JPH11275267A - Isdn information providing system and information terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain high-flexibility utilization method such as the simultaneous and parallel processing of data communication and (face-to-face) speaking or the recognition of an information terminal user from the side of center equipment without changing any program by constructing a mechanism capable of communicating multimedia information with plural users while centralizing it to the center equipment by effectively utilizing the features of an ISDN to a maximum. SOLUTION: This system is composed of an ISDN connecting mechanism 3 consisting of a touch panel monitor to be operated by a user, a personal computer 11 for controlling that monitor, a TA 31 for connecting the communication data of the personal computer 11 to an ISDN 4 and a DSU 33, and these multimedia information terminal equipments are distributedly arranged at various spots to constitute the multimedia information providing system. Thus, the center equipment communicates with plural users through the ISDN of a general line while being centralized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention particularly relates to an optimal IS for multimedia information exchange using an ISDN network.
The present invention relates to a DN information providing system and an information terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information processing is called upon,
Focusing on the occurrence of data and the time and place of input / output, there are three main types: batch (batch) processing, real-time (immediate) processing, and distributed processing using a computer network.
One.

The real-time online processing is a method in which a processing request or data is directly input from a place where the processing request or data is generated to a central computer without any manual operation, and the processing result is directly output to a necessary place.
The range of this online processing is extremely wide, and its form is various. Every time a problem or business request occurs,
There is a demand for immediate processing and processing at the place, and the immediate result obtained. This includes window reservation services such as various types of seat reservation and travel ticket issuance, and deposits and withdrawals of bank deposits and savings. Another form of real-time processing is called time-sharing, and it is possible to solve problems and utilize information online using an information terminal, as if a party with a problem or problem occupies one computer. . In this method, processing can be performed interactively between the user of the information terminal and the computer,
Also called an interactive processing method.

[0004] In any of the above systems, it is assumed that the system is an online system using a communication line. The information terminal is connected to a computer at the center via a dedicated line, and provides services for users of the information terminal. Alternatively, the response to the user's operation is only a response within a range programmed in the device in advance.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional information processing terminal is connected to the center via a dedicated line,
The response to the user's terminal operation was only a response from a program incorporated in the device. Therefore, if the user cannot operate the terminal properly and want to contact the center or want to identify the user on the center side, the system operation is temporarily suspended for unexpected actions,
It was inflexible because it could not cope except by changing the program and re-installing it.

On the other hand, a telephone network, DDX-C (circuit switching),
A plurality of services such as DDX-P (packet switching) have been provided depending on the communication mode, but recently, an ISDN service (Integrated Services Digit), which is a service integrated digital network integrating and providing these services, is provided.
tal Network) has begun and has spread to the general public.
The greatest feature compared to the conventional telecommunications network lies in the logical structure of the subscriber interface, that is, the user-network interface. Physically, a plurality of communications can be simultaneously performed using one subscriber line. Also, control signals can be exchanged between the terminal and the exchange during communication. The INS net service, which is a commercial ISDN service of NTT, is roughly classified into two types: INS net 64 and 1500. Depending on the selection at the start of each communication, communication, digital communication,
A packet communication mode can be used. The INS network service is provided as a signal of a user / network interface between a line termination unit (DSU) and a user device such as a communication device. In order for the user to actually use the service, the user must process this signal. It needs to be practical.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above background and circumstances, and makes the most of the features of ISDN.
A system that allows the center device to communicate information with a plurality of users in a centralized manner has been established. This allows simultaneous processing of data communication and (face-to-face) communication, or recognition of users of information terminals from the center device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information providing system and an information terminal device using ISDN, which realize a highly versatile use without changing a program.

[0008]

According to an ISDN information providing system of the present invention, a center device and an ISDN
An information terminal connected via a network, the information terminal comprising: a touch panel monitor for inputting and outputting information while interacting with a center device; a control device for controlling the input and output of the information; A terminal adapter that converts the protocol of the generated digital data and propagates the signal to the ISDN network, and connects an analog signal generated by an analog device separately from the digital signal generated by the control device to the ISDN network together with the output of the terminal adapter. And a line terminating device.

The information terminal device of the present invention has a touch panel monitor for inputting and outputting information while interacting with a center device via an ISDN network, and a CPU for controlling the input and output of the information based on preprogrammed contents.
And a terminal adapter that converts the protocol of digital data generated by the CPU and propagates it to the ISDN network; and converts analog data generated by an analog device incorporated as a peripheral device into a device separately from the digital data generated by the CPU. And a line terminating device for taking in and connecting to the ISDN network together with the terminal adapter output. A telephone is incorporated in this information terminal device, and transmission and reception of digital data by the center device and the control device and telephone communication between the user and the center device are performed in parallel. It is also characterized in that a videophone is incorporated, and transmission and reception of digital data by the center device and the control device and face-to-face conversation between the user and the center device are performed in parallel.
Furthermore, a television camera is incorporated, and the captured image is propagated to the center device, so that the center device captures the image and identifies the user in parallel.

[0010] This makes it possible to communicate with a plurality of users in a centralized manner by taking advantage of the characteristics of ISDN, which is a general communication line network, for example, when a terminal user cannot understand by operating a program. It is possible to obtain an operation method by a telephone call or to specify a user from the center device side, and it is possible to provide various information in various multimedia expressions such as characters, still images, voices, and moving images.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection configuration of an ISDN information providing system according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a multimedia information terminal, which is connected to the INS network 64 (4) and the center device 2 via the ISDN connection mechanism 3.

As shown in FIG. 5, the multimedia information terminal 1 uses a personal computer as a control unit, and integrates peripheral devices such as a monitor 20 with a touch panel, a keyboard 40, and a printer 70 into a housing. It is a terminal created for the purpose of providing various information and services to users in various expression methods such as characters, still images, moving images, voices, and music. Here, it is assumed that any one or all of the videophone 5, the telephone 6, and the camera 7 are connected as peripheral analog devices. Further, a speaker 8 for outputting sound is also connected.

The ISDN connection mechanism 3 includes a line termination unit (DSU) 33, a terminal adapter (TA) 31, and a plurality of modular jacks 32, as shown in detail in FIG. The DSU 33 corresponds to the entrance of the ISDN, and only one DSU is installed for one line. TA31
Has an analog port and a digital port, and has a function of speed matching in which a signal of the transmission speed of a terminal is put on a signal of a transmission speed of, for example, 64 kbps, which is the transmission speed of the INS network 64; It has a function to convert analog signals into digital signals.

FIG. 3 is a hardware block diagram showing the internal configuration of the multimedia information terminal. In the figure, 1
Reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU serving as a control center.
And controls various devices connected to the system in accordance with the program stored in the system. The programs stored in the main memory 112 are as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 mainly shows the structure of the program mapped in the main memory 112, and also shows the relationship with the hardware. In the main memory 112, an OS kernel unit 41 resides as a nucleus, and a device driver 42 and an application program 43 for driving each of the peripheral devices are called as needed and allocated to a program area.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 44 denotes a port, and 45, hardware. A display driver # 0 is installed in a graphic port 119 described later, and the CRT monitor 20 is connected as the hardware 45. A dedicated driver # 1 for a touch panel is installed in the communication port (COM1) 130, and the touch panel 21 is connected as the hardware 45. Communication port (COM2) 1
The communication driver # 2 is installed in the 31, and the ISDN connection mechanism 3 is connected as the hardware 45.

Referring back to FIG. 3, reference numeral 113 denotes a keyboard controller (KBC); 114, an IDE interface; and 115, a SCSI interface. An input device 40 such as a keyboard unit (KB) / mouse, and a hard disk device (HDD). An external file device 50 such as a floppy disk device (FDD) and a read-only CD-ROM device 60 are commonly connected to the CPU 111 via the main bus 116 as input / output devices. A high-speed bus (PCI) 117 is connected to the graphics port 119 and the communication ports 130 and 131. The CRT monitor 20 is connected to the graphics port 119, and the touch panel 21 is connected to the communication port (COM1) 130. The ISDN connection mechanism 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected to the communication port 131 (COM2). The graphics port 119 includes a drawing / display controller, and stores display data generated by the CPU 111 in the bitmap memory 1 via the PCI bus 117.
20 and display the drawn display data on the CRT monitor 2
The data is read out and displayed on the CRT monitor 20 in synchronization with the 0 raster timing. The coordinate data input via the touch panel 21 is transmitted to the CPU 111 via the communication port 130.
It is taken in. Also, from the center device 2 to the ISDN network 4
Communication data that arrives via
Analog signals generated by the telephone 6 and the camera 7 are transmitted and received via the communication port 131.

A bus bridge 132 converts a bus protocol such as synchronization control between the PCI bus 117 and the ISA bus 118. A speaker, an ID card reader / writer, and the like are connected to the relatively low-speed ISA bus 118 via the PIO 133 and the SIO 134, respectively.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the control unit of the multimedia information terminal 1 shown in FIG.
A monitor 20 with a touch panel and a speaker 8 are connected to the PC body 11 shown in FIG. By using the touch panel 21, the user of the multimedia information terminal 1 is released from the trouble of key-in from the keyboard 40, and
A message such as an operation procedure or a warning can be output to the user via voice. The PC body 11 converts communication data into a protocol of the ISDN 4 by connecting to the terminal adapter 31 via the communication port 131. The terminal adapter 31 can be connected to a subscriber line of the ISDN network 4 by relaying via an 8-pole modular jack 32 and connecting to the DSU 33. An INS net 64 (2B + D), which is a basic interface, is used between the terminal adapter 31 and the DSU 33. With such a connection, the personal computer shown in FIG. 3 can communicate via the ISDN 4. The center unit 2 is also ISDN
By connecting to the network 4, the center device 2 and the multimedia information terminal 1 are connected online using the ISDN network 4, which is a general line. When connected online, the information of the multimedia information terminals 1 distributed and arranged in various places can be collected in the center device 2 in real time, and furthermore, maintenance such as updating programs can be performed automatically.

In addition, by using the INS net 64 as an ISDN service, it is possible to connect a bus to one DSU 33, and it is possible to easily add a videophone 5, a telephone 6, a television camera 7, etc. do it,
Face-to-face calls, telephone calls, and transfer of captured images can be performed. Multimedia information terminal 1 by connecting telephone 6
When the user who is operating is forgotten or cannot understand the operation procedure, he or she can call a specialized person at the center and hear the operation. Further, even a foreign user who cannot understand the characters displayed on the touch panel monitor 20 can listen to the operation on the telephone 6. In addition, face-to-face correspondence is possible by connecting and using the video phone 6, and by connecting the video camera 7 and sending a captured image to the center apparatus 2,
The user can recognize the user and confirm the user.

As described above, the present invention makes the most of the features of the ISDN network and constructs a mechanism in which the center device can communicate multimedia information with a plurality of users in a concentrated manner. And a (face-to-face) call are simultaneously processed in parallel, or the center device recognizes the user of the information terminal, thereby realizing a highly versatile use without changing the program.

[0021]

As described above, the multimedia information terminal 1 of the present invention comprises a touch panel monitor 20 operated by a user, a personal computer 11 for controlling the touch panel monitor 20, and a personal computer 11
ISDN connection mechanism 3 comprising TA 31 and DSU 33 for connecting communication data of
This multimedia information terminal 1 is distributed and arranged everywhere.
By connecting to the center device 2 via the SDN network 4 and constructing a multimedia information providing system, the center device is concentrated and realizes communication with a plurality of users via the ISDN network which is a general line. It is.

The telephone 6 is transmitted to the multimedia information terminal 1.
Is built-in, and by making it possible to talk with the center device 2, if the user becomes confused by the program operation,
You can receive instruction on how to operate without facing. Also,
By incorporating a videophone into the multimedia information terminal 1, face-to-face communication becomes possible. Further, by incorporating the television camera 7 in the multimedia information terminal 1 and transferring the photographed image to the center device 2, the center device 2 can recognize and identify the user, and can be used for security management or information protection. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the ISDN connection mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the multimedia information terminal in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a program mapped to a main memory in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an appearance of a multimedia information terminal device of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Multimedia information terminal device, 2 ... Center device, 3
... ISDN connection mechanism, 4 ... ISDN network, 5 ... videophone, 6 ... telephone, 7 ... TV camera, 8 ... speaker, 20
... Monitor with touch panel, 21 ... Touch panel, 31
... Terminal adapter (TA), 32 ... Modular jack, 33 ... Line terminator (DSU), 40 ... Input device, 50 ... External file device, 111 ... CPU, 112
... Main memory, 116 ... Main bus, 117 ... PCI bus, 118 ... ISA bus, 119 ... Graphics port, 130 (131) ... Communication port, 132 ... Bus bridge

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A center device, wherein the center device is an ISDN.
A plurality of information terminals that are distributed and arranged via a network and exchange information with the center device, the information terminal includes a touch panel monitor that inputs and outputs information while interacting with the center device, A control device for controlling input / output, a terminal adapter for converting a protocol of digital data generated by the control device and propagating to the ISDN network, and a digital signal generated by the analog device separately from the digital signal generated by the control device And a line terminator for connecting an analog signal together with the output of the terminal adapter to an ISDN network. 2. The information terminal according to claim 1, wherein a telephone is incorporated in the information terminal, and transmission and reception of digital data by the center device and the control device and a telephone call between the user and the center device are performed in parallel. ISDN information provision system. 3. An information terminal incorporating a videophone, transmitting and receiving digital data by a center device and a control device,
3. The ISDN information providing system according to claim 2, wherein face-to-face conversation between the user and the center device is performed in parallel. 4. The information terminal incorporates a television camera and transmits the photographed image to a center device so that the center device captures the image and identifies a user in parallel. Described ISDN information providing system. 5. A touch panel monitor for inputting and outputting information while interacting with the center device via an ISDN network, a CPU for controlling the input and output of the information based on contents programmed in advance, and a digital signal generated by the CPU. A terminal adapter which converts the protocol of data and propagates it to the ISDN network; and fetches analog data generated by an analog device incorporated as a peripheral device into a device separately from the digital data generated by the CPU and outputs the terminal adapter together with the ISDN output. An information terminal device, comprising: a line terminating device connected to a network.