Internet connector

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

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The present invention relates to an Internet connection device, and more particularly to an Internet connection device that connects to the Internet via a provider.

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[Conventional Technology] The Internet is a network of computers on a global scale that enables instant transmission and reception of information. A computer's connection (access) to the Internet is made through a provider (Internet service provider).

Currently, a large number of providers have been established, and the service content differs depending on each provider. For example, when comparing connection charges, a flat rate system (one that pays an admission fee and an annual usage fee and does not require a subsequent connection fee), a pay-as-you-go system (for example, one that pays a flat rate for each connection, connection time) There are some that pay a flat rate depending on the situation), and others that have a flat rate until a certain period of time and a pay-as-you-go system after that.

Depending on the provider, the connection fee is low but the connection environment (connection speed, level of provided information, etc.) is not good, or the connection fee is high but the connection environment (connection speed, level of provided information, etc.) is poor. Some are good, and some are cheaper for short-term use, but extremely expensive for long-term use. Therefore, it is preferable that the user contracts with a plurality of providers having different service contents and selects the provider most suitable for his / her usage situation each time he / she connects to the Internet.

On the other hand, by connecting to the access point closest to the user, the connection fee can be reduced, so the selection of the access point is also important. Further, it is also preferable to switch to a dial-up connection or a dedicated line connection in consideration of the connection charge and the connection environment according to the usage situation of the user.

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However, in order to switch the provider, access point, connection fee and connection environment (connection speed, level of provided information, etc.) while browsing a homepage, for example, an Internet connection is required. After cutting once, it was necessary to switch to the desired one again. Therefore, in order to switch the provider, access point, connection fee, and connection environment, it is necessary to click the operation button many times (turn on the operation button), which is not convenient.

The present invention attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing an easy-to-use Internet connection device by reducing the number of clicks of operation buttons when switching between a provider, an access point, a connection fee, and a connection environment. Is what you do.

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[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, claim 1 of the present invention provides information on the Internet in an Internet connection device that connects to the Internet via a provider and receives or transmits desired information to the Internet. A connection icon is provided on the displayed screen, and the desired information is displayed on the connection icon from the display unit that displays multiple providers, multiple access points, and other Internet connection information, and the information displayed on the connection icon. It consists of an input unit for input and a control unit that can switch to a new provider or a new access point based on an input signal from this input unit.

While displaying the Internet information on the display unit, looking at the plurality of providers, the plurality of access points, and other Internet connection information displayed on the connection icon, the most necessary in the current Internet connection. You can select the provider, access point, connection fee, connection speed, etc. Therefore, for example, it is possible to change to a new provider or access point while browsing the homepage, and it is possible to arbitrarily select and switch the connection fee, connection speed, and the like. As a result, the number of clicks of the operation button at the time of switching can be reduced.

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an Internet connection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display unit of the Internet connection device of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c) are connection icons of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which Internet connection information is displayed, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the Internet connection device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet connection device 1 is connected to the Internet 7 via the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 to receive desired information or transmit information. A control unit 10 that is dial-up connected to the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 and connected to a dedicated line, an input unit 12 that inputs a signal to the control unit 10, and a display that displays information based on a signal from the control unit 10. It consists of a part 14. Reference numeral 8 indicates a dial-up connection line, and 9 indicates a dedicated line connection.

The control unit 10 accesses (connects), for example, the access point (Tokyo) of the first provider 1 based on the input signal from the input unit 12, and while browsing the home page, the second to second. It is possible to switch to 4 providers 3 to 5 and new access points (Yokohama, Tama, etc.). The input unit 12 is for inputting desired information from the information displayed by the connection icon 15 (see FIG. 2) of the display unit 14 to the control unit 10.

The display unit 14 provides a connection icon 15 on a screen displaying Internet information (for example, a homepage browsing screen), and the connection icons 15 are provided with first to fourth providers 2 to 5, and a plurality of access points. It displays (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) and other Internet connection information (for example, connection charges (flat rate, pay-as-you-go), connection speed, etc.).

Note that the first provider 2 only pays the admission fee and the annual usage fee (20,000 yen) in a flat rate system, and no subsequent connection fee is required, and the second provider 3 is a pay-as-you-go system. It is a type that pays 500 yen for each connection. In addition, the third provider 4 pays 500 yen for one hour according to the connection time on a pay-as-you-go basis, and the fourth provider 5 pays 10 yen for three minutes on a pay-as-you-go basis. is there. Therefore, the user can contract with the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 and select the provider most suitable for his / her usage situation each time he / she connects to the Internet. It is also possible to freely connect to multiple providers that have already been contracted from there by simply contracting with a specific provider that has already contracted with the provider.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the connection icon 15 is displayed at the lower part of the screen while the home page is viewed on the display unit 14. 3 (a) to 3 (c) show a state in which the Internet connection information is displayed on the connection icon. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 are displayed on the connection icon, and FIG. 3B shows a plurality of access points (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) on the connection icon 15. Indicates the displayed state. Further, FIG. 3C shows a state in which other Internet connection information (for example, connection charge (flat rate, pay-as-you-go), connection speed) is displayed on the connection icon 15.

Next, a case where the homepage is browsed by the Internet connection device 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, clicking the button means clicking the button of the icon displayed on the screen of the display unit 14. In step 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as "ST") 1, the "Start" button is clicked. As a result, the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 are displayed on the display unit 14.

In ST2, for example, the first provider 2 is selected from the first to fourth providers 2 to 5, and "first provider 2" is clicked. In ST3, the control unit 10 reads out the user data previously input to the control unit 10. In ST4, the control unit 10 reads out the access point information (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) of the selected first provider 2.

In ST5, the control unit 10 searches for the information read in ST3 and ST4, selects the access point closest to the user (for example, Tokyo), and displays it on the display unit 14. In ST6, it is determined whether or not the access point (Tokyo) displayed on the display unit 14 is an appropriate access point. If it is determined that the displayed access point (Tokyo) is appropriate, the process proceeds to ST7. In ST7, dial up to the displayed access point (Tokyo), enter the homepage browsing state, and return to the base point A.

On the other hand, if it is determined in ST6 that the displayed access point (Tokyo) is not appropriate, the process proceeds to ST8. In ST8, the display unit 14 displays a list of access points (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) of the first provider 2 based on the display signal from the control unit 10.

In ST9, an appropriate access point (for example, Yokohama) is selected from the list of access points (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) of the first provider 2 displayed on the display unit 14. Then, in ST7, dial-up connection is made to the displayed access point (Yokohama), the home page is displayed, and the process returns to the base point A.

In ST10, when the "disconnect" button is clicked, the process returns to the base point A, and when the button is not clicked, the process proceeds to ST11. When the "Select as connection destination" button is clicked in ST11, in ST8, the display unit 14 sets the connection icon 15 on the homepage browsing screen to the connection icon 15 of the first provider 2 based on the display signal from the control unit 10. Display a list of access points (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.).

In ST9, an appropriate access point (for example, Tama) is selected from the list of access points of the first provider displayed on the display unit. Then, in ST7, dial-up connection is made to the displayed access point (Tama), the homepage is browsed, and the base point A is returned.

On the other hand, in ST11, if the "Select as connection destination" button is not clicked, the process proceeds to ST12. When the "dial-up connection" button is clicked in ST12, the display unit 14 displays the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 on the connection icon 15 in the display screen of the homepage in ST13.

In ST14, while working on the homepage, the user newly connects from the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 displayed on the connection icon 15 (for example, the second provider 3). ) Can be selected. After that, ST2 to ST7 or, if necessary, ST8 and ST9 are repeated in sequence, and the homepage is browsed by the newly connected second provider 3.

If the "dial-up connection" button is not clicked in ST12, the process proceeds to ST15. When the "Help" button is clicked in ST15, the help screen is displayed in ST16. If the "Help" button is not clicked in ST15, the process proceeds to ST17. When the "Exit" button is clicked in ST17, the program is terminated in ST13. On the other hand, in ST17, if the "End" button is not clicked, the process returns to the base point A.

In the above embodiment, the case of switching between the first to fourth providers 2 to 5 and a plurality of access points (Tokyo, Yokohama, Tama, etc.) while browsing the homepage has been described, but other It is also possible to switch the Internet connection information (for example, connection fee (flat rate, pay-as-you-go), connection speed, level of provided information, etc.). It is also possible to switch between dial-up connection and leased line connection.

In the above embodiment, the case of switching the provider, access point, connection fee, connection speed, etc. while browsing the homepage has been described, but other transmission / reception (for example, an e-mail for exchanging letters using the Internet) has been described. It is also possible to switch the provider, access point, connection fee, connection speed, level of provided information, etc. during the operation).

【００２８】

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while displaying the Internet information on the display unit, the plurality of providers, the plurality of access points, and other Internet connection information displayed on the connection icon are viewed. You can select the most suitable provider, access point, connection fee, connection speed, level of information provided, etc. for your current Internet connection.

Therefore, for example, it is possible to change to a new provider or access point while the home page is open, and it is possible to arbitrarily select and switch the connection fee, connection speed, level of provided information, and the like. .. As a result, the number of clicks of the operation button at the time of switching can be reduced, so that the usability of the Internet connection device is improved.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an Internet connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display unit of the Internet connection device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which Internet connection information is displayed on the connection icon of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the Internet connection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Internet connection device 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Provider 7 ... Internet 10 ... Control unit 12 ... Input unit 14 ... Display unit 15 ... Connection icon A ... Base point