JPH10171758A - Www file reading system using bar code - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for performing access to a WWW home page by an one-action operation using a bar code. SOLUTION: A system server 100 is connected through a communication line N with WWW, and a client computer 200 is provided so as to be connected with the system server 100. The system server 100 is provided with an identification code applying means 110 for applying an original identification number corresponding to an URL on the WWW, and a data base 120 for storing the identification code and the URL by making them correspond to each other. A bar code reader 300 is connected with the client computer 200, and the identification code and an instruction code displayed as a bar code can be read. When the bar code of a desired home page is inputted by the bar code reader 300, the system server 100 reads the URL, and operates link with the home page.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a WWW file browsing system, and more particularly to a WWW file browsing system capable of easily accessing a target WWW file, that is, a so-called homepage, using a barcode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The Internet, which is a worldwide computer network, constitutes a data transmission path between computers located at remote locations.
Computers in homes, including businesses, are also being used rapidly. In particular, the WWW, which is a part of the Internet, can transfer files containing information such as text, images, and sound between computers without depending on the type of the computer or the OS. Opening a so-called homepage, which stores a file containing various information in a server and publishes the file, has been actively performed. For example, public institutions have come to be used as an effective advertising space that incorporates visual elements for companies as a public relations medium that replaces conventional public relations magazines. In addition, information transmission, which was previously difficult for individuals, can now be sent to the world without the use of existing mass media. Is also expanding.

[0003] With the explosive spread of homepages on the WWW and the rapid spread of personal computers due to the introduction of GUIs, browsing homepages using personal computers is also called "net surfing". , Even one boom.

[0004]

However, accessing a WWW homepage using a personal computer has several problems as described below, and those who are unfamiliar with the operation of a personal computer are extremely troublesome. Currently, work and inconvenience are being forced.

[0005] One is a preparation work for connecting a personal computer to the Internet so as to be able to access a WWW server. For example, when a person who purchases a personal computer accesses the Internet, it is necessary to first contract with a communication carrier called an access provider. Then, it is necessary to prepare communication software which can be connected by the TCP / IP protocol which is a WWW standard on the personal computer side, and set up the software according to the specifications of the contracted provider. This task is particularly difficult for beginners with limited expertise.

In order to access a WWW homepage and display it on a monitor of a personal computer, browsing software generally called a browser is required. Setup such as setting of a server name corresponding to this is very complicated.

Further, even if it is possible to connect to the Internet through a provider and access a WWW homepage using a browser, in order to display a desired homepage, a URL (Uniform) indicating the location of the homepage on the WWW is required. A unique address called "Resource Locator" must be entered in a predetermined input field of the browser. This URL is described in a format of, for example, https://www.abc.co.jp/home.htm. Here, http: // is a code indicating that file transfer is performed using the http protocol used as a standard in the WWW, followed by www.
abc.co.jp is a domain name representing the address of the host on the WWW. Therefore, the above URL indicates a file having a file name of home.htm stored in a server named www.abc.co.jp on the WWW. In the above example, the number of digits is almost the minimum as used when retrieving a file stored in the WWW server installed in Japan. Nevertheless, a total of 29 characters must be entered. Without
This is an extremely complicated task. Also, of course,
It is not possible to call a desired homepage even by erroneously inputting one character.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described problems. An object of the present invention is to express a unique identification code given in correspondence with a URL with a bar code and display the bar code. By reading and inputting the operating means with a bar code reader, the URL from the keyboard is input.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple WWW file browsing system which makes it unnecessary to perform the setting operation of a complicated computer and does not need to operate software.

[0009]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a system for browsing files stored on a WWW server provided with a unique address on the Internet, comprising: Requirements (1)-
A file browsing system comprising (5).

(1) A unique identification code is assigned to each selected file corresponding to an arbitrary file selected from files stored in an arbitrary one of the WWW servers provided on the Internet. Is provided.

(2) There is provided operating means for displaying a bar code representing the identification code and a bar code representing various operation commands.

(3) There is provided identification code storage means for storing the file name of the file on the WWW in association with the identification code assigned to each file, and the identification code storage means comprises a communication line. Connected to the Internet through.

(4) There is a terminal processing means connected to a bar code reader and a display means, and this terminal processing means can be connected to the identification code storage means through a communication line.

(5) The terminal processing means transfers the identification code data read by the bar code reader from the operation means to the identification code storage means, and the identification code storage means transmits the transferred identification code data. W corresponding to
Reads the file name on the WW and uses the file name to read the WW
The file registered in any WWW server on W is linked to the terminal processing means. The linked file is transferred to the terminal processing means and displayed on the display means.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a WWW file browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention uses WWW and communication line N
, An identification code database 120 attached to the system server 100, an identification code assigning means 110 for assigning an identification code, and a connection to the system server 100 via a communication line N. And a client computer 200.

The system server 100, together with the identification code database 120, constitutes an identification code storage unit.

The identification code assigning means 110 is a file on the WWW selected to be browsed by this system (hereinafter, referred to as "homepage" according to custom).
This is a means for determining and assigning an identification code corresponding one-to-one with the unique address of the user such that there is no duplication. In particular,
The assigned identification code (in this embodiment, 00000000
(8-digit number of ~ 99999999) and an input for assigning a new identification code so as not to overlap with an identification code already stored in the file, that is, an identification code already assigned to a specific URL. It is provided with a discriminator and the like. (Not shown) As the identification code, an arbitrary number of identification codes that satisfy the required number of URLs can be prepared by appropriately combining alphabets, symbols, and the like, in addition to numbers.

The identification code database 120 is a database that stores a URL of a specific homepage in association with the identification code assigned by the identification code assigning means 110 to the URL. The database 120 returns a URL corresponding to the identification code to the system server 100 in response to an inquiry from the system server 100 using the identification code. Although the identification code database 120 is shown separately from the system server 100 in FIG. 1, it may be a storage medium such as a hard disk integrated into the system server 100.

The system server 100 is a server computer including a database management system for managing the identification code database 120. In general, for example
It is realized as SQL Server or the like built on Windows NT Server (Microsoft), but the basic functions are as follows.
Is to inquire the identification code database 120 of the identification code transferred via the URL, and in response to the inquiry, the URL returned from the database 120 is replaced with the identification code and transmitted to the WWW.

The client computer 200 is a terminal used by an end user who wants to access a home page. The client computer 200 is, for example, a personal computer that operates on an OS such as Windows (Microsoft), is connected to a barcode reader 300, and includes an interface circuit with the barcode reader 300 and barcode reading processing software. I have. The client computer 200 is generally configured so that all operations can be performed by reading data or instructions from the barcode reader 300. Therefore, the keyboard and mouse generally used as input devices of the personal computer are not normally used in the client computer 200. However, a keyboard and a mouse may be optionally connected to a user who is accustomed to handling a personal computer or wants to use the client computer 200 for purposes other than accessing the WWW. At this time, the barcode reader 30
The configuration may be such that, by inputting a specific code with 0, another connected input device becomes operable.

FIG. 2 shows a client computer 200.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of FIG. As described above, the barcode reader 300 is connected to the client computer 200, and the monitor 400 for displaying the image of the homepage is connected to the client computer 200. Monitor 4
As the 00, a CRT display is usually employed, but other display devices such as an LCD may of course be used. The decoder 240 converts the barcode input from the barcode reader 300 into the client computer 200.
This is a block that converts into numerical data that can be processed internally. The control unit 220 is a CPU unit serving as a center of arithmetic processing in the client computer 200, and includes a data / command discrimination control unit 222 and a file interpretation unit 224. The output of the decoder 240 is input to the data / instruction discrimination control unit 222, and it is determined whether the data is identification code data or an instruction code. The identification code data is stored in the modem 21
0, transferred to the system server 100 via the communication line N. For the instruction code, arithmetic processing according to the content of the instruction is performed inside the control unit 220.

On the other hand, the homepage file transferred from the WWW is input to the file interpreter 224 of the controller 220 via the modem 210. The homepage is
HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) to minimize dependence on computer model and OS
It is described using a unified format called a format. The file interpreting unit 224 is a block that interprets and converts the file in the HTML format according to a predetermined rule. In other words, Netscape Navigator (Netscape Communications), Internet Explorer
Browsing software represented by (Microsoft)
It fulfills the function of "interpreting a format" provided in a so-called WWW browser.

The homepage file converted by the file interpreter 224 is displayed on the monitor 400 through the video control circuit 250. Although omitted in FIG. 2, the HTML file of the home page can include not only texts and images but also sound files of various formats. You can regenerate them. Further, a printer 500 may be connected to record the homepage screen displayed on the monitor 400.

The memory 230 shown in FIG.
In addition to a RAM used for temporarily saving operation data at 0, a storage medium for storing required system files in the client computer 200, such as a hard disk device, may be included.

The barcode sheet B is a sheet for operating the client computer 200 in which the identification code given to the URL is displayed as a barcode and displayed. FIG. 3 shows an example of an operation barcode sheet. This sheet B includes a home page (for example, a page of “Today's weather (nationwide)” in “Weather forecast” and a page of “Social” in “Breaking news” that can be browsed by the user using this system. ) Is displayed as a barcode. Also, in addition to those identification codes, "start the Internet" (connection to the WWW and access to the system server 100 via an access provider), "end the Internet"
(Disconnect from access provider and close communication line)
For example, an operation code required to give an operation instruction to the client computer 200 is also displayed as a barcode.

Further, it is more effective if the barcode sheet B is configured in a category so as to meet the needs of the main user of the system. For example, when introducing it to a hotel, it provides information on nearby excursions and weather forecasts, etc., when installing at a gas station, information on a new car from a car manufacturer, and information on cooking and recreation for ordinary households. If you prepare a barcode sheet for each of them collectively, it is very convenient. Note that the operation means displaying the barcode can be provided by being displayed on another medium such as a magazine in addition to a single sheet shape such as the sheet B of this embodiment.

Next, the operation of the system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams showing the flow of data in the system according to this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, a user of the client computer 200 receives a URL (http: // ww) on the WWW.
w.abc.com/weather.htm) to access the "weather forecast homepage". The identification code corresponding to the URL of this home page is “0000001234”, and the barcode sheet B describes a barcode corresponding to the identification code. Note that any encoding method as a barcode may be adopted according to the specifications of the system.

At this time, the user first reads the bar code indicating the start of the operation described on the sheet B, that is, the bar code corresponding to the above-mentioned "Start Internet".
Input to the client computer 200. According to the command input, the client computer 200 accesses a predetermined access provider, then logs in to the system server 100 and sends out the code data including the identification code to the system server 100. In the case where the system server 100 also serves as an access provider when the client computer 200 accesses the Internet, the client computer 200 may directly access the system server 100.

Next, the system server 100 refers to the identification code database 120 and refers to the identification code “000”.
01234 "and the URL" http: // ww
w.abc.com/weather.htm ". The system server 100 replaces the identification code with the acquired URL and sends it to the WWW.

The "weather forecast homepage" desired by the user is stored in the server "www.abc.com" on the WWW. The code data issued from the client computer 200 and converted into a format including the obtained URL by the system server 100 specifies the homepage "weather.htm" stored in the server "www.abc.com" on the WWW. Then, an instruction is given to transfer to the client computer 200 that is the transmission source. W
The server “www.abc.com” on the WW transfers the file “weather.htm” to the client computer 200 based on the IP address of the client computer 200 included in the data transmitted from the client computer 200. At this time, if the client computer 200 accesses the Internet via a different provider from the system server 100, the desired “weather forecast homepage” file is transferred to the client computer 200 without passing through the system server 100. You. In addition, other files linked to this file (for example, in the case of a “weather forecast homepage”, an image file of a satellite photograph by a meteorological satellite, etc.) are also transferred to the client computer 200 in the same manner as when accessing the conventional WWW. Needless to say,

After browsing the desired home page, the bar code reader 30 of the client computer 200
At 0, when the bar code of "End the Internet" displayed on the bar code sheet B is read and input, the client computer 200 logs off from the Internet and disconnects the communication line according to a predetermined procedure.

[0033]

As described above in detail according to one embodiment of the present invention, the WWW file browsing system using a barcode according to the present invention has the following effects.

(1) Since a unique identification code is assigned to a URL on the WWW and displayed by a bar code, the user does not need to perform a complicated operation of inputting the URL from a keyboard. A desired homepage file can be accessed.

(2) Since the command code for accessing the Internet is displayed as a bar code, the user does not need to set complicated hardware and software, and reads and inputs a predetermined bar code with a bar code reader. Can be operated very easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a WWW file browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a client computer in a WWW file browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a barcode sheet for operating a client computer in a WWW file browsing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a first diagram illustrating a data flow of the WWW file browsing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second diagram showing a data flow of the WWW file browsing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 system server (identification code storage means) 110 identification code assignment means 120 identification code database (identification code storage means) 200 client computer 210 modem 220 control unit 222 data / command discrimination control unit 224 file interpretation unit 230 memory 240 decoder 250 video control Circuit 300 Barcode reader 400 Monitor (display means) 500 Printer 600 WWW server N Communication line B Barcode sheet (operation means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A system for browsing a file stored on a WWW server to which a unique address is assigned on the Internet, comprising:
A file browsing system comprising (5). (1) A unique identification code is assigned to each selected file corresponding to an arbitrary file selected from files stored in any of the WWW servers provided on the Internet. For providing an identification code. (2) Operating means is provided which displays a barcode representing the identification code and a barcode representing various operation commands. (3) identification code storage means for storing the file name of the file on the WWW in association with the identification code assigned to each file, and the identification code storage means is connected to the Internet through a communication line; It is connected. (4) There is a terminal processing means connected to a bar code reader and a display means, and this terminal processing means can be connected to the identification code storage means through a communication line. (5) The terminal processing means transfers the identification code data read by the bar code reader from the operation means to the identification code storage means, and the identification code storage means corresponds to the transferred identification code data. The file name on the WWW is read, and the file registered in any WWW server on the WWW is linked to the terminal processing means by the file name. The linked file is transferred to the terminal processing means and displayed on the display means.