Abstract:
A terminal device includes an input unit operable to input a first graphic code that corresponds to first information from a medium printed with a first series of graphic codes and a communication unit operable to use the first information as terminal identification information to establish communication through a network. The input unit inputs a second graphic code from a medium printed with a second series of graphic codes, the second graphic code corresponding to second information associated with the first information. The communication unit includes an acquiring unit operable to acquire the second information corresponding to the second graphic code.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2002-263337 filed Sep. 9, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a terminal device and a communication method for radio communication or communication over the Internet.  
           [0003]    At present, content or other information is generally downloaded from the Internet by using portable terminals, such as personal computers or mobile phones. However, when servers that store the content and the like distribute them to data terminals, such as personal computers or mobile phones, larger server systems are required as the number of data terminal users increase. Since the number of data terminals that can access one server is limited, many more server systems must be provided in order to overcome this limitation and therefore a lot of investment is required. Additionally, a high-speed and high-capacity communication network is required in order for these data terminals to simultaneously access the server.  
           [0004]    Network technologies for solving the problems described above include a multicast technology. With the multicast technology, data is simultaneously transmitted to a number of data terminals. The multicast technology distributes information within a predetermined bandwidth of an information network without specifying the receivers of the information. In contrast, unicast technology transmits data in one-to-one correspondence, in which a server only transmits data to one data terminal. The larger the number of data terminals, the heavier the load on the server with unicast technology.  
           [0005]    However, even in multicast communications, it is difficult to say whether the operating method at the data terminals that receive the content and other information, for example, the operation of various buttons on a mobile phone or a portable terminal, is intuitive for people. Furthermore, although current personal computers and the like are becoming easy to use, mixed operations of a keyboard and a mouse make it difficult for beginners or elders to operate personal computers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device and a communication method that is capable of easy information handling and capable of easily distributing and receiving content and other information.  
           [0007]    The present invention provides, in its first aspect, a terminal device including an input unit operable to input from a printed medium a first graphic code corresponding to first information; and a communication unit operable to use the first information as terminal identification information to establish communication through a network.  
           [0008]    The first graphic code may be any information, for example, barcode information, which the terminal device can read and identify. Alternatively, the first graphic code may be information encoded in accordance with predetermined image patterns, such as the turning directions of predetermined images. The medium on which the first graphic code is printed may include paper media, such as newspapers, magazines, catalogs, or books, and various other media. The first graphic code may be input by, for example, a camera.  
           [0009]    According to the present invention, the first information is used as terminal identification information to establish communications through a network. The first graphic code is input from the printed medium. Accordingly, information communication can be realized without imposing a burden on the server that provides the content. The use of non-digital entities as the printed medium permits easy information handling and operations that are intuitive for people. In particular, when the information is input using a camera or the like, beginning users of electronic devices or elders can easily handle information without conventional complicated button operations or the like.  
           [0010]    The input unit preferably is operable to input from a printed medium a second graphic code corresponding to second information associated with the first information. The communication unit preferably includes an acquiring unit operable to acquire the second information based on the second graphic code. The second information may be any information, such as content, which is the target of communication. Correspondence of the second information to the second graphic code can achieve the simple handling of the second information.  
           [0011]    The present invention provides, in its second aspect, a communication method, including inputting from a printed medium a first graphic code corresponding to first information; and using the first information as terminal identification information to establish communication through a network.  
           [0012]    The present invention provides, in its third aspect, a server including a storage unit operable to store operating instructions and pieces of content, each of the operating instructions corresponding to one of a first series of graphic codes and each of the pieces of content corresponding to one of a second series of graphic codes; an input unit operable to input from a printed medium a selected one of the first series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the operating instructions and a selected one of the second series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the pieces of content; and an operating unit operable to execute the one of the operating instructions with respect to the one of the pieces of content.  
           [0013]    According to a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a method of processing content, including establishing a series of operating instructions and a first series of graphic codes, each of the graphic codes in the first series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the operating instructions; storing pieces of content and a second series of graphic codes, each of the graphic codes in the second series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the pieces of content; selecting one of the operating instructions by inputting from a printed medium one of the first series of graphic codes corresponding to the selected operating instruction; selecting one of the pieces of content by inputting from a printed medium one of the second series of graphic codes corresponding to the selected piece of content; and processing the selected piece of content based on the selected operating instruction.  
           [0014]    The method according to the fourth aspect of the invention may further include storing storage locations for each of the pieces of content and a third series of graphic codes, each of the graphic codes in the third series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the storage locations; inputting from a printed medium one of the third series of graphic codes corresponding to the storage location of the selected piece of content; and retrieving the selected piece of content from the storage location.  
           [0015]    The present invention, in its fifth aspect, provides a communication network, including a server operable to store data; and a plurality of terminal devices operable to send data to the server and to receive data from the server, each of the terminal devices including an input unit operable to input from a printed medium a first graphic code corresponding to first information, and a communication unit operable to use the first information as terminal identification information to establish communication with the server.  
           [0016]    The server according to the fifth aspect of the invention may include a storage unit operable to store operating instructions and pieces of content, each of the operating instructions corresponding to one of a first series of graphic codes and each of the pieces of content corresponding to one of a second series of graphic codes; an input unit operable to input from a printed medium a selected one of the first series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the operating instructions and a selected one of the second series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the pieces of content; and an operating unit operable to execute the one of the operating instructions with respect to the one of the pieces of content.  
           [0017]    According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method of downloading content from a storage unit to a terminal device is provided, including storing in the storage unit terminal identification information for the terminal device; storing in the storage unit pieces of content and a first series of graphic codes, each of the graphic codes in the first series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the pieces of content; selecting one of the pieces of content at the terminal device by inputting from a printed medium one of the graphic codes in the first series of graphic codes corresponding to the selected piece of content; converting the one of the graphic codes in the first series of graphic codes into content information corresponding to the selected piece of content; transmitting the content information and the terminal identification information from the terminal device to the storage unit; retrieving the selected piece of content based on the content information; and transmitting the selected piece of content from the storage unit to the terminal device based on the terminal identification information.  
           [0018]    The method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention may further include establishing a series of operating instructions and a second series of graphic codes, each of the graphic codes in the second series of graphic codes corresponding to one of the operating instructions, the series of operating instructions including a download operating instruction; selecting the download operating instruction at the terminal device by inputting from a printed medium one of the graphic codes in the second series of graphic codes corresponding to the download operating instruction; converting the one of the graphic codes in the second series of graphic codes into operating information corresponding to the download operating instruction; transmitting the operating information from the terminal device to the storage unit; and transmitting the selected piece of content from the storage unit to the terminal device based on the terminal identification information and the operating information.  
           [0019]    As described above, according to the present invention, simple information handling can be achieved and information such as pieces of content can be simply distributed and received.  
           [0020]    The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows the network structure of a content-providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows an example of a graphic code;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the turning modes of image patterns included in graphic codes and codes;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process for recognizing the codes from among the graphic codes on an information input medium;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows the extraction process of the image patterns;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows an example of a direction characteristic table;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows an example of a code candidate group used for determining code recognition results;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process for distributing content by a server;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a list of basic code operations;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows a graphic code table;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows an example of an initial screen;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12 shows an example of a content-selection screen;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 shows an example of a content-allocation screen;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 shows an example of a content table having allocated content;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 15 shows an example of an information input medium;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the process for downloading the content by a data terminal;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 shows an example screen for canceling the registration of the content;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 an example of a registration-canceled screen, in which the registration of a piece of content has been canceled;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a binder-type data terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the binder-type data terminal, showing a state in which a display pivots toward the body for closing;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the binder-type data terminal, showing a state in which a flap pivots toward the body for closing;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the binder-type data terminal; and  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 23 shows an example of the binder-type data terminal in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1 shows the network structure of a content-providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    The content-providing system includes a network  15 , such as the Internet. A server  14  that, for example, stores pieces of content to be provided and a computer in an administrative company  10  that administers the entire network  15  are connected to the network  15 . Various terminals, such as a mobile phone  11 , another kind of portable terminal  12 , and a personal computer  13 , are also connected to the network  15 .  
         [0047]    According to this embodiment, the network  15  distributes information using multicast technology and multiple channels. However, the network  15  may be a communication network that can utilize multiple channels and a unicast channel. The multiple channels are used in the content-providing system of this embodiment where there are mixed channels.  
         [0048]    The server  14  stores content  21  in, for example, a storage device  20 . The content  21  is primarily prepared by an administrator of the server  14 . The content  21  includes various kinds of content, such as scenic images and other images photographed by the administrator with a digital camera, music, movies, documents, and application programs.  
         [0049]    The computer in the administrative company  10  has a storage unit  16  that stores a register having data terminal codes recorded therein, a storage unit  18  for code operation programs, and a communication unit  19 . The computer in the administrative company  10  also has a CPU, a necessary RAM, and so on (not shown).  
         [0050]    The data terminal codes are codes assigned only to the data terminals that are registered at the administrative company  10 , among, for example, the mobile phone  11 , the other kind of portable terminal  12 , the personal computer  13 , and the server  14 , which are data terminals that can utilize the multiple channels on the network  15 . The data terminal codes are IDs for identifying the data terminals  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14 , and are unique to each of them. The code operation programs stored in the storage unit  18  are programs that allow the data terminals registered at the administrative company  10  to perform the code operations, as described below. The communication unit  19  transmits and receives information over the network  15 .  
         [0051]    Graphic code information, including information on the data terminal codes, will now be described.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 2 shows an example of a graphic code  47 . Referring to FIG. 2, the graphic code  47  includes one or more image patterns  48  ( 48   a ,  48   b ,  48   c , and  48   d ) and a square frameline  49  surrounding these image patterns  48  ( 48   a ,  48   b ,  48   c , and  48   d ).  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 3, the image patterns  48  have eight turning modes, to which eight codes are allocated based on their directions. Hence, for example, four image patterns can be used to define  8   4 =4096 codes. The graphic code  47  in FIG. 2 has, for example, a code of “8572”. More than four image patterns are used in order to define more than 4,096 codes.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the process for recognizing the graphic code  47 .  
         [0055]    The process for recognizing the graphic code  47  by a user of a data terminal, for example, the mobile phone  11 , will now be described. The mobile phone  11  is provided with a camera  3 . The camera  3  may be, for example, a camera that can be externally connectable to the mobile phone  11 . Preferable examples of the mobile phone  11  and the like will be described in detail below.  
         [0056]    The user switches an ordinary imaging mode to a code recognition mode through a button operation or the like in the mobile phone  11  for photographing the graphic code  47  to cause the mobile phone  11  to recognize the code. After the code recognition mode is set, the following process for code recognition is performed for the image data photographed by the camera  3 .  
         [0057]    In Step S 401 , the process performs preprocessing of the image data, such as noise reduction, shading, and threshold control. Next, the process detects the frameline  49  from the entire image and extracts the image data in the detected frameline  49 . In Step S 402 , the process corrects the inclination and the size of the image data in the frameline  49  by coordinate transformation based on the inclination, the length of each side, and the like of the frameline  49  that is detected.  
         [0058]    In Step S 403 , the process extracts individual image patterns from the image data that has been corrected in the frameline  49 . This step of extracting the image patterns is performed by, for example, calculating the barycentric coordinates  68  of gray values of the individual image patterns  48  and determining the circumscribed rectangles  69  of the individual image patterns  48 , as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0059]    Next, the process determines the turning modes (directions) of the image patterns  48  by referring to a direction characteristic table, as shown in FIG. 6, using as parameters the barycentric coordinates  68  of the gray values of the image patterns  48  and the aspect ratios of the circumscribed rectangles  69  of the image patterns  48 , which are determined in the step of extracting the image patterns. In Step S 404 , the process determines the codes corresponding to the determined directions of the image patterns based on the relationship between the directions of the image patterns and the codes shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0060]    In Step S 405 , the process compares the codes determined for the four image patterns with codes in a predetermined code candidate group  70  as shown in FIG. 7 to finally determine a graphic code having the smallest difference to the determined graphic code in the code candidate group  70 , as the recognition result of the graphic code  47 . The difference here means the sum of the differences in the turning direction between the determined graphic codes and the predetermined codes for the four image patterns. Any difference exceeding a predetermined threshold value is determined to be out of recognition.  
         [0061]    In this way, the mobile phone  11  obtains numeric code information from the graphic code  47 .  
         [0062]    The process of distributing the content prepared in the manner described above by the administrator of the server  14  in FIG. 1 over the network  15  will now be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of this process.  
         [0063]    Before the server  14  distributes the content over the network  15 , the administrator of the server  14  applies for registration of the server  14  to the administrative company  10  by, for example, telephone or email. The administrative company  10  registers, for example, the graphic code  47  in FIG. 2 as the data terminal code unique to the server  14 . The administrative company  10  stores the graphic code  47  in the storage unit  16 . The administrative company  10  prints the data terminal code, such as “8572” (the numeric code of the graphic code  47  shown in FIG. 2), on a sheet of paper or the like to mail it to the administrator of the server  14 , for example, in the form of a sealed letter or a postcard. At the same time, the administrative company  10  sends the code operation program stored in the storage unit  18  over the network  15 . In Step ST 801 , the server  14  receives the code operation program sent from the administrative company  10 . The administrative company  10  mails a list  31  of the basic code operations in FIG. 9 and a graphic code table  32  in FIG. 10, which are required for operating the graphic codes, in the form of a sealed letter or a postcard. The list  31  and the graphic code table  32  are printed on a sheet of paper or the like.  
         [0064]    Referring to FIG. 9, the list  31  includes “registration”, “reference”, “exchange”, “delete”, “group registration”, “download”, “OK”, and “cancel”.  
         [0065]    In Step ST 802  in FIG. 8, the administrator of the server  14  installs the code operation program sent from the administrative company  10  in the server  14  to execute it. The server  14  may automatically install the code operation program upon the receipt of it. Alternatively, the administrator of the server  14  may buy the code operation program sold by a seller.  
         [0066]    After the code operation program is installed and executed, in Step ST 803 , the process displays an initial screen  26  for the code operations shown in FIG. 11 on a display unit or the like. This initial screen  26  displays the codes printed on the list  31  in FIG. 9.  
         [0067]    The administrator of the server  14  selects “registration”. Namely, in Step ST 804 , the administrator causes a camera to be close to a position where the graphic code “registration” is displayed and causes the server  14  to recognize the graphic code “registration”. The graphic code “registration” means that the administrator is registering content for distribution over the network  15 .  
         [0068]    After the graphic code “registration” is recognized, in Step ST 805 , the process displays a content-selection screen  27  shown in FIG. 12 in the display unit. This content-selection screen  27  displays files (content) that are stored in the storage device  20  of the server  14  and the graphic codes associated therewith. The files are displayed as, for example, icons  30 . A column  28  of the graphic codes sequentially displays, for example, the code information in FIG. 3 starting from the code “1”. A column  29  of the files displays the files extracted from the storage device  20  by the code operation program appropriately or in accordance with a predetermined rule. Although single-digit graphic codes are displayed in FIG. 12, graphic codes having more than one digit, for example, three-digit or four-digit graphic codes, may be displayed if the amount of content stored is large.  
         [0069]    In Step ST 806 , the administrator of the server  14  photographs the graphic code “1” with the camera, while referring to the content-selection screen  27  and the graphic code table  32 , to cause the server  14  to recognize the graphic code in order to register content “AUDI” that is the image of a car.  
         [0070]    In Step ST 807 , the process displays a content-allocation screen  38  as shown in FIG. 13. The administrator of the server  14  determines which content code corresponds to the selected content. A content table  33  is displayed on this content-allocation screen  38 . The content table  33  has a content URL (Uniform Resource Locator) column  35  that displays the storage location of the content to be allocated and a content code column  34  that displays the content codes corresponding to the content. Specifically, in Step ST 808 , the administrator of the server  14  causes the camera to be close to the graphic code table  32  to photograph the graphic code “11”, while referring to the content-allocation screen  38  and the graphic code table  32  printed on a sheet of paper in FIG. 10, in order to cause the server  14  to recognize the graphic code and allocate it.  
         [0071]    The content table  33  shown in FIG. 14 is displayed and the registration is completed. In Step ST 809 , the process distributes the content over the network  15 .  
         [0072]    “Cancel” in the list  31  of the basic code operations is recognized in order to cancel any of the steps in FIG. 8.  
         [0073]    The administrator of the server  14  can print his/her car image and the like on a medium, such as a magazine, to introduce them as articles for sale. A form of this process will now be described.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 15 shows an example of an information input medium  43  including the graphic codes  47  representing content codes. The information input medium  43  in FIG. 15 is a booklet-type medium. Each page  44  of the information input medium  43  includes at least, for example, four car images  45  or four horoscope images  46  as the content, and price information of the corresponding content.  
         [0075]    The car images  45  are images distributed by the administrator of the server  14 , as described above. These car images  45  that are downloaded by each of the data terminals  11 ,  12 , or  13  as described below are displayed on a browser or the like installed in the individual data terminals. In contrast, the horoscope images  46  are service content on the Web, which displays the horoscopes using the characters and the images on the Web.  
         [0076]    These individual images have the corresponding graphic codes  47 . Each of the graphic codes  47  is information that is associated with the corresponding image and is encoded. Each page  44  has a data terminal code  25  at the upper-left or the upper-right corner. The data terminal code  25  on the left page in FIG. 15 is a terminal code unique to the server  14 .  
         [0077]    The booklet-type information input medium  43  described above may be issued by the administrative company  10 . The process by which a user of a data terminal, for example the mobile phone  11 , buys the booklet-type information input medium  43  described above to download the content will now be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of this process.  
         [0078]    The user of the mobile phone  11  registers his/her own terminal in the same manner in which the administrator of the server  14  registers the server  14  at the administrative company  10 . In Step ST 1601 , the user of the mobile phone  11  receives the code operation program and, in Step ST 1602 , installs the code operation program to execute it. Also in this case, the code operation program may be automatically installed upon the receipt of it. Steps ST 1601  and ST 1602  are the same as Steps ST 801  and ST 802  in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8. The mobile phone  11  or the like acquires the unique data terminal code  25  for identifying the corresponding data terminal with the code operation program. The registration at the administrative company  10  may be performed through button operations on the mobile phone  11 .  
         [0079]    The user of the mobile phone  11  refers to the car images  45  and the prices thereof on each page  44  of the information input medium  43  to select desirable content. For example, when the user wants to browse “BMW” (having a content code “13”) stored in the server  14  (having the data terminal code “8572”), in Step ST 1603 , the user photographs the data terminal code  25  shown in the upper-left corner of the left page  44  with the camera or the like provided in the mobile phone  11  to cause the mobile phone  11  to recognize the data terminal code  25 . The process from photographing to recognition is similar to the process described above. After recognition, the mobile phone  11  stores the data terminal code “8572” of the server  14 .  
         [0080]    In Step ST 1604 , the user photographs the graphic code  47  that indicates the content code and is allocated to “BMW” to cause the mobile phone  11  to recognize the graphic code  47  and store it. In Step ST 1605 , the user causes the mobile phone  11  to recognize, for example, the graphic code “download” in the list  31  of the basic code operations in FIG. 9. In Step ST 1606 , the mobile phone  11  sends the data terminal code information (for example, “1274”) of the mobile phone  11  and the selected content code “13” to the server  14  that has the specified data terminal code “8572”.  
         [0081]    The server  14  receives the data terminal code information “1274” and the selected content code “13”. The server  14  then extracts the content corresponding to the content code “13” from the storage device  20  based on the content table  33  to send the extracted content to the mobile phone  11  that has the data terminal code “1274”.  
         [0082]    In Step ST 1607 , the mobile phone  11  receives the content “BMW” that is sent. The mobile phone  11  can download the content in this way. The server  14  may charge a fee for the content upon transmission of the content.  
         [0083]    The process may automatically download the content upon recognition of the content code in Step ST 1604  without providing the code operation “download”.  
         [0084]    The process for canceling the registration of the content that is distributed over the network  15  by the administrator of the server  14  will now be described.  
         [0085]    For example, when the administrator of the server  14  causes the server  14  to recognize the graphic code “delete” in the list  31  in FIG. 9, a screen  39  is displayed on the display unit or the like, as shown in FIG. 17. The screen  39  is a content table that displays content codes “11”, “12”, “13”, and “14”, which are currently distributed over the network  15  and correspond to their own data terminal codes, and content URLs corresponding to the individual content codes. The administrator of the server  14  causes the camera to be close to the content code to be deleted in the graphic code table  32  while referring to the screen  39  and causes the server  14  to recognize that content code. For example, when the administrator of the server  14  causes the server  14  to recognize the content code “11”, the screen  39  switches to the registration-canceled screen  40  in FIG. 18, in which the registration of the content corresponding to the content code “11” has been canceled and the message “blank” is displayed in the content URL column  35  corresponding to the content code “11”.  
         [0086]    Determining the basic code operations in advance allows the data terminals  11 ,  12 ,  13 , or  14  to perform a variety of information handling. For example, when “group registration” is selected, a plurality of data terminals that receive the provision of content may constitute one group and one code may be registered at the administrative company  10  for each group of data terminals. When one data terminal among the multiple data terminals in one group downloads a piece of content, the content may be simultaneously distributed to all the other data terminals in the group. Alternatively, a plurality of servers that provide content may constitute one group and one code may be registered at the administrative company  10  for each group of servers.  
         [0087]    The basic code operations in the list  31  are not limited to those shown in FIG. 9 and any basic code operations may be set.  
         [0088]    According to this embodiment, since a plurality of data terminals have their own data terminal code in multiple channels on a network, information communication can be achieved without imposing a burden on a server that provides content. The data terminal codes are defined as graphics, and the content codes associated with the data terminal codes are also defined as graphics in this embodiment. The graphic codes are recognized from paper media on which these graphic codes are printed. Non-digital entities are used as media so that information handling that is intuitive for people can be easily achieved. In particular, according to this embodiment, conventional button operations or the like are not necessary for inputting the information with a camera, so that beginners of information devices or elders can easily handle the information.  
         [0089]    Furthermore, encoding the data terminal codes, the group codes, and so on and describing them in graphic codes can prevent illegal access to the data terminals by anyone other than the users of the data terminals in this embodiment.  
         [0090]    Even when the information input medium  43  itself has been illegally copied, the illegal utilization of other data terminals can be restricted because each data terminal has its own data terminal code.  
         [0091]    A data terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a binder-type data terminal  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The binder-type data terminal  100  has a first shaft  103  and a second shaft  104  at both sides of a body  101 . A display  96  is pivotably mounted to the first shaft  103  and a flap  102  is pivotably mounted to the second shaft  104 . FIG. 20 shows a state in which the display  96  is pivoted toward the body  101  for closing. FIG. 21 shows a state in which the flap  102  is pivoted toward the body  101  for closing (with the display  96  in the state shown in FIG. 20). The user generally carries the data terminal in the state shown in FIG. 21.  
         [0093]    The second shaft  104  has binder strips  107  to which media having printed content are detachably bound, as described below. The second shaft  104  also has a first camera  109  and a jog switch  108  that is below the first camera  109 . The first camera  109  is a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that a mobile phone or the like is generally provided with. The jog switch  108  is used for scrolling images displayed on the display  96 .  
         [0094]    Referring to FIG. 19, the body  101  has a mounting unit  99  at its lower part, in which a portable stick storage medium  98  is mounted. For example, content downloaded using the binder-type data terminal  100  can be stored in the storage medium  98  mounted in the mounting unit  99 . Alternatively, a storage medium  98  bought from a seller, in which the code operation program is stored, can be installed in the binder-type data terminal  100 .  
         [0095]    The first shaft  103  has an operation button  106  or the like. The operation button  106  is mainly a so-called “OK” button.  
         [0096]    The display  96  has a second camera  105  at its back side. The second camera  105  is for reading the graphic code information described above.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the hardware structure of the binder-type data terminal  100 .  
         [0098]    Referring to FIG. 22, the binder-type data terminal  100  has a CPU  75 , a ROM  76 , a flash memory  77 , a RAM  78 , a storage medium interface  79 , and other interfaces such as a teletypewriter (TTY)  81 , an Ethernet™ board  82 , an image processing unit  83 , a Visca interface  84 , a VGA board  85 , and an audio-video interface  86 , all of which are connected to a main bus  74 .  
         [0099]    The CPU  75  totally controls the entire binder-type data terminal  100 . The ROM  76  stores programs required for operating the CPU  75 . The flash memory  77  stores necessary data, such as identification information unique to the binder-type data terminal  100 . The RAM  78  is used as a working space for processing. The code operation program may be installed in the ROM  76  by default upon shipment of the binder-type data terminal  100 .  
         [0100]    The storage medium interface  79  is connected to the mounting unit  99  and communicates data to the storage medium  98  mounted in the mounting unit  99 .  
         [0101]    The TTY  81  is connected to various buttons in the operation area described above.  
         [0102]    The Ethernet board  82  is connectable to an Ethernet network. The binder-type data terminal  100  is connected to, for example, a server through the Ethernet board  82  over the Ethernet network and is connected to the Internet through the server.  
         [0103]    The image processing unit  83  is connected to a camera interface  88 , to which the second camera  105  and the first camera  109  are connected. Images photographed by the second camera  105  can be imported into the binder-type data terminal  100  and can be displayed on the display  96 .  
         [0104]    The Visca interface  84  is connected to, for example, an external computer. Various controls of the binder-type data terminal  100  can be performed through the Visca interface  84 .  
         [0105]    The VGA board  85  is connected to the display  96  that may be a liquid crystal display device.  
         [0106]    The audio-video interface  86  is connected to audio-video equipment. Signals sent from the audio-video equipment can be received in the binder-type data terminal  100  through the audio-video interface  86 . Conversely, audio signals or image signals can be supplied to the audio-video equipment through the audio-video interface  86 .  
         [0107]    [0107]FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the binder-type data terminal  100  in a state in which the printed car images  45  or the printed horoscope images  46 , as shown in FIG. 15, are bound to the binder strips  107 . In the binder-type data terminal  100  having the car images  45  or horoscope images  46  that are bound, the pivoting of the display  96  toward the body  101  allows the second camera  105  provided on the display  96  to conveniently photograph the graphic codes  47  of the images.  
         [0108]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.