JP2004015794A - Heterogeneous terminal communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heterogeneous terminal communication system in which data transmitted from a communicating party side are rightly received and reproduced in a present side communication terminal in a communication between heterogeneous communication terminals. <P>SOLUTION: The heterogeneous terminal communication system is provided with a video telephone set 11a, a mobile video phone 21a which is a data communication terminal having a data form different therefrom, and a gateway device 1, the gateway device 1 is equipped with a data converting means 2 for converting data transmitted from one communication terminal to data which the other communication terminal can receive and reproduce, and converting data transmitted from the other communication terminal to data which one communication terminal can receive and reproduce, and the communication between the video telephone set 11a and the mobile video phone 21a is performed via the gateway device 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data transmission method between different types of communication terminals such that when data transmitted by one communication terminal is to be received by the other communication terminal, the data cannot be correctly reproduced by the other communication terminal. The present invention relates to a communication system between heterogeneous terminals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a fixed videophone, that is, a videophone for a wired line (hereinafter also referred to as a wired videophone), and a telephone for a wireless line with a videophone function, for example, a mobile phone with a so-called videophone function (a wireless videophone) ) Means that, although a call can be made, images cannot be exchanged, that is, image data transmitted by a communication partner cannot be displayed on his / her own communication terminal. This is because the format of image data, such as the format of image compression, differs between a cable videophone and a wireless videophone. Naturally, the data format of the information to be transmitted to the communication path is two communication between the wired videophones, the wireless videophones, and the communication terminals having no videophone function. If the terminal is different, a problem occurs such that an image transmitted by a communication partner cannot be displayed correctly, character data cannot be displayed correctly, or voice cannot be heard correctly.
As described above, in this specification, different types of data transmitted by a communication partner and data transmitted by the communication partner are referred to as different types. Even if the hardware of the two communication terminals happens to be the same, if the formats of the data to be transmitted are different from each other, the relationship between the two is a heterogeneous communication terminal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The communication system between different types of terminals according to the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to solve the following problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system between heterogeneous terminals that enables a communication terminal on its own side to correctly receive and reproduce data transmitted by a communication partner in communication between heterogeneous communication terminals.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 1, and is as follows.
This communication method between different types of terminals includes one communication terminal, the other communication terminal, and converting data transmitted by the one communication terminal into data that can be received and reproduced by the other communication terminal. And a gateway device for converting data transmitted by the communication terminal into data that can be received and reproduced by the one communication terminal.
When the one communication terminal calls the other communication terminal, first, when the one communication terminal and the gateway device are connected via a communication path, the one communication terminal and the gateway The device and the other communication terminal are each configured to perform an operation of connecting the one communication terminal and the other communication terminal via a communication path.
[0005]
A second invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 2, and is as follows.
2. The communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 1, wherein the data transmitted by the one communication terminal or the data transmitted by the other communication terminal is data including image data. .
[0006]
A third invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 3, and is as follows.
In the communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 1 or claim 2, the operation of connecting the one communication terminal and the gateway device via a communication path is performed by the one communication terminal by the other communication terminal. When you make a call, it is done automatically.
[0007]
A fourth invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 4, and is as follows.
In the inter-terminal communication system according to claim 1, the communication path connecting the one communication terminal and the gateway device includes a telephone line in the communication path.
[0008]
A fifth invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 5, and is as follows.
In the communication method between different types of terminals according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, a communication path connecting the other communication terminal and the gateway device includes a telephone in the communication path. Includes lines.
[0009]
A sixth invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 6, and is as follows.
In the communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, or claim 5, the one communication terminal is a wired video phone or a wireless video phone. The other communication terminal is a wireless videophone or a wired videophone.
[0010]
A seventh invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 7, and is as follows.
In the inter-terminal communication method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, the one communication terminal and the gateway device are connected. The communication path includes an IP network.
[0011]
An eighth invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a communication system between heterogeneous terminals as described in claim 8, and is as follows.
In the communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7, the other communication terminal and the gateway The communication path connecting the device includes an IP network.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention.
Here, it is assumed that the two different terminals (heterogeneous communication terminals) are a facsimile apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a facsimile) and a mobile phone. The mobile phone 21b may or may not have the videophone function. A case where image data read by the facsimile 11b is transmitted to the mobile phone 21b will be described.
When a call is made from the facsimile 11b to the gateway device 1 and a communication path is formed between the two via the telephone network 14, the facsimile 11b transmits image data to be transmitted (eg, image data obtained by scanning original paper) to the gateway device. 1 as well as the telephone number information of the mobile phone 21b, which is the call destination (call destination), to the gateway device 1.
Since the gateway device 1 has one communication terminal (facsimile 11b), the other communication terminal (mobile phone 21b), and communication means (3c, 3d) for communicating with both, the facsimile 11b and the mobile phone In addition to fulfilling the function of relaying data to and from the facsimile 11b, it converts image data received from the facsimile 11b into image data that can be displayed on the monitor screen 22 of the mobile phone, and transmits the image data to the mobile phone 21b. The data conversion unit 2 is an information processing device, a so-called computer, converts data received from one (wired) telephone network 14 into data to be transmitted to the other mobile telephone network 24, and receives data from the other mobile telephone network 24. This is a device that performs a process of converting data to be transmitted into data to be transmitted to one telephone network 14.
If the voice signal input by the mobile phone 21b is converted into a facsimile signal by the data conversion means 2 of the gateway device 1, information to be spoken by the mobile phone 21b is output (printed out) by the facsimile 11b as character image data. Or display).
As described above, according to the present invention, the gateway device 1 can be connected to one communication terminal (for example, the facsimile 11b) and the other communication terminal (the mobile phone 21b) even if the format of the input or transmitted data is different. This allows communication and data exchange between the two.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the inter-terminal communication system according to the present invention when the videophone is a terminal.
According to the present invention, a general videophone 11a having a display device 12 and an imaging device 13 and a contract mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as a mobile videophone 21a) of any carrier having a videophone function having a monitor screen 22 and a camera 23 are provided. ), Even if the two image data are in different formats (eg, different compression formats), bidirectional image communication is possible.
When it is desired to make a call from the video telephone 11a to the portable videophone 21a, first, a call is made from the video telephone 11a to the gateway device 1 via the telephone network 14. It is assumed that the gateway device 1 is provided with a telephone communication unit 3a (for example, an exchange) for connecting to the telephone network 14 and a mobile telephone communication unit 3b (for example, a wireless base station) for connecting to the mobile telephone network 24.
When a communication path is formed between the videophone 11a and the gateway device 1, the videophone 11a transmits transmission data (to the mobile videophone 21a) including image data and telephone number information of the mobile videophone 21a to the gateway device 1. Send. The gateway device 1 calls the portable videophone 21a based on the telephone number information, and when both are connected via a communication path, transmits transmission data including image data to the portable videophone 21a. However, the image data transmitted to the mobile phone network 24 is image data obtained by converting the image data received from the videophone 11a into data that can be displayed on the monitor screen 22 of the mobile videophone 21a by the data conversion unit 2.
Similarly, image data transmitted from the portable videophone 21a to the videophone 11a, for example, image data captured by the camera 23 via the gateway device 1 (the data conversion means 2 thereof) is transmitted to the display device 12 of the videophone 11a. Can be displayed.
As described above, by providing the gateway device 1 with the data conversion means 2, the wired communication type videophone 11a, the wireless communication type portable videophone 21a, and the like can be of any type from any manufacturer, and image data can be exchanged between the two. Of course, any data communication is possible.
[0014]
In FIG. 2, the operation of calling the gateway device 1 when calling the portable videophone 21 a from the videophone 11 a to perform communication or the operation of calling the gateway device 1 when calling the videophone 11 a from the mobile videophone 21 a and performing communication is It is possible to automate. For example,
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the automatic call calling of the communication system between different terminals according to the present invention.
A telephone adapter 15 which is a type of terminal device is provided between the video telephone 11a and the telephone network 14. When the telephone adapter 15 receives a signal from the videophone 11a and detects a predetermined telephone number or a registered telephone number, the telephone adapter 15 automatically calls the gateway device 1 and communication between the gateway device 1 and the telephone adapter 15 is performed. When the connection is established on the road, the telephone number of the destination, that is, the communication partner, here, the portable videophone 21a is transmitted to the gateway device 1 and the video telephone 11a is connected to the gateway device 1 (the telephone communication means 3a). It is a device that becomes a part of the communication path between them. That is, the telephone adapter 15 interfaces or relays the video telephone 11a and the gateway device 1. The operation of the gateway device 1 after the connection between the videophone 11a and the gateway device 1 is as described with reference to FIG.
Therefore, if the videophone 11a dials the telephone number of the portable videophone 21a, which is the destination, the user automatically dials the telephone number of the gateway device 1 and automatically operates via the gateway device 1. , The mobile videophone 21a can be called. The function of the telephone adapter 15 may be built in the video telephone 11a.
Similarly, it is possible to dial the telephone number of the videophone 11a with the portable videophone 21a and call the videophone 11a via the gateway device 1. For example, the telephone number conversion means 25 is connected to a serial communication terminal (not shown) of the portable videophone 21a. When the telephone number conversion means 25 detects a call (dial dialing) of the video telephone 11a, the telephone number conversion means 25 is not connected to the video telephone. , The gateway device 1 may be called to transmit the telephone number information of the videophone 11a, which is the destination, to the gateway device 1. Note that the function of the telephone number conversion means 25 may be built in the portable videophone 21a.
[0015]
1 to 3, one of the two terminals is an example of a terminal for wired communication. However, the two communication terminals embodying the present invention may both be terminals for wireless communication or both may be terminals for wired communication. Here, the former example will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention.
The PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) 11d includes a wireless LAN terminal 16, and can communicate with the gateway device 1 via an IP network 14a such as the Internet. Therefore, the gateway device 1 converts the image data created by the PDA 11d or the image data output by an external device (not shown) connected to the PDA 11d to the PDA 11d, so that the portable videophone 21a can receive and display the data. Can be transmitted to the portable videophone 21a.
Note that, for example, a router is used as the communication unit 3e in the gateway device 1 for connecting to the IP network 14a. Further, as a portable terminal for wireless communication, a so-called notebook personal computer can be used in addition to the PDA 11d.
When calling and communicating with the PDA 11d from the portable videophone 21a, the gateway device 1 is first connected to the portable videophone 21a, and then the portable videophone 21a is connected to the PDA 11d, which is the communication partner, in the same manner as described above. The access information (eg, IP address) is transmitted to the gateway device 1. The gateway device 1 connects the PDA 11d and the gateway device 1 by a communication path and converts data from received data to data for transmission by the data conversion means 2, so that the portable videophone 21a and the PDA 11d Can communicate with each other (image).
[0016]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment having a carrier gateway in the heterogeneous terminal communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows that in order to implement the present invention, different types of communication networks such as an IP network and a telephone network (mobile telephone network) are mixed in a communication path between the gateway device 1 and two communication terminals. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing that the following may be performed. Note that FIG. 5 shows that a communication terminal accessing one IP network 14a can use a personal computer system 11c having an image pickup unit 13 and a display device 12.
Here, an IP network 14a and a mobile phone network 24 exist between the mobile videophone 21a and the gateway device 1, and the IP network 14a and the mobile phone network 24 are managed by a gateway 9 operated by a carrier of the mobile phone network 24. Indicates that a connection is made. If both the user of the portable videophone 21a and the user of the personal computer system 11c want to perform (image) data communication or a telephone call with a communication partner, the above-mentioned operation is performed without being aware of the existence of the gateway 9 of the carrier. As described, first, a communication path may be established between itself and the gateway device 1. That is, the operations of both communication terminals (the personal computer system 11c and the portable videophone 21a) and the gateway device 1 are exactly the same as those described with reference to FIGS.
[0017]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates a case where both communication networks between the gateway device 1 and both communication terminals (the personal computer system 11c and the videophone 11a) are IP networks 14a.
When accessing the videophone 11a from the personal computer system 11c, the gateway device 1 is accessed, and then information indicating that the user wants to access the videophone 11a is transmitted to the gateway device 1. While connecting to the telephone 11a, one communication terminal receives (displays) data from one communication terminal so that the other communication terminal can receive (display) data from the other communication terminal. To perform bidirectional data conversion.
Similarly, when accessing the personal computer system 11c from the videophone 11a, the gateway device 1 is accessed, and then information indicating that the user wants to access the videophone 11a is transmitted to the gateway device 1. 11c and the videophone 11a, so that the data from one communication terminal can be received (displayed) by the other communication terminal, and the data from the other communication terminal is received by one communication terminal ( Bidirectional data conversion so that the data can be displayed.
In FIG. 6, the communication unit 3e and the communication unit 3f of the gateway device 1 are illustrated as being divided into two for one communication terminal and for the other communication terminal, but the communication unit 3e and the communication unit 3f are not illustrated. Alternatively, the configuration may be one communication means (eg, router).
[0018]
The communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention includes two types of communication terminals, communication between one communication terminal and the gateway device 1 and communication between the other communication terminal that is a communication partner of the one communication terminal and the gateway device 1. Regardless of the type of network, the operation of calling the communication terminal of the other party (eg, dialing in the case of a telephone) is performed by the communication terminal on the calling side, as shown in FIG. However, an embodiment is possible in which the gateway apparatus 1 is first automatically automatically called.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
The communication method between different types of terminals according to the present invention has the configuration as described above, and thus has the following effects.
In communication between different types of communication terminals such as a videophone for a wired telephone line and a so-called portable videophone for a wireless telephone line (for a mobile telephone line), a gateway device must be interposed in the middle of a communication path. The gateway device performs data conversion for converting the transmission side data into the reception side adaptation data. Therefore, it is possible to provide a heterogeneous terminal communication system in which the data transmitted by the communication partner side can be correctly received and reproduced by the communication terminal on its own side.
According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to provide a data conversion means in a communication terminal even in communication between different types of communication terminals. Can be easily output. Even if the data format such as data compression is changed or a communication terminal having a new data format appears, the communication terminal does not need to newly provide a data conversion means, and the program of the gateway device 1 and the communication Since communication is possible only by changing, there is also an advantage that it is easy to cope with a change in the trend and trend of communication technology at low cost. There is no need to bother the user of the communication terminal to support the new data format.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a heterogeneous terminal communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention when the videophone is a terminal.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a call automation of a communication method between different terminals according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment having a carrier gateway in the heterogeneous terminal communication system according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gateway apparatus 2 Data conversion means 3a Telephone communication means 3b Mobile phone communication means 3e, 3f Communication means 9 Carrier gateway 11a Videophone 11b Facsimile 11c Personal computer system 11d PDA
Reference Signs List 12 display device 13 imaging device 14 telephone network 14a IP network 15 telephone adapter 16 wireless LAN terminal 21 portable videophone 22 monitor screen 23 camera 24 cellular telephone network 25 telephone number conversion means

Claims (8)

One communication terminal,
The other communication terminal,
The data transmitted by the one communication terminal is converted into data that can be received and reproduced by the other communication terminal, and the data transmitted by the other communication terminal can be received and reproduced by the one communication terminal. A gateway device for converting the data into data,
When calling the other communication terminal at the one communication terminal, first, when the one communication terminal and the gateway device are connected by a communication path, the one communication terminal, the gateway device and the The other communication terminal is configured to perform an operation of connecting the one communication terminal and the other communication terminal via a communication path, respectively.
A communication method between heterogeneous terminals. 2. The communication system between different types of terminals according to claim 1, wherein either one of the data transmitted by the one communication terminal or the data transmitted by the other communication terminal is data including image data. The operation in which the one communication terminal and the gateway device are connected via a communication path is automatically performed when the one communication terminal calls the other communication terminal. 3. The communication system between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 1 or claim 2. 4. The communication system between different terminals according to claim 1, wherein a communication path connecting the one communication terminal and the gateway device includes a telephone line. The communication system between different types of terminals according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein a communication path connecting the other communication terminal and the gateway device includes a telephone line. 3. The one communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the one communication terminal is a wired videophone or a wireless videophone, and the other communication terminal is a wireless videophone or a wired videophone. 6. The communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 3, 4 or 5. The communication path connecting the one communication terminal and the gateway device includes an IP network, the communication path includes an IP network. 6. The communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to 6. The communication path for connecting the other communication terminal and the gateway device includes an IP network, the communication path includes an IP network. A communication method between heterogeneous terminals according to claim 6 or claim 7.

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