WO2001080049A1

WO2001080049A1 - Automatic internet connecting method with ic card

Info

Publication number: WO2001080049A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jung-Tae Kim; Si-Jung Kim
Original assignee: GLOBAL HANNET CO Ltd
Current assignee: GLOBAL HANNET CO Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-19
Filing date: 2000-09-01
Publication date: 2001-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2002-10-19
Also published as: KR20000049636A; AU6739700A

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card for a user's convenience, the method in which the IC card is inserted to provide URL and the information to be read in and automatically connected onto the internet server by the wired or wireless terminal and system, capable of being connected to the internet, such as a PC, SET-TOP, WEB-PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA(hereinafter called as an internet accessible system), thereby immediately showing a web site relevant to the URL and the information, or a link window consisting of a plurality link bars linked by the URL and the information on the initial computer screen in which one of link bars is selected to get directly connected with a corresponding web site, thereby automatically getting connected onto the internet without additional prior steps, getting directly connected onto a desired web site and utilizing the internet with great ease. Further, when a user clicks an e-mail bar of the link bars on the link window of the initial computer screen, it becomes possible to connect to a host of a company having a POP function on the internet and the e-mail in order to check a user's e-mail and download it, where the e-mail includes a text, vioce, moving picture and the like.

Description

AUTOMATIC INTERNET CONNECTING METHOD WITH IC CARD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FILED OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic internet connecting method, and more particularly to an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card for a user's convenience in which an internet accessible system reads an uniform resource locator (URL) and information, each being stored in the IC card, and then automatically connects to the internet, thereby showing a web site directed by the URL or a link window comprised of a plurality link bars linked with the URL and the information on an initial computer screen, wherein the system can be directly connected to a corresponding web site or allow a user to check an e-mail when one of the link bars is selected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Recently, as utilization of the internet web sites have been activated and there has been an explosive increase in the number of internet users, a number of personal computer users frequently get on the internet for mutual correspondence and exchange of information. Fig. 1 is a structural view for illustrating the state where a user gets connected with a web site on the internet.

As shown in Fig. 1, a user gets on the internet with internet accessible computers 10, 20 and 30, and then gets connected with a web site 40, a specific service provider in order to search for desired information. At this time, a user can connect to the internet using wired or wireless terminal and system, capable of being connected to the internet, such as a SET-TOP, WEB- PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA as well as the computers 10, 20 and 30.

In order to search for the desired information on the internet, it is required that a user get on the internet as a first step. However, there are still a number of users who have a great deal of fear and difficulty in getting on the internet because they have neither general knowledge about a computer, nor a regular computer education program- In addition, if a user gets on the internet and moves to a web site providing desired information, he/she must directly input the URL of the web site. If the URL of a web site is not correct, it is impossible to move to the web site to obtain desired information. If a user does not know the URL of a web site, there is an search engine on the internet which may help to find out one or more relevant web sites by searching all kinds of general data bases including newspapers, music files, pictures, phone directories and the like, and specialized data bases including credit information, theses and the like. However, it may take a great deal of time to search for a web site that can satisfy the user's specific needs.

In order to solve the aforementioned problem, there is a user-designed web site service that shows a limited number of web sites providing the user's most frequently desired information on the initial computer screen as soon as the user gets on the internet. However, there is also a problem in the aforementioned method in that all the steps for getting on the internet should be preceded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention is disclosed to solve the aforementioned problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card for a user's convenience, the method in wliich the IC card is inserted to provide URL and the information to be read in and automatically connected onto the internet server by an internet accessible system, thereby immediately showing a web site relevant to the URL and the information, or a link window consisting of a plurality link bars linked by the URL and the information on the initial computer screen in which one of link bars is selected to get directly connected with a corresponding web site or allow a user to check an e-mail.

In order to accomplish the aforementioned object of the present invention, there is provided an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card comprising the steps of: allowing the internet accessible system to make a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with initial URL and the information relating to a common region and a few affiliated regions at a memory chip thereof; allowing the system to read in the initial URL and the information input in the common and affiliated regions if the IC card is inserted; and allowing an internet browser of the system to perform its function to show a web site of the initial URL on an initial computer screen.

Also, there is provided another automatic internet connecting method with an IC card comprising the steps of: allowing the internet accessible system to make a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with initial URL and the information relating to a common region and a few affiliated regions at a memory chip thereof; allowing the system to read in the initial URL and the information input in the common and affiliated regions if the IC card is inserted; and showing a link window having a plurality of link bars linked with the URL and the information read in by the system on the initial computer screen. At this time, the system is the wired or wireless terminal and system, capable of being connected to the internet, such as a PC, SET-TOP, WEB-PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA, and includes a mail check program and IC card reader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a structural view for illustrating the state where a user gets connected with a web site on the internet;

Fig. 2 is a flowchart for illustrating the procedure of getting onto the internet in an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of an initial computer screen after a user gets connected onto the internet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a flow chart for illustrating the procedure of getting onto the internet in an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view of an initial computer screen after a user gets connected onto the internet in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a view of a computer screen in case that a user moves to another web site by using a link bar shown on the first computer screen in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODYMENT

Objects and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 2 is a flow chart for illustrating the procedure of getting onto the internet in an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

First of all, an internet accessible system makes a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with a variety of information according to a user's definition at a memory chip thereof is inserted (S10).

At this time, the internet accessible system is the wired or wireless terminal and system, capable of being connected to the internet, such as a PC, SET-TOP, WEB- PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA, and includes a mail check program and IC card reader.

The information input at the memory chip of the IC card is classified into a common region and a few affiliated regions. In the common region, the security features of the IC card (key management for each directory and file, encryption of a password) include personal identification information, data search information, URL and the information, electronic mail account and so on.

At this time, the personal information includes a user's name, address, bank account number for telephone banking service, credit card number for cash approval service for purchase made in an internet shopping mall and so on.

Furthermore, affiliated regions include names of affiliated companies, personal information including log-in ID and password needed in visiting to web sites of affiliated companies, URL and the information of affiliated companies and files, service types of affiliated companies, data covering ranges and data files.

Later, if the IC card is inserted, the system makes a select DF/EF command to

IC card or performs an auto-run function to read in the initial URL and the information of the common and affiliated regions input at the IC card (S20). As the user automatically gets connected onto the internet (S30), a web site designated by the initial URL and the information input at the IC card is shown on the first computer screen (S40).

Fig. 3 is an example view for illustrating the initial computer screen when a user gets connected onto the internet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, a web site of a "00 stockbrokerage company" appears on the initial computer screen if the URL of the "00 stockbrokerage company" is input as the initial internet URL and the information.

As shown above, the present invention enables an automaitc connection to the internet simply by the insertion of the IC card in which the initial URL is inputted, and a display of the web site directed by the initial URL on the initial computer screen. Thus, there is an advantage in the present invention in that a user, even the one unfamiliar with the internet, automatically gets connected onto the internet in convenience without taking specific prior steps.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the IC card stores various URL information and e-mail accounts, and the internet accessible system displays link windows consisting of a plurality of link bars on the initial computer secreen after it reads the IC card to display, where the link bars are linked to the URL and e-mail accounts. With reference to Figs. 4 to 6, an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in accordance with this embodyment thereof will be described in detail hereinafter.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart for illustrating the procedure of getting connected onto the internet in an automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is an example view of the initial computer screen after a user gets connected onto the internet in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a view of a computer screen in case that a user moves to another web site by using a link bar shown on the initial computer screen in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

First of all, as shown in Fig. 4, an internet accessible system makes a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with a variety of information according to a user's definition at a memory chip thereof is inserted (SI 10). At this time, the internet accessible system is the wired or wireless terminal and system, capable of being connected to the internet, such as a PC, SET-TOP, WEB- PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA, and includes a mail check program and IC card reader.

The system is made internet-accessible with an IC card reader. The information input at the memory chip of the IC card is classified into a common region and a few affiliated regions. In the common region, the security features of the IC card (key management for each directory and file, encryption of a password) include personal identification, data search, initial URL and the information, electronic mail account and so on. At this time, the personal information includes a user's name, address, bank account number for telephone banking service, credit card number for cash approval service of a purchase made in an internet shopping mall and so on.

Furthermore, affiliated regions include names of affiliated companies, personal information including log-in ID and password needed in visiting to web sites of affiliated companies, URL and the information of affiliated companies and specific files, service types of affiliated companies, data covering ranges and data files.

Later, if the IC card is inserted, the system makes a select DF/EF command to IC card or performs an auto-run function to read in the URL and the information of the common and affiliated regions input at the IC card (SI 20). On the first screen is a link window consisting of a plurality of link bars linked with URL and the information input to the common and affiliated regions of the IC card (SI 30). As shown in Fig. 5, the first computer screen shows a link window consisting of a plurality of link bars according to a user's interest fields, for instance, an industry group including stock markets, financial companies, shopping malls, credit card handling companies, distribution companies and a user's e-mail account and so on. Thereafter, if a user selects one of the link bars which corresponds to the web site where the desired information is provided (SI 40), the system is automatically connected to the internet and then to the web site corresponding to the selected link bar (S150).

If a user selects a link bar of "00 stockbrokerage" among a plurality of items shown in Fig. 5, the URL input at the affiliated or common region linked by the link bars is read in and connected with a web site of the "00 stockbrokerage", as shown in Fig. 6.

At this time, the link window consisting of a plurality of link bars linked with various URL and the information is shown at a small screen in a corner of the computer screen. The small screen can be selected to show the initial screen at all times and activated at any time, thereby making it possible for a user to conveniently move to another web site from a currently used web site.

When a user intends to get connected to a desired web site, it can be directly connected without going through other sites to thereby reduce time in getting connected or moving to other web sites. In addition, for logging in web sites, the user's personal information input at the common and affiliated regions can be automatically provided as needed to thereby eliminate the inconvenience of additional log-in processes.

Furthermore, when a user clicks a link bar for his/her e-mail account at the link window consisting of a plurality of link bars linked with URL and the information shown in Fig. 5, it becomes possible to connect to a host of a company having a POP function on the internet and the e-mail in order to check a user's e-mail and download it, where the e-mail includes a text, vioce, moving picture and the like.

Besides the URL and the information input at the common region of the IC card, the URL and the information input at the affiliated regions can be used for convenient movement to web sites of an affiliated companies. All the affiliated companies with their own URL and the information and data input at the user's affiliated regions like financial companies, credit card companies, air service companies, shopping centers, distribution companies and the like can also send out their delivery mails (DM) where banner advertisements are loaded to the user's e-mail account to provide their information with advertising effects. As described above, there are advantages in the automatic internet connecting method with an IC card in that an IC card is inserted to provide URL and the information to be read in and automatically connected with an internet server by an internet accessible system to thereby show a web site relevant to the URL, or a link window consisting of a plurality link bars linked with URL and the information on the initial computer screen where one of link bars is selected to get directly connected to a corresponding web site, thereby automatically getting connected onto the internet without additional prior steps, getting directly connected onto a desired web site and utilizing the internet with great ease.

In addition, the present invention has also advantages in logging-in a desired web site, a user's personal information input at the common and affiliated regions can be automatically provided as needed to thereby eliminate the inconvenience of additional log-in processes and in making an access to his/her e-mail account input at the IC card or other mailing programs to check arrival of new e-mails.

Furthermore, there are additional advantages in the present invention in that the URL and the information input at the affiliated regions of the IC card can be used for convenient movement to web sites of affiliated companies, and that all the affiliated companies with their URL and the information and data input at the user's affiliated regions can also send out DMs where the banner advertisements are loaded to the user's e-mail account to provide their updated information with advertising effects.

Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the aforementioned precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic internet connecting method with an IC card comprising the steps of: allowing the internet accessible system to make a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with initial URL and the information relating to a common region and a few affiliated regions at a memory chip thereof; allowing the system to read in the initial URL and the information input in the common and affiliated regions if the IC card is inserted; and allowing an internet browser of the system to perform its function to show a web site of the initial URL on an initial computer screen.

2. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the common region includes personal identification information, data search information, URL and the information and e-mail account.

3. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the affiliated regions include names of affiliated companies, personal information, URL and the information of affiliated companies and specific files, service types of affiliated companies, data covering ranges and data files.

4. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is made internet-accessible with a mail checking program and an IC card reader.

5. The method, as defined in claim 1, wherein the system is one selected from the group consisting of a PC, SET-TOP, WEB-PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA.

6. An automatic internet connecting method with an IC card comprising the steps of: allowing the internet accessible system to make a discrimination about insertion of an IC card input with initial URL and the information relating to a common region and a few affiliated regions at a memory chip thereof; allowing the system to read in the initial URL and the information input in the common and affiliated regions if the IC card is inserted; and showing a link window having a plurality of link bars linked with the URL and the information read in by the system on the initial computer screen.

7. The method, as defined in claim 6, wherein the common region includes personal identification information, data search information, URL and the information and e-mail account.

8. The method, as defined in claim 6, wherein the affiliated regions include names of affiliated companies, personal information, URL and the information of affiliated companies and specific files, service types of affiliated companies, data covering ranges and data files.

9. The method, as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is made internet-accessible with an IC card reader.

10. The method, as defined in claim 6, wherein the system is one selected from the group consisting of a PC, SET-TOP, WEB-PHONE, KiOSK, cellular phone and PDA.