JPS6277782A - Video tex communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit the picture information under the condition of inserting a card and the charged picture information and to improve the function of a system by including a card insertion request code and a charge input request code in the picture information fed to a terminal equipment from a center. CONSTITUTION:To the internal bus of the terminal equipment of a video tex communication system, a CPU 10, a ROM 11 for storing a program or the like, a RAM 12 for storing the data or the like, a video RAM 13 for displaying the picture information on a CRT11, an NCU/modem 14 communicating with the center 20, a keyboard interface 15, a card reader 16 and a coin processor 17 are connected. To an information processor 21 connected to the line of the center 20, a picture file 22 and a picture editing device 23 connected to an information input device 24 are connected. Any management control code of an open code, a card insertion or a coin input request code is added to the picture information form the center 20 and transmitted to the terminal equipment, the transmitted code is interpreted by the reader 16 and the processor 17 and displayed on the CRT1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION lal Technical Field The present invention relates to a Videotex communication system, and more particularly to a Videotex communication system that handles screen information that requires card insertion or charge input.

fb) Summary of the Invention The Videotex communication system according to the present invention displays the contents of screen information transmitted from a center based on a handling control code added to the screen information. The handling control code sets conditions for inserting a card or charging a fee, and displays the contents of the screen information when the conditions are met.

By doing this, it is possible to transmit information that should be disclosed only to card members, paid information, etc. together with general video information.

tc+ conventional technology and its drawbacks Videotex i1 currently in practical use in Japan
The 1-communication system consists of a center that creates, 2-edits, and sends out information, a telephone line, and a terminal device, and the center transmits image data to the terminal device in response to an access from the terminal device. The image data transmitted from the center is composed of header message information 2 display screen information, etc., and consists exclusively of data for controlling the display screen of a terminal device such as a CRT and displaying information.

Therefore, the screen information received by the terminal device is always displayed.

On the other hand, some information includes information that may be disclosed to unspecified customers, information that should be disclosed only to specific customers such as card members, or paid information. The information must be displayed after confirmation, and paid information cannot be displayed without payment of 18i gold.

However, in the conventional Videotex communication system, the center could not instruct the terminal device to insert the card, check the inserted cart, or input the fee, so information that should be disclosed only to card members and paid information were not available. It has the disadvantage that information cannot be transmitted, the content of information that can be transmitted is limited, and the customer base of users is also limited.

(d1 Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention includes handling control codes such as a card insertion request code and a fee input request code in the screen information sent from the center. The purpose is to provide a Videotex communication system capable of transmitting screen information.

(e1 Structure and Effect of the Invention This invention is composed of a line, a center that transmits screen information via this line, and a terminal device that accesses the center via the line and receives desired screen information. In the Videotex communication system, the center is provided with means for adding a handling control code, such as a public code 1, a card insertion request code, or a charge input request code, to each screen information sent to the terminal device. , a card reader and a cash processing device are installed in the terminal device, and public screen display means for directly displaying the contents of screen information when screen information to which a public code is added is received; and card insertion. a card screen display means for accepting the card with the card reader and displaying the contents of the screen information after processing the card data when receiving the screen information to which the request code has been added; and the screen information to which the charge input request code has been added. The present invention is characterized in that it is further provided with a pay screen display means that accepts input of a charge into the cash processing device when receiving the charge, and displays the contents of the screen information after the amount corresponding to the charge has been input.

By configuring as described above, according to the present invention, by adding a handling control code to the screen information transmitted from the center to the terminal device, the terminal device can directly display the screen information. It is possible to judge whether the display is to be displayed after the card has been inserted, or whether the display is to be displayed after the charge has been inserted. You can display it after confirming the procedure. This makes it possible to transmit all of the information that may be disclosed to the public, information that is to be displayed only to card members, and paid information, and allows the terminal device to handle such information appropriately. In addition, the Videotex communication system has the advantage of increasing the type and amount of information that can be transmitted and expanding its range of use.In addition, by making it possible to transmit screen information on the condition that a card is inserted, screen information can be transferred to a card. It can be used as a benefit and can also improve card functionality.

ffl Embodiment FIG. 1 is an external view of a Hideotesox terminal device which is an embodiment of the present invention. On the customer operation panel surface on the front of the main body of the device, there is a CRTl, and below the CRTl there is a numeric keypad 2 including a * key, a # key, and a clear key;
3. Start key to start the operation of this device is to the right of 3.
A cart "insertion 14" and a coin slot 5 are installed. The ten key 2 functions as a screen iIl selection key when the device is in operation.

FIG. 2 (Al is a block diagram of the control unit of the terminal device. The CPU 10 has a ROM II that stores programs etc. via an internal lot, and a RAM 12 that stores zones etc.
, video R that stores screen data to be displayed on CRT 1
AM13, NCtJ/modem 14 for communicating with the center 20, keyboard interface 1 that accepts human power from a keyboard including numeric keypad 2 and start key 3
5. A card reader 16 that reads card data inserted from the card insertion slot 4 and a coin processing machine 17 that processes coins inserted from the coin slot 5 are connected. The NCTJ/modem 14 is connected to the center 20 via a line, and the keyboard interface 15 is connected to the numeric keypad 2. A keyboard 1'' including a start key 3 is connected. A CRT 1 is also connected to the video RAM 13, and a card flag and screen information indicating that the correct card is inserted in the car 1' reader I6 are stored in the RAM 12. A coin flag is set to indicate that a fee has been inserted to view the card.Furthermore, a coin flag is set in the ROMII to indicate that the card inserted into the card reader 16 is valid.

Data for determining invalidity is stored.

FIG. 2 (B1 is a block diagram of the center 20. An information processing device 21 connected to the NCU/modem 14 of the terminal device via a line includes a screen file 221 for filing screen information; and a screen file 221 for editing screen information. Screen editing device 2
3 is connected to the screen editing device 23, and an information human power device 24 for inputting information constituting screen information is connected to the screen editing device 23.

Operation number for inputting a control code such as a handling control code (described later) into the display screen information: [Performed by operating the information manual device 24].

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of screen information transmitted from the center 20. The screen information includes display screen information f1.in which code information such as header/message information one-character data indicating the screen number, etc. is set. ) and display screen information (2) in which transparency information such as pattern information is set, and a handling control code for this screen information is added to the beginning of the display screen information (1). There are four types of handling control codes: public code "A", card insertion request code "B", charge input request code "C", and card/fee request code "D", and the code A" is a screen that may be disclosed to the public. The code "B" indicates a card screen which is screen information to be displayed only to Car I' members. Further, the code "C" indicates a paid screen that is paid screen information, and the code "D" indicates screen information displayed when a membership card is inserted or a fee is inserted, that is,
A member free screen, which is screen information that is free only for members, is shown.

FIG. 4 (Bl is a flowchart showing the operation of the screen editing device 23 of the up/down 20 to add a handling control code to the screen information. Step n40 (hereinafter referred to as Step n
i is simply called ni. ), the header/message information is first edited, and the information content of this screen information input by the operator is determined in steps n41 to n44. If the input information content indicates public information, n41 will judge that n4
Proceed to step 5, add the public code "A" as the handling control code, and proceed to n49. If the input information content indicates member information, at the judgment of n42, proceed to n46 and add a card insertion request code as the handling control code. Add “B” and n
Proceed to step 49. Furthermore, if the input information content indicates charge information, at the judgment of n43, the process proceeds to rr47, where a charge input code 1 "c" is added as a handling control code, and n43 is determined.
Proceed to step 49, and if the input handling method indicates free membership information, proceed to n4B based on the judgment at n44, add a card/fee request ``D'' as a handling control code, and proceed to n49. n49 Now, edit the display screen information (11, (2+) such as code information, transparency information, etc., and finish the operation. n41 to n4B correspond to the means for adding the handling control code of the present invention.

FIG. 4(A) is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device. Step nl (Hereinafter, step ni will be simply referred to as n
Say i. ), when the customer presses the start key 3, the terminal device accesses the center via the telephone line and the line is set (n2). When receiving screen information from the center
n3) Read the handling control code from the display screen information, and at n4゜nlo, n20 and n30, the handling control code is public code A", card insertion request code B",
Determine whether the code is "Charge input request code C" or Card/Charge request code "D". If the public code is "A", proceed to n5, display the contents of the screen information on the CRTl, and press the screen selection key. Accepts the selection of the next screen from (
n6). It is judged at n7 whether the content of the manually input screen selection key is an end key, and if it is an end key, the line with the center is disconnected (n8), the flag is cleared (n9), and the operation is finished. Otherwise, the process returns to n3 and receives the screen display data corresponding to that selection key from the center.

If the handling control code is the fee input request code "C," the process proceeds to nll based on the judgment of nlO, and it is determined by referring to the coin flag whether or not coins for the fee have already been inserted. If the charge has already been entered, proceed to n5 and display the screen information; if the charge has not been entered yet, click [Paid 1
Please insert 00 yen] is displayed on the CRTl (n 1
2). At n13, it is determined whether a coin has been inserted, and if a coin has been inserted, the coin flag is turned on at n14 and the process proceeds to n5; if not, the process proceeds to n8 and the line with the center is disconnected.

If the handling control code is the card insertion request code "B", the process proceeds to n21 based on the determination at n20, and it is determined by referring to the card flag whether or not the correct designated card has been inserted. If the card has already been inserted, proceed to n5 and display the screen information; if the card has not been inserted yet,
Display "Membership Card Required, Please Insert" on the CRT
I will do it (n22). n23 determines whether the card is inserted,
If inserted, it is determined whether the card is a designated card or not at n24. If it is a designated card, the card flag is turned on at n25 and the process proceeds to n5. If the inserted card is not a designated card , n if no card was inserted
Proceed to step 8 and disconnect the line with the center.

If the handling control code is the card/fee request code "D", the process proceeds to n31 based on the judgment in n30, in which it is determined by referring to the coin flag whether or not a fee has already been inserted, and in n32, the process proceeds to n31. It is determined whether the correct specified card is inserted by referring to the card flag. If the charge has already been inserted or the card has been inserted, proceed to n5 to display the screen information. Please display on the CRTl (n
33). At n34, it is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted, and if a coin has been inserted, the coin flag is turned on at n36, and the process proceeds to n5.

If the charge is not inserted, it is determined in n35 whether the card is inserted, and if it is inserted, it is determined whether the card is a designated card or not in n24, and if it is a designated card, the card flag is turned on in n25. The process proceeds to n5, and if the inserted card is not the designated card, or if no card is inserted, the process proceeds to n8 to disconnect the line with the center.

Note that the card flag and coin flag are flags for preventing duplicate requests from being made once a card has been inserted or a coin has been inserted.

n4. n5 corresponds to the public screen display means of the present invention, and n
5 and n20 to n25 correspond to the car F screen display means of the present invention. Further, n5 and nlO to n14 correspond to the pay screen display means of the present invention.

In this way, according to this Videotex communication system J., by adding a handling control code to the screen information transmitted by the center, the terminal device reads this handling control code and displays it as is, but there is no charge. You can choose whether to display it after the card has been inserted, to display it after the correct card has been inserted, or to display whether the card has been inserted or the charge has been inserted.

This allows the center to transmit information that it wants to display only to its members and sentiments that it wants to display for a fee, in addition to the information of the conventional Videotex communication system that can be made public to the public free of charge. The type and depth of information that can be transmitted can be increased, and the uses of the Videotex communication system can be expanded. Furthermore, by making it possible to transmit screen information on the condition that a card is inserted, the screen information can be used as a card benefit, expanding the uses of the Videotex communication system.

In this embodiment, the curl processing code is recorded at the beginning of the display screen information, but it may be recorded at any position as long as the function of the screen is not impaired.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an external view of the terminal device of the Videotex communication system which is an embodiment of the present invention, Part 2) is a block diagram of the control section of the terminal device, and Fig. 2+B) is a block diagram of the control unit of the Videotex communication system. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the center; FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of screen information transmitted from the center of the Videotex communication system to the terminal device; FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal device; (8
1 is a flowchart showing the operation of the center. 4-Card insertion slot, 16-Card reader, 5-Coin slot, 17-Coin processing machine.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a Videotex communication system consisting of a line, a center that transmits screen information via this line, and a terminal device that accesses the center via the line and receives desired screen information, the center means for adding a handling control code, such as a disclosure code, a card insertion request code, or a fee input request code, to each piece of screen information sent to the terminal device, and the terminal device includes a card reader; a cash processing device; and a public screen display means for directly displaying the contents of this screen information when receiving screen information with a public code added, and receiving screen information with a card insertion request code added. when the card reader accepts the card, and after processing the card data, the card screen display means displays the contents of the screen information; 1. A videotex communication system characterized by being provided with a pay screen display means that accepts the input of a fee and displays the contents of the screen information after the amount corresponding to the fee has been input.