device connected to the Internet and a distant host computer via the Internet connecting a plurality of computer networks using a telephone network or a LAN. .

[0031]

According to the connection method between the host computer and the terminal device of the present invention, and the host computer and the recording medium therefor, the user using the host computer can perform the user operation with a simple operation without repeating the simple operation. By simply inputting the identification number and the password, predetermined services such as mail arrival confirmation, electronic bulletin board information update confirmation, and weather information can be received from the host computer, and the operation time can be reduced. Also, when the email arrival confirmation confirms that the email has not arrived,
Alternatively, when it is confirmed that the bulletin board contents have not been updated by confirming the update of the electronic bulletin board information, the user is not charged because the user is not logged in, and the network traffic is suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a second connection method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a third connection method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a host computer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a mail arrival confirmation process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a mail arrival confirmation process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an electronic bulletin board reading process according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 password receiving means 2 password determining means 3 information storing determining means 4 connecting means 20 host computer 21 central processing unit (CPU) 22 input device 23 output device 24 auxiliary storage devices 25-1, 25 -N terminal device 26-1, 26-n communication line 27 reading device

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A connection method between a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission line, wherein the host computer and a predetermined terminal device After connecting a communication line between the terminal device and the host computer, a first step of inputting an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer to the host computer; and A second step of starting a process corresponding to the input password from a plurality of processes defined in advance corresponding to the plurality of passwords. Connection method. 2. A method for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path, wherein the terminal device includes A first step of inputting an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer to the host computer; and for inquiring whether the password stores information addressed to the user in the host computer. A second step of determining whether or not the information is addressed to the user; and a third step of determining whether information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer when the determination result in the second step is affirmative. When the determination result in the third step is affirmative, the user Connection between the host computer and the terminal apparatus characterized by comprising a fourth step of the host computer to the available state, the. 3. The connection method between a host computer and a terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a prefix or a suffix added to the identification number is used instead of the password. 4. The connection method between a host computer and a terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the information is an electronic mail addressed to the user. 5. A method for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission line, the method comprising: A first step of inputting an identification number of a user who uses the host computer and a forum name to a host computer; and inquiring whether the forum name stores information addressed to the forum name in the host computer. A second step of determining whether or not the information addressed to the forum name is stored in the host computer when the determination result in the second step is affirmative. And when the determination result in the third step is affirmative Connection between the host computer and the terminal equipment, wherein the user has and a fourth step of the state available to the host computer. 6. The first step is performed by adding an update date to the forum name, and the fourth step is a step of receiving information addressed to the forum name when the determination result in the third step is affirmative. The host computer and the terminal device according to claim 5, wherein the date and the update date are compared, and when the reception date is a date later than the update date, the user makes the host computer available. Connection method. 7. The first step is performed by adding a reference version number to the forum name, and the fourth step is performed based on information addressed to the forum name when the determination result in the third step is affirmative. 6. The host according to claim 5, wherein the read version number is compared with the reference version number, and when the read version number is newer than the reference version number, the host makes the host computer usable. A connection method between a computer and a terminal device. 8. A host computer for performing an operation for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a terminal device connected to the host computer via a transmission path, Receiving means for receiving, from a terminal device, an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer; and the password is for inquiring whether information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer. A password determination unit that determines whether or not the password determination unit determines whether
Information storage determining means for determining whether information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer; and when the determination result by the information storage determining means is affirmative, the user can use the host computer. A connection means for setting a state of the host computer. 9. A host computer for determining permission / rejection of use based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device, wherein the password stores a user identification number and a plurality of passwords corresponding to the user identification number. A storage unit, wherein the input user identification number is stored in the password storage unit, and is input when the input password is equivalent to any password corresponding to the input user identification number. A connection means for starting a predetermined process corresponding to the password. 10. A host computer for deciding use permission / non-permission based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device, the host computer comprising at least a first password and a second password corresponding to the user identification number. A password storage means for storing a second password; a first password corresponding to the input user identification number, wherein the input user identification number is stored in the password storage means; When the information is equivalent to the above, it is determined whether there is information addressed to the user corresponding to the input user identification number, and if there is information addressed to the user, the information to that effect is output to the terminal device, and The service for the user is started, and the entered user identification number is stored in the password storage means, and the entered password is entered in the entered password. Connection means for starting a service for the user regardless of the presence or absence of information addressed to the user corresponding to the input user identification number, when the password is equivalent to the second password corresponding to the user identification number, Including host computer. 11. A recording medium for recording a program for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. After connecting a communication line between the host computer and a predetermined terminal device, the host computer, from the terminal device to the host computer, an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer, A first step of inputting, and a second step in which the host computer starts a process corresponding to the input password from a plurality of processes defined in advance corresponding to a plurality of passwords for the user. And recorded a program for executing Computer-readable recording medium. 12. A recording medium for recording a program for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. A first step of inputting an identification number and a password of a user who uses the host computer from the terminal device to the host computer, wherein the password is addressed to the user. A second step of determining whether the information is for inquiring whether the information is stored in the host computer; and when the determination result in the second step is affirmative, the information addressed to the user is stored in the host computer. A third step of determining whether the data is stored in the computer; And a fourth step for allowing the user to use the host computer when the result of the determination in the third step is affirmative. recoding media. 13. A recording medium recording a program for connecting a host computer and a terminal device in a computer network having a host computer and a plurality of terminal devices connected to the host computer via a transmission path. A first step of inputting an identification number and a forum name of a user who uses the host computer from the terminal device to the host computer, wherein the forum name is addressed to the forum name. A second step of determining whether or not the information is stored in the host computer. If the determination result in the second step is affirmative, the information addressed to the forum name is stored in the host computer. Determine if it is stored on the computer Recording a program for executing a third step and a fourth step in which the user makes the host computer available when the determination result in the third step is affirmative. Computer readable recording medium. 14. A host computer which determines permission / non-permission based on a user identification number and a password input from a terminal device, the user identification number and correspondingly at least a first password and a second password. A password storage unit for storing a password, and a user identification number input to the host computer, wherein the input user identification number is stored in the password storage unit, and the input password corresponds to the input user identification number. If the password is equivalent to one password, it is determined whether there is information addressed to the user corresponding to the input user identification number, and if there is information addressed to the user, the information to that effect is output to the terminal device. And the service for the user is started. The entered user identification number is stored in the password storage means, and If the entered password is equivalent to the second password corresponding to the entered user identification number, the service for that user will be irrespective of the presence or absence of information addressed to the user corresponding to the entered user identification number. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing the connection means to start the operation.