JP2006074552A - Transmission and reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transmission and reception system that can be easily utilized in an environment in which a telecommunication line such as the Internet is provided and can perform highly functional transmission and reception. <P>SOLUTION: This transmission and reception system is provided with a plurality of terminals 30 with a handset 40 connectable and a server 20 connected to the respective terminals 30 through the telecommunication line (Internet circuit 10), wherein respective terminals 30 perform transmission and reception with each other. The handset 40 stores respectively unique identification information. The server 20 is provided with a managing means for identification information stored in the handsets, a connection state monitoring means for monitoring a connection state of a handset and a transmission/reception permitting means for permitting transmission/reception between handsets. The connection monitoring means receives identification information of a handset and identification information of the handset of the other party that desires communication and determines whether or not transmission and reception are possible between the handsets. The transmission/reception permitting means permits signal to be transmitted and received between the handsets that can perform transmission and reception. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a transmission / reception system in which a plurality of terminals and a server are connected via a telecommunication line, and audio signals and data signals are transmitted / received between the terminals.

  Conventionally, various transmission / reception systems that transmit and receive voice signals and data signals using electric communication lines such as public telephone lines, dedicated telephone lines, wireless communication lines, and Internet lines have been proposed.

  As such a transmission / reception system, for example, a caller mobile radio telephone equipped with a management relay station automatic connection apparatus and a management relay station apparatus to which a call receiver telephone is connected via the Internet are provided. , A memory in which the URL and the billing number are registered, and an automatic connection means for connecting to the management relay station apparatus corresponding to the URL in response to a request from the caller mobile radio telephone. Between the calling condition mobile phone and the call receiver telephone, the use condition check means for receiving the call information transmitted from the radio telephone and including the billing information, searching the database and checking the availability of the communication service, There is known one provided with voice transmitting / receiving means for transmitting and receiving voice information (see Patent Document 1).

  Also, with the spread of cable TV lines, ADSL lines, optical fiber lines, etc., so-called Internet telephones using IP (Internet Protocol) have come to be widely used.

JP 2004-88174 A

  However, conventional Internet telephones require a dedicated router for connecting to a telecommunication line (for example, an ADSL line), and cannot be used in places other than where a dedicated router is installed. It was. That is, each Internet telephone can make a call only via a specific connected router or the like, and cannot make a call even if the Internet telephone is connected to another access point. In this respect, Internet telephones are no different from conventional telephones that have been widely used, and only have the advantage that the line usage fee is cheaper.

  In recent years, it has become possible to perform mutual communication between multiple providers free of charge, but there are several groups of providers that can perform mutual communication for free, and all providers It was not always possible to communicate with each other for free.

  Furthermore, for general users, Internet telephones were only an alternative to general telephones. In other words, it is difficult to say that these functions are sufficiently exerted in spite of the use of an Internet line capable of bidirectionally transmitting and receiving various data such as image data as well as audio data.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and can be easily used by anyone in an environment where a telecommunication line such as an Internet line is laid, and performs highly functional transmission / reception. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transmission / reception system capable of transmitting and receiving.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the transmission / reception system of the present invention has the following features.
That is, the transmission / reception system of the present invention
A plurality of terminals including input / output means and display means, to which a handset can be connected;
At least one server connected to each terminal via a telecommunication line,
A transmission / reception system that performs transmission / reception between the terminals,
Each of the transmission / reception devices includes an identification information storage unit in which unique identification information is stored.
The server includes a management unit for identification information stored in each transmitter / receiver, a connection status monitor for monitoring a connection status of each transmitter / receiver, and a transmission / reception permission that permits transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver. Means and
Whether the connection monitoring means receives the identification information of the transmission / reception device transmitted from the terminal and the identification information of the transmission / reception device of the other party that desires communication, and is capable of transmitting / receiving signals between the transmission / reception devices Judging
The transmission / reception permission unit is characterized in that when the connection monitoring unit determines that transmission / reception of signals between the transmission / reception devices is possible, transmission / reception of signals between the transmission / reception devices is performed. is there.

  Specifically, each means and the like are described. The terminal is constituted by, for example, a desktop type or laptop type personal computer, a PDA, etc., and input / output means include a keyboard, a mouse, a NIC (network interface card), This is a device having a USB connection terminal and the like, and a liquid crystal display device, a CRT, etc. as display means. Further, a printer, a scanner, or the like may be provided as input / output means.

  An electric communication line is an Internet line, a public telephone line, a dedicated telephone line, a wireless communication line, etc., and is a line that can be transmitted and received bidirectionally using CATV, ADSL, FTTC (FTTH), optical fiber, etc. Say.

  For example, the server refers to a SIP server in a technique using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) as a call control protocol. Hereinafter, although the server will be described as an SIP server in the present invention, if the device comprehensively manages a plurality of terminals and transmitter / receivers connected via the Internet line or the like, the call control protocol is H.264. A server such as a gatekeeper using the H.323 protocol may be used.

  The transmitter / receiver device is a device corresponding to a transmitter / receiver in a general telephone. This transmitter / receiver device is preferably connectable to a terminal by USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection in that hot plugging is possible and connection is easy.

  The transmitter / receiver is equipped with a ROM (including a rewritable EPROM) functioning as identification information storage means, and identification information unique to the ROM is stored. As the unique identification information, for example, a telephone number and an ID can be cited.

  The management means, connection status monitoring means, and transmission / reception permission means constructed in the server are constituted by, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM constituting the server, and a program for operating these as respective means.

  In a transmission / reception system having such a configuration, when a handset is connected to a terminal connected to a server via an electrical communication line, unique identification information is transmitted from the terminal to the server, and server management means After the authentication is performed, a connection is established between the terminal and the server.

  In the server, the transmission / reception apparatus connected to the server is monitored by the connection status monitoring means, and if there is a transmission / reception request from any terminal, it is determined whether transmission / reception is possible. Here, when transmission / reception between the requested transmission / reception devices is possible, transmission / reception between the transmission / reception devices is permitted by the transmission / reception permission means.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, in an environment in which a telecommunication line such as an Internet line is laid, a transmitter / receiver connected to a terminal can be connected without considering a provider's partnership or the like. You can easily send and receive calls. In addition, since identification information unique to each transmitter / receiver is stored, it is possible to perform transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver by simply carrying the transmitter / receiver and connecting it to an arbitrary terminal.

  The transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the above-described configuration, each terminal includes transmission / reception means required for transmission / reception between connected transmission / reception devices. It is.

  Specifically, the transmission / reception means means, for example, means in which an application program (communication control program) operates a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. constituting a terminal to enable transmission / reception using a transmitter / receiver. Say.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, communication is possible only by connecting a transmission / reception device to a terminal provided with transmission / reception means by providing transmission / reception means for each terminal, not for transmission / reception devices. . In other words, the user does not have to bring a terminal when moving, and if a terminal connected to a telecommunication line such as the Internet line is installed, the user can simply send and receive a transmitter / receiver to the terminal. Transmission / reception using the receiver is possible.

In addition to the configuration described above, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is an application program for constructing transmission / reception means required for the server to perform transmission / reception between transmission / reception devices connected to the terminals. Storage means for storing
The application program stored in the storage means is transmitted to the terminal in response to a request from each terminal.

  Specifically, the storage means is, for example, a hard disk storage device that constructs a server.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, even if an application program (communication control program) is not installed in a terminal to which a transmitter / receiver is connected and used, an Internet line or the like The application program can be downloaded from the storage means of the server through the telecommunication line and installed in the terminal, and the versatility of the transmission / reception system can be improved.

  In addition to the configuration described above, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that the signal transmitted / received between the terminals is at least one of an audio signal and a data signal.

  Specifically, when a transmitter / receiver is used, voice signals are transmitted / received, and a call can be made between the transmitter / receiver connected to each other. In addition, various data signals such as document files and image data can be transmitted and received while making a call between the mutually connected terminals using a transmission / reception device. Further, it is possible to send / receive only a data file without making a call, send / receive a data file after the call is finished, or make a call after sending / receiving the data file.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, not only a telephone call but also various data signals can be transmitted / received, so that the versatility of the transmission / reception system can be improved.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention includes a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing data, and when transmission / reception is performed between the transmission / reception devices. Is stored in each terminal by the temporary storage means, and when transmission / reception between the transmission / reception apparatuses is completed, the data is stored in the temporary storage means automatically or based on a user instruction. The stored data is deleted.

  Specifically, the temporary storage means is a RAM or a hard disk storage device. When communication between the transmitter / receiver becomes possible, the phone book data and communication history stored in the server are downloaded to the terminal and stored in the temporary storage means, and the terminal can refer to these data. it can. When the communication is terminated, the data stored in the temporary storage means is automatically deleted, or the data is deleted based on a user instruction.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, when someone else's terminal is temporarily borrowed, for example, when using an Internet cafe, important personal information is not leaked to the outside, and security can be improved. it can.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that transmission / reception is possible between three or more of the transmission / reception devices.
In other words, it has a function of not only making a call between two parties but also calling a new caller to make a call or the like between three, four, or five or more parties. In addition, when a call is made between two parties and a call is received from another party, this other party can be joined to make a call between three, four, or more than five parties. It can also be done.

  Specifically, for example, when conducting a conference call, the moderator calls other terminals connected to the network one after another, and when the people who should attend the conference have gathered, the conference call starts. In this case, the transmission / reception system of the present invention can be used. Similarly, when playing a network game between many people, the secretary will call other terminals connected to the network one after another, and start the network game when the necessary number of network games is available It can also be used in any case.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, by calling other terminals connected to the network one after another, a telephone conference or the like can be performed between remote locations, and the versatility of the transmission / reception system can be improved. it can.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention transmits data about the own station from the transmission side terminal to the reception side terminal, and displays information about the transmission side terminal on the display means of the reception side terminal. It is characterized by.

  Specifically, the data transmitted from the transmission side terminal to the reception side terminal includes a telephone number, a company name, a name, and the like. When such data is transmitted, the information is displayed on the display means of the receiving terminal.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, it is possible to specify the other party even when the information on the transmitting terminal is not recorded in the receiving terminal, for example, when there is no record of the other party in the telephone directory. It is possible to improve convenience.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that the reception side terminal includes data storage means for storing data received from the transmission side terminal.

  Specifically, the data storage means is a RAM or a hard disk storage device. The reception side terminal can store the data in the data storage means transmitted from the transmission side terminal, and take out and use the data stored in the data storage means after the call or data transmission / reception is completed.

  Thus, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, since data transmitted / received between terminals can be stored, the data can be reconfirmed or processed after transmission / reception is completed, and convenience is improved. Can be increased.

In addition to the configuration described above, the transmission / reception system of the present invention includes a transmission timer means,
Data is transmitted to a specific receiving terminal at a time preset by the transmission timer means.

  Specifically, the transmission timer means means that a communication control program, for example, operates a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. constituting the terminal to automatically transmit at a predetermined time.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, for example, at a preset time, it is possible to make a call to a counterpart terminal or transmit predetermined data. That is, a wake-up call or sales announcement can be made, or medical data (body temperature, blood pressure, etc.) can be transmitted to the attending physician from a remote location, and the versatility of the transmission / reception system can be improved.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that the terminal includes an incoming call rejection unit for rejecting an incoming call from a specific terminal.
Specifically, the incoming call rejection means means that, for example, the communication control program operates the CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. constituting the terminal to identify the other party stored in advance in the control table, etc. Means to reject incoming calls.
Thus, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, incoming calls such as nuisance calls can be rejected, and convenience can be improved.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention includes a switching timer unit,
The response state to the transmission side terminal is changed corresponding to the time set by the switching timer means.

Specifically, the switching timer means means that, for example, a communication control program operates a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. constituting the terminal and performs response processing for the other party according to a time schedule stored in advance in a control table or the like. Means to change.
As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, incoming calls can be permitted during working hours, and preset voice and music can be automatically played after the working hours are finished, thereby improving convenience. it can.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention is characterized in that the telecommunication line is an internet line.
As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, it is possible to use the transmission / reception system not only in Japan but also overseas as well as in Japan using the Internet line that is widely used all over the world. it can.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system of the present invention provides link information related to a specific transmitter / receiver on the display screen of the website when the terminal is connected to the website via the Internet line. When the icon associated with the icon is displayed and the icon is clicked, the transmission / reception permission unit transmits / receives data to / from the specific transmitter / receiver associated with the icon.

  Specifically, an icon is displayed on a display screen (so-called home page) of a website, and identification information (phone number) of a specific terminal is associated as link information of the icon. When the user clicks an icon displayed on the display screen of the terminal, the user can make a call to the linked terminal associated with the icon.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, the user can communicate with the destination terminal without being aware of the identification information (telephone information) of the destination terminal, thereby improving convenience. Can do.

  Further, in the transmission / reception system of the present invention, in addition to the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception permission unit changes a transmission / reception device of a connection destination based on identification information of an icon displayed on the display screen of the website. It is characterized by selecting.

  Specifically, a person in charge is set in advance based on information (for example, an address) associated with the icon displayed on the display screen of the terminal, so that the icon is set in advance when the icon is clicked. You can call the person in charge.

  As described above, according to the transmission / reception system of the present invention, for example, when using the representative telephone function, the person in charge associated with the icon selected by the user at the transmission source can be called, and more detailed response is possible. In particular, it can be used effectively at customer support centers.

  Since the transmission / reception system of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the transmission / reception system connected to the terminal can be used without considering the partner's partnership in an environment where a telecommunication line such as the Internet line is laid. Transmission and reception can be easily performed between the receivers.

In particular, since identification information unique to each transmitter / receiver is stored, it is possible to perform transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver by simply carrying the transmitter / receiver and connecting it to an arbitrary terminal. For example, even when a terminal is not carried on an overseas business trip or the like, if a terminal connected to a telecommunication line such as the Internet line can be borrowed, it is possible to perform transmission / reception using a transmission / reception device. At this time, even if the communication control program is not installed in the terminal, the communication control program can be downloaded from the server. Therefore, if the Internet is widespread, the handset device can be easily used. You can send and receive calls.
In other words, by using an Internet line that is currently popular all over the world, transmission and reception can be performed easily and inexpensively not only in Japan but also overseas.

  Further, not only a call can be made between the transmitter / receiver connected to the terminal, but also various data can be transmitted / received between the terminals, so that highly functional transmission / reception can be performed.

<Outline of transmission / reception system>
Embodiments of a transmission / reception system of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transmission / reception system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 20, a plurality of terminals 30, and a transmission / reception device 40 connected to each terminal 30 connected via an Internet line 10. ing.

  Here, the terminal 30 includes, for example, a desktop type personal computer installed at work, a desktop type personal computer installed at home, a laptop personal computer brought to a business trip destination, and the like. The terminal 30 is not limited to a personal computer and may be any electronic device having a communication function such as a PDA. Although not described in detail, each terminal 30 includes basic components such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a sound output, and a chip set that performs image output.

  Each terminal 30 includes input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, display means such as a liquid crystal display device and a CRT, and further includes devices such as a NIC (network interface card) for performing network connection. . Further, a printer, a scanner, an external storage device (DVD storage device, CD-ROM storage device, hard disk storage device) or the like may be connected to the terminal 30.

  The transmitter / receiver device 40 connected to the terminal 30 is a device corresponding to a transmitter / receiver in a general telephone, and is capable of hot plugging and easy to connect, so that the terminal 30 is connected by USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection. It is preferable that it is the structure which can be connected with.

  The server 20 is a device called a SIP server, and comprehensively manages a plurality of terminals 30 and transmission / reception devices 40 connected via the Internet line 10.

With reference to FIG. 2, the above-described devices and means will be described in more detail.
<Terminal>
Each terminal 30 includes an input / output unit 31 including a keyboard and a mouse, a display unit 32 including a liquid crystal display device and a CRT, a temporary storage unit 33 including a RAM, a hard disk storage unit, and a data storage unit 34. Further, each terminal 30 includes a transmission timer means 35, an incoming call rejection means 36, a switching timer means, and a transmission / reception means in addition to these means.

  The transmission timer unit 35, the incoming call rejection unit 36, the switching timer unit 37, and the transmission unit 38 are units configured by causing the communication control program to operate the CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like that constitute the terminal 30, respectively.

  That is, the transmission timer means 35 is a means for automatically enabling transmission at a preset time. The incoming call rejection means 36 is a means for identifying the other party stored in advance in the control table and rejecting the incoming call from this other party. The switching timer means 37 is a means for changing the response process for the other party in accordance with a time schedule stored in advance in a control table or the like.

  The transmission means 38 is means for enabling transmission / reception between the terminals 30 to which the transmission / reception device 40 is connected. The communication control program for configuring the transmission means 38 is stored and distributed in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM when the transmitter / receiver 40 is distributed (sold). The communication control program may be stored in the storage unit 24 of the server 20 so that it can be downloaded in response to a download request from the user.

<Transmitting / receiving device>
The transmitter / receiver device 40 is connected to the terminal 30 via a USB terminal. The transmitter / receiver device 40 of the present embodiment is of a handset type, and can be used without a sense of incongruity like a normal telephone device.
That is, although not shown in detail, the transmitter / receiver device 40 of this embodiment includes a receiver, transmitter, numeric keypad, line connection button, line disconnect button, etc., and a cable having a USB connection terminal is connected. Has been. Further, a shortening button, a hold button, a redial button, and the like may be provided on the main body of the transmitter / receiver device 40.

  In addition, the transmitter / receiver device 40 is equipped with a ROM that functions as the identification information storage means 41. In this ROM, a telephone number and an ID are stored as identification information unique to each transmitter / receiver 40. The information storage means may be rewritable ROM (for example, EPROM) or the like, and the identification information may be rewritable as desired by the user or the provider of the transmitter / receiver device 40. In the present embodiment, the handset type transmitter / receiver 40 is used to provide the same usability as a general telephone. However, the headset type transmitter / receiver 40 is used depending on the use situation of the user. You can also.

<Server>
The server 20 according to the present embodiment is a SIP server, and includes a management unit 21 for managing identification information stored in each transmitter / receiver device 40 and a connection status monitor for monitoring the connection status of each transmitter / receiver device 40. Means 22, transmission / reception permission means 23 that permits transmission / reception between each transmitter / receiver 40, and storage means 24 that stores a communication control program necessary for configuring the transmission / reception means in the terminal 30.

  The server 20 is a device necessary for functioning as a SIP server, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, various chip sets, a keyboard, a mouse, a liquid crystal display device, a display unit 32 such as a CRT, and a network connection. A basic device is provided, and a printer, a scanner, an external storage device (DVD storage device, CD-ROM storage device, hard disk storage device) and the like may be connected.

The management unit 21, the connection status monitoring unit 22, and the transmission / reception permission unit 23 configuring the server 20 are configured by, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM configuring the server 20, and a program for operating these as respective units.
In addition to the memory such as the ROM, the storage unit 24 can be configured by an external storage device (DVD storage device, CD-ROM storage device, hard disk storage device) or the like.

  In the server 20, the connection monitoring means receives the identification information of the transmission / reception device 40 transmitted from the terminal 30 and the identification information of the transmission / reception device 40 of the other party that desires communication, and the signal between the transmission / reception devices 40 is received. It is determined whether transmission / reception is possible. When the connection monitoring unit determines that transmission / reception of signals between the transmission / reception devices 40 is possible, the transmission / reception permission unit 23 permits transmission / reception of signals between the transmission / reception devices.

  The number of servers 20 is not limited to one, and a plurality of servers 20 including spare servers 20 may be installed. When installing a plurality of servers 20, in order to use the servers 20 efficiently, it is preferable to perform distributed processing based on the identification information of the user or the region to which the terminal 30 is connected.

<Transmission / reception processing>
Next, a procedure for performing a call and data transmission / reception using the transmission / reception system of the present embodiment will be described.

<Initial registration process>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of initial registration processing in the transmission / reception system of this embodiment.
In order to use the transmission / reception system of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, first, it is necessary to obtain a transmitter / receiver (S1-1). For example, two sets of the transmitter / receiver are distributed (sold) as one set, and at the same time, a communication control program necessary for transmission / reception is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. As described above, each transmission / reception device stores a unique identification number (telephone number and ID) so that each transmission / reception device can be uniquely identified.

  Subsequently, the transmitter / receiver is connected to a terminal (hereinafter referred to as a PC (personal computer) in FIGS. 5 to 8), and the terminal is turned on (S1-2). Note that, when performing USB connection, since hot plugging is possible, the handset may be connected after the terminal is powered on.

  Here, it is confirmed whether or not the terminal is connected to the Internet line (S1-3). If the terminal is connected to the Internet line, the communication control is performed by accessing the server set to the designated address. Download the program (S1-4).

  Generally, since the download file on the Internet line is a compressed file, the downloaded compressed file is decompressed using a predetermined decompression program (S1-5), and a setup program that is expanded after the compression is started. The communication control program is installed in the terminal (S1-6). If the download file is not a compressed file, the decompression process (step S1-5) is omitted.

  On the other hand, if the terminal is not connected to the Internet line, the CD-ROM attached to the transmitter / receiver is set in the drive (CD-ROM drive or the like), and the communication control program is installed in the terminal (S1- 7).

  In order to perform communication using the transmitter / receiver after the installation is completed, the terminal is connected to the Internet line (S1-8), the communication control program is started and the server is accessed (S1-9).

Then, register registration is performed and a unique telephone number and password are input (S1-10). The unique telephone number and password are notified to the user when the transmitter / receiver is distributed (sold).
Thereafter, when the registration in the server is completed, the transmitter / receiver can be used (S1-11).

<Call processing (terminal side)>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a call processing procedure on the terminal side.
In order to make a call using the transmitter / receiver, first, the transmitter / receiver is connected to the terminal, and the terminal is turned on (S2-1). Note that, when performing USB connection, since hot plugging is possible, the handset may be connected after the terminal is powered on.

Here, it is confirmed whether or not the terminal is connected to the Internet line (S2-2). If the terminal is connected to the Internet line, the communication control program is started to access the server (S2- 3).
When a connection is established between the terminal and the server, a call using the transmission / reception device becomes possible (S2-4).

  Here, the connection method differs depending on whether or not the other party's telephone number is stored (S2-5). That is, when directly dialing the other party's telephone number, the other party's telephone number is dialed from the transmitter / receiver to make a call (S2-6).

  On the other hand, if the other party's telephone number is not stored, the other party is selected from the telephone directory displayed on the monitor of the terminal and a call is made (S2-7). In order to select the other party from the phone book, for example, a corresponding person name displayed in the phone book may be clicked with the mouse pointer.

When a call with the other party is started, the other party's telephone number is displayed on the monitor of the terminal (S2-8). If the other party's phone number is recorded in the phone book of the terminal, the name of the other party may be displayed on the monitor of the terminal. Furthermore, when it is necessary to ensure anonymity, it is good also as a structure which can be set to hide the telephone number of a local station.
When the call ends (S2-9), the transmitter / receiver is set in a standby state (S2-10).

<Call processing (server side)>
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing a call processing procedure on the server side.
To make a call using the transmitter / receiver, first, the transmitter / receiver is connected to the terminal, and the terminal is connected to the Internet line (S3-1). Then, the server is accessed by the operation of the communication control program on the terminal side (S3-2).

  Here, it is confirmed whether or not the connected transmitter / receiver is already registered in the server (S3-3), and if it is an unregistered transmitter / receiver, it cannot be connected to the terminal monitor. A message to that effect is displayed and a registration process is prompted (S3-4).

  On the other hand, if the terminal is already registered in the server, the connection partner number, serial number, and address on the Internet line are registered on the server (S3-5) and connected to the terminal monitor. The fact that it is in a state is displayed (S3-6).

  Subsequently, when a call is made from the transmission / reception device (S3-7), it is determined whether or not the destination transmission / reception device is usable (S3-8). Here, if the other party's transmitter / receiver device is unusable (not connected or already in a call state), the call processing is not performed, and it is awaited that the other party is designated again.

  On the other hand, if the partner's transmitter / receiver is usable, the charging information is registered (S3-9), the partner's transmitter / receiver is called (S3-10), and a call is made between both transmitter / receivers. Start (S3-11). Note that it is possible to make a setting so as not to charge for a call. In this case, step (S3-10) is omitted.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the call time log is managed by the server (S3-12). If the call time log is set to be managed, transmission and reception are performed with the terminal connected to the server. A call is made between the devices (S3-13).

  When the call is finished (S3-14), the server is instructed to disconnect the call, the call log is updated (S3-15), the billing information is updated (S3-16), and the transmitter / receiver is set in a standby state. (S3-17). Note that if it is set not to charge for a call, step (S3-16) is omitted.

On the other hand, if the setting is such that the server does not manage the call time log, the terminal is disconnected from the server, and a call is made directly between the transmitter and receiver (S3-18).
When the call ends (S3-19), the server is instructed to disconnect the call, and the transmitter / receiver is set in a standby state (S3-20).
In this way, when the terminal is disconnected from the server and a call is made directly between the transmitting and receiving apparatuses, the processing load on the server can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to select whether to charge according to the usage time or to adopt a fixed fee system according to the contract status with the user and the like, taking into account the capacity and number of servers installed.

<Other embodiments>
The embodiment described above describes the basic configuration and the basic operation of the transmission / reception system of the present invention. However, the transmission / reception system of the present invention can be implemented with various modifications.

Hereinafter, other embodiments of the transmission / reception system of the present invention will be described.
<Call from web page>
3 and 4 are explanatory diagrams of website screens displayed on the terminal screen.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, the site of the personal sales department is displayed, and in the example shown in FIG. 4, the screen of the corporate sales department is displayed. Each screen has different link information (for example, address).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, icons 51 and 61 associated with contact telephone numbers are displayed on the display screens (so-called home pages) 50 and 60 of the respective websites. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, when the user who is displaying the screen of the personal sales department clicks on the icon 51 on the display screen 50, it is possible to call the person in charge of the personal sales department. I do.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the user displaying the screen of the corporate sales department clicks on the icon 61 on the display screen 60, a setting is made so that a person in charge of the corporate sales department can be called. Do.

  Thus, by setting the identification information of the transmitter / receiver associated with the display screens 50 and 60 for the icons 51 and 61 displayed on the display screens 50 and 60 of the website, the user Can communicate with the counterpart terminal without being aware of the identification information (telephone information) of the counterpart terminal.

<Receiving a call on a representative phone>
In addition, information (for example, the extension number of the person in charge) is associated in advance with the icon displayed on the display screen of the terminal, and when the icon is clicked, Settings such as making a call may be made.

  As described above, for example, when receiving a call using the representative telephone function, the person in charge associated with the icon selected by the user at the transmission source can be called, and a more detailed response is possible. Such a setting can be effectively used particularly at a customer support center or the like.

<Data exchange during a call>
In addition, a setting may be made such that a packet used for a call between terminals is used for data exchange.
For example, if the URL displayed on the screen of the website is marked, the setting corresponding to the website corresponding to the URL is displayed as a new page when the marking point is clicked with the mouse pointer and "address transfer" is selected. It can be performed.

  In addition, if the text displayed on the website is marked, and the marking point is clicked with the mouse pointer and "Clipboard transfer" is selected, the data can be set to be transferred to the communication partner clipboard. In this case, it is possible to make settings so that the transferred data is displayed as a new page.

<Security measures>
Alternatively, settings may be made such that data related to a telephone directory or communication history registered in the server is downloaded at a timing when communication between terminals is enabled. In this case, the data may be downloaded at the same time as the communication becomes possible, or the data may be downloaded when the user clicks a “DOWN-LOAD” button displayed on the terminal screen, for example. .

  Furthermore, the setting may be made such that the downloaded data is deleted at the timing when the communication between the terminals is completed. For example, when the user clicks the “DELEATE” button displayed on the terminal screen, the data is displayed. May be deleted.

  Thus, for example, when an Internet cafe is used, no data remains on the terminal, and important personal information is not leaked to the outside, so that security can be improved.

<Conference call>
In a normal setting, it is set so that a call can be made only between two transmitter / receiver devices, and a conference call or the like is made between many people (for example, between three, four, five or more transmitter / receiver devices). When it is necessary to make a call, a setting that allows multi-party calls may be performed. At this time, if the names and the like of all persons who are making calls are displayed on the screen of the terminal, the conference can be progressed more smoothly.

<Display of communication partner>
Settings may be made such that the local station data is transmitted from the transmitting side terminal to the receiving side terminal, and this local station data is displayed on the screen of the receiving side terminal. In this case, the destination information displayed on the terminal screen may be any data such as a telephone number, company name, department, name, and the like.

<Timer function>
Further, when a predetermined time set in advance is reached, a setting may be made such that a call is made to a specific destination terminal or predetermined data is transmitted.
By performing such settings, for example, a wake-up call or a sales announcement can be performed.

  Alternatively, settings may be made such that medical data (body temperature, blood pressure, etc.) is sent from a remote location at a preset time. The transmission data is, for example, a text file, and it is preferable to specify a password for transmission in order to protect privacy. In this case, the data receiver (for example, the doctor in charge) does not need to answer the phone, and it is only necessary to automatically download the data file into a directory set in advance in the terminal. Furthermore, in order to easily specify the data file, it is preferable to use a file name associated with a telephone number, a time stamp, or the like.

<Reject incoming call>
Alternatively, a setting may be made so as to reject incoming calls from a specific transmitter / receiver by selecting a telephone number from the incoming call history or by registering the telephone number in an incoming call rejection list. As a result, incoming calls such as unwanted calls can be rejected. When canceling the incoming call rejection, the identification number (telephone number or the like) may be deleted from the incoming call rejection list, and the incoming call rejection and incoming call permission can be easily set.

<Automatic response>
Moreover, you may perform the setting which changes the response process with respect to the other party according to the time schedule previously memorize | stored in the control table.
By performing such settings, for example, incoming calls are permitted during working hours, and preset voice and music can be automatically played after the working hours are over.

<Use in medical settings>
In medical sites, the use of devices that generate electromagnetic waves, such as mobile phones, is often restricted. That is, many medical devices that are easily affected by external electromagnetic waves, such as pacemakers, are used in the medical field, and in a normal case, a public telephone must be used.

  However, depending on the patient's physical condition, etc., the use of public telephones may be difficult, and a transmission / reception system that has a very weak generation of electromagnetic waves and a personal computer connected to the Internet line are used in a medical site. It becomes an extremely useful information transmitting / receiving means. In particular, by using the transmission / reception system of the present invention, a great sense of security can be obtained for a patient who can easily communicate with his / her family, which can contribute to early recovery.

<Transmission of personal identification data>
In addition, while performing a conversation using the transmission / reception device, settings may be made so that various data are transmitted and received at the same time.
For example, when a patient makes an inquiry or inquiry to a doctor in charge, a chart may be displayed on the terminal screen at the timing when the doctor in charge takes a call. In the field of geriatric medical care and the like, there may be cases where no acute care is required, and for doctors who can see data such as medical records as well as conversations, appropriate and careful examination can be performed.

The schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the transmission / reception system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the transmission / reception system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the screen of the website displayed on the screen of the terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the screen of the website displayed on the screen of the terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the initial registration process in the transmission / reception system of this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the telephone call process in the terminal side which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the telephone call process in the server side which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the telephone call process in the server side which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Internet line 20 Server 21 Management means 22 Connection status monitoring means 23 Transmission / reception permission means 24 Storage means 30 Terminal 31 Input / output means 32 Display means 33 Temporary storage means 34 Data storage means 35 Transmission timer means 36 Incoming call rejection means 37 Switching timer means 38 Transmitter 40 Transmitter / receiver 41 Identification information storage 50, 60 Display screen 51, 61 Icon

Claims (14)

A plurality of terminals including input / output means and display means, to which a handset can be connected;
At least one server connected to each terminal via a telecommunication line,
A transmission / reception system that performs transmission / reception between the terminals,
Each of the transmission / reception devices includes an identification information storage unit in which unique identification information is stored.
The server includes a management unit for identification information stored in each transmitter / receiver, a connection status monitor for monitoring a connection status of each transmitter / receiver, and a transmission / reception permission that permits transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver. Means and
Whether the connection monitoring means receives the identification information of the transmission / reception device transmitted from the terminal and the identification information of the transmission / reception device of the other party that desires communication, and is capable of transmitting / receiving signals between the transmission / reception devices. Judging
The transmission / reception permission unit allows the transmission / reception system to transmit / receive a signal between the transmission / reception devices when the connection monitoring unit determines that the transmission / reception of the signals between the transmission / reception devices is possible. . 2. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein each of the terminals includes transmission / reception means required for transmission / reception between the connected transmission / reception devices. The server comprises storage means for storing an application program for constructing transmission / reception means required for transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver connected to each terminal,
The transmission / reception system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the application program stored in the storage means is transmitted to the terminal in response to a request from each terminal. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitted / received between the terminals is at least one of an audio signal and a data signal. Each terminal includes a temporary storage unit for temporarily storing data, and when transmission / reception is performed between the transmission / reception devices, the temporary storage unit is configured to transmit information such as The data is stored, and when the transmission / reception between the transmitter / receiver is completed, the data stored in the temporary storage means is deleted automatically or based on a user instruction. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein transmission / reception is possible between three or more of the transmission / reception devices. The data on the local station is transmitted from the transmission side terminal to the reception side terminal, and information on the transmission side terminal is displayed on the display means of the reception side terminal. Sending and receiving system. The transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the reception side terminal includes data storage means for storing data received from the transmission side terminal. The terminal comprises a transmission timer means;
The transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein data is transmitted to a specific receiving terminal at a time preset by a transmission timer means. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal includes an incoming call rejection unit for rejecting an incoming call from a specific terminal. The terminal includes a switching timer means,
The transmission / reception system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the response state with respect to the transmission side terminal is changed in accordance with the time set by the switching timer means. The transmission / reception system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunication line is an internet line. When the terminal is connected to a website via an Internet line, an icon associated with link information regarding a specific transmitter / receiver is displayed on the display screen of the website, and when the icon is clicked, The transmission / reception system according to claim 12, wherein the transmission / reception permission unit performs transmission / reception with the specific transmission / reception device associated with the icon. The transmission / reception system according to claim 13, wherein the transmission / reception permission unit changes and selects a connection destination transmission / reception device based on identification information of an icon displayed on the display screen of the website.

Images