JP2001119749A - Awareness communication unit, awareness communication system and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an awareness communication unit, an awareness communication system and a server which can perceive and recognize the situation in which a recipient resides and the environment around the recipient so as to change the communication task with the recipient. SOLUTION: Analyzing a situation of a user on the basis of the result of detection of a user situation detection section 5 detecting the situation in which the user resides allows a user situation analysis section 6 to generate awareness information. The awareness information generated by a sender side user and the awareness information generated by a receiver side user are negotiated to select an optimum communication task among communication tasks.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention recognizes the presence of a partner, the situation of the partner, or "awareness" that perceives a call from the partner, and uses one or a plurality of communication means. The present invention relates to an awareness communication device, an awareness communication system, and a server that switch communication tasks to be executed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various communication tasks used for communication between persons in a distributed environment have been proposed. A representative example of such a communication task is one using real-time voice communication means such as a telephone, a mobile phone, and a PHS. For example, in communication using a mobile phone, an incoming call notification is forcibly made by using a bell sound, blinking of a lamp, or vibration of a terminal housing, regardless of the state of the called party or the environment surrounding the called party. The communication is forcibly started when the called party responds to the incoming call notification.

However, various situations are assumed in the situation where the called party is actually placed and the environment surrounding the called party,
It is necessary to switch the notification method of the incoming call depending on the environment. For example, in a mobile phone, even if an incoming call notification is made by a ring tone, the following situation is assumed as a state where the incoming call notification does not bother people around the called party. (Situation 1). The situation where the called party is at home, office, etc. (Situation 2). A situation where the callee is driving a car. (Situation 3). A situation where the callee is walking. In addition, since the notification of the incoming call by the ring tone may cause trouble for people around the called party, the following situation is assumed as the state where it is desirable to perform the notification of the incoming call by vibration. (Situation 4). The called party is in a meeting or on public transport. Further, in a situation where the called party is in a hospital or is not in a cell of a wireless base station, switching to a communication task such as an answering machine using a storage type voice communication means is not possible. Will be performed.

[0004] However, when actually trying to perform communication, the receiver may forget to operate the terminal despite the fact that the receiver is in a meeting or riding on public transportation. May result in an incoming call notification by voice. In addition, there is a case where communication is not possible without noticing the incoming call notification by voice when the called party is walking while the surrounding noise is noisy.

As described above, in actual communication, there are various states in the situation where the called party is placed and the environment surrounding the called party, and the called party is reluctant due to carelessness and the like. Depending on the method, a problem such as an incoming call notification may occur. For this reason, it is necessary to perceive and recognize the situation where the called party is placed and the environment surrounding the called party. Thus, perceiving and recognizing the situation where the called party is placed and the environment surrounding the called party is called "awareness". Information obtained by this awareness is referred to as awareness information.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-250132 (Title of Invention: Awareness control device) proposes an apparatus for appropriately changing the notification of an incoming call to a called party by obtaining the awareness information of the called party. ing.

This publication discloses the following communication modes. First, the caller informs the receiver what kind of awareness information the callee wants to know. The called party analyzes what kind of awareness information the sender wants to obtain, controls various sensors, generates awareness information, and transmits it to the sender. The caller processes and displays the awareness information returned from the callee, thereby selecting a method of notification of an incoming call according to the situation of the callee.

[0008]

By the way, communication tasks using various communication means have come to be used in recent years due to high performance and low price of electronic devices or development of networks. At present, such communication tasks are not only performed by one communication means but also by a plurality of communication means, and the range of selection of the communication task for the user is expanding. For example, when a TV phone is executed, there are two types of communication means using voice and communication means using moving images.
It is used by combining two communication means. Although the range of communication tasks that can be selected by the user has expanded in this way, when the user executes the communication task, the calling user has the right to select the communication task, and the user who is trying to make a call is placed. At present, communication tasks are selected according to circumstances and surrounding environment. However, when the communication task is actually executed, if the communication task that is optimal for the receiving user is not selected,
Depending on the situation where the receiving user is located, there is a possibility that the purpose of the communication may not be sufficiently achieved, or that the communication may end with insufficient communication and the communication may have to be restarted. For this reason, it is desirable that the calling user selects a communication task in consideration of the situation where the receiving user is located and the like.

[0009] For example, in a situation where the called party is at home, at the office, etc. and is in a communicable state and can have a conversation without disturbing the surrounding people, is the called party busy? It is preferable to switch the communication task depending on whether or not the communication task is determined. For example, if the called party is not too busy, it is possible to execute the communication task with sufficient time. For this reason, a communication task (TV phone, TV conference, etc.) using the communication means by voice and the communication means by image, a communication task (telephone, mobile phone, etc.) using the communication means only by voice, or no voice is involved. A communication task (such as a chat) using a method and real-time communication means would be desirable. Conversely, if the called party is busy, a communication task (e-mail, answering machine, etc.) using the storage-type communication means will be the optimal communication task.

[0010] In addition, when the called party is in a meeting or in public transportation, it is not possible to have a conversation without disturbing the people around him. A communication task using a simple communication means or a communication task using a storage-type communication means is the optimum communication task.

As described above, the optimum communication task changes depending on the situation where the user is located. However, the awareness control device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-250132 has a problem that the communication task cannot be switched even though the method of notifying the incoming call can be switched.

Therefore, the present invention provides an awareness communication apparatus capable of selecting a communication task by perceiving and recognizing a situation where both a callee and a caller are located and an environment surrounding the users. , An awareness communication system and a server.

[0013]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an awareness communication apparatus, comprising: a detection unit for detecting a situation where a user is placed; and a user detected by the detection unit. Awareness information generating means for analyzing the situation and generating awareness information, awareness information obtaining means for obtaining the awareness information of the communication partner from the communication partner, and awareness information of the user generated by the awareness information generating means. Communication task selection means for selecting a communication task based on the awareness information of the communication partner of the user acquired by the awareness information acquisition means.

An awareness communication device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes, in addition to the features of the first aspect, a plurality of communication means, and the communication task selection means includes one or more of the plurality of communication means. A communication task executable by a plurality of communication means is selected. In the awareness communication device according to a third aspect, in addition to the features described in the first aspect, the communication task selection unit selects a communication task executable by one or a plurality of communication units that do not belong to the awareness communication device. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to third aspects, the awareness communication apparatus generates the awareness information generated by the awareness information generating means in response to a request for the awareness information from a communication partner. Characterized in that it comprises an awareness information transmitting means for transmitting the information. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to fourth aspects, the detecting means includes means for detecting a physical condition of the user, and the detecting means generates the physical condition of the user. The awareness information to be obtained is characterized in that the awareness information is constituted by parameters representing a physical condition of the user.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to fifth aspects, the detecting means includes means for detecting a communication device existing around the user. The awareness information generated by the awareness information generation unit is characterized by comprising parameters representing communication devices existing around the user. An awareness communication device according to a seventh aspect is characterized in that, in addition to the features described in the first to sixth aspects,
It is characterized by comprising an awareness information output means for displaying the awareness information of the communication partner obtained by the awareness information acquisition means.

An awareness communication device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to seventh aspects, further includes an input unit for inputting input information to be transmitted to a communication partner by the communication task. It is characterized by doing. In the awareness communication device according to claim 9, in addition to the features described in claim 4, the awareness information sending unit includes a user as a communication partner when the detection unit detects a change in the awareness information of the user. Is transmitted after the change.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to ninth aspects, a mode of a method of selecting a communication task by the communication task selecting means at the time of initial setting is as follows. At the start and during the execution of the communication task, when a change in the awareness information is detected by the detection unit,
1. A communication task automatic setting mode for automatically selecting an optimal communication task based on the awareness information again. 2. During the execution of the communication task, the communication task is not switched, and only at the start of the communication task, the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication is automatically selected based on the awareness information. According to a user input, a communication task is selected from any one of the communication task manual setting modes for selecting a communication task.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to tenth aspects, the awareness communication device sets a range in which the awareness information is disclosed to a communication partner for each of the parameters. A disclosure range setting unit is provided, and the awareness information generation unit generates awareness information within a disclosure range of the awareness information set by the awareness information disclosure range setting unit.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to eleventh aspects, the awareness communication device of the user generated by the awareness information generation unit and the awareness information acquisition unit are provided by the awareness communication device. When the communication task selection unit selects a communication task using one communication unit or a plurality of communication units based on the acquired awareness information of the communication partner, Condition 1. “A plurality of communication tasks have been selected.” Condition 2. “The communication task could not be selected.” Condition 3. Judge whether any of the conditions of “Awareness information was insufficient” is met,
If there is no matching condition, select the communication task determined by the awareness information. If there is a matching condition, then: 1. "Ask the notification of the awareness information again to the user of the communication partner." “If the default value of the awareness information when the awareness information cannot be obtained is determined, the communication task is selected according to the default value.” After selecting any one of "Request the user to select a communication task."

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to twelfth aspects, the awareness communication apparatus is obtained by the user's awareness information previously generated by the awareness information generating means and by the awareness information obtaining means. A communication task defining table for each combination of the awareness information of the communication partners to be communicated, and the communication task selecting means is obtained in advance by the user's awareness information and the awareness information obtaining means generated by the awareness information generating means. A communication task corresponding to a combination of awareness information of communication partners is obtained from the table.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first to thirteenth aspects, the communication task selecting means includes the user's awareness information or awareness information generated by the awareness information generating means. When any one of the awareness information of the communication partner acquired by the information acquiring means changes and the communication task is reselected, 1. When the communication fee decreases before and after the switching of the communication task, a method in which the switching of the communication task is performed without obtaining the user's consent, or If the communication fee increases before and after the switching of the communication task, the user is asked for consent before switching the communication task, and the communication task is switched only when the consent is obtained. The method is characterized by selecting a method.

An awareness communication system according to a fifteenth aspect is a communication system comprising a network, a communication device connected to the network, and a server provided in the network.
Awareness information of the calling side user, awareness information obtaining means for obtaining the awareness information of the receiving side user, and awareness information of the calling side user and the receiving side user obtained by the awareness information obtaining means. Communication task selection means for selecting a communication task to be executed between each user based on
It is characterized by having.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature of the fifteenth aspect, the server may further include a sender-side awareness information acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit or a destination-side user awareness information. When there is a change in the awareness information, there is provided an awareness information notifying means for notifying the communication partner of the user having the change in the awareness information of the awareness information after the change of the user.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the feature described in the sixteenth aspect, the server may further include a user's body information based on the user's awareness information acquired by the awareness information acquisition means. A danger detecting means for detecting danger, wherein when the user danger detecting means detects that the user is in a physically dangerous state, the awareness information notifying means sets an emergency contact information of the user. To notify that the user is in a physically dangerous situation.

[0026] The server according to claim 18 is a server provided in a network, wherein the awareness information acquiring means acquires the awareness information of the calling side user and the awareness information of the called side user; Communication task selection means for selecting a communication task to be executed between the respective users based on the awareness information of the calling user and the awareness information of the called user acquired by the information acquisition means. And

The server according to claim 19 is the server according to claim 18
In addition to the features described in the above, when a change occurs in the awareness information of the calling side user or the receiving side user acquired by the awareness information acquiring unit, the user whose change has occurred in the awareness information Awareness information notifying means for notifying the communication partner of the awareness information after the change of the user is provided.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [1] First Embodiment [1.1] Configuration of First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an awareness communication device according to the present embodiment. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of users exist in the network in a state where the awareness communication device 1 or the communication device is connected. Note that the communication task shown in the present embodiment indicates all communication activities performed using the communication means, and in order to execute this communication task, one or a plurality of communication means adapted to the communication task are required. Will be used. Here, the communication means includes real-time voice communication, real-time moving image communication, real-time character communication, real-time three-dimensional video communication, online file sharing, storage-type voice communication, storage-type image communication, storage-type image communication. Character communication, storage type hologram communication, and the like. That is, the communication task refers to a telephone, a mobile phone, a TV phone, or the like, and a real-time voice communication unit is used when performing the communication task of a telephone.

In FIG. 1, an awareness communication device 1
Is, for example, an apparatus in which some functions are further provided to an existing mobile phone so that a plurality of communication tasks can be executed. Communication tasks performed by the awareness communication device 1 include those using voice communication means such as telephones and mobile phones, those using voice communication means such as TV phones and communication means using images, and voices such as chats. Using communication means capable of performing communication in real time without the use of a communication means using character information such as a text message, e-mail, and the like.
The awareness communication device 1 includes an input unit 2, a management unit 3,
Input means control unit 4, user status detection unit 5, user status analysis unit 6, communication control unit 7, status negotiation unit 8,
It comprises an awareness information output unit 9, a communication task processing unit 10, an output unit control unit 11, an output unit 12, and a communication interface 13.

The input unit 2 is a composite of modules such as a push button, a camera, and a microphone.
This is a device that generates input information to be sent to the other party when executing a communication task. For example, when performing a communication task using a voice and image communication means such as a TV phone, voice information can be generated by a microphone in the input unit 2 and image information can be generated by a camera and sent to the other party. is there. The input unit 2 is used to specify the address of an awareness communication device of another user connected via a network.

The output unit 12 is an aggregate of modules such as an LCD and a speaker. The output unit 12 is an apparatus that outputs information transmitted from a communication device of a partner user as a voice or an image when performing a communication task with the partner user connected via a network.

The user situation detecting section 5 is an apparatus for detecting a situation where the user is located, and is an apparatus for detecting a user's exercise situation, a user's busy situation, and the like. Examples of the device used for the user status detecting unit 5 include various sensors such as a GPS, a camera, a microphone, and a pedometer.

The user status analysis unit 6 is a device for analyzing the detection result from the user status detection unit 5 to generate awareness information, and transmitting the information to the management unit 3, the status negotiation unit 8, and the communication control unit 7. .

Here, the awareness information generated by the user situation analysis unit 6 will be described.
In the present embodiment, the awareness information is represented as a set of a plurality of situation parameters. These situation parameters include, for example, a parameter P1 on the body of the user A. The parameter P1 is further subdivided into lower-order parameters, and one of the parameters is, for example, a parameter P1-1 representing a person's exercise state. The exercise state of the person represented by the contents of P1-1 is listed as follows. 1. Parameter P1-1 = 1 ... The person is stationary. 2. Parameter P1-1 = 2 ... The person is walking. 3. Parameter P1-1 = 3 ... The person is running. 4. Parameter P1-1 = 4 ... The person is in public transportation. 5. Parameter P1-1 = 5 The person is driving a car. 6. Parameter P1-1 = 6 The person is in a car.

The parameter P1 on the user's body includes, for example, the noise situation surrounding the user A (1 = quiet, 2
= Slightly noisy, 3 = noisy, etc.)
1-2 or a parameter P1- representing the busy state of the user A (1 = busy, 2 = slightly busy, 3 = free)
3 etc. are also included. Thus, the physical situation of the plurality of users A can be grasped in a complex manner by the parameter P1.

In order to obtain such parameters, the user situation detecting section 5 is provided with various detecting devices.
For example, a parameter P1-1 which is an exercise situation parameter
The user status detecting unit 5 is provided with a GPS, a pedometer, and a camera in order to obtain the information. In addition, a microphone is used in the user situation detection unit 5 to obtain the parameter P1-2, which is a noise situation parameter. The user situation analysis unit 6 obtains the value of the above-described parameter P1-2 by comparing the output level of the microphone with a predetermined threshold. Further, a parameter P1-
A camera is provided in the user situation detection unit 5 to obtain the third. The user situation analysis unit 6 detects the value of the above-described parameter P1-3 by monitoring the image of the user captured by the camera.

The awareness information includes a status parameter P2 representing a module provided as the input unit 2 and the output unit 12. This situation parameter P2
Is a parameter P indicating whether or not an LCD is provided.
2-1; a parameter P2-2 indicating whether a microphone is provided; and a parameter P2-3 indicating whether a speaker is provided. As described above, the communication task that can be executed by the awareness communication device 1 can be grasped by the parameter P2 obtained by combining a plurality of parameters.

The situation negotiation unit 8 negotiates which communication task is to be executed based on the awareness information of the user and the awareness information of the communication partner received via the communication control unit 7, and determines the result of the negotiation. It is a device that outputs.

The management unit 3 is a device that controls the entire operation of the awareness communication device 1. This management unit 3
Outputs a communication task switching command based on a negotiation result obtained by the status negotiation unit 8.

The input means control section 4 is a device for switching the input means of the input section 2 to one corresponding to a communication task in accordance with a communication task switching command from the management section 3.
For example, when a TV phone is selected as a communication task, the input unit control unit 4 selects a microphone for voice communication and a camera as a module of the input unit 2 for moving image communication.

The output means control section 11 is a device for switching the output means of the output section 12 to one corresponding to the communication task in accordance with a communication task switching command from the management section 3. For example, when a TV phone is selected as the communication task, the output unit control unit 11 selects a speaker for voice communication as a module for the moving image communication and an LCD as a module of the output unit 12.

The awareness information output unit 9 is a device that displays the awareness information of the user as the communication partner and the end of the negotiation of the awareness information in the status negotiation unit 8.

The communication task processing unit 10 is a device for rearranging input information from the input unit 2 and output information to the output unit 11 into a predetermined format in accordance with a communication task switching command from the management unit 3.

The communication control unit 7 is, for example, an encoder / decoder. Based on a communication task switching command from the management unit 3, the communication control unit 7 performs an encoding method and communication corresponding to the communication means necessary for executing the selected communication task. A device that converts information according to a protocol. Since the communication protocol is different between the execution of the communication task and the transmission of the awareness information, it is possible to switch to a predetermined protocol.

The communication interface unit 13 is an interface that enables information transmission and reception when connected to a network. The communication interface unit includes a wireless communication device (not shown) for performing communication with a wireless base station (not shown).

[1.2] Operation of First Embodiment [1.2.1] Operation at Initial Setting The awareness communication device 1 performs initial setting when the power is turned on. At the time of this initial setting, the following two settings can be made by operating the input unit 2 by the user. Setting 1. Setting of disclosure range of awareness information Setting 2. Setting of communication task switching method In this initial setting, a default label of a parameter when the other party's awareness information is insufficient is also set. Details of the default label will be described later.

Hereinafter, setting 1 and setting 2 will be described. (A) Setting of disclosure range of awareness information The user can set the disclosure range of awareness information by arbitrarily operating input unit 2 at the time of initial setting. The setting of the disclosure range can be performed for each parameter. For each communication partner, for example, it is possible to set which parameters are disclosed and which parameters are not disclosed in accordance with, for example, the human relationship of the user.

For example, if the communication partner is a close partner, all the parameters constituting the awareness information may be set to be notified to the communication partner user. In this case, it is possible to accurately communicate the situation of the user himself. It may be easier to understand if the parent puts this device on the child. In such a case, the parent sets the disclosure range so that the child carries the awareness communication device 1 and further notifies the awareness communication device 1 carried by the child of all the parameters of the child's awareness information. . This way, parents can see where their children are
Understand what kind of situation it is.

Conversely, if the user A is a partner who is not a close friend, the disclosure range of the awareness information will be set narrow in advance. The setting at this time is such that the user does not want to disclose parameters that he or she does not want the user of the communication partner to know among the awareness information. For example, the parameters P1-1, P1-2, P2-1
If P2-5 is disclosed but the parameter P1-3 is not disclosed, the privacy of the user can be protected.

In the case where the communication partner does not know the user at all, or does not want to know his / her situation, the user may be set not to notify the awareness information at all. In this case, no parameters are disclosed to the user as the communication partner.

The setting of the disclosure range of the awareness information can be arbitrarily changed by the user operating the input unit 2, and the operation on the input unit 2 is monitored by the management unit 3. At this time, the set disclosure range of the awareness information is stored by the management unit 3.

(B) Setting of communication task switching method In the initial setting, the communication task switching mode is
One of the following modes can be selected. 1. Automatic communication task setting mode that automatically selects the optimal communication task based on the result of negotiation of the awareness information, not only at the start of communication but also during the execution of the communication task. 2. A communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication, in which the communication task is not switched during the execution of the communication task, and only at the start of communication, the optimum communication task is automatically selected based on the result of the negotiation of the awareness information. 3. Select a communication task according to user input,
Communication task manual setting mode. The user can switch the communication task selection method by selecting these modes.

For example, when the user selects the communication task automatic setting mode and the situation surrounding the user changes during the execution of the communication task, the optimum communication task is selected based on the awareness information. That is, when the user situation detection unit 5 confirms a change in the environment surrounding the user, such as when the user has to go out due to a sudden errand during communication by the TV phone, a communication task by voice is performed. The switch is made.

When the user selects the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication, an optimum communication task is selected according to the situation surrounding the user when a communication request is made. However, if this mode is selected, even if the environment surrounding the user changes, such as when the user has to go out due to a sudden errand while performing the communication task by the TV phone, However, automatic switching of communication tasks is not performed. However, when a movement is detected by the user status detection unit 5 even when the user does not go out, switching to a communication task not intended by the user can be prevented.

When the user selects the communication task manual setting mode, the communication task is not switched by the awareness information of the calling side and the receiving side, and the communication task selected by the user is always executed. Becomes possible.

The switching modes of these communication tasks are as follows.
The user can arbitrarily change the disclosure range of the awareness information by operating the input unit 2 similarly to the setting of the disclosure range of the awareness information.
The operation of the input unit 2 is monitored by the management unit 3.
At this time, the set communication mode switching mode is stored by the management unit 3.

[1.2.2] Operation when selecting a communication task FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a communication task is executed via a network. In FIG. 2, A is a calling user, and B is a receiving user. User A,
In both cases B and B transmit and receive by the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b shown in FIG. 1, and it is assumed that various communication devices exist in the network. In the following description, regarding the awareness communication device on the user A side and its components, the codes obtained by adding “a” to the respective codes used in FIG. The awareness communication device and its components are used to specify each code obtained by adding "b" to each code used in FIG.

Hereinafter, selection of communication tasks performed in various situations will be described with reference to FIG. 2. First, the occasions at which communication tasks are selected will be listed. Opportunity 1. When one user accesses the user who is the communication partner Trigger 2. When a change occurs in the awareness information of one of the users during the execution of the communication task.
The communication task automatic setting mode or the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication must be selected. On the other hand, in order to select a communication task in the case of Trigger 2, the communication task automatic setting mode must be selected.

The operation of selecting a communication task will be described below for each scene. (A) When both the user A and the user B are in a state where the communication task can be executed Consider a case where the user A on the calling side makes an access when the user B on the called side is in a state where the communication can be performed. . However, it is assumed that both the user A and the user B have selected the communication task automatic setting mode or the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication. When the user A operates the input unit 2a provided in the awareness communication device 1a to specify the address of the user B, the management unit 3a
Outputs an instruction to connect to the network to the communication control unit 7a. Upon receiving the connection instruction, the communication control unit 7a accesses the awareness communication device 1b of the user B on the receiving side existing in the network. As a result,
Awareness communication device 1b and awareness communication device 1a
A connection for transmitting the awareness information is established between the server and the server. Here, "a connection for transmitting the awareness information is established" means that a communication line for transmitting the awareness information is connected to the communication control unit 7a, and the communication protocol and the encoding method of the communication control unit 7a are aware. Switching to information transmission. Less than,
The phrase "a connection for transmitting awareness information is established" is used in this sense.

When the user A accesses the user B, the user A notifies the user A of information (such as the address of the user A) for identifying who he or she is.
The user B can specify who the user A is. Therefore, if the user B does not want to accept the access of the user A, the execution of the communication task can be refused at this point.

Thereafter, the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b
Awareness information is negotiated between
The communication task is selected.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a negotiation performed by the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

When a connection for transmitting awareness information is established between the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b, the management unit 3a converts the awareness information based on the disclosure range of the awareness information corresponding to the communication partner user B. Determine the parameters to include. Next, the management unit 3a
Sends an awareness information generation command including the designation of the parameter to the user situation analysis unit 6a (step S
4). As described above, the disclosure range of the awareness information is predetermined in consideration of the human relationship with the user as the communication partner at the time of the initial setting.

When receiving the awareness information generation command from the management unit 3a, the user situation analysis unit 6a generates awareness information of the user A based on the detection result of the user situation detection unit 5a (step S5).

The awareness information of the user A thus obtained is transmitted from the user situation analysis unit 6a to the situation negotiation unit 8a. Upon obtaining the awareness information of the user A, the situation negotiation unit 8a selects a label corresponding to the content of the awareness information of the user A from the predefined labels T = {T1, T2, T3...}. (Step S6). More specifically, in the situation negotiation unit 8a, for example, T1 = ｛P1-1 = 1, P1-2 = 1, P1-3 = 1.
...｝ T2 = ｛P1-1 = 2, P1-2 = 1, P1-3 = 1 ...
.., The combination of the values of the parameters constituting the awareness information is defined for each of the labels T1, T2,. Situation negotiation section 8
“a” selects a label corresponding to the content of the awareness information acquired from the user situation analysis unit 6a among these labels.

On the other hand, the management unit 3a sends a notification request of the awareness information of the user B to the communication control unit 7a. This notification request is encoded by the communication control unit 7a, and the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side via the network.
(Step S1).

When a request for notification of awareness information is received from the user A side, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side
Then, the routine shown in FIG. 4 is executed. First, the communication control unit 7b decodes the notification request according to a predetermined format, and then notifies the management unit 3b of the decoded notification request (step S101). When confirming that the notification request is not the negotiation end notification, the management unit 3b checks the user A notified from the user A side described above.
The user A is specified from the information (such as the address of the user A) for specifying the user A. (Step S102). Next, the management unit 3b determines a parameter to be incorporated in the awareness information based on the disclosure range of the awareness information corresponding to the user A as a communication partner, and issues an awareness information generation command to the user situation analysis unit 6b based on the determination. Send (step S103).

Next, the user situation analysis section 6b selects parameters within the disclosure range from the detected parameters by the user situation detection section 5b in accordance with the awareness information generation command, and generates the awareness information of the user B. I do.
The awareness information of the user B generated in this way is sent from the user situation analysis unit 6b to the communication control unit 7b, and the communication control unit 7b encodes the received awareness information of the user B to perform the awareness communication on the user A side. The data is transmitted to the device 1a (step S105). Step S
105, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side
Then, until a request for re-notification of the awareness information from the user A side or a notification of the end of negotiation is made again,
Routine does not execute. The awareness information re-notification request and the negotiation end notification will be described later.

On the other hand, when the awareness information is returned from the user B side, the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side executes step S2 in FIG. In step S2, the communication control unit 7a decodes the awareness information from the user B according to a predetermined format, and notifies the situation negotiation unit 6a and the awareness information output unit 9a.

Awareness information output section 9a on user A side
Receives the awareness information of the user B, and displays the status of the user B. In this case, the situation of the user B may be directly output to the awareness information output unit 9a as an image, a sound, or a position, or icons may be displayed on a display screen of the awareness information output unit 9a.

The situation negotiation unit 8a sends the user B
Is obtained, the label R defined in advance is obtained.
== R1, R2, R3...}, A label corresponding to the content of the awareness information of the user B is selected (step S3). When the labels of user A and user B (label T, label R) are determined, situation negotiation unit 8a selects a communication task based on label T and label R (step S7). The details of the processing in step S7 are as follows.

First, the situation negotiation section 8a stores a negotiation table illustrated in FIG. This negotiation table is a table that defines a communication task for each combination of the value of the label T and the value of the label R. In FIG. 5, Cxy is the user A
Is a label indicating a communication task that can be executed when the label of the user B is Tx and the label of the user B is Ry, and may indicate a plurality of communication tasks depending on the situation where the user is located. When the label T of the user A and the label R of the user B are given, the situation negotiation unit 8a selects a label of a communication task corresponding to a combination of these labels, and executes between the user A and the user B according to the label. Determine the communication task to be performed. For example, assume that both user A and user B are sitting at a desk at a company. At this time, the label given to the user A is T3,
Assuming that the label given to the user B is R3, the label selected from the negotiation table is C33.
Becomes At this time, the communication task defined by the label C33 includes a telephone, a TV telephone, an e-mail, and the like. The communication task corresponding to the label C33 is the user A
And the communication task for communication between the user B and the user B.

Note that T_Dft represents the default label of the user A, and R_Dft represents the default label of the user B. The default label is
When the awareness information cannot be obtained from the communication partner, the communication task is determined according to the default label.

Next, the situation negotiation unit 8a notifies the management unit 3a of the result of the negotiation. The management unit 3a determines whether the selected communication task satisfies the following conditions (step S8). Condition 1. More than one communication task was selected. Condition 2. Communication task could not be selected. Condition 3. Awareness information was insufficient. As a result of the determination in step S8, if there is no condition that matches any of the conditions 1 to 3, the management unit 3a instructs the situation negotiation unit 8a to end the negotiation. When receiving the negotiation termination command, the situation negotiation unit 8a terminates the negotiation, and notifies the result of the negotiation and the fact that the negotiation has been completed to the awareness information output unit 9a, the management unit 3a, and the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side (step S9). ).

When the management unit 3a determines that the conditions of 1-3 are satisfied as a result of the determination in step S8, the management unit 3a executes step S10 to execute one of the following three routines. select. Routine 1. The notification of the awareness information is again requested to the user B side (step S13). Routine 2. If the default label for when the awareness information cannot be obtained is determined, the communication task is selected according to the default label (step S1).
1). Routine 3. The user is requested to select a communication task (step S12).

For example, when a plurality of communication tasks are selected, a routine 3 (step S12) is executed to cause the user A to select one of the plurality of communication tasks.

If it is determined that the awareness information is insufficient, it is determined whether the user B has set not to disclose the awareness information or whether information has been lost during the communication process. Change the routine to be executed. If it is determined that the awareness information has been lost during the communication process, the routine 1 (step S13) is executed to request re-transfer of the awareness information.
On the other hand, since the user B has set not to disclose the awareness information, if there is a shortage of the awareness information, the routine 2 (step S11) is executed, and according to the default label, The communication task is selected.

Further, when the communication task cannot be selected, similarly to the case where the awareness information is insufficient,
It is determined whether the communication task is not selected by the setting of the user B or the communication task cannot be selected for other reasons, and the routine to be executed is changed.

When the routine 1 is executed to request the user B to re-transmit the awareness information (step S
1) In the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, steps S101 to S104 in FIG. 4 are executed again, the awareness information is generated, and the user A side is notified of the awareness information.

When the communication task is selected and the negotiation of the status is completed, the status negotiation unit 8a sends the result of the negotiation and the notification of the completion to the awareness information output unit 9a, the management unit 3a, and the awareness of the user B side. This is performed by the communication device 1b (step S9).

On the other hand, in the awareness communication device 1b on the side of the user B, upon receiving the notification of the end of the negotiation, the routine of FIG. 4 is executed, and after performing compounding in step S101, executes step S102 and executes the management unit 3b Confirms that the negotiation end notification has been made, and the negotiation ends.

On the other hand, the awareness information output unit 9a,
9b, upon receiving the negotiation end notification, displays that the status negotiation has ended and what the selected communication task is.

Next, a description will be given of a process in which the communication task is switched based on the result of the negotiation after the situation negotiation is completed.

First, in the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side, based on the result of the negotiation, the management unit 3a sends the communication control unit 7a and the communication task processing unit 10a,
The input unit control unit 4a and the output unit control unit 11a are notified of a communication task switching command.

The communication task switching instruction addressed to the communication control unit 7a includes a communication protocol switching instruction and an encoding method switching instruction. Upon receiving the communication task switching command, the communication control unit 7a switches the communication protocol and the encoding method so as to correspond to the communication means necessary for executing the selected communication task.

When the input means control section 4a and the output means control section 11a receive the communication task switching command, the input means in the input section 2a and the output means in the output section 12a correspond to the selected communication task. Switch to the one you did. Then, upon receiving the communication task switching instruction, the communication task processing unit 10a rearranges the input information from the input unit 2a and the output information to the output unit 11a into a predetermined format.

For example, it is assumed that a command to switch to a TV phone is notified by this communication task switching command.
At this time, real-time voice communication means and real-time moving image communication means are required as communication means. For this reason, the input unit control unit 4a selects a camera and a microphone as the input unit 2a, and notifies a connection instruction with the communication task processing unit 10a. Similarly, the output unit control unit 11a selects an LCD and a speaker as the output unit 12a, and notifies a connection instruction with the communication task processing unit 10a. The input unit 2a (microphone and camera) and the output unit 12a
When the connection between the (LCD and speaker) and the communication task processing unit 10a is made, the communication task processing unit 10a recombines the image information and the audio information into a predetermined format.

On the other hand, in the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, the communication task is switched as follows. First, the situation negotiation unit 6 on the user A side
a from the management unit 3 via the communication control unit 7b on the user B side.
b is notified of the result of the negotiation. When the result of the negotiation is notified, the management unit 3b sends a communication task switching command to the communication control unit 7b, the communication task processing unit 10b, the input unit control unit 4b, and the output unit control unit 11b.

The communication task switching command addressed to the communication control unit 7b includes a communication protocol switching command and a coding method switching command. When receiving the communication task switching command, the communication control unit 7b switches the communication protocol and the encoding method so as to correspond to the communication means necessary for executing the selected communication task.

Upon receiving the communication task switching command, the input means control section 4b and the output means control section 11b change the input means at the input section 2b and the output means at the output section 12b to correspond to the communication task. Switch to. Then, upon receiving the communication task switching instruction, the communication task processing unit 10b rearranges the input information from the input unit 2b and the output information to the output unit 12b into a predetermined format. Thus, the communication task of the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side is switched.

On the other hand, since the selected communication task is not appropriate, the communication task can be changed by operating the input unit 2 when the user wants to switch to another communication task. For example, user B
When you want to request another communication task,
The user B operates the input unit 2b to select another communication task. When another communication task is selected by the user B, the management unit 3b of the user B notifies the user A that the other communication task has been selected, and the communication information “〜” is transmitted to the awareness information output unit 9a. The task was selected but is it OK? Enter 1 if you agree, or 0 if you disagree. "
Is displayed, requesting the consent of the user A.
When the user A operates the input unit 2a to input a consented intention (in this case, 1), the input result is notified to the management unit 3b on the user B side. When the consent is obtained from the user A, a command to change the communication task is sent from the management unit 3b to the communication control unit 7b, the communication task processing unit 10b, the input unit control unit 4b, and the output unit control unit 11b according to the selected communication task. By being notified, the communication task on the user B side is changed. On the other hand, on the user A side,
From the management unit 3a to the communication control unit 7a, the communication task processing unit 10
a, the communication task on the user A side is changed by being notified to the input unit control unit 4a and the output unit control unit 11a. This change of the communication task can be performed by either the user A or the user B. The change of the communication task can be performed even during the execution of the communication task.

By the way, different communication tasks may be selected depending on the situation where both users (A and B) are located. In this case, even if the communication tasks are different, both users can execute desired communication tasks. In other words, one user is allowed to perform communication using video communication means and voice communication means, and the other user is permitted to perform communication using only voice communication means. For example, when distance learning is conducted in distance learning, there is a situation in which information from the teacher side must be accompanied by audio and images, but information from the student side requires only audio. I do. In this case, different communication tasks are executed between the teacher side and the student side.

(B) When User A Accesses User B but User B Cannot Respond Next, User A accesses User B and establishes a connection with User B for transmitting awareness information. Let us consider a case where user B cannot respond even though has been established. However, it is assumed that both the user A and the user B have selected the communication task automatic setting mode or the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication.
In this case, the awareness information of the user A
Sent to the user side, the awareness information output unit 9 of the user B side
b. If the situation of the user A changes before the access from the user B is made, the awareness information of the user A is transmitted to the user B again and displayed on the awareness information output unit 9b. Is done. For this reason, when user B is in a state where communication is not possible when user B is in a state where communication is possible,
By confirming the output result of the awareness information output unit 9b, it is possible to determine that the user A is in a communication-disabled state. When it is determined that the user A is in a communicable situation, if the user B accesses the user A, the awareness information is negotiated again and the communication task is selected.

The above situation will be described more specifically. Now, if the user A accesses the user B due to urgent business or the like, but the user B is not in a state in which communication is possible due to a reason such as a business negotiation, the business negotiation of the user B ends and the user B communicates. It is assumed that it is possible to execute the communication task with the user A. In this case, the user B can grasp the situation of the user A displayed on the awareness information output unit 9b, and can grasp whether the user A can communicate.

For example, if the user A is in a communication-disabled state at the time when the user B becomes communicable, the user B receives the user A based on the awareness information of the user A.
Can be grasped that communication has already been disabled. Therefore, the user B does not access the user A.

Conversely, if it is determined that user A can communicate, user B operates input unit 2b. Then, in accordance with the awareness information that has already been notified from the user A side, the user B side performs negotiation of the awareness information, and when the negotiation of the awareness information ends, the result of the negotiation and the end are notified to the awareness information output unit 9b, the management unit 3b, and the user. The awareness communication device 1a on the A side is notified.

When the result of the negotiation is notified to the management unit 3b, the management unit 3b issues an instruction to switch the communication task based on the result of the negotiation.
b notifies the communication control unit 7b, the communication task processing unit 10b, the input unit control unit 4b, and the output unit control unit 11b.

The communication task switching command addressed to the communication control unit 7b includes a communication protocol switching command and a coding method switching command. When receiving the communication task switching command, the communication control unit 7b switches the communication protocol and the encoding method so as to correspond to the communication means necessary for executing the selected communication task.

Upon receiving the communication task switching command, the input means control section 4b and the output means control section 11b change the input means of the input section 2b and the output means of the output section 12b to correspond to the communication task. Switch to. Then, upon receiving the communication task switching instruction, the communication task processing unit 10b rearranges the input information from the input unit 2b and the output information to the output unit 12b into a predetermined format.

On the other hand, the result of the negotiation performed by the situation negotiation section 8b on the user B side
Management unit 3 provided in the awareness communication device 1a on the side
a is notified. The management unit 3a notifies the communication control unit 7a, the communication task processing unit 10a, the input unit control unit 4a, and the output unit control unit 11a of a communication task switching command based on the negotiation result from the user B side.

The communication task switching command addressed to the communication control unit 7a includes a communication protocol switching command and a coding method switching command. Upon receiving the communication task switching command, the communication control unit 7a switches the communication protocol and the encoding method so as to correspond to the communication means necessary for executing the selected communication task.

Upon receiving the communication task switching command, the input means control section 4a and the output means control section 11a change the input means at the input section 2a and the output means at the output section 12a to correspond to the communication task. Switch to. Then, upon receiving the communication task switching command, the communication task processing unit 10a rearranges the input information from the input unit 2a and the output information to the output unit 12a into a predetermined format. Thus, the switching of the communication task on the awareness communication device 1a side is completed.

As described above, when the communication task is selected, the communication task can be executed between the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b.

(C) A case where a user performs a communication task with an unspecified number of users via a server in the network Next, FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which performs communication. In FIG. 6, users A, B-1 to B-
n for the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b- shown in FIG.
It is assumed that transmission and reception are performed by 1 to 1b-n.

In a communication task such as an electronic community, a situation is assumed in which user A accesses server 1000 and waits for an unspecified number of users to participate in a specific topic. Such a situation may be the case where the user A wants to talk to someone about the contents of the concert he has watched before returning to the concert, and joins the electronic community. In such a case, the user A determines how much his / her own awareness information is disclosed, and
Need to access When access to the server 1000 is made, the awareness information of the user A becomes
The state is disclosed to an unspecified number of users B-1 to Bn accessing the server 1000.

Then, when the users B-1 to Bn access the server 1000, the users B-1 to B-n
A connection for awareness information transmission is established with B-n. Then, the awareness information disclosed by the user A is transmitted to the awareness communication devices 1b-1 to 1b.
-N.

When the awareness information of the user A is disclosed, the awareness communication devices 1b-1 to 1b-n negotiate with their own awareness information. At this time, if the user A can communicate, the communication task can be executed between the user A and the users B-1 to B-n. If the user A cannot communicate at this time, the awareness information output units 9b-1 to 9b-
n, the status of the user A is displayed, so that the users B-1 to B-1 are displayed.
Bn does not have to wait for a reaction from user A by executing a communication task with user A.

(D) When the situation of the user B changes during the execution of the communication task with the user A. Now, in the state where both of the user A and the user B have selected the communication task automatic setting mode, the user A and the user B
Is executing a communication task. In this case, it is assumed that the situation where the user A is located changes. However, it is assumed that the awareness information is disclosed to the extent that both the user A and the user B can select a communication task.

Now, it is assumed that the user A gets on a public transportation such as a train while performing a communication task (such as a telephone) using only voice communication means while walking. In this case, the user situation detection unit 5a on the user A side
Is detected as having entered public transportation.

When it is detected that the user A has boarded the public transportation system, the management unit 3a makes a comparison with the setting of the disclosure range of the awareness information performed at the time of the above-described initial setting, and makes a determination. Then, a parameter to be incorporated in the awareness information is determined, and an awareness information generation command is sent to the user situation analysis unit 6a (step S4).

Upon receiving this generation command, the user situation analysis unit 6a generates awareness information indicating that the user A has boarded public transportation, and sends the awareness information to the situation negotiation unit 8a (step S5). User A
Upon receiving awareness information indicating that the user has boarded public transportation, the situation negotiation unit 8a selects a label T corresponding to the content of the awareness information of the user A (step S6).

On the other hand, the management unit 3a sends a notification request of the awareness information of the user B to the communication control unit 7a.
To send to. This notification request is encoded by the communication control unit 7a and transmitted to the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side via the network (step S1). Upon receiving the awareness information notification request from the user A side, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side executes the routine shown in FIG. 4 as described above. That is, in the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, FIG.
Steps S101 to S105 are performed, and after the awareness information of the user B is generated, the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side is notified. In the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, after executing step S105,
The routine is not executed until the user A again sends a request for re-notification of the awareness information or a notification of negotiation end.

On the other hand, when the awareness information is replied from the user B side, the situation negotiation unit 8a on the user A side selects the label R corresponding to the obtained content of the awareness information of the user B (step S2). , S
3).

The labels of user A and user B (label T,
When the label R) is determined, the status negotiation unit 8
a selects a communication task by comparing the label T and the label R with the negotiation table shown in FIG. 5 (step S7).

Thereafter, step S is performed in the same manner as described above.
After executing steps S8 to S13, the negotiation of the situation ends, and the communication task is switched. In this case, since the user A is in a state of getting on public transportation, the communication task using the communication means with sound is not selected,
The communication task using the real-time character communication means is selected.

As described above, when the situation of the user changes during execution of the communication task, the communication task is switched according to the changed situation. However, there are some rules for the switching method at this time. This rule is described below. 1. When the communication fee decreases before and after the switching of the communication task, the switching of the communication task is performed without obtaining the consent of the user. 2. If the communication fee increases before and after the switching of the communication task, the user is asked for consent before switching the communication task, and the communication task is switched only when the consent is obtained. As a method for obtaining the consent of the user, the following message is displayed in the awareness information output unit 9a.
May be displayed.

However, when the user does not disclose sufficient awareness information to select a communication task, or when the user selects the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication or the communication task manual setting mode. However, the communication task is not automatically switched. In such a case,
The user has to switch communication tasks manually.

In this way, the awareness communication device 1 according to the first embodiment takes a negotiation based on the awareness information of the user on the transmitting side and the user on the receiving side, and selects an optimal communication task. It is possible to select a communication task in consideration of the situation of the user. In addition, since the receiving user can specify the calling user before executing the communication task, the execution of the communication task can be refused to those who do not want to communicate. Becomes In addition, it is not possible to respond to access from the caller side, and it becomes possible to select an optimal communication task depending on the situation of the receiver side when response becomes possible.

Note that any number of awareness information parameters may be provided, and one may be provided. In the present embodiment, the sensor is used to grasp the situation of the user. However, the user may input his / her own situation.

In this embodiment, the communication system for transmitting the awareness information and executing the communication task is not mentioned, but any communication system such as a circuit switching system or a packet switching system may be used. Also,
The connection used for transmitting the awareness information may be a packet switching method, and the connection of the circuit switching method may be reestablished when the communication task is executed.

[2] Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the awareness communication device 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG. 1 described above. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, these input units 2,
Management unit 3, input unit control unit 4, user status detection unit 5, user status analysis unit 6, communication control unit 7, status negotiation unit 8, awareness information output unit 9, communication task processing unit 10, output unit control unit 11, The output unit 12 and the communication interface unit 13 have the same functions as those described in the first embodiment and perform the same operations. Also, in FIG. 7, as in the first embodiment, a plurality of users exist in the network in a state where the awareness communication device 1 or the communication device is connected.

The configuration of this embodiment differs from the configuration of the first embodiment only in that the connection destinations of the status negotiation unit 8 are the management unit 3, the user status analysis unit 6, and the communication control unit 7. In the operation of the present embodiment, the process of initial setting and the process of switching communication tasks by issuing a command to switch communication tasks are described in “First Embodiment”.
The operation is performed by the same process as the operation described above. The present embodiment differs from the “first embodiment” only in the operation in the process of negotiating awareness information. However, also in the present embodiment, the flow of the situation negotiation has the same flow as that of FIG. 3 and FIG. Hereinafter, processes different from those of the "first embodiment" will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, regarding the awareness communication device on the user A side and its components, the codes obtained by adding “a” to the respective codes used in FIG. About the awareness communication device and its components, FIG.
Are used to specify each code obtained by adding "b" to each code used in.

In FIG. 2, A is a calling user, and B is a receiving user. It is also assumed that both the users A and B are sending and receiving calls by the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b shown in FIG.

Here, a case will be described as an example where the user A on the calling side makes an access when the user B on the receiving side is in a communicable situation. When the user A specifies the address of the user B by operating the input unit 2a provided on the awareness communication device 1a, the management unit 3
"a" outputs an instruction to connect to the network to the communication control unit 7a. Upon receiving the connection instruction, the communication control unit 7a accesses the awareness communication device 1b of the user B on the receiving side existing in the network. As a result, a connection for transmitting awareness information is established between the awareness communication device 1b and the awareness communication device 1a.

When the user A accesses the user B, the user A notifies the user A of information (address of the user A, etc.) for identifying who the user A is.
The user B can specify who the user A is. Therefore, if the user B does not want to accept the access of the user A, the execution of the communication task can be refused at this point.

After that, the management unit 3a determines parameters to be incorporated in the awareness information based on the disclosure range of the awareness information corresponding to the user B as the communication partner.
Next, the management unit 3a sends an awareness information generation command including the designation of the parameter to the user situation analysis unit 6a (step S4).

Upon receiving the awareness information generation command, the user situation analysis unit 6a generates awareness information of the user A based on the detection result from the user situation detection unit 5a (step S5). The generated awareness information of the user A is sent to the situation negotiation section 8a, and the situation negotiation section 8a selects the label T corresponding to the sent awareness information of the user A (steps S5 and S6).

On the other hand, the management unit 3a sends a notification request of the awareness information of the user B to the communication control unit 7a. This notification request is encoded by the communication control unit 7a and transmitted to the awareness communication device 1b of the user B via the network (step S1).

When a request for notification of the awareness information is made from the user A side, the routine shown in FIG. 4 is executed in the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side. First, the communication control unit 7b decodes the notification request and sends the decoded notification request to the management unit 3b (step S101). The management unit 3b confirms that this notification request is not a negotiation end notification (step S102). Next, the management unit 3b determines parameters to be incorporated in the awareness information based on the disclosure range of the awareness information corresponding to the user A as the communication partner,
An awareness information generation command is sent to the user situation analysis unit 6b based on the determination (step S103).

Next, the user situation analyzing section 6b responds to the awareness information generating instruction by the user situation detecting section 5b.
A parameter within the disclosure range is selected from among the parameters detected by, and the awareness information of the user B is generated. The awareness information of the user B generated in this way is sent from the user situation analysis unit 6b to the communication control unit 7b, and the communication control unit 7b encodes the received awareness information of the user B to perform the awareness communication on the user A side. The data is transmitted to the device 1a (step S105). After execution of step S105, the awareness communication device 1 on the user B side
In b, the routine is not executed until the user A again sends a request for re-notification of the awareness information or a notification of negotiation end.

On the other hand, when the awareness information is returned from the user B side, the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side executes step S2 in FIG. In step S2, the communication control unit 7a
The awareness information from the user B side is decoded according to a predetermined format, and the situation negotiation unit 6a and the management unit 3
a is notified (step S2). The awareness information of the user B sent to the management unit 3a is further displayed on the awareness information output unit 9a after being notified from the management unit 3a to the awareness information output unit 9a.

In the situation negotiation section 8a,
The label R corresponding to the obtained awareness information of the user B is selected (step S3). When the labels of user A and user B (label T, label R) are determined, situation negotiation unit 8a selects a communication task corresponding to the combination of label T and label R from the negotiation table shown in FIG. 5 ( Step S7).

Next, the situation negotiation unit 8a notifies the management unit 3a of the result of the negotiation. The management unit 3a determines whether the selected communication task satisfies the following conditions (step S8). Condition 1. More than one communication task was selected. Condition 2. Communication task could not be selected. Condition 3. Awareness information was insufficient. As a result of the determination in step S8, if none of the conditions 1 to 3 matches, the management unit 3a instructs the situation negotiation unit 8a to end the negotiation. When receiving the negotiation termination command, the situation negotiation unit 8a sends the negotiation result and the termination to the management unit 3a and the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side (step S9).

If the management unit 3b determines that the conditions 1-3 are satisfied as a result of the determination in step S7, the management unit 3b executes step S8 and selects one routine from the following three routines. I do. Routine 1. The notification of the awareness information is again requested to the user B side (step S13). Routine 2. If the default label for when the awareness information cannot be obtained is determined, the communication task is selected according to the default label (step S1).
1). Routine 3. The user is requested to select a communication task (step S12).

For example, when a plurality of communication tasks are selected, the routine 3 (step S12) is executed to make the user A select one of the plurality of communication tasks.

If it is determined that the awareness information is insufficient, it is determined whether the user B has set not to disclose the awareness information or whether information has been lost in the communication process. Change the routine to be executed. If it is determined that the awareness information has been lost during the communication process, the routine 1 (step S13) is executed to request re-transfer of the awareness information.
On the other hand, if there is a shortage of awareness information because the user B has set so as not to disclose the awareness information, the routine 2 (step S11) is executed to execute the communication task according to the default label. You will make a selection.

When the communication task cannot be selected, similarly to the case where the awareness information is insufficient,
It is determined whether the communication task is not selected by the setting of the user B or the communication task cannot be selected for other reasons, and the routine to be executed is changed.

When the routine 1 is executed and the user B is requested to re-transfer the awareness information (step S
1) In the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, steps S101 to S105 in FIG. 4 are executed again, and awareness information is generated. Thereafter, a notification of the result of the negotiation and the end of the negotiation are sent from the status negotiation unit 8a to the management unit 3a and the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side (step S9).

When the communication task is selected in this way and the negotiation of the situation is completed, the management unit 3a
Notifies the awareness information output units 9a and 9b of the result and the end of the status negotiation. After that, the result and the end of the situation negotiation are displayed on the awareness information output units 9a and 9b.

[3] Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an awareness communication device 1 according to a third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG. 7 described above. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, these input unit 2, management unit 3, input means control unit 4, user status detection unit 5, user status analysis unit 6, communication control unit 7, status negotiation unit 8, awareness information output unit 9, communication unit The task processing unit 10, the output unit control unit 11, the output unit 12, and the communication interface unit 13 have the same functions and perform the same operations as those described in the second embodiment. Also, in FIG. 8, as in the “second embodiment”, a plurality of users exist in the network in a state where the awareness communication device 1 or the communication device is connected.

The configuration of this embodiment differs from the configuration of the "second embodiment" only in that the connection destination of the user status analysis unit 6 is the management unit 3 and the status negotiation unit 8. In the operation of the present embodiment, the process of initial setting, the process of selecting a communication task from the result of the negotiation of the awareness information, and the process of switching the communication task by issuing a communication task switching command,
This is performed by the same process as the operation of the “second embodiment”. Also in the present embodiment, the flow of the situation negotiation has the same flow as in FIGS. 3 and 4. The present embodiment is different from the “second embodiment” only in a process in which the generated awareness information is notified to the communication control unit 7 in the process of negotiating the awareness information. In the present embodiment, step S10
In the process of notifying the communication control unit 7 of the user awareness information generated by the user situation analysis unit 6 in steps 4 and S105, the management unit 3 is notified of the awareness information once. 7 will be notified. The result of the status negotiation and the notification of the end are also notified from the status negotiation unit 8 to the management unit 3, and thereafter, the management unit 3 sends the awareness information output unit 9, the communication task processing unit 10, the input unit control unit 4, and the output unit. The notification is sent to the control unit 11, the communication control unit 7, and the user as the communication partner.

[4] Fourth Embodiment FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an awareness communication device 1 according to a fourth embodiment and a server provided in a network. In FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to the respective portions in FIG. 1 described above. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, these input unit 2, management unit 3, input means control unit 4, user status detection unit 5, user status analysis unit 6, communication control unit 7, status negotiation unit 8, awareness information output unit 9, communication unit Task processing unit 10, output unit control unit 11, output unit 12, communication interface unit 1
Reference numeral 3 has the same functions as those described in the first embodiment and performs the same operations. Also, in FIG. 9, similarly to the “first embodiment”, a plurality of users exist in the network in a state where the awareness communication device 1 or the communication device is connected.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the situation negotiation unit 8 is incorporated in a network and constitutes a communication system as a whole network. In addition to this difference, in the present embodiment, the operation in the process of negotiating the awareness information is different from that of the “first embodiment”. That is, the awareness information of the user is notified to the situation negotiation unit 8 once provided in the network, and after the negotiation of the awareness information is performed, the result of the negotiation is notified to the user on the transmission side and the reception side. . However, in the operation of the present embodiment, the process of initial setting and the process of switching the communication task by issuing the communication task switching command are performed by the same process as the operation of the “first embodiment”. The description of this process will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the process of negotiating the awareness information will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, A is a calling user, and B is a receiving user. It is also assumed that both users A and B are sending and receiving calls by the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b shown in FIG. In the following description, regarding the awareness communication device on the side of the user A and its components, a code obtained by adding “a” to each code used in FIG. 9 is used to specify each code.
Regarding the awareness communication device on the user B side and its components, the codes obtained by adding “b” to the codes used in FIG. 9 are used to specify each code.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts of the negotiation performed between the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side and the server in the network in the fourth embodiment. On the other hand, in the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side, a routine similar to the flowchart in FIG. 4 is executed. Here, a case will be described as an example in which the user A on the calling side makes an access when the user B on the receiving side is in a communicable situation. First,
When the user A specifies the address of the user B by operating the input unit 2a provided on the awareness communication device 1a, the management unit 3a instructs the communication control unit 7a to connect to the server 14 in the network. Is output.
Upon receiving this connection command, the communication control unit 7a notifies the server 14 provided in the network of the setting conditions in the above-described initial setting, and transmits a request to start negotiation of awareness information (step S201).

Upon receiving this negotiation start request, the server management unit 15 instructs the situation negotiation unit 8 to start negotiation (step S20).
2). When receiving the start instruction, the situation negotiation unit 8 transmits an awareness information notification request to both the user A and the user B (step S203).

When the awareness information generating command and notification instruction are received from the server 14 side, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side performs steps S101 to S101 shown in FIG.
The routine of 105 will be executed. The awareness information of the user B generated in this way is stored in the server 1
4 is notified. After the execution of step S105, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side does not execute the routine until the server 14 again sends a request for re-notification of the awareness information or a negotiation end notification.

On the other hand, in the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side, when receiving the awareness information notification request from the server 14, the management unit 3a determines the awareness based on the disclosure range of the awareness information corresponding to the user B as the communication partner. A parameter to be incorporated in the information is determined, and an awareness information generation command is sent to the user situation analysis unit 6a based on the determination (steps S204 and S205).

Upon receiving this generation command, the user situation analysis unit 6a generates awareness information of the user A based on the detection result of the user situation detection unit 5a. Thus, the obtained awareness information of the user A is notified from the user situation analysis unit 6a to the server 14 (step S206).

When the situation negotiation unit 8 obtains the awareness information of the user A and the user B, the predefined label T = {T1, T2, T3...}} And the label R
= {R1, R2, R3 ...}, select a label corresponding to the content of the awareness information of the user A and the user B. At this time, the situation negotiation unit 8 selects a communication task by comparing the defined label T and label R with the negotiation table shown in FIG. 5 (step S207).

Next, the situation negotiation unit 8 notifies the server management unit 15 of the result of the negotiation.
The server management unit 15 determines whether or not the selected communication task meets the following conditions 1 to 3 (step S208). Condition 1. More than one communication task was selected. Condition 2. Communication task could not be selected. Condition 3. Awareness information was insufficient.

As a result of the determination in step S208, the condition 1
If there is no condition that matches any of the conditions, the server management unit 15 instructs the status negotiation unit 8 to end the negotiation. Thereafter, the server management unit 15 notifies the user A and the user B of the end of the negotiation.
Are notified (step S213). At this time, if it is deemed necessary, a notification of the end of the negotiation is sent to other equipment in the network or a communication device.

The server management unit 15 determines in step S2
If it is determined in step 08 that the conditions 1-3 are met, step S209 is executed to select and execute one of the following routines. Routine 1. The notification of the awareness information is again requested to the user B side (step S211). Routine 2. If the default label when the awareness information cannot be obtained is determined, the communication task is selected according to the default label (step S21).
0). Routine 3. The user A is requested to select a communication task (step S212). When the communication task is selected as a result of executing the routine of steps S209 to S212, the negotiation of the situation ends.

For example, routine 2 (step S210)
If is selected. The communication task is selected according to the default label. When a communication task is selected in this way, the server management unit 15 sends a negotiation termination command to the status negotiation unit 8. Upon receiving the negotiation end command, the status negotiation unit 8 transmits the negotiation result and the end to both the user A and the user B (step S213).

When the routine 1 (step S211) is executed, a request for retransmission of the awareness information is transmitted to the user B side, and after the awareness information of the user B is generated again in the awareness communication device 1b, the negotiation is performed. Is repeated to select a communication task (step S214). In this case, the result of the negotiation is
This is transmitted to both the user A side and the user B side.

When the routine 3 is executed, the user A
Is requested to the communication task, and when the communication task is selected by the user A, the selection result is transmitted to the server 1.
4 (step S214). In this case, the selection result in step S214 is
This is transmitted only to the side (step S215).

When the communication task is selected in this way, the server management unit 15 transmits a negotiation end to both the user A and the user B (step S2).
13). Upon receiving the end notification of the negotiation, the awareness communication devices 1 on both the user A side and the user B side
The negotiation is ended also in a and 1b.
At this time, if it is determined that the negotiation is necessary, the other device in the network or the communication device is notified of the end of the negotiation.

As described above, according to the awareness communication device of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the awareness communication device by providing the situation negotiation unit in the network.

[5] Application Embodiment [5.1] Application Embodiment 1 In the awareness communication device 1 described above, only the communication tasks executable by the awareness communication device 1 can be executed. However, it is also possible to execute a communication task that cannot be executed only by the communication means provided in the awareness communication device 1. The awareness communication device 1 according to the present embodiment has a function of executing a communication task by using communication means that the awareness communication device 1 does not have.

In the present embodiment, the user situation detecting section 5
A function that accesses a communication device around the user at regular intervals by short-range wireless communication or infrared communication, and obtains device information such as the type, communication function, communication protocol, and communication address of the communication device from this communication device have. The communication device is an awareness communication device 1
Has a device for transmitting its own device information to the awareness communication device 1 when a request for device information is made from the device.
When a request for device information is made from the awareness communication device 1, the communication device sends its own device information to the awareness communication device 1.

In the present embodiment, the awareness information is a parameter representing a device carried by the user or a device available around the user.
The parameter P3 is included. The parameter P3 is further subdivided, and for example, a parameter P3-1 for representing a moving image display device, a parameter P3-2 for representing FAX, and a parameter P3-3 for representing telephone are provided. When the moving image display communication device can be used, the parameter P3-1 = 1. This parameter is further subdivided. For example, the parameter P3-1 is a parameter P3 representing the resolution of the moving image display communication device.
-1-1, Parameter P3 to represent the communication protocol format
-1-2. In this way, the awareness communication device 1 according to the present embodiment can recognize even the capabilities of the devices around the user. Furthermore, the parameter P3 of the awareness information includes I.sub.I in communication of communication devices existing around the user.
A parameter P3-1-3 representing D (for example, an Internet address) is also included, and a communication task can be executed using the communication device at the time of communication.

Hereinafter, in accordance with FIG.
The process of executing a communication task using a communication device near the user, detected by the user, will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, it is assumed that the user A and the user B communicate using the awareness communication device 1 shown in FIG. Further, the awareness communication device on the user A side and its constituent elements are used to identify each code obtained by adding “a” to each code used in FIG. As for the constituent elements, codes obtained by adding “b” to the respective codes used in FIG. 1 are used to specify each of them.

In the awareness communication device 1a on the side of the user A, a microphone and a camera are provided in the input section 2a, and the output section 1 is provided in the input section 2a.
2a is provided with a speaker and an LCD.
It is assumed that a microphone is provided in the input unit 2b and a speaker is provided in the output unit 12b of the awareness communication device 1b on the side. At this time, it is assumed that the user B is sitting at a desk in the office and has a PC and a camera having a communication function around the user B. In FIG. 2, A is a calling user, and B is a receiving user. User A,
In both cases, it is assumed that outgoing and incoming calls are made by the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b shown in FIG. Further, as described above, the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side
Is assumed to know that there are PCs and cameras around the user B by accessing PCs and cameras around the user B at regular intervals.

Here, a case will be described as an example where the user A on the calling side makes an access when the user B on the receiving side is in a communicable situation. When the user A specifies the address of the user B by operating the input unit 2a provided on the awareness communication device 1a, the management unit 3
"a" outputs an instruction to connect to the network to the communication control unit 7a. Upon receiving this connection command, the communication control unit 7a accesses the awareness communication device 1b of the user B on the receiving side, which exists in the network. When the access is received, a connection for transmitting the awareness information is established between the awareness communication device 1b and the awareness communication device 1a. Thus, awareness information can be transmitted between the awareness communication devices 1a and 1b.

When a connection for transmitting awareness information is established between the user A side and the user B side, the awareness communication device 1a on the user A side transmits the user information transmitted from the awareness communication device 1b on the user B side. From the awareness information of B, it becomes possible to grasp the communication protocol of the PC or camera existing around the user B, the Internet address, and the like. At this time, the user A
In the awareness communication device 1a on the side, a telephone, a TV phone, an e-mail, and the like are selected as communication tasks that can be used using the awareness communication device 1, the PC, and the camera.

When the TV phone is selected by the user from the selected communication tasks, the management unit 3a
The communication protocol and ID of the PC and the camera are grasped from the awareness information of the user B, and a communication connection command with the PC and the camera specified by the address is sent to the communication control unit 7a. Communication control unit 7 receiving this communication connection command
a establishes a connection between the PC and the camera for executing a communication task. In this way, when the connection for executing the communication task is established, the audio information between the users A and B is output by the output units 12a and 12b, and the user A is input to the input unit 2a of the user A. The image information of the user B is output to the PC existing around the user B, and the image information of the user B input to the camera existing around the user B is output by the output unit 12a on the user A side. Therefore, if a device exists around the user as described above, a communication task that cannot be executed by the awareness communication device 1 can be executed.

[5.2] Applied Embodiment 2 When transmitting the awareness information from the user on the receiving side, the awareness communication apparatus 1 described above transmits the information to the user on the transmitting side as a parameter. However, a label may be determined in the awareness communication device 1 of the receiving side user, and the label may be transmitted to the calling side user. For example, when the communication is started under the situation shown in FIG. 2, the awareness information generated by the user situation analysis unit 6b on the user B side is once notified to the situation negotiation unit 8b. Thereafter, the situation negotiation unit 8b determines the label R in the notified awareness information of the user B, and transfers the label R to the situation negotiation unit 8a on the user A side. Since the user B side notifies the user A side after determining the label R, the processing on the user A side can be speeded up.

[5.3] Applied Embodiment 3 The awareness communication device 1 described above grasps the situation of both the calling side and called side users during communication, and performs communication tasks according to the situation of the user. It allows you to make choices. However, as long as the communication device is provided with the user status detection unit 5 and the user status analysis unit 6 and the function of transmitting the awareness information of the user to the network is provided, various usage methods are generated. As an example, if the user is a demented haiku old man, a person on a sickbed, or an infant, the situation of the user is changed to a hospital,
To make it possible for the relatives of the user to understand.

In this case, a sensor having a function of obtaining information on the user's physical condition such as the pulse, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, etc., a position, an operation, and the like is used in the user situation detecting unit 5 to provide information on the user's physical condition and the like. Make it available at any time. Further, the user situation analysis unit 6 sets various parameters based on the detection result of the user situation detection unit 5, and defines a label according to the parameter. This label can be transmitted to the network via the communication control unit 7. When a specific server is provided on the network, and a user's situation changes under a situation in which a connection for awareness information transmission is established between the awareness communication device 1 and the server, the situation of the user is changed. The change is notified to the server. The server monitors the awareness information of the user in a unified manner, and when an abnormality of the user is detected, notifies the hospital or relatives that the abnormality has occurred. At the hospital or relatives receiving the notification that the abnormality has occurred, an event such as an alarm sounds upon receiving the notification. At this time, if it is necessary to execute the communication task, there is a high possibility that the user cannot perform the receiving operation, so that the communication task with the user can be forcibly executed.

As described above, when the user is on the sickbed, if the user's physical condition changes, the information is notified to the hospital, and the hospital can grasp the user's condition. In addition, when the user is a demented hakai old man or an infant, it is possible to immediately grasp the user's whereabouts when the user is lost.

In this embodiment, the sensor is used to grasp the situation of the user. However, the user may input his / her own situation. Also, there is no need for a single destination to be notified from the server, and notification may be made to a plurality of destinations. Furthermore, instead of notifying the situation after an abnormality has occurred,
It is also possible to always notify the situation at a certain timing

[0172]

As described above, according to the awareness communication apparatus, the awareness communication system, and the server of the present invention, when a user in a distributed environment executes a communication task, the situation where the user is located is described. , It is possible to select an optimal communication task. In addition, since the receiving user can specify the calling user before executing the communication task, it is possible to refuse the execution of the communication task to the other party who does not want to communicate. Becomes Further, even when the awareness communication device does not include a plurality of input / output modules, it is possible to perform communication using devices existing around the user. Furthermore, by simultaneously switching the disclosure range of the awareness information according to the human relationship with the communication partner, the privacy or security of the user can be protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an awareness communication device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a communication task is executed via a network.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a situation negotiation performed by the awareness communication device on the user A side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a situation negotiation performed by the awareness communication device on the user B side.

FIG. 5 is a negotiation table of awareness information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a user A and an unspecified number of users communicate via a server in a network.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an awareness communication device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an awareness communication device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an awareness communication device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a situation negotiation performed between an awareness communication device and a server according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a situation negotiation performed between an awareness communication device and a server according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Awareness communication device 2 Input unit 3 Management unit 4 Input unit control unit 5 User status detection unit 6 User status analysis unit 7 …… Communication control unit 8… Status negotiation unit 9… Awareness information output unit 10… Communication task processing unit 11… Output unit control unit 12… Output unit 13… Communication Interface section

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshiaki Sugimura 2-10-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo NTT Mobile Communications Network Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5K027 AA11 BB01 KK02 5K034 AA19 CC02 CC05 DD03 EE03 HH63 NN11 5K067 AA34 BB04 EE02 EE10 FF00 GG11 5K101 KK02 KK04 LL12 NN06 NN07 NN18 PP01 QQ01 QQ08 QQ09 QQ10

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A detecting means for detecting a situation where a user is placed, an awareness information generating means for analyzing a situation of the user detected by the detecting means to generate awareness information, Awareness information acquiring means for acquiring the awareness information of the communication task based on the awareness information of the user generated by the awareness information generating means and the awareness information of the communication partner of the user acquired by the awareness information obtaining means. An awareness communication device comprising: a communication task selection unit that selects: 2. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of communication units, wherein the communication task selection unit performs communication executable by one or a plurality of communication units among the plurality of communication units. An awareness communication device for selecting a task. 3. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication task selection unit selects a communication task executable by one or more communication units that do not belong to the awareness communication device. Communication device. 4. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: an awareness information transmitting unit that transmits the awareness information generated by the awareness information generation unit in response to a request for the awareness information from a communication partner. An awareness communication device. 5. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a unit that detects a physical condition of a user, and the awareness information generated by the awareness information generation unit is An awareness communication device, comprising: a parameter representing a physical condition of a user. 6. The awareness communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit includes a unit that detects a communication device existing around the user, and is generated by the awareness information generation unit. The awareness communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the awareness information includes parameters representing communication devices existing around the user. 7. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, further comprising an awareness information output unit that displays the awareness information of the communication partner obtained by the awareness information acquisition unit. Communication device. 8. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: input means for inputting input information to be transmitted to a communication partner by the communication task. . 9. The awareness communication device according to claim 4, wherein the awareness information transmitting unit, when the detection unit detects a change in the awareness information of the user, the awareness information after the change to the user as the communication partner. Awareness communication device for transmitting a message. 10. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, wherein a mode of a communication task selection method by the communication task selection means at the time of initial setting is set as follows. At the start and during the execution of the communication task, when a change in the awareness information is detected by the detection unit,
1. A communication task automatic setting mode for automatically selecting an optimal communication task based on the awareness information again. 2. During the execution of the communication task, the communication task is not switched, and only at the start of the communication task, the communication task automatic setting mode at the start of communication is automatically selected based on the awareness information. An awareness communication apparatus, wherein the communication task is selected from any one of a communication task manual setting mode for selecting a communication task in accordance with a user input. 11. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, further comprising: an awareness information disclosure range setting unit configured to set a range in which the awareness information is disclosed to a communication partner for each of the parameters. An awareness communication device, wherein the awareness information generation unit generates awareness information within a disclosure range of the awareness information set by the awareness information disclosure range setting unit. 12. The awareness communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the awareness information of the user generated by the awareness information generation unit and the awareness information of a communication partner acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit. When the communication task selecting means selects a communication task using one communication means or a plurality of communication means based on the following conditions: “A plurality of communication tasks have been selected.” Condition 2. “The communication task could not be selected.” Condition 3. Judge whether any of the conditions of “Awareness information was insufficient” is met,
If there is no matching condition, select the communication task determined by the awareness information. If there is a matching condition, then: 1. "Ask the notification of the awareness information again to the user of the communication partner." “If the default value of the awareness information when the awareness information cannot be obtained is determined, the communication task is selected according to the default value.” Awareness communication apparatus characterized by executing after selecting any one of "Request the user to select a communication task." 13. The awareness communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each combination of the awareness information of the user generated by the awareness information generation unit and the awareness information of the communication partner acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit in advance. A communication task selection unit, wherein the communication task selection unit is configured to correspond to a combination of the awareness information of the user generated by the awareness information generation unit and the awareness information of the communication partner acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit in advance. An awareness communication device for obtaining a communication task from the table. 14. The awareness communication device according to claim 1, wherein the communication task selection unit is a user's awareness information generated by the awareness information generation unit or a communication partner acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit. When one of the awareness information changes and the communication task is re-selected, 1. When the communication fee decreases before and after the switching of the communication task, a method in which the switching of the communication task is performed without obtaining the user's consent, or If the communication fee increases before and after the switching of the communication task, the user is asked for consent before switching the communication task, and the communication task is switched only when the consent is obtained. An awareness communication device, comprising selecting a method. 15. A communication system comprising a network, a communication device connected to the network, and a server provided in the network, wherein the server comprises: a source user's awareness information; Awareness information acquisition means for acquiring user awareness information, and a communication task to be executed between each user based on the awareness information of the calling side user and the awareness information of the called side user acquired by the awareness information acquisition means. An awareness communication system comprising: a communication task selection unit that selects: 16. The awareness communication system according to claim 15, wherein the server changes the awareness information of the originating user or the awareness information of the receiving user acquired by the awareness information acquiring unit. Awareness communication system, further comprising: an awareness information notifying means for notifying a communication partner of a user having a change in the awareness information of the awareness information after the change of the user. 17. The awareness communication system according to claim 16, wherein the server detects a danger on the user's body from the awareness information of the user acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit. When the user danger detecting unit detects that the user is in a physically dangerous state, the awareness information notifying unit sends the user a physical danger to the emergency contact information of the user. Awareness communication system for notifying that there is an unusual situation. 18. A server provided in a network, comprising: an awareness information acquisition unit that acquires awareness information of a calling side user and awareness information of a reception side user; and a server that is acquired by the awareness information acquisition unit. A communication task selecting means for selecting a communication task to be executed between the users based on the awareness information of the calling side user and the awareness information of the called side user. 19. In the server according to claim 18, when a change occurs in the awareness information of the user on the calling side or the awareness information of the user on the called side acquired by the awareness information acquiring means, the awareness information is changed. A server comprising: an awareness information notifying unit that notifies a communication partner of a changed user of the awareness information of the changed user.