KR19990025230A - Multimedia service control unit and method using computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a multimedia service using a computer that can provide various multimedia services by using a general personal computer (PC) by putting service charges in public and business places. In this case, the computer 100 loads a predetermined shell program at boot time and uses various application programs that are set, and interrupts the ROM 100 at boot time to allocate a virtual area to the hard disk to allocate a hard disk. 1 control unit 200 to ensure the safety of the user, the fee for use input recognition unit 300 for detecting the input fee of the user to output the deposit signal corresponding to the input fee, and lock the keyboard and monitor for a predetermined time in synchronization with the boot Control and includes a deposit signal applied from the royalty input recognition unit 300 And optionally including a second control unit 400 for rebooting and controlling the computer 100 by mutual communication with the computer 100, and by simply adding and configuring a general-purpose computer and installing it unattended in a public place or a business place. By paying a fee, you can conveniently use application programs such as computer-specific functions and multimedia services.

Description

Apparatus and method for controlling multimedia service using computer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a multimedia service using a computer, and in particular, to provide various multimedia services using a general personal computer (PC) by inputting service charges in public and business places. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling a multimedia service using a computer.

In recent years, the most basic part of multimedia is the convergence of computers and home appliances, which is the digitalization of information, that is, the fusion of digitalized information. Computers are excellent at editing and storing processing, while at the same time weak at processing sound and information.

In contrast, home appliances such as televisions (TVs), audio equipments, and video cassette recorders (VCRs) are strong in processing audio and video information, but weak in editing and storing processing. Taking advantage of such computer and home appliances and making up for each other's shortcomings, the main form of multimedia is being developed.

Based on the trend of multimedia and the improvement of the price / performance of personal computers, personal computers have various application programs including games, document creation, domestic and international communication as well as television broadcasting and movie and audio playback. The use of the program is diversifying.

On the other hand, such a personal computer is typically used by each individual alone in the office or at home, or by having a small portable personal computer, it was possible to use its functions with less restrictions.

However, the small portable personal computer was expensive and economically burdened for all individuals, and thus, many difficulties were encountered when a person who did not have a computer suddenly had to use the computer for work outside.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to utilize business or leisure time in a public place or a business place, etc., a predetermined fee is used to find a way to receive various applications using a computer and a multimedia service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling a multimedia service using a computer so that anyone can receive a unique function of a desired computer and various multimedia services by installing an unattended installation in a public place or a business place. have.

An apparatus for controlling a multimedia service using a computer according to the present invention is a device for providing a multimedia service to a user for a fee using a computer, and outputs a notification message and a selection menu so as to use a plurality of set application programs at boot time. The shell program that executes the application program selected by the user during the available time corresponding to the deposit signal applied to the port is loaded, and terminates when the available time accumulated in response to the termination of the shell program or the authorized deposit signal elapses. The computer outputs a signal to the communication port and the computer's expansion slot is interrupted to boot the computer ROM BIOS to allocate a virtual area to the computer's hard disk and to store the data generated by the application program. four And a first control unit for initializing the computer to delete the virtual area data upon rebooting, a fee input recognition unit for detecting a user fee input and outputting a deposit signal corresponding to the fee charged, and a computer keyboard and monitor. Selecting a second control unit which locks and controls the keyboard and monitor for a predetermined time in synchronization with booting, and applies a deposit signal from the royalty input recognition unit to a communication port of the computer and reboots the computer based on an end signal applied to the communication port. Characterized in that it comprises a.

Meanwhile, the communication port uses a serial port, and the second control unit controls the locking by bypassing a keyboard interface and a monitor interface of the computer and a predetermined signal line connected to each keyboard and the monitor, respectively, when the keyboard and the monitor are locked. .

In addition, the method for controlling a multimedia service using a computer according to the present invention is a method for providing a multimedia service to a user for a fee using a computer, and is due to the use of an application program of the user for protecting the initial computer hard disk data. The first step of allocating a virtual area for storing the generated data separately to the hard disk, and outputting a prompt message, a selection menu to use a plurality of set application programs while locking and controlling the keyboard and monitor for a predetermined time, And a second step of waiting for selection, and a third step of accumulating royalties when the user inputs the royalty fee, and executing the application program selected by the user during the available time corresponding to the input amount. do.

The second step may further include randomly outputting various advertisements or promotional messages and screens until a user's selection is made while the user is waiting for selection.

On the other hand, in the third step, the available time is always displayed on the screen, and the level corresponding to the application program selected by the user is displayed by varying the available time, and when the available time elapses or abnormally terminates, the computer is displayed. It is characterized by rebooting.

The third step may further include outputting a warning message and a screen when the available time is less than or equal to a predetermined time.

1 is a block diagram of a multimedia service control apparatus using a computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of controlling a multimedia service using a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: computer 105: microprocessor (CPU)

110: system bus 115: ROM

120: RAM 125: hard / floppy disk interface

126: hard disk 127: floppy disk

130: monitor interface 131: monitor

135: communication interface 140: keyboard interface

141: keyboard 145: expansion slot

150: power supply unit 200: first control unit

300: fee input recognition unit 400: second control unit

The above objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by those skilled in the art.

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 service control apparatus using a computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which includes a microprocessor 105, a system bus 110, a ROM 115, a RAM 120, and a hard / floppy disk. Interface 125, Hard Disk 126, Floppy Disk 127, Monitor Interface 130, Monitor 131, Communication Interface 135, Keyboard Interface 140, Keyboard 141, Expansion Slot 145 And a computer 100 including a power supply unit 150, a first control unit 200, a fee for use input recognition unit 300, and a second control unit 400.

In this configuration, the computer 100 includes a microprocessor 105 which is a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM 115 in which a BIOS is stored, a RAM 120 which is a main storage device, and an auxiliary memory. A hard / floppy disk interface 125 for interfacing the hard disk 126 and the floppy disk 127 as a device, a monitor interface 130 for interfacing with the monitor 131 as a display device, and a serial port or A communication interface 135 for communicating with the outside of the computer through the parallel port, a keyboard interface 140 for interfacing with the keyboard 141 as an input device, and an external device such as a sound / modem / TV reception / DVD decoder card. Expansion slots 145 for connection with the device have a general configuration in which they are interconnected via system bus 110, which is a collection of data / address / control signal lines, supplying a predetermined power supply to each component. The urgent power supply unit 150 also includes a prompt message, a selection menu, and a communication port of the communication interface 135 so as to use a plurality of set application programs at boot time (in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a serial port). Loads a shell program (stored in the hard disk 126 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention) that executes the selected application program based on the user during the available time corresponding to the deposit signal applied to the terminal. When the accumulated available time corresponding to the authorized deposit signal elapses, an end signal is output to the serial port of the communication interface 135.

In addition, the first controller 200 accesses the expansion slot 145 of the computer 100, allocates a virtual area to the hard disk 126 at boot time, and generates or updates data due to the use of various application programs after booting. It saves to this virtual area when saving, and deletes the data stored in the virtual area and reallocates a new virtual area when rebooting.

In addition, the royalty input recognition unit 300 recognizes that the user inputs money, and outputs a deposit signal corresponding to the input money to the second control unit 400.

On the other hand, the second control unit 400 at the time of booting, that is, when a predetermined power is supplied from the power supply unit 150 of the computer 100, the monitor 131 from the monitor interface 130 and the keyboard interface 140 of the computer 100, respectively ) Locks the monitor 131 and the keyboard 141 for a predetermined time by intercepting the signal line connected to the keyboard and the keyboard 141 for a predetermined time, and when the deposit signal is applied from the second control unit 400, the computer 100. When the transmission signal is transmitted to the serial port of the communication interface 135 and a termination signal is received from the serial port, a reset signal is applied to the computer 100 to control the computer 100 to be rebooted.

Next, a multimedia service control operation process using a computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.

First, when a predetermined power is supplied from the power supply unit 150 to the computer 100 and the second control unit 400, the computer booting disappears (step 200), and the first control unit inserted and connected to the expansion slot 145 when the computer is checked. The virtual area is allocated to the hard disk 126 by 200 (step 202).

Such a virtual area is for protecting data such as an application program stored in the hard disk 126 initially as the hard disk 126 is used by a plurality of users, and the virtual area data allocated at boot time is used to protect the next user. It is deleted upon reboot.

Therefore, the user can copy and store the final work data to the auxiliary storage device of the floppy disk 127 or other computer 100 (not shown).

Next, a shell program, which will be described later on a predetermined operating system, is loaded from the hard disk 126 into the RAM 120 and resident so as to monitor the multimedia service guide message and screen, for example, the message and screen of the multimedia service usage method and the fee for use. 131 and the speaker not shown are shown to wait for the user to input the royalty (step 204).

From this point on, the shell program takes control of the computer 100 and performs a multimedia service control process to be described later.

Next, the second control unit 400 determines whether the deposit signal is applied through the serial communication port (step 206), and if the deposit signal is not applied, randomly outputs various advertisements and promotional messages and a screen (step 208). .

On the other hand, when the predetermined power is supplied from the power supply unit 150 by booting the computer 100, the second control unit 400 locks the monitor 131 and the keyboard 141 for a predetermined time (step 232), and charges the fee for use. Wait (step 234).

In this case, the time when the monitor 131 and the keyboard 141 are locked is until the computer 100 is booted and the shell program is loaded. During this time, the user cannot control the computer 100.

On the other hand, if there is a royalty input for the user to use the multimedia service through the royalty input recognition unit 300, a deposit signal corresponding to the input amount from the royalty input recognition unit 300 is applied to the second control unit 400.

Next, the second controller 400 determines whether the deposit signal is applied through the royalty input recognition unit 300 (step 236), and when the deposit signal is applied, sends the applied deposit signal to the serial port of the computer 100. Transmit (step 238).

Next, it is determined from the serial port of the computer 100 whether the end signal described later is applied (step 240), and when the end signal is applied, the reset signal is output to the reset terminal of the computer 100 to reboot the computer 100. Let's do it.

On the other hand, in the computer 100 loaded with the shell program, when a deposit signal is applied from the second control unit 400 through the serial port in step 206, the selection screen includes various application programs that can be set by the user. The display is controlled and the display is always started at a predetermined position of the top screen while counting down the available time corresponding to the applied deposit signal (step 210).

Next, execution of the application program selected by the user is started through the keyboard 141 or the mouse (not shown) (step 212).

On the other hand, since the usage fee is set differently according to the application program, the available time is displayed down counting to the level set corresponding to the selected application program (step 214).

Next, it is determined whether the application program being executed is terminated (step 216), and when the application program is terminated, the process proceeds to the above-described step 212 so that another application program can be selected. In parallel with execution, it is determined whether the shell program is forcibly terminated (step 218).

In this case, if the shell program is not terminated, it is recognized that the multimedia service is being performed in a normal procedure, and it is determined whether the available time being down counted remains below a predetermined predetermined time (step 220).

In this case, if the available time is less than the predetermined time, a warning message and a screen are output to warn the user to add a fee to continue using the multimedia service (step 222).

Next, it is determined whether the available time is over (step 224), and if not, it is determined whether a deposit signal is applied to the serial port (step 226).

In this case, if the deposit signal is not applied, the process returns to the above-described step 216. If the deposit signal is applied, the available time is accumulated in response to the deposit signal (step 228), and the process proceeds to the aforementioned step 216. Determine whether the running application program is terminated.

On the other hand, when the shell program is forcibly terminated in the above-described step 218 or when the available time expires in the above-described step 224, the termination signal is applied to the second controller 400 through the serial port (230). Quit.

Then, as described above, when the second control unit 400 determines whether the end signal is applied in operation 240 described above, when the end signal is applied, the second control unit 400 outputs a reset signal to the computer 100 to reboot the computer 100. 2 The control unit 400 reruns from the above step (232).

On the other hand, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, a general-purpose computer can be simply added and installed unattended in a public place or a business place, and a user can conveniently use an application program such as a unique function of a computer or a multimedia service by paying a predetermined fee. It can be effective.

Claims (11)

A computer 100 on which a shell program for outputting a guide message, a selection menu and executing a selected application program according to a user is loaded so as to use a plurality of set application programs at boot time; It is connected to the expansion slot of the computer 100, interrupts the ROM 100 of the computer 100 at boot time, allocates a virtual area to the hard disk, uses the virtual area to store data generated by the use of an application program, and uses the virtual area at reboot. Multimedia service control apparatus using a computer comprising a first control unit for initializing the computer to delete data. A shell program is loaded to display a guide message, a selection menu so that a plurality of set application programs can be used at boot time, and to execute a selected application program according to a user during an available time corresponding to a deposit signal authorized to a communication port. A computer 100 for outputting an end signal to a communication port when the accumulated available time has elapsed in response to the end of a program or an authorized deposit signal; Connected to the keyboard and the monitor to synchronize the booting of the computer 100 to lock the keyboard and the monitor for a predetermined time, and apply a predetermined deposit signal indicating the permission time to the communication port of the computer 100 and the end signal applied to the communication port. The multimedia service control apparatus using a computer comprising a second control unit 400 for rebooting control of the computer (100) based on. The virtual region of claim 2, wherein the virtual region is allocated to an expansion slot of the computer 100 to interrupt the ROM 100 of the computer 100 at boot time to allocate a virtual region to the hard disk, and use the virtual region to store data generated due to the use of an application program. And a first controller (200) for initializing to delete the virtual area data upon reboot. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the second control unit 400 bypasses and locks the keyboard interface and the monitor interface of the computer 100 and predetermined signal lines connected to the respective keyboards and monitors when the keyboard and the monitor lock control. Multimedia service control apparatus using a computer, characterized in that for controlling. According to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it further comprises a fee input recognition unit 300 for detecting the user's input fee to output the deposit signal corresponding to the input fee to the second control unit 400 Multimedia service control device using a computer. The method of claim 5, wherein the second control unit 400 controls the locking by bypassing a predetermined signal line connected to the keyboard and the monitor and the keyboard interface and the monitor interface of the computer 100 when the keyboard and the monitor are locked. Multimedia service control device using a computer. As a method for providing a multimedia service to a user for a fee using a computer, A first step of allocating a virtual area to the hard disk for separately storing data generated due to the use of an application program of a user for protecting the initial computer hard disk data set; A second step of outputting a guide message, a selection menu and waiting for a user's selection to use a plurality of set application programs while locking and controlling the keyboard and the monitor for a predetermined time; And a third step of accumulating royalty charges when the user inputs the royalty fee and executing the application program selected by the user during the usable time corresponding to the input fee. The method of claim 7, wherein the second step further comprises randomly outputting various advertisements or promotion messages and screens until a user's selection is made while the user is waiting for the user's selection. . The computer-based multimedia of claim 7, wherein the third step displays the available time at all times on the screen and displays the level corresponding to the application program selected by the user while varying the available time. Service control method. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third step of rebooting the computer when the available time elapses or abnormally terminates. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the third step further comprises outputting a warning message and a screen when the available time is less than or equal to a predetermined time.