KR20040077122A - Data processing apparatus and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A data processing device for connecting to a communication network and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to prevent decrease of users accepted in a shop and implement an environment to use the communication network such as the Internet. CONSTITUTION: The data processing device includes a CPU(201), a program memory(202), a work memory(203) used for CPU works, a display(104), two input devices(105), a wireless LAN(Local Area Network) device(204), two pointing devices(106), two controllers(205) for controlling the pointing devices, two interfaces(206) for two card slots, and a bus(207) for interconnecting each part to the CPU. When power is turned on, the CPU reads/executes programs stored in the program memory and the data processing device performs control for entire parts. The control is performed by operation of a user through the input device or the pointing device, or data received through the wireless LAN device.

Description

Data processing apparatus and method for manufacturing the same

Technical field

The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus used as a terminal for making a connection with a communication network.

Prior art

In recent years, typical communication networks such as the Internet are widely used in society, and network users are rapidly increasing. Under these circumstances, various services using a communication network have been provided.

For example, in many restaurants, it takes some time for ordered food and drinks to come to users. For this reason, some restaurants provide terminal devices capable of connecting to the Internet at each table in order to realize an environment where users can enjoy themselves during the waiting time as described above. In addition, coffee shops, so-called Internet cafes, which can receive Internet services, have emerged, and the number of Internet cafes is increasing.

Such shops, such as Internet cafes and restaurants, use data processing devices such as personal computers as terminals, or data processing devices developed as dedicated terminals. However, the conventional data processing apparatus as described above must be installed on the table. For this reason, when a conventional data processing apparatus is used as a terminal, there is a problem of occupying a space on a table to be used by customers.

In this case, many stores do not have surplus space for the use of customers in terms of space saving. Unless there is a certain level of surplus space, it is undesirable to occupy the space for some reason on a table that may be used for customers. Therefore, in order to realize an environment where the Internet can be used in a large number of stores, larger tables must be prepared for the occupied space so that the space is sufficient for the use of customers.

If the store prepares such a large table, the number of store capacities can only be reduced. According to this situation, a need arises to remodel the store. In addition, the reduction in the number of store capacities can affect the store's income. Thus, in the case of realizing an environment that allows the use of the Internet, the above problems cause economic disadvantages. As a result, it is important to solve this problem so that a reduction in the number of store capacities can be avoided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing apparatus that can prevent a reduction in the number of people accommodated in a store and can be used as a terminal for realizing an environment in which a communication network such as the Internet can be used.

A data processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is manufactured under the premise of being used as a terminal for making a connection with a communication network, and includes the following means.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a data processing apparatus used as a terminal for achieving a connection with a communication network, the data processing apparatus comprising:

A display device manufactured and used on the premise that a certain thing is placed thereon, the display device having a display screen facing a flat plate transmitting portion capable of transmitting light;

Communication means for achieving communication with a communication network;

Input means for inputting a request by a user; And

And control means for performing control in such a manner that data corresponding to the request input by the input means is received by the reception of the communication means, and the received data is displayed on the display screen by the display device.

In the data processing apparatus, the display apparatus further includes selecting means for selecting the direction of displaying data on the display screen by the user, and the control means is adapted to the display apparatus in this selection means, that is, in the direction selected by the user. Accordingly, data is displayed on the display screen.

In the case where a plurality of input means are provided, this data processing apparatus is suitable for the control means to select the effective input means from the plurality of input means in accordance with the selection means, that is, the direction selected by the user.

Furthermore, according to another aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a data processing apparatus used as a terminal for achieving a connection with a communication network, the method comprising:

Providing a transmissive portion capable of transmitting light at a surface used to dispose a desired article on the table;

Providing a display device having a display screen facing the transmissive portion provided on the surface; And

Communication means for achieving communication with a communication network, input means for inputting a request by a user, and data corresponding to the request input by the input means are received by the communication means reception, and the received data is processed by the data. Mounting control means to a table for performing control in a manner displayed on a display screen by a display device constituting the device.

According to the present invention, a data processing apparatus is used as a terminal for achieving a connection with a communication network and is mounted on a table. In addition, the data (images) are displayed on a display device provided on the surface of a table used for placing a given article.

When the data processing apparatus has the above-described structure, the data processing apparatus can be used as a table in addition to the terminal. Thus, a data processing apparatus is provided, whereby it is possible to prevent the reduction of space that can be used by the customer. As a result, it is possible to prevent a reduction in the number of people accommodated in a store and to realize an environment in which a communication network such as the Internet can be used.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of the data processing apparatus of the present invention according to the embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system constructed using a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a data processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The data processing apparatus 100 is manufactured under the assumption that it is used as a terminal and a table of a communication network. More specifically, the data processing apparatus 100 is manufactured under the assumption that it is installed in a store such as a coffee shop. As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing apparatus consists of a thick plate-shaped body 101 formed so that its opposing lateral sides are left in the form of raised platforms and have intermediate recesses in the form of relatively wide rectangular floors. The body 101 is supported by two leg portions 102.

The upper portion of the main body 101 has a flat plate 103 covering its entire surface. The flat plate 103 is formed of a thick glass plate that transmits light, and is manufactured under the assumption that a predetermined article is disposed thereon. Thus, the main body 101 and the thick glass plate 103 disposed thereon form a rectangular space that can be reached by customers who are assumed to be seated in front of the data processing apparatus or the table 100. The space below the flat space 103 is equipped with a display device 104 comprising display screens 104a and 104b under the flat plate 103. As described above, the display screens 104a and 104b are arranged under the flat plate 103 without causing the problem of occupying the table space unnecessarily. In this case, the plate 103 is designed to cover only the display screens 104a and 104b when the ridges on the opposing lateral sides are designed to extend into the portions left uncovered by the plate 103. It may be provided in part. In addition, the plate 103 can be freely replaced with other articles.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, input devices are provided in front of each display screen 104a, 104b provided in the space formed by the main body 101 and the flat plate, and the input devices are provided with various data inputs, for example. Keyboards 105 and pointing devices (joystick in this case) 106. Card slots 107 are further formed on the front sides of the ridges of the main body 101. It should be appreciated that the input devices are provided to be reachable from the front sides of the body 101. Thus, the data processing apparatus 100 can operate on both sides. By doing so, the user can select a seating position to operate the data processing apparatus 100, whereby it is possible to improve the ease of use for the user. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the side showing the input device 105 of FIG. 1 is referred to as the first side, while the side facing the first side is referred to as the second side.

The display device 104 has two display screens 104a and 104b as described above. This takes into account the following points. That is, when the user is seated on the first side and manipulates the data processing apparatus, the image is displayed on the display screen 104a arranged on the first side in the direction that the user can easily see. On the other hand, when the user is seated on the second side to operate the data processing apparatus, the image is displayed on the display screen 104b arranged on the second side in the direction inverted to the direction that the user can easily see. do. In order for the user to easily see the display screen, the display screens 104a and 104b are arranged at a right angle and are not arranged parallel to the flat plate 103. The changeover switch 108 provided at one end on the upper surface of the main body 101 is used when the user selects a display target display screen from the display screens 104a and 104b.

In addition, two display screens 104a and 104b are not arranged, and only one may be arranged so that only the direction in which the image is displayed can be switched. In addition, the two display screens 104a and 104b display images independently of each other, whereby two users can use the data processing apparatus 100 at the same time.

In addition, the data processing apparatus 100 having an appearance as shown in FIG. 1 can be used as a table, thus solving the problem of occupying a space on the device or table 100 that can be used by a customer. As a result, only the old table is replaced by the data processing apparatus 100 without changing the table arrangement, the interior, and the like in the existing store. By doing this, it is possible to realize an environment that allows the use of communication networks without the problem of having to reduce the number of store capacities. In addition, the initial cost for realizing this environment is reduced, so that the store can realize the environment more easily. The data processing apparatus 100 has a larger size than the conventional apparatus, and therefore, an anti-theft effect can be obtained.

2 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of the data processing apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data processing apparatus 100 is a work memory 203 used for work by the CPU 201, the program memory 202, and the CPU 201 for controlling the first half of the apparatus 100. ), The display device 104, two input devices 105, a wireless LAN device 204 provided as a communication means, two pointing devices 106 provided on each of the first and second sides (joystick) Two interfaces 206 and each part for two controllers 205 provided for controlling the devices 106, two card slots 107 provided for each of the first and second sides, respectively. Buses 207 for interconnecting the CPU 201 to the devices 202 to 206 and to the input devices 105. More specifically, the program memory 202 stores programs executed by the CPU 201 (including a browser), and the two input devices 105 are provided on the control panel provided on the first and second sides, respectively. Has In addition, the two pointing devices 106 are provided separately on the first and second sides, and two controllers 205 are prepared for controlling the two pointing devices 106. In addition, the two interfaces 206 for the two card slots 107 are provided separately on the first and second sides, and the bus 207 connects the CPU 201 to the parts 202-206. And 105).

The program memory 202 is, for example, a PROM such as a flash memory. The reason why the PROM is used as the program memory 202 is as follows. More specifically, PROMs have a lower damage rate, are more resistant to vibration than hard disk drives, and are also suitable for preventing customer-specific setup.

In this embodiment, the data processing apparatus 100 is equipped with a wireless LAN adapter 204 to achieve communication with a communication network. In this case, the data processing apparatus 100 may be equipped with other communication hardware such as a modem (telephone line, xDSL (e.g., ADSL) line or CATV line). In addition, a plurality of communication hardware may be fired to achieve communication using a plurality of types of communication networks.

The main body 101 is manufactured with all the circuit structures shown in FIG. 2 mounted. By doing so, the data processing apparatus 100 is realized as a terminal which can be connected to the communication network.

Based on the above configuration, the operation of the data processing apparatus 100 will be described below.

When the power (not shown) is turned on, the CPU 201 reads out a program stored in the program memory 202, and then executes the program, thereby starting the control of the entire data processing apparatus 100. do. The control is performed in accordance with the user's operation on the input device 105 or the pointing device 106 or in accordance with the data received by the wireless LAN adapter 204.

The input device 105 is mainly used for keyboard input in a URL or for composing a mail, and the pointing device 106 is used to click various icons or buttons (including link buttons and the like). The CPU 201 analyzes the data output from the devices to designate a request from the user, and then performs control corresponding to the request. The CPU 201 performs control to allow the display target image (data) to be displayed on the display screen 104a or 104b of the display device 104, and then obtains it via the wireless LAN adapter 204. Get the target image.

Subsequently, the CPU 201 stores the data acquired via the wireless LAN adapter 204 in the memory 203 and then analyzes it. Based on this analysis result, the CPU 201 generates a display target image and transmits the image data to the display device 104, whereby the image is displayed on the display screen 104a or 104b.

The changeover switch 108 is used as an operating element included in one input device 105. When the state of the switch 108 changes, the input device 105 transmits data indicating the state after the change to the CPU 201.

Upon receiving data from the input device 105, the CPU 201 performs switching of the display screen displaying an image with respect to the display device 104. In accordance with the switch, only one of the two input devices 105 and two controllers 205 is validated and used. More specifically, only the input device 105 and the pointing device 106 arranged on the display screen side, which are used for display, are validated. In the above manner, even when the user is seated on either the first or second side, the user can comfortably use the data processing apparatus 100. Of course, the operation on the changeover switch 108 is always valid.

The card slot 107 can be connected with a recording device that can use a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk or a CD-RW. In the case of renting the recording apparatuses at the request of the user, the data downloaded via the communication network is stored in the recording medium, and the user can then take the recording medium.

3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system constructed using the data processing apparatus 100 of the present invention.

The network system is constructed such that a user of the data processing apparatus 100 can use the Internet 306. As shown in FIG. 3, a single personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) that functions as a server and a plurality of access points 302 that are wired LANs 301 are bridges for communicating with the data processing apparatus 100. 303 is connected.

The PC 303 is connected with the printer 304 and the modem 305. The modem 305 is, for example, a modem for an ADSL line. Thus, the data processing apparatus 100 is connected with an access point 302, a wired LAN 301, a PC 303, a modem 305, and an ISP (Internet Service Provider) for performing connection services to the Internet.

The PC 303 is provided for restricting access to data on the Internet 306 by each data processing apparatus 100 and for total management of printing designated by each data processing apparatus 100. In addition, while the user is not using the data processing apparatus, advertisements and store advertisements are displayed on the display screen, so that the data processing apparatus 100 can be used as an advertising medium.

The access restriction means preventing access to a paid page or purchasing paid data. The print management means charging a user fee according to the number of prints.

A network system as shown in FIG. 3 is constructed, whereby the data processing apparatus 100 can be used as a terminal connected to the Internet 306. Thus, it is possible to realize an environment in which the Internet 306 can be used.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the operation ratio, the data processing apparatus 100 may not be equipped with a printing function and a reproduction apparatus. In this case, however, the data processing apparatus 100 may be equipped with a printing function and a recording apparatus or other functions. Other functions include counting the number of prints, making the user available for a time corresponding to the amount of money received. As can be seen from the above description, the devices and functions mounted on the data processing apparatus 100 are not limited to this embodiment, and various changes may be made.

Although the data processing apparatus 100 has a table-like appearance, the thickness of the main body 101 may be reduced according to the display device 104 employed. That is, the main body 101 may be formed as one flat plate. Thus, the data processing apparatus 100 can be used as a table for placing a predetermined article thereon.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the data processing apparatus 100 is used as a table, it is assumed that the number of people seated on the first and second sides is up to two. Thus, only one of the two display screens 104a and 104b is used for the actual display, and an image is displayed thereon. Although the above-mentioned structure is employ | adopted in common to each data processing apparatus 100, this structure is not always employ | adopted. For example, when three or more people are seated on one side, that is, when the data processing apparatus 100 is formed long in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of users may simultaneously use the data processing apparatus 100 on one or more sides. Can be. In order to realize the data processing apparatus 100, one table may be equipped with a plurality of data processing apparatuses 100. In this case, various changes can be made depending on the shape of the appearance.

The place where the data processing apparatus 100 is installed is not limited to shops such as restaurants and tea rooms. In addition, the data processing device may be installed at a place where a person such as a waiting room of an airplane or bus will stay there for a certain time.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the data processing apparatus is used as a terminal for making a connection with a communication network, and is mounted on a table. In addition, the data (images) are displayed on a display device provided on the surface of a table used for placing a given article.

In the case where the data processing apparatus has the above structure, the data processing apparatus can be used as a table in addition to the terminal. Thus, a data processing apparatus is provided, whereby it is possible to prevent the reduction of space that can be used by the customer. As a result, a reduction in the number of people accommodated in the shop can be prevented, and a space in which a communication network such as the Internet can be used can be realized.

Claims (4)

A data processing apparatus used as a terminal for achieving communication with a communication network, A display device manufactured and used on the premise that a predetermined article is placed thereon, the display device having a display screen facing a flat plate transmitting portion capable of transmitting light; Communication means for achieving communication with the communication network; Input means for inputting a request by a user; And Control means for performing control in such a manner that data corresponding to the request input by the input means is received by the reception of the communication means, and the received data is displayed on the display screen by the display device. And a data processing device. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising selecting means for selecting a direction of displaying data on the display screen by the user, And the control means is performed in such a manner that the display device displays data on the display screen according to the selection means, i.e., the direction selected by the user. The data processing according to claim 2, wherein, when a plurality of said input means are provided, said control means selects an effective input means from said plurality of input means in accordance with a direction selected by said selection means, that is, said user. Device. A method for manufacturing a data processing apparatus used as a terminal for achieving connections with a communication network, the method comprising: Providing a transmissive portion capable of transmitting light at a surface used to dispose a desired article on the table; Providing a display device having a display screen facing the transmissive portion provided on the surface; And Communication means for achieving communication with the communication network, input means for inputting a request by a user, and data corresponding to the request input by the input means are received by the communication means reception, and the reception Mounting control means to the table for performing control in such a manner that the data obtained is displayed on the display screen by the display device constituting the data processing device.