KR100371895B1 - Multimedia information service method using code image and apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for multimedia information service using a code image. The multimedia information service method according to the present invention provides a service server for providing multimedia information and a management for providing a predetermined algorithm to control user access to the service server. In a system comprising a server, a multimedia information service method for providing multimedia information to a user connected through a network using a user terminal, wherein the service server transmits its network address to a management server, and an index corresponding to the network address Applying for a code; The management server assigning an index code to the service server, storing the index code and a corresponding network address, and transmitting the index code and algorithm to the service server; The management server indicates the user access control information as an identification number, stores the identification number and corresponding user access control information, and includes code information including at least the identification number, or the service server at least index code or network address and identification number. Converting the code information to a code image that is physically or electronically represented according to an algorithm and distributing the code information in a predetermined format; And servicing the multimedia information by the service server to the user who is connected through the distributed code image.

According to the present invention, information for providing a multimedia service through a network is physically represented as a coded image, and a user scans or photographs an image once on the image input device by a single click of the image or by a user. By decoding and accessing the network address, the multimedia service can be provided.

Description

Multimedia information service method using apparatus and its device TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for servicing multimedia information, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for servicing multimedia information using a physically represented code image.

As the Internet environment and wireless communication technology develop, various kinds of services for providing multimedia information have been developed. In addition, file formats such as MP3, MPEG, DAT, RAM, MOV, etc., which integrate various musics in a small capacity, have been developed, and various methods for sharing and using them have been devised. For example, music may be instantly downloaded and played through a mobile terminal.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method that can more easily access such multimedia information while preventing theft.

The technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to represent the information to control the user access to the service server for providing the multimedia information in a predetermined code, convert it to a code image and distribute it, and access the service server using the distributed code image The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a multimedia information service for providing a user with multimedia information.

1 is a block diagram of a multimedia information service apparatus according to the present invention.

2 shows an example of a code system for generating a code image in the form of a color matrix.

3 (a) to 3 (d) show a form in which a code image is printed or attached to a card-type medium.

4A to 4D illustrate examples of structures and contents of codes in encoding or decoding.

5 shows an example of a database structure for a code composed only of a recognition number.

6 illustrates an example of a structure of a database according to an index type code.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a code image generating method according to the present invention.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a user receives multimedia information by using a code image.

9 to 11 are diagrams illustrating various examples of a decoding scheme in the method described in FIG. 7.

12 illustrates a case where a management server and a service server are integrated.

FIG. 13 illustrates a case where a management server and a service server are separated.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a service server for providing multimedia information and a management server for providing a predetermined algorithm to control user access to the service server. A method for providing multimedia information to a user, the method comprising: transmitting a network address of the service server to the management server and requesting an index code corresponding to the network address; The management server assigning an index code to the service server, storing the index code and a corresponding network address, and transmitting the index code and the algorithm to the service server; The management server indicates user access control information as an identification number, stores the identification number and corresponding user access control information, and includes code information including at least the identification number, or the service server includes at least the index code or network. Converting code information including an address and the identification number into a code image that is physically or electronically represented according to the algorithm and distributing the code information in a predetermined format; And providing, by the service server, multimedia information to a user connected through a distributed code image.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a service server for providing multimedia information or a management server for providing a predetermined algorithm to control user access to the service server, and indicates user access control information as an identification number and at least the identification number. A method for receiving multimedia information from a service server by using a distributed code image when the code information including the code information is converted and distributed according to the algorithm, the method comprising: inputting the distributed code image to a user terminal ; Extracting the code information from the code image using the algorithm; And receiving multimedia information from the service server using the extracted code information.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a management server for representing predetermined information as a code, storing the code and the corresponding information, and converting the code into a code image that is physically or electronically represented; Applying the corresponding index code allocation while transmitting its network address to the management server, indicating the information controlling the user access as the identification number, the index code received from the management server received the algorithm from the management server And a service server converting the identification number into a predetermined code image for distribution. And transmitting the code extracted from the code image input by the user according to the algorithm, or the code image to the management server, accessing the service server using the code received from the management server, and providing multimedia information from the service server. It includes a user terminal for receiving the.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a multimedia information service apparatus according to the present invention.

The multimedia information service apparatus according to FIG. 1 includes a management server 12, a service server 13 for servicing multimedia information, a user terminal 16 connected to each server 12 and 13 through a communication network 11, and a user terminal. An image device 15 for inputting an image into 16 and a medium 14 having a code image distributed by the management server 13 or the service server 13.

When the service server 13 requests an index code assignment, the management server 12 assigns an index code to the corresponding service server 13, and the information corresponding to the index code and the index code, for example, the service server 13 An address database (DB, 12b) for storing network addresses is provided. Here, the network address indicates the location of a specific device in a network environment, and may be represented by letters, numbers, special characters, etc. have.

The management server 12 also indicates user access control information including at least one of the number of times of use, the period of use, and the amount of use as a recognition number, and stores a identification number and user access control information corresponding to the identification number. 12a is provided.

The service server 13 may include an information DB (not shown) for storing multimedia information, and a recognition number DB (not shown) for storing the identification number and user access control information corresponding to the identification number. In addition to the above-described information, the user access control information may include information identifying a user, for example, a user ID (IDentificaton), etc. to distinguish whether the user is a legitimate user.

The user terminal 16 may be a computer, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or an International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT) -2000 terminal.

The management server 12 includes an algorithm for converting a code including at least a identification number into a code image, and also provides the algorithm to the service server 13.

The code image is a predetermined shape, color, pattern generated by converting one or more characters or numbers included in the code information by a predetermined code system for mapping each letter and number to a predetermined color, as shown in FIG. Or it refers to an image consisting of a combination of them (can also include letters, numbers). Examples thereof include barcodes and codes such as PDF-417, and a matrix image composed of one or two-dimensional monochrome or color cells (or lines).

The encoding method according to the code system of FIG. 2 is performed by converting various characters or numbers into codes and then generating code images with colors (colors) assigned to the codes. In this example, code images are generated using eight colors, and two consecutive cells are used to represent one letter or number. For each color, codes "000" through "111" are assigned. For example, the number 3 is assigned to the code " 000 011 " and encoded into the color assigned to the code " 000 " and the color assigned to the code " 011 ", and imaged into a cell of the two colors.

In Fig. 2, due to the limitations of the drawing, it is displayed in black and white gray level color. In actual application, it is possible to use black and white gray level, but it is more advantageous to recognize the code by implementing a combination of color colors. The number will depend on the capabilities of the device that prints color (such as a printer) or the device that recognizes color (such as a scanner).

Such a code image exists in visual form or in a form of computer readable file data, and the code image includes code information represented by letters and numbers.

The service server 13 services multimedia information such as music, voice, video, animation, graphics, letters or numbers. The service server 13 may distribute online the code image encoded with the identification number and the network address information according to the algorithm provided from the management server 12. Here, the network address information is an index indicating a network address or a network address.

The code image may also be distributed in a printed form or attached form on a card-shaped medium as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). The code image may also be distributed with the identification number encoded by the management server 12.

The user terminal 16 receives a code image or a code image in the form of a file obtained from a predetermined medium 14 through an image device 15 such as a scanner and stores the code image in a memory, a disk, a buffer, or a screen of a computer. The imaging device 15 is a device capable of acquiring visual information using light, and corresponds to a PC camera, a digital camera, and a scanner. Even if it is not input by the imaging device 15, it can make an image suitable for a code system by programming, graphics software, etc.

The user terminal 16 transmits the input code image to the management server 12 and obtains a decoded result from the management server 12, or directly decodes by running a decoding algorithm. According to the decoded result, the management server 12 or the service server 13 is connected to authenticate whether the identification number is valid, and the user receives the multimedia information from the service server 13.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the multimedia information provider distributes a code image encoded with code information to a user by a predetermined encoding algorithm, and the user decodes the code image by a decoding algorithm corresponding to the original code information. Acquire.

The management server 12 includes a program that implements an algorithm for generating a code image by encoding data using color (color) or color and pattern, and decoding the code image to restore the original data. The user terminal 16 may download a decoding program from the management server 12 and use it directly to decode the code image. The service server 13 downloads an encoding program from the management server 12 and encodes the code image including the identification number and the network address information. The network address information refers to an index indicating a network address or a network address of the service server 13. If the user terminal 16 or the service server 13 has not downloaded a decoding or encoding program, the user terminal 16 or the service server 13 may be connected to the management server 12 to perform decoding or encoding.

Here, the encoding method may be divided into a direct encoding method and an index encoding method. The direct encoding method converts both the identification number and the network address into a code image form according to the code system. The index encoding method converts the index associated with the address database or the file containing the network address into an image form by a code system. The encoded images can be output automatically by the program's algorithms, or they can be created by a graphic editor or by hand, depending on the code conversion scheme.

Decoding finds the information defined in the code system from the code image and converts it into code information by the code system. Code information consists of letters, numbers, special characters, or a combination that can be represented on a computer, and they have different meanings depending on the encoding method.

Decoding methods include a direct decoding method and an index decoding method according to information included in a code. In the direct decoding method, when the code image is decoded, the network address is extracted immediately when the identification number and the network address are included according to the code system. In the index decoding scheme, the output represents the index of the database or file that contains the network address information.

In the decoding process, it is necessary to find meaningful shapes, colors, patterns, and characters included in the code image. In addition, a process of correcting the distorted image is required. Here, using at least one method of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) model, HSV (Hue angle, Saturation, Value) model, CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) model, HLS (Hue angle, Lightness, Saturation) model Color discrimination is possible. Border and detection and thinning algorithms can also be used to detect shapes and patterns.

4A to 4D illustrate examples of structures and contents of codes in encoding or decoding. 4A shows an example composed of only the identification number 41. The identification number is a product number for recognizing the generated code, and manages information such as user access control information such as the number of times of use, amount of use, period of use, user terminal information, or history of the user accessing the management server 12. This is the number. For example, if a user purchases a code with a limited number of times of use, the number of times of use may be reduced by counting the number of times of use. In addition, by storing the information, history, and user ID of the terminal, etc. that the code is used, it is possible to confirm whether the user is restricted or legitimate user if necessary.

5 shows an example of a database structure for a code composed only of a recognition number. The database according to FIG. 5 includes a recognition number field 51, a counter field 52 for down counting the number of connections corresponding to the identification number field 51, and a user field 53 for checking the user ID.

4B shows an example in which address information 42 of the service server 13 is further provided in addition to the identification number 41. The address information 42 may be a network address or an index. A network address is a certain address that points to a particular device as the Internet's IP address, URL, domain name, or other network's alphanumeric information. An index serves as a reference to find information in a database that manages network addresses. 6 illustrates an example of a structure of a database according to an index type code. The database according to FIG. 6 has an index field 61 and an actual address information field 62 corresponding to the index field 61. The index field 61 refers to a key value used when trying to find the information in the address database 12b of the management server 12 in relation to the actual address information field 62 of the service server 13. That is, for example, when "comsciyonseiackr" is input as the index information, the management server 12 detects and outputs "comsci.yonsei.ac.kr" which is actual address information associated with the index information. If the actual address information "comsci.yonsei.ac.kr" is changed to another address, correcting only the contents of the actual address information field 62 can provide the user with the changed address information as the previous index information. . Meanwhile, the content referred to by the index information may function as another index information. In this case, the actual address information may be detected by tracking the information according to the other index information.

The management server stored in the actual address information field 62 can be expressed in various ways. In particular, a URL and an IP address representing an address of an Internet site are representative.

4C shows an example in which the service information 43 is added to the identification number 41 and the address information 42. The service information 43 is for using a specific network service, and includes a service defined in a URL such as a web service, a telnet service, an e-mail service, a gopher service, and a file transfer protocol (FTP).

FIG. 4D illustrates a case in which address information is subdivided into host information 44 and additional information 45 in the structure of FIG. 4C. Here, the additional information 45 may be a directory or a parameter.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a code image generating method according to the present invention. A code image generation method illustrated in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1.

The service server 13 requests an index code assignment from the management server 12 (step 71). That is, the service server 13 transmits its network address to the management server 12, and applies the index code accordingly to the management server 12. The management server 12 allocates an index code corresponding to the network address, and stores the index code and the corresponding network address in the address DB 12b (step 72).

The management server 12 transmits the encoding algorithm to the service server 13. If the service server 13 has already downloaded and installed the encoding program provided by the management server 12, the management server 12 transmits the index code to the service server 13 (step 73). The management server 12 generates user access control information, indicates it as an identification number, and stores the identification number and corresponding user access control information in the identification number database 12a (step 74).

The management server 13 converts the identification number into a code image that is physically or electronically expressed by using an encoding program. In addition, the service server 13 also converts the code including the identification number and the network address information into a code image by using the encoding program (step 75).

The code image generated according to the above steps is distributed to the user in a predetermined format. In the form of distribution, the code image may be distributed in the form of printing on or attached to the card and the media, and may also be read in a computer-readable state (for example, directly on a monitor screen or by an image editing program). It can also be distributed as a readable image file).

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method in which a user receives multimedia information using a code image purchased by the user. A method of receiving the multimedia information shown in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to the system configuration diagram of FIG. 1.

The user terminal 16 reads the code image from the image device 15 or loads it from a storage device (not shown) such as a disk or a buffer (step 80). The input of the code image is made by the image device 15 in one operation. One action is achieved by clicking a button on a mouse, scanner, PC camera, digital camera, etc., or by pushing code into a reader slot. When the code image is input, the user terminal 16 decodes the code image using the decoding program (step 81). At this time, if the decoding program is not installed in the user terminal 16, the user terminal 16 transmits the code image to the management server 12 to decode in the management server 12, the user terminal 16 management Decoded code information can be obtained from the server 12.

From the decoded code information, it is determined whether the code information includes only the identification number or address information in addition to the identification number (step 82). As a result of the determination, if the code only has the identification number, the network address is set manually or defaulted (step 91), and the user terminal 16 runs the service program set at the default value (step 86). If it is determined that the code also has address information, it is determined whether the address information is an index (step 83). As a result of the determination, if the address information is a network address rather than an index, the corresponding network address is automatically set (step 92), and the user terminal 16 drives a service program set as a default (step 86). If it is determined that the address information is an index, the index is searched (step 84). At this time, index search is performed by the user terminal 16 to transmit the index code to the management server 12, the management server 12 searches the address database 12a, and retrieves the retrieved network address information to the user terminal 16. send. The user terminal 16 sets network address information connected to the index (step 85).

When the network address information is set, the user terminal 16 drives the service program (step 86), and accesses the service server 13 (step 87). At this time, the service program is driven according to the service information set in the code. If there is no service information in the code, a service set as a default value is provided in the program. For example, if the address information is a URL, the service is determined according to the protocol defined in the URL. If the address information is simply a network address and the basic service is defined as telnet, the telnet client program is started.

The service server 13 or the management server 12 checks the identification number in the decoded code, and checks whether it is valid by checking user access control information such as the validity period or the number of times of connection (step 88). Further, by checking the user ID among the data stored in the identification number database, it is possible to confirm whether the connected user is a legitimate user. When the identification number or user authentication is completed, the user selects a service required by the service provided by the service server 13 (step 89), and the service server 13 provides the service selected by the user to the user ( Step 90).

9 through 11 are diagrams illustrating various examples of a decoding scheme in the method described in FIG. 8. 9 and 10 are user-based decoding schemes, which are classified into an index type decoding scheme (FIG. 9) and a direct decoding scheme (FIG. 10) according to the contents of code information, and the user terminal 16 manages a decoding program in advance. The decoding process is performed by the user terminal 16 while being downloaded and installed from the server 12. FIG. 11 relates to a server-based decoding method, which refers to a method in which a decoding process is performed in the management server 12 in a state where a decoding program is not installed in the user terminal 16.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the user terminal 96 receives a code image through the image device 95, it is stored in a code image storage device such as a memory or a disk drive. The code image is decoded into code information by a code image decoding engine, in which the code information includes at least a recognition number and an index code. The identification number and index code are transmitted to the management server 97. The server engine of the management server 97 searches the identification number database to authenticate the user, and searches the address database to find network address information corresponding to the index information. It transmits the found network address information to the user terminal (96). The user terminal 96 may request a service and receive a service from the service server 98 connected to the network address information by driving a service program.

Referring to FIG. 10, when the user terminal 106 receives a code image through the image device 105, it is stored in the code image storage device. The decoding engine decodes the code image to extract code information. In this case, the code information includes information as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D. The user terminal 106 automatically sets the network address embedded in the code information or manually sets the network address, and runs the service program to connect to the service server 108. The service server 108 provides a service after authenticating the identification number included in the code information.

Referring to FIG. 11, when the user terminal 116 receives a code image through the image device 115, it is stored in a code image storage device such as a memory or a disk drive. The code image is transmitted to the management server 117 and decoded into code information by the code image decoding engine. The server engine searches the database of identification numbers to authenticate the identification numbers. If the code information also includes index information (index type decoding method), the address database is searched to find address information corresponding to the index information. The management server 117 transmits the decoded information to the user terminal 116. The user terminal 116 may receive a service by requesting a service from the service server 118 by driving a service program according to the decoded information.

FIG. 12 illustrates a case where the management server and the service server are integrated, and FIG. 13 illustrates a case where the management server and the service server are formed separately.

Referring to FIG. 12, the identification number engine 1201 of the service server 120 may store the identification number and corresponding user access control information in the identification number DB 1204, and may store the identification number DB 1204. It also outputs the number and generates a code image 121 for it. The user terminal 122 inputs the code image 121 through the image device or loads the image from the storage device. When the user terminal 122 transmits the input or loaded code image or code information to the authentication engine 1202, the authentication engine 1202 searches for the identification number DB 1204 and authenticates the result. To). When the user terminal 122 makes a service request to the service engine 1203, the service engine 1203 provides multimedia information stored in the multimedia DB 1205. After using the service, the user access control information of the identification number DB 1204 is updated.

Referring to FIG. 13, the management server 130 and the service server 131 are separated. The identification number engine 1301 of the management server 130 also stores the identification number and user access control information corresponding thereto in the identification number DB 1303, and outputs the identification number stored in the identification number DB 1203 for this. The code image 132 is also generated. The user terminal 133 inputs the code image 132 through the image device or loads it from the storage device. When the user terminal 133 transmits the input or loaded code image or code information to the authentication engine 1302, the authentication engine 1302 searches for the identification number DB 1203 to authenticate the identification number. After authentication, if there is a service request from the user terminal 133, the authentication engine 1302 checks whether the service is available to the service engine 1311 of the service server 131. If a service is available, the service engine 1311 provides the information stored in the multimedia DB 1312. After using the service, the user access control information of the identification number DB 1303 is updated.

The multimedia service method according to the present invention can be embodied as computer readable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored. Examples of computer-readable recording media include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, hard disk, floppy disk, flash memory, optical data storage device, and also carrier waves (for example, transmission over the Internet). It also includes the implementation in the form of. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

According to the present invention, information for providing a multimedia service through a network is physically represented as a coded image, and a user scans or photographs an image once on the image input device by a single click of the image or by a user. By decoding and accessing the network address, the multimedia service can be provided. That is, by using a PC camera, a digital camera and a scanner that are already widely used, a code image printed or attached to a medium such as a card is inputted to a computer, and the shape (shape), color and pattern information of the code image is already used. It can be decoded into an address or URL on a specific network according to the defined code system, and the corresponding multimedia service can be provided using the information. In addition, not only an Internet PC or a multimedia PC, but also a desired multimedia service can be used in a terminal such as the IMT-2000, and can be downloaded and used on a disk or a memory.

In addition, more practical copyright protection can be achieved by limiting the use of copyrighted multimedia information like a conventional MP3 file for a certain period or a certain number of times.

As a result, it is possible to use the service more easily and variously by those who have the right to use the code in the form of code using general network and wired / wireless communication network without any additional burden.

Claims (15)

In the multimedia information service method for providing multimedia information through a network, Setting network address information of a server serving the multimedia information; Setting access control information on a condition that a user can access the multimedia information service; Generating a code image represented by a combination of a plurality of colors by converting one or more letters or numbers included in the code information using the address information and the access control information as code information; And And providing multimedia information according to the access control information to a user accessing the server through the code image. The method of claim 1, wherein the user access control information is A multimedia information service method comprising at least one of a use count, a use period, and a use amount. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the code image is An image having a predetermined shape, color, pattern, or a combination thereof generated by converting one or more letters or numbers included in the code information by a predetermined code conversion table for mapping each letter and number to a predetermined color, respectively. Multimedia Information Service Method. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution of the code image The code image is printed on a predetermined medium, the code image is in a computer-readable electronic file state, the code image is displayed on a screen, or the code image can be input to an optical device. Multimedia Information Service Method. In the method of receiving multimedia information from a service server using a code image, Receiving a code image; Extracting code information converted into at least one letter or number from a combination of a plurality of colors displayed on the code image; Extracting, from the code information, network address information of a server serving multimedia information and access control information on a condition under which a user can access the multimedia information service; And And accessing a service server according to the network address information and receiving multimedia information from the service server according to the access control information. The method of claim 5, wherein the extracting the code information comprises: And downloading and installing the algorithm from the management server to the user terminal, and extracting the code information from the code image using the algorithm. The method of claim 6, wherein the receiving step Transmitting the extracted code information to the management server or the service server; Checking, by the management server or the service server, the identification number included in the code information, authenticating user access control information corresponding to the identification number, and transmitting the result to the user terminal; And And if the user access control information is authenticated, receiving the multimedia information from the service server. The method of claim 5, wherein the extracting the code information comprises: Transmitting the code image from the user terminal to the management server; And And the management server extracting code information from the code image using the algorithm. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving step Checking, by the management server, the identification number included in the extracted code information, authenticating user access control information corresponding to the code, and transmitting the result to the user terminal; And Receiving the multimedia information from the service server if the user access control information is authenticated. 10. The method of claim 5, wherein the user access control information is 10. A method of providing a multimedia information service comprising at least one of access times, usage periods, and usage amounts. In the multimedia information service device for providing multimedia information through a network, A code information setting unit for setting network address information of a server serving the multimedia information and setting access control information for a condition in which a user can access the multimedia information service; A code image generator for generating a code image represented by a combination of a plurality of colors by converting one or more letters or numbers included in the code information using the address information and the access control information as code information; And And a service providing unit for serving multimedia information according to the access control information to a user accessing the server through the code image. The method of claim 11, And the access control information includes at least one of a usage count, a usage period, and a usage amount. The method of claim 11, And assigning an index code corresponding to the network address information, and converting the index code into a code image using the index code as address information. In the multimedia information service method for providing multimedia information through a network, Setting network address information of a server serving the multimedia information; Setting access control information on a condition that a user can access the multimedia information service; Generating a code image represented by a combination of a plurality of colors by converting one or more letters or numbers included in the code information using the address information and the access control information as code information; And A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer to perform a step of servicing multimedia information according to the access control information to a user accessing the server through the code image. In the method of receiving multimedia information from a service server using a code image, Receiving a code image; Extracting code information converted into at least one letter or number from a combination of a plurality of colors displayed on the code image; Extracting, from the code information, network address information of a server serving multimedia information and access control information on a condition under which a user can access the multimedia information service; And A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing a step of accessing a service server according to the network address information and receiving multimedia information from the service server according to the access control information.