Patent Publication Number: US-2004054754-A1

Title: System and method for automatic internet access

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for automatic Internet access and more particularly, to a system and method for automatically accessing a corresponding Internet web page by inputting a code recorded on a printed medium without inputting a uniform resource locator (URL) or performing hyperlink operation in a web browser.  
       [0002] In order to use information on Internet through a user&#39;s computer, the computer must be connected to the Internet by subscribing for a PC communication service or securing a private line, and an Internet access program and an Internet search program, i.e., a web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, must be installed in the computer. In searching information at a predetermined location in a particular web site on the Internet, a user usually turns on the user&#39;s computer, executes an Internet access program, executes a web browser, inputs the address of the particular web site, and searches data of a particular web page or file. In some occasions, it is not necessary to execute a special Internet access program, or an Internet access, program and an Internet search program may be integrated into a single program. However, such an Internet information search procedure is too complicated for persons who are not familiar with the Internet. Moreover, it takes much time until a user obtains information on a particular web page after executing a web browser during an Internet information search procedure, so even the user familiar with the Internet is often bored with the search procedure.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0003] It is a personal computer that is most universally used for access to Internet. In order to access the Internet under a personal computer environment, a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape must be installed in a personal computer. In the case where a personal computer is connected to a LAN connected to a private line, a user can immediately search Internet information by executing a web browser because Internet access is accomplished when the personal computer is turned on. However, in the case where a personal computer is connected to a normal telephone line, a user must log in ar Internet service provider (ISP) through PC communication using an Internet access program before executing a web browser to search Internet information. Conversation between a web browser and a web server is defined by a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP). A web browser sends a message according to the HTTP to a web server, and the web server sends requested information to the web browser. It is apparent that a protocol, such as a File Transfer Protocol (FTP), other than the HTTP and an FTP program instead of a web browser may be used for Internet search. In this specification, all Internet search programs such as a web browser and an FTP program are simply referred to as a web browser.  
       [0004] Each of all the web pages on the Internet has an address referred to as a uniform resource locator (URL). When creating an HTML web page, the URL of other web page can be linked to a character stream or a picture on the created HTML web page for user to shift to the other web page. This is referred to as a hyperlink. The URL is an address indicating the name of a server having information, the directory path of a file, and the name of the file. The URL usually has a form of “Internet Protocol (IP) address/path/file name”. For example, the URL of a particular web page in a sub-directory about “arts and culture” among web sites of the “Yahoo Korea” may be www.yahoo.co.kr/Arts/20000323.html. The URL of a particular web page in a directory referred to as “photograph” below the sub-directory about ““arts and culture” among the web sites of the “Yahoo Korea” may be www.yahoo.co.kr/Arts/Visual_Arts/Photography/dataname.html. In the above URLs, “www.yahoo.co.kr” in the beginning portion indicates an IP address, “Arts” or “Arts/Visual_Arts/Photography” in the middle portion indicates a path, and “20000323.html” or “dataname.html” in the last portion indicates a file name of the particular web page. Originally, an IP address indicates the address of each computer composed of numerals, for example, 210.11.204.253. However, an address composed of numerals is difficult to remember and inconvenient in use, so users usually use a domain name, for example, www.yahoo.co.kr, which is composed of characters and corresponds to the IP address. When a domain name is used, a user is actually connected to an IP address. In this specification, an IP address may include a domain name. In addition, in some occasions, a URL can be expressed in a form such as http://www.yahoo.co.kr/Arts/20000323.html. Here, “http://” indicates a protocol. In this specification, a URL may include information about a protocol.  
       [0005] A URL specifies how individual resources or objects, such as files, documents, or particular portions of a document, are discriminated within a world wide web (WWW). A web browser specifies exactly what resource is requested from a web server using such a URL. In this specification, terms such as a web page and a file for individual resources are used together.  
       [0006] Even a user who is not familiar with the Internet can easily access a homepage registered during initial setting by clicking the icon of a web browser such as Explorer or Netscape displayed on a desktop of a personal computer using a mouse. Thereafter, the user can search for a place corresponding to a desired URL in a hierarchical structure of a homepage by directly inputting the URL on the web browser or clicking a mouse on a higher class of the homepage. However, this method is very inconvenient when the hierarchical structure of the homepage is complicated or when a domain name is very long.  
       [0007] To solve the problem of inconvenience of searching in a complicated hierarchical structure of a homepage when a user accesses the Internet, recently, an automatic Internet access tool for reading a code (hereinafter, referred to as an “Internet access code”) related to the URL of a particular web page on the Internet and immediately accessing the web page has been introduced. Particularly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,829 issued to NeoMedia Technologies Inc. discloses a system and method for automatically accessing electronic information using a machine-readable code printed on a document. U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,829 issued to NeoMedia Technologies Inc. proposes a system and method for converting the uniform product code of a product into an IP address or a URL to access an Internet resource of the product.  
       [0008] An Internet access code proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,829 issued to NeoMedia Technologies Inc. includes URL information of a web page which a user wants to access. However, some URLs on a web page cannot be expressed by an Internet access code.  
       [0009] For example, a company named Naver on the Internet manages a site for searching web sites and provides real-time stock quotes as an additional service. The URL of a homepage on which Naver provides stock information is http://stock.naver.com. When the stock quote of Hyundai Electronics is inquired on this site, an inquired URL is http://stock.naver.com/naverstock?command=profile&amp;code=00660. The length of this URL is 60 characters. When each character is expressed by an ASCII code, 8*60=480 bits are used. Accordingly, such a URL cannot be expressed by a one-dimensional binary bar code. A two-dimensional bar code can express more amount of information per unit area than a one-dimensional bar code, so the above URL can be expressed by the two-dimensional bar code. However, a URL longer than the above URL cannot be expressed even by the two-dimensional bard code. Accordingly, a direct access method of directly including a URL in an Internet access code has limitations.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] To overcome the above problems, it is a first object of the present invention to provide an automatic Internet access system and method using an indirect code for easily accessing a web page having a long uniform resource locator (URL) by recording an index of the URL in an Internet access code instead of directly recording the URL and for integrally managing information about web page access.  
       [0011] It is a second object of the present invention to provide an automatic Internet access system and method using a double code for equalizing loads on an address server, which accompany automatic Internet access, by forming an Internet access code as a double code including a server code and an index code and supporting a plurality of address servers.  
       [0012] It is a third object of the present invention to provide an automatic Internet access system and method using a hierarchical code for efficiently providing various services by forming an Internet access code as a hierarchical code including a service code and a detailed code.  
       [0013] To achieve the first object of the invention, there is provided an automatic Internet access method of accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access method includes the steps of (a) deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page; (b) decoding the deciphered code information to acquire index information related to the web page; (c) acquiring address information corresponding to the acquired index information on a network; and (d) accessing the web page using the acquired address information and receiving information related to the web page.  
       [0014] To achieve the first object of the invention, in one embodiment, there is provided an automatic Internet access system for accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access system includes a code input device for deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page; an address server for receiving index information and providing address information corresponding to the index information on a network; and a user computer for decoding the code information deciphered by the code input device to acquire the index information related to the web page, acquiring the address information corresponding to the index information using the address server, accessing the web page using the address information, and receiving information related to the web page.  
       [0015] To achieve the first object of the invention, in another embodiment, there is provided an automatic Internet access system for accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access system includes a code input device for deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page and decoding the deciphered code information to acquire index information related to the web page; an address server for receiving index information and providing address information corresponding to the index information on a network; and a user computer for acquiring the address information, which corresponds to the index information acquired by the code input device, using the address server, accessing the web page using the address information, and receiving information related to the web page.  
       [0016] To achieve the second object of the invention, there is provided an automatic Internet access method of accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access method includes the steps of (a) deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page; (b) decoding the deciphered code information to acquire double code information related to the web page; (c) transmitting an index code contained in the double code information to an address server corresponding to a server code contained in the double code information; (d) receiving address information corresponding to the index code from the address server; and (e) accessing the web page using the address information and receiving information related to the web page.  
       [0017] To achieve the second object of the invention, there is also provided an automatic Internet access system for accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access system includes a user computer for deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page, decoding the deciphered code information to acquire double code information related to the web page, and transmitting an index code contained in the double code information to an address server corresponding to a server code contained in the double code information; and a plurality of address server for receiving the index code, acquiring address information corresponding to the index code, and transmitting the address information to the user computer. The user computer accesses the web page using the address information and receives information related to the web page.  
       [0018] To achieve the third object of the invention, there is also provided an automatic Internet access method of accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access method includes the steps of (a) deciphering code information from a code, which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page, using a user computer; (b) decoding the deciphered code information to acquire hierarchical code information related to the web page using the user computer; (c) transmitting the hierarchical code information from the user computer to a routing server; (d) transmitting a detailed code contained in the hierarchical code information from the routing server to a service providing server corresponding to a service code contained in the hierarchical code information among a plurality of service providing servers; and (e) transmitting resulting information corresponding to the detailed code from the service providing server to the user computer.  
       [0019] To achieve the third object of the invention, there is also provided an automatic Internet access system for accessing a particular web page on Internet. The automatic Internet access system includes a user computer for deciphering code information from a code which is recorded in an offline medium and is related to the web page, decoding the deciphered code information to acquire hierarchical code information related to the web page, and transmitting the hierarchical code information to a routing server; a routing server for transmitting a detailed code contained in the hierarchical code information to a service providing server corresponding to a service code contained in the hierarchical code information among a plurality of service providing servers; and a plurality of service providing servers for transmitting resulting information corresponding to the detailed code to the user computer. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic Internet access system using an indirect code according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access procedure using an indirect code according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0022]FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary diagrams of a one-dimensional bar code and a two-dimensional bar code, respectively.  
     [0023]FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram of a state of deciphering or capturing image information of an Internet access code inscribed near news on a paper using a code input device.  
     [0024]FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of the configuration of index information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0025]FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram of a data structure in a memory unit included in an address server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an automatic Internet access system using a double code according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0027]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access procedure using a double code according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0028]FIG. 9A is a diagram of the structure of a double code according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is an exemplary diagram of a double code expressed by a two-dimensional bar code and a one-dimensional bar code.  
     [0029]FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a memory unit included in an address server having a domain name, stock.naver.com.  
     [0030]FIG. 11 is a diagram of an automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0031]FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access procedure using a hierarchical code according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0032]FIG. 13A is an exemplary diagram of a hierarchical code expressed by a one-dimensional code, and FIG. 13B is a detailed diagram of a data structure in a hierarchical code.  
     [0033]FIG. 14 is an exemplary diagram showing the kinds of service code in a hierarchical code used in the third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0034]FIG. 15 is an exemplary diagram of the configuration of a code input device used in the present invention. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
     [0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.  
     [0036]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic Internet access system using an indirect code according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic Internet access system according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a code input device  110 , an address server  140 , and a user computer  120 .  
     [0037] The code input device  110  deciphers code information from a code  100  which is written on an offline medium such as a newspaper, magazine, or an advertising bill and which is related to a web page. Accordingly, the code input unit device  110  includes a reading unit such as a digital camera or a scanner for reading the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code  100  related to the URL of a web page to be accessed and a transmitting unit for transmitting the deciphered digital code information to the user computer  120 .  
     [0038] The user computer  120  performs automatic Internet access using the code information transmitted from the code input device  110 . The user computer  120  may be a fixed computer or a portable terminal. A fixed computer used as the user computer in this embodiment may be a personal computer, a notebook computer, a workstation, a web TV, a click TV, or a video game station. A portable terminal used as the user computer in this embodiment may be a mobile telephone, a PDA, or a portable game station. Regardless of a fixed computer or a portable terminal, it is supposed that the user computer  120  used in this embodiment of the present invention allows access to the Internet through subscription for a PC communication service or securing of a private line, allows Internet search through a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, and allows execution of an application program for decoding the code information input from the code input device  110 . The user computer  120  accesses the address server  140  and a content server  150  through the Internet  130 . The user computer  120  transmits web page-related index information acquired by decoding the code information received from the code input device  110  to the address server  140  and requests address information corresponding to the index information.  
     [0039] The address server  140  receives the index information from the user computer  120  obtains corresponding address information on a network, and provides the address information to the user computer  120 .  
     [0040] Meanwhile, the content server  150  indicates a portal site or web site of an organization or an association, which includes a web page that the user computer  120  is to access using the address information received from the address server  140 . For example, Dong-a ilbo&#39;s web site (www.dongailbo.co.kr), Auction&#39;s site (www.auction.co.kr), or Seoul National University&#39;s web site (www.snu.ac.kr) can function as the content server  150 .  
     [0041]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access method of searching a particular web page on the Internet using an automatic Internet access system using an indirect code according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0042] The code input device  110  reads the code  100 , which is marked on a newspaper or other advertising medium and indicates information related to the URL of a particular web page, in response to a user&#39;s operation in step S 200 . Hereinafter, the code  100  is referred to as an Internet access code  100 .  
     [0043]FIGS. 3A and 3B show the examples of the Internet access code  100 . The Internet access code  100  used in the present invention may be a one-dimensional type, as shown in FIG. 3A, or a two-dimensional type, as shown in FIG. 3B. The Internet access code  100  may comply with a creative system, which is uniquely designed for an automatic Internet access system according to the present invention, or a universal code system widely used. Regardless of the type of code system, index information corresponding to the URL of a particular web page is ciphered in the Internet access code  100 .  
     [0044] At present, most newspaper publishing companies manage their homepages on the Internet. Accordingly, persons can read news on a newspaper provided in offline or can read news on a web site through Internet access. When a newspaper publishing company additionally provides information or moving images related to a particular news item through the Internet, the Internet access code of a particular web page or file storing information related to the news item can be written on a newspaper near the news item. While reading a newspaper, a reader can see the Internet access code  100  in the content of the new item. When the reader wants to see more detailed content or moving images related to the news item, the Internet access code  100  can be read using the code input device  110 .  
     [0045] For example, a picture taken from a helicopter showing that citizens participating in 71st Dong-a International Marathon are running in groups and a related new item were published in the front page of Dong-a ilbo dated Mar. 20th in 2000. In this case, the Internet access code  100  of Dong-a ilbo&#39;s web page providing a scene, in which a winner reaches the finish line, in the form of moving images can be provided near the content about male and female winners and other stories about the race. Moving images showing male and female winners reach the finish line in the Dong-a International Marathon can be provided on a particular web page of the Dong-a ilbo&#39;s web site (for example, a web page designated by a URL, www.dongailbo.co.kr/sports/6589.html). It will be apparent that the above IP address, path and file name are only examples, and any type of URL can be used. When a reader wants to see such moving images, the Internet access code  100  provided near the content of news is read using the code input device  110 . The Internet access code  100  contains ciphered index information corresponding to the URL of a file related to the above-described moving images.  
     [0046] Here, the user computer  120  is in a power-off state, it is necessary to automatically or manually boot the user computer  120 .  
     [0047]FIG. 4 shows an example of a state of deciphering or capturing image information of the Internet access code  100  inscribed near the content of news on a newspaper using the code input device  110 .  
     [0048] Referring again FIGS. 1 and 2, the Internet access code  100  is digitized by a central processing unit provided in the code input device  110  in step S 205 . Digitized code information is transmitted to the user computer  120  in step S 210 . Here, the Internet access code  100  read by the code input device  110  is transmitted to the user computer  120  in the form of digitized code image information. Alternatively, the Internet access code  100  read by the code input device  110  can be decoded by the code input device  110 , and decoded index information can be transmitted to the user computer  120 .  
     [0049] The user computer  120  decodes the digitized code image information to acquire index information corresponding to the address of a particular Internet web page in step S 215 . The index information contains information related to the URL of the particular web page but has not a form which can be used as the URL of the web page to be searched through a web browser.  
     [0050]FIG. 5 is an exemplary diagram of the configuration of index information according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the index information has a form of a seven-digit Arabic number. The first three digits of the seven-digit Arabic number are used for indicating an organization or an association, which manages its homepage. The first digit of the index information indicates the class of an organization or association, such as a school, a hospital, a government agency, a press company, or a general company. The second digit indicates a subdivided class of an organization or association. The third digit indicates a particular organization or association belonging to the class. The last four digits of the seven-digit Arabic number indicates the address of a web page containing particular content in a homepage managed by the particular organization or association. For example, when the index information is “2346589”, “2” in the first digit indicates a press company. “3” in the second digit indicates a general daily newspaper publishing company among press companies. “4” in the third digit indicates Dong-a ilbo among general daily newspaper publishing company. “6” in the fourth digit indicates a class of sports among web pages of Dong-a ilbo, and “589” in the rest digits indicates a particular web page. The length of an index determines the number of indicatable organizations or associations and the number of web pages which a particular organization or association can have. The index information composed of a seven-digit Arabic number is just an example. It will be apparent that the index information can have any other form including alphabet or other symbols.  
     [0051] Subsequently, it is determined whether the user computer  120  has accessed the Internet  130  in step S 220 . If it is determined that the user computer  120  has not accessed the Internet  130 , an internet access program previously installed in the user computer  120  is executed for access to the Internet  130  in step S 225 . These steps can be performed manually but can be automatically performed by a predetermined program installed in the user computer  120 . If it is determined that the user computer  120  has accessed the Internet  130  in step S 220 , or after completing access to the Internet  130  through step S 225 , it is determined whether an Internet search program has been executed in the user computer  120  in step S 230 . If it is determined that an Internet search program has not been executed, an Internet search program set in the user computer  120  is executed in step S 235 . For the Internet access program and the Internet search program, existing programs can be used in this embodiment of the present invention. However, it will be apparent that predetermined programs created according to the present invention can be used.  
     [0052] Thereafter, the user computer  120  transmits an address information request message to the address server  140  through the Internet  130  using the Internet search program in step S 240 . The address information request message contains the index information acquired by the user computer  120 .  
     [0053] The address server  140  includes a memory unit (not shown) which stores indexes and URL information corresponding to the indexes. Accordingly, the address server  140  receiving the index information from the user computer  120  searches its memory unit and transmits URL information corresponding to the index information to the user computer  120  in step S 245 .  
     [0054]FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram of a data structure in a memory unit provided in the address server  140  according to the present invention. 1000 content providers (organizations or associations) can be discriminatively designated using the first three-digits (000˜999) of individual indexes. 10,000 web pages provided by content providers can be discriminatively designated using the rest four-digits of the individual indexes.  
     [0055] The memory unit of the address server  140  has memory numbers which correspond to index information transmitted from the user computer  120  one to one and stores address information, for example, URL information, of a predetermined particular web page on the Internet at a location designated by each memory number. In some occasions, protocol information such as HTTP can be contained in URL information. For example, when index information transmitted from the user computer  120  is “2346589”, “234” indicates the homepage of Dong-a ilbo, “6” indicates the class of sports, and “589” indicates the address of a web page containing a moving image file of male and female winners of Dong-a Marathon, so it can be inferred that address information corresponding to the index information on the Internet is www.dongailbo.co.kr/sports/6589.html.  
     [0056] As described above, if the user computer  120  transmits index information (for example, 2346589) to the address server  140 , the address server  140  performs internal search, derives URL information (for example, www.dongailbo.co.kr/sports/6589.html) stored at a location designated by the index information, and transmits the derived URL information to the user computer  120 .  
     [0057] The Internet search program executed in the user computer  120  accesses the content server  150  through the Internet  130  using the URL information transmitted from the address server  140  and requests desired information in step S 250 . Then, the content server  150  transmits the content of a web page designated by the URL information transmitted from the user computer  120  to the user computer  120  in step S 255 . Thereafter, the user computer  120  displays the content of the web page transmitted from the content server  150  on its display unit in step S 260 . With such a method, a user can obtain additional information related to the Internet access code  100  inscribed on a newspaper.  
     [0058] As described above, according to an automatic Internet access system and method using an indirect code (hereinafter, referred to as a “indirect access method”) according to the present invention, even a web page, whose URL is too long to be accessed by a direct access method, can be easily accessed, and information about users&#39; access to a particular web page can be integrally managed in the address server  140 .  
     [0059] However, according to the indirect access method, only one address server searches address information corresponding to index information transmitted from a plurality of user computers and transmits search results to the individual user computers. Accordingly, when there are many users, the load on the address server increases, which may results in a bottleneck phenomenon.  
     [0060]FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an automatic Internet access system using a double code according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the automatic Internet access system according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a code input device  710 , address servers  740   a  and  740   b,  and a user computer  720 .  
     [0061] The code input device  710  deciphers code information from a code  700  which is written on an offline medium such as a newspaper, magazine, or an advertising bill and which is related to a web page. Accordingly, the code input unit device  710  includes a reading unit such as a digital camera or a scanner for reading the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code  700  related to the URL of a web page to be accessed and a transmitting unit for transmitting the deciphered digital code information to the user computer  720 .  
     [0062] The user computer  720  performs automatic Internet access using the code information transmitted from the code input device  710 . The user computer  720  may be a fixed computer or a portable terminal. Regardless of a fixed computer or a portable terminal, it is supposed that the user computer  720  used in this embodiment of the present invention allows access to the Internet through subscription for a PC communication service or securing of a private line, allows Internet search through a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, and allows execution of an application program for decoding the code information input from the code input device  710 . The user computer  720  accesses the plurality of address servers  740   a  and  740   b  and a plurality of content servers  750   a  and  750   b  through the Internet  730 . The user computer  720  acquires double code information by decoding the code information received from the code input device  710 , transmits an index code contained in the double code information to the address server  740   a  or  740   b  corresponding to a server code contained in the double code information, and requests address information corresponding to the index code.  
     [0063] Each of the address servers  740   a  and  740   b  receives the index code from the user computer  720 , obtains corresponding address information on a network, and provides the address information to the user computer  720 .  
     [0064]FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access method of searching a particular web page on the Internet using an automatic Internet access system using a double code according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0065] The code input device  710  reads the Internet access code  700 , which is marked on a newspaper or other advertising medium and indicates information related to the URL of a particular web page, in response to a user&#39;s operation in step S 800 .  
     [0066] As shown in FIG. 9A, a double code according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a server code  901  and an index code  902 . Such double code can be represented by a one-dimensional bar code shown in FIG. 3A. In the case of one-dimensional bar code, a code itself is standardized to some extent, and significant data can be expressed in a small area. However, when recording a value (for example, an English letter or Korean letter) other than a binary value, the amount of data which can be recorded in a unit area decreases. Accordingly, a one-dimensional bar code is incompetent as an Internet access code for recording data other than a binary value.  
     [0067] When a one-dimensional bar code is read to decipher a code value, a one-dimensional value is read, that is, only one line is read in a progressing direction of the code. Unlike such one-dimensional bar code, both x-axis data and y-axis data of a code are necessary when a two-dimensional bar code shown in FIG. 3B is read. Accordingly, in order to decipher a two-dimensional bar code, the two-dimensional image of the entire code must be read. Unlike a one-dimensional bar code, since a two-dimensional bar code can express Korean letters and special characters as well as English letters, it is not limited to a certain type of data to be recorded. However, compared to a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional bar code decreases the amount of data which can be recorded in a unit area.  
     [0068] In order to represent a double code according to the second embodiment of the present invention, an efficient Internet access code can be composed using two different types of codes having different characteristics. In other words, it is preferable that a two-dimensional bar code is used for representing a server code  901  of a double code, and a one-dimensional bar code is used for representing an index code  902  of the double code. Here, the two-dimensional bar code directly indicates the address of an address server, and the one-dimensional bar code indicates index information for deriving a value corresponding to a portion of the URL of a web page to be accessed except a portion corresponding to the address of the address server. FIG. 9B shows an example of an Internet access code composed of a two-dimensional code and a one-dimensional code. In other words, in FIG. 9B, reference numeral  911  denotes a server code represented by a two-dimensional code, and reference numeral  912  denotes an index code represented by a one-dimensional code.  
     [0069] Referring again FIGS. 7 and 8, the Internet access code  700  is digitized by a central processing unit provided in the code input device  710  in step S 805 . Digitized code information is transmitted to the user computer  720  in step S 810 . Here, the Internet access code  700  read by the code input device  710  is transmitted to the user computer  720  in the form of digitized code image information. Alternatively, the Internet access code  700  read by the code input device  710  can be decoded by the code input device  710 , and decoded index information can be transmitted to the user computer  720 .  
     [0070] The user computer  720  decodes the digitized code image information to acquire double code information including a server code and an index code in step S 815 .  
     [0071] Subsequently, it is determined whether the user computer  720  has accessed the Internet  730  in step S 820 . If it is determined that the user computer  720  has not accessed the Internet  730 , an internet access program previously installed in the user computer  720  is executed for access to the Internet  730  in step S 825 . These steps can be performed manually but can be automatically performed by a predetermined program installed in the user computer  720 . If it is determined that the user computer  720  has accessed the Internet  730  in step S 820 , or after completing access to the Internet  730  through step S 825 , it is determined whether an Internet search program has been executed in the user computer  720  in step S 830 . If it is determined that an Internet search program has not been executed, an Internet search program set in the user computer  720  is executed in step S 835 . For the Internet access program and the Internet search program, existing programs can be used in this embodiment of the present invention. However, it will be apparent that predetermined programs created according to the present invention can be used.  
     [0072] Thereafter, the user computer  720  transmits an address information request message to the address server  740   a  or  740   b , which is designated by the server code  901  of the double code, through the Internet  730  using the Internet search program in step S 840 . The address information request message contains the index code  902  of the double code.  
     [0073] Each of the address servers  740   a  and  740   b  includes a memory unit (not shown) which stores indexes and URL information corresponding to the indexes. Accordingly, the address server  740   a  or  740   b  receiving an index code from the user computer  720  searches its memory unit and transmits URL information corresponding to the index code to the user computer  720  in step S 845 .  
     [0074] Steps S 800  through S 845  will be described using an example in which the URL of a web page to be accessed by the user computer  720  is http://stock.naver.com/naverstock?command=profile&amp;code=00660.  
     [0075] In the Internet access code  700  read by the code input device  710 , only a protocol portion, http://, and a domain portion, stock.naver.com, or only a domain portion is represented by a two-dimensional bar code, and the remaining portion, naverstock?command=profile&amp;code=00660, is implemented an index information according to an indirect access method.  
     [0076] Accordingly, when the code input device  710  reads the Internet access code  700 , the user computer  720  acquires a domain name (character information, “stock.naver.com”) from the two-dimensional bar code and index information (binary information, “110101”) from the one-dimensional bar code. The user computer  720  transmits the index information “110101” to a web site (or an address server) having the domain name “stock.naver.com”. The address server having the domain name “stock.naver.com” derives a URL value, naverstock?command=profile&amp;code=00660, corresponding to the received index information “110101” from its memory unit. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of a memory unit which is provided in an address server having a domain name, stock.naver.com, and stores indexes and corresponding URL values. The address server having the domain name, stock.naver.com, derives a URL value corresponding to an index “110101” from its memory unit and transmits the URL value to the user computer  720 . Here, the address server may transmit a combination of the derived URL value and its domain name to the user computer  720 .  
     [0077] Referring again FIGS. 7 and 8, the Internet search program executed in the user computer  720  accesses the content server  750   a  or  750   b  through the Internet  730  using URL information transmitted from the address server  740   a  or  740   b  and requests desired information in step S 850 . Then, the content server  750   a  or  750   b  transmits the content of a web page designated by the URL information transmitted from the user computer  720  to the user computer  720  in step S 855 . Thereafter, the user computer  720  displays the content of the web page transmitted from the content server  750   a  or  750   b  on its display unit in step S 860 . With such a method, a user can obtain additional information related to the Internet access code  100  inscribed on a printed medium.  
     [0078] According to such an automatic Internet access system using a double code as described above, a load attending upon the generation of a URL for automatic Internet access can be uniformly dispersed to a plurality of address servers.  
     [0079] Meanwhile, in order to provide various services in addition to automatic Internet access, an automatic Internet access system according to a third embodiment of the present invention is provided below. FIG. 11 is a diagram of an automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a code input device  1110 , a user computer  1120 , a routing server  1140 , and a plurality of service providing servers  1150  through  1170 .  
     [0080] The code input device  1110  deciphers code information from a code  1100  which is written on an offline medium such as a newspaper, magazine, or an advertising bill and which is related to a web page. Accordingly, the code input unit device  1110  includes a reading unit such as a digital camera or a scanner for reading the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code  1100  related to the URL of a web page to be accessed and a transmitting unit for transmitting the deciphered digital code information to the user computer  1120 .  
     [0081] The user computer  1120  performs automatic Internet access using the code information transmitted from the code input device  1110 . The user computer  1120  may be a fixed computer or a portable terminal. Regardless of a fixed computer or a portable terminal, it is supposed that the user computer  1120  used in this embodiment of the present invention allows access to the Internet through subscription for a PC communication service or securing of a private line, allows Internet search through a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, and allows execution of an application program for decoding the code information input from the code input device  1110 . The user computer  1120  accesses the routing server  1140  and the plurality of service providing servers  1150  through  1170  through the Internet  1130 . The user computer  1120  acquires hierarchical code information by decoding the code information received from the code input device  1110 , transmits hierarchical code information to the routing server  1140 , and is provided with a desired service from the service providing server  1150 ,  1160 , or  1170 .  
     [0082] The routing server  1140  receives the hierarchical code information from the user computer  1120  through the Internet  1130 , deciphers the hierarchical code information, and transmits a detailed code contained in the hierarchical code information through the Internet  1130  to the service providing server  1150 ,  1160 , or  1170  corresponding to a service code contained in the hierarchical code information.  
     [0083] Each of the service providing servers  1150 ,  1160 , and  1170  receives a detailed code from the routing server  1140  and transmits resulting information corresponding to the detailed code to the user computer  1120 . Referring to FIG. 11, the automatic Internet access system according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes service providing servers such as an address server  1150 , an electronic name card server  1160 , and an electronic commerce server  1170 .  
     [0084]FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an automatic Internet access method of searching a particular web page on the Internet using an automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0085] The code input device  1110  reads the Internet access code  1100 , which is marked on a newspaper or other advertising medium and indicates information related to the URL of a particular web page, in response to a user&#39;s operation in step S 1200 .  
     [0086] As shown in FIG. 13A, a hierarchical code according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a server code  1301  and a detailed code  1302 . The service code  1301  defines the character or meaning of information indicated by the detailed code  1302 . In other words, the service code  1302  indicates the kind of service provided through an Internet access code. Accordingly, when the detailed code  1302  indicates direct URL information or indirect index information, the service code  1301  can function as an identifier for identifying that the detailed code  1302  is direct URL information or that the detailed code  1302  is indirect index information. The detailed code  1302  may be related to a service different from direct/indirect access to the Internet. For example, when an automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to the present invention provides an electronic name card service and an electronic commerce service in addition to a direct access method and an indirect access method, the service code  1301  may have four values. More specifically, the service code  1301  may have a first value indicating that the detailed code  1302  indicates direct URL information, a second value indicating that the detailed code  1302  indicates indirect index information, a third value indicating that the detailed code  1302  indicates information for identifying an owner of an electronic name card, and a fourth value indicating that the detailed code  1302  indicates a unique code of a product related to electronic commerce. Four kinds of services have been described above, but the kinds of service provided by an automatic Internet access system using a hierarchical code according to the present invention are not restricted thereto. It will be apparent that any kind of service can be provided.  
     [0087]FIG. 13B shows an example of the structure of a hierarchical code according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 13B, the hierarchical code has a binary value and a length of 24 bits. It is assumed that the service code  1303  of the hierarchical code is composed of 8 bits, and the detailed code  1304  is composed of the remaining 16 bits. Accordingly, when it is assumed that a first binary value of the hierarchical code is a bit  0 , and that the last binary value is a bit  23 , bits  0  through  7  constitute the service code  1303  and bits  8  through  23  constitute the detailed code  1304 . Here, the service code  1303  has 256 different values, so 256 kinds of service can be identified by the service code  1303 . As described above, the detailed code  1304  may indicate direct URL information, indirect index information, information for identifying an owner of an electronic name card, or a unique code of a product related to electronic commerce.  
     [0088]FIG. 14 is an exemplary diagram showing the kinds of service code according to the present invention.  
     [0089] The service code “00000001” indicates a direct access method. In this case, the detailed code contains the URL information of a web page which a user wishes to access. The service code “00000010” indicates an indirect access method. In this case, the detailed code contains index information indicating a location where the URL information of a web page which a user wishes to access is stored. The service code “00000011” indicates an electronic name card service. In this case, the detailed code may contain the serial number of an electronic name card or a user identifier of the owner of an electronic name card. The service code “00000100” indicates an electronic document service. In this case, the detailed code may contain the serial number of an electronic document which is provided through the electronic document service. Besides, the service code “11111111” indicates an electronic commerce service. In this case, the detailed code may contain the unique code of a product related to electronic commerce.  
     [0090] Referring again to FIGS. 11 and 12, the Internet access code  1100  is digitized by a central processing unit provided in the code input device  1110  in step S 1205 . Digitized code information is transmitted to the user computer  1120  in step S 1210 . Here, the Internet access code  1100  read by the code input device  1110  is transmitted to the user computer  1120  in the form of digitized code image information. Alternatively, the Internet access code  1100  read by the code input device  1110  can be decoded by the code input device  1110 , and decoded index information can be transmitted to the user computer  1120 .  
     [0091] The user computer  1120  decodes the digitized code image information to acquire hierarchical code information including a service code and a detailed code in step S 1215 .  
     [0092] Subsequently, it is determined whether the user computer  1120  has accessed the Internet  1130  in step S 1220 . If it is determined that the user computer  1120  has not accessed the Internet  1130 , an internet access program previously installed in the user computer  1120  is executed for access to the Internet  1130  in step S 1225 . These steps can be performed manually but can be automatically performed by a predetermined program installed in the user computer  1120 . If it is determined that the user computer  1120  has accessed the Internet  1130  in step S 1220 , or after completing access to the Internet  1130  through step S 1225 , it is determined whether an Internet search program has been executed in the user computer  1120  in step S 1230 . If it is determined that an Internet search program has not been executed, an Internet search program set in the user computer  1120  is executed in step S 1235 . For the Internet access program and the Internet search program, existing programs can be used in this embodiment of the present invention. However, it will be apparent that predetermined programs created according to the present invention can be used.  
     [0093] Thereafter, the user computer  1120  transmits the hierarchical code information to the routing server  1140  through the Internet  1130  using the Internet search program in step S 1240 .  
     [0094] The routing server  1140  transmits the detailed code to the service providing server  1150 ,  1160 , or  1170  providing a service determined by the service code contained in the hierarchical code information in step S 1245 .  
     [0095] The service providing server  1150 ,  1160 , or  1170  which has received the detailed code from the routing server  1140  performs a service according to the information of the detailed code and transmits the resulting information to the user computer  1120  in steps S 1250  and S 1255 .  
     [0096] Hereinafter, operations depending on the kinds of service indicated by a service code contained in the Internet access code  1100  will be described using examples.  
     [0097] First the case where a service code indicates an indirect access method will be described. If the code input device  1110  reads the Internet access code  1100  according to a user&#39;s operation, the user computer  1120  transmits the result of reading (hierarchical code information) containing the service code and a detailed code to the routing server  1140 . Here, an identifier, such as an IP address of the user computer, for identifying the user computer  1120  can be transmitted to the routing server  1140  together with the result of reading. The routing server  1140  checks the service code of the received hierarchical code information. If it is determined that the service code indicates an indirect access method, the routing server  1140  transmits the detailed code to the address server  1150 . Here, the routing server  1140  can transmits an identifier such as an IP address of the user computer  1120  and the service code, when necessary, to the address server  1150  together with the detailed code. The address server  1150  stores a plurality of indexes and URL information of web pages corresponding to the indexes. Accordingly, when the address server  1150  receives the detailed code indicating index information, the address server  1150  derives URL information corresponding to the index information and transmits the URL information to the user computer  1120 . Thereafter, the user computer  1120  accesses a desired web page using the URL information transmitted from the address server  1150  and display the content of the web page using a web browser.  
     [0098] Next, the case where a service code indicates an electronic name card service will be described. If the code input device  1110  reads the Internet access code  1100  according to a user&#39;s operation, the user computer  1120  transmits the result of reading (hierarchical code information) containing the service code and a detailed code to the routing server  1140 . Here, an identifier, such as an IP address of the user computer, for identifying the user computer  1120  can be transmitted to the routing server  1140  together with the result of reading. The routing server  1140  checks the service code of the received hierarchical code information. If it is determined that the service code indicates an electronic name card service, the routing server  1140  transmits the detailed code to the electronic name card server  1160 . Here, the routing server  1140  can transmits an identifier such as an IP address of the user computer  1120  and the service code, when necessary, to the electronic name card server  1160  together with the detailed code. The electronic name card server  1160  stores the unique identifiers of subscribers to the electronic name card service and subscriber information such as telephone numbers, addresses, and electronic mail addresses. If the electronic name card server  1160  receives the detailed code indicating the identifier of a subscriber, it derives subscriber information corresponding to the identifier from a database (not shown), generates a web page in the form of an electronic name card, and transmits the generated web page to the user computer  1120 .  
     [0099] Next, the case where a service code indicates an electronic commerce service will be described. If the code input device  1110  reads the Internet access code  1100  recorded on a printed medium such as a catalog of products according to a user&#39;s operation, the user computer  1120  transmits the result of reading (hierarchical code information), which contains the service code and a detailed code, to the routing server  1140 . Here, an identifier, such as an IP address of the user computer, for identifying the user computer  1120  can be transmitted to the routing server  1140  together with the result of reading. The routing server  1140  checks the service code of the received hierarchical code information. If it is determined that the service code indicates an electronic commerce service, the routing server  1140  transmits the detailed code to the electronic commerce server  1170 . Here, the routing server  1140  can transmits an identifier such as an IP address of the user computer  1120  and the service code, when necessary, to the electronic commerce server  1170  together with the detailed code. The electronic commerce server  1170  stores the unique codes of products provided by electronic commerce companies and additional product information such as product image information and product function description information. If the electronic commerce server  1170  receives the detailed code indicating the unique code of a product, it derives additional product information corresponding to the unique code from a database (not shown), arranges the additional produce information in the form of a web page, and transmits the generated web page to the user computer  1120 . Here, a section for confirming purchasing can be added to the web page transmitted to the user computer  1120  in another embodiment.  
     [0100] Meanwhile, in the case of an electronic commerce service, if user information can be previously obtained, not only can a user be conveniently provided with the service, but also an electronic commerce company can efficiently provide the service. Accordingly, in another embodiment, the user computer  1120  can receive user information from a user in advance and can automatically transmit the user information to the electronic commerce server  1170  in order to avoid an additional step of inputting the user information.  
     [0101] In addition, in yet another embodiment, different service code values can be set for different electronic commerce companies. In other words, although a service code for an electronic commerce service is set to “11111111” in the description of FIG. 14, in the case where a plurality of electronic commerce companies use an automatic Internet access method using a hierarchical code according to the present invention, it is possible that difference service code values can be assigned to the respective electronic commerce companies.  
     [0102] Besides, in the case where a service code indicates a direct access method, the user computer  1120  can directly access a desired web page using URL information which can be obtained from a detailed code. However, in another embodiment, although a service code indicates a direct access method, hierarchical code information can be transmitted to the routing server  1140  and a corresponding web page can be accessed through the routing server  1140 , for an object such as statistical processing.  
     [0103] Meanwhile, a color code can be used for an Internet access code used in the embodiments of an automatic Internet access system according to the present invention.  
     [0104] In other words, in a usual Internet access code, a code portion is black and its background is white because a code input device for recognizing the image of the Internet access code usually recognizes only black and white images. However, if a code input device can recognize color images, a color Internet access code can be more efficient in terms of the amount of information which can be expressed in a unit area of the Internet access code.  
     [0105] All of the colors which can be presented by light can be made by combination of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Generally, an information processing system combines R, G, and B to present a single color. For example, in the case of representing each of R, G, and B using 8 bits, white can be represented by R=FF, G=FF, and B=FF in a hexadecimal version, and black can be represented by R=00, G=00, and B=00 in a hexadecimal version. Accordingly, if each code can be composed of R (FF0000), G (00FF00), B (0000FF), and black (000000), one type of code can have four different values. In this case, the amount of information which can be expressed in a unit area increases by four times compared to black and white. In the case of representing the color of a code using an 8-bit RGB combination, the amount of information, which can be expressed in the same type of code, theoretically increases by 256*256*256=16,777,216 times.  
     [0106] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that another embodiment can be made by combining the elements of such an automatic Internet access system and method using a double code as described above and the elements of such an automatic Internet access system and method using a hierarchical code as described above.  
     [0107]FIG. 15 is an exemplary diagram of the configuration of each of the code input devices  110 ,  710 , and  1110  used in the present invention. Referring to FIG. 15, each of the code input devices  110 ,  710 , and  1110  includes a lens unit  1501 , a sensor  1502 , a central processing unit  1503 , an interface unit  1504 , a display unit  1505 , a power supply  1506 , an operating switch unit  1507 , a buffer unit  1508 , an ID and bookmark storage unit  1509 , and a connection unit  1510 .  
     [0108] According to a user&#39;s operation of the operating switch unit  1507 , the Internet access code  100 ,  700 , or  1100  on a printed medium is captured by the sensor  1502  through the lens unit  1501 . Captured code information is converted into digital information by the central processing unit  1503 . The digital information is transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  through the interface unit  1504  and the connection unit  1510 .  
     [0109] The lens unit  1501  can be realized as a glass lens or a plastic lens. The sensor  1502  can be realized as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor. For the central processing unit  1503 , a universal microprocessor or a specially designed semiconductor chip can be used. In addition, the central processing unit  1503  may be provided with a memory unit which stores a predetermined program according to the present invention.  
     [0110] The code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1100  can be connected to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  by wire or wirelessly. Here, in the case of wire connection, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a serial port, a parallel port, or IEEE1394 can be used. In the case of wireless connection radio frequency (RF), Bluetooth, or infrared rays (IrDA) can be used. If the Internet access code  100 ,  700 , or  1100  is captured under a state in which the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  is connected to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120 , digitized code image information is transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  through the interface  1504  and the connection unit  1510 , and an Internet access procedure is automatically performed according to the present invention. The code image information which has been digitized by the central processing unit  1503  of the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  is decoded according to an application program installed in the central processing unit  1503  and transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120 . Alternatively, the digitized code image information can be decoded according to an application program installed in the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  after being transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120 .  
     [0111] The code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  can be portably used without being connected to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120 . Here, if the Internet access code  100 ,  700 , or  1100  is captured by the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110 , code image information digitized by the central processing unit  1503  is stored in the buffer unit  1508 . The amount of digitized code image information which can be stored in the buffer unit  1508  depends on the capacity of the buffer unit  1508 . For the buffer unit  1508 , a typical memory unit can be used. In another embodiment, the digitized code image information can be stored in the buffer unit  1508  in a decoded form such as index information, a double code, or a hierarchical code using the central processing unit  1503 . If a portable code input device is connected to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120 , the digitized code image information or the decoded information, which is stored in the buffer unit  1508 , is transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  through the interface unit  1504  and the connection unit  1510 , and an automatic Internet access procedure is performed.  
     [0112] The ID and bookmark storage unit  1509  can store device information such as the serial number of the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  or information (referred to as an ID) indicating a provider providing the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  to an Internet user. In addition, the ID and bookmark storage unit  1509  can store digitized image information of a code that is frequently captured by the Internet user. If digitized code image information indicating an Internet site frequently retrieved by the Internet user has been stored in the ID and bookmark storage unit  1509 , the digitized code image information stored in the ID and bookmark storage unit  1509  is transmitted to the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  through the interface unit  1504  and the connection unit  1510  whenever the Internet user presses a relevant switch in the operating switch unit  1507 , and an automatic Internet access procedure is performed. In FIG. 15, the ID and bookmark storage unit  1509  is separately formed from the buffer unit  1508 , but it is apparent that the ID and bookmark storage unit  1509  and the buffer unit  1508  can be integrated into one module.  
     [0113] In addition, in another embodiment, the ID information of the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  can be transmitted, when the user computer  120 ,  720 , or  1120  implements automatic access through the Internet  130 ,  730 , or  1130 .  
     [0114] The above-described code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  is only an example, and it will be apparent that an input device or scanner which can read a bar code can be used. For example, the code input device  110 ,  710 , or  1110  of the present invention can be configured using a scanner module, which is used in, for example, a portable scanner type electronic dictionary.  
     [0115] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made within the scope which does not beyond the essential characteristics of this invention. Therefore, the above embodiments have been used in a descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. It will be understood that the scope of the invention will be defined not by the above description but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope defined by the claims are covered by the present invention.  
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
     [0116] According to the present invention, even a web page having a long uniform resource locator (URL) can be easily accessed by recording an index of the URL in an Internet access code instead of directly recording the URL, and information about web page access can be managed integrally.  
     [0117] In addition, loads on an address server, which accompany automatic Internet access, are equalized by forming an Internet access code as a double code including a server code and an index code and supporting a plurality of address servers.  
     [0118] Moreover, an Internet access code is formed as a hierarchical code including a service code and a detailed code, thereby efficiently providing various services.