JP2002016656A - Communication method and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication method and a communication system that can relieve a load on a sender with respect to conversion processing of the communication information to adapt the transmitter side to the environment of the receiver side. SOLUTION: In this communication method, when transmitted communication information is not adapted to the environment of a receiver side, a conversion processing section 23 of an information processing section 23 of a transmitter side system 7 conducts format conversion of the communication information or the like on the basis of an adaptive condition list. Furthermore, adaptive terminal dependent contents groups respectively adapted to kinds of the environments of the receiver are provided in a storage device 21 of the transmitter system 7, and when a sender specifies the kind of the reception environment of a transmission opposite party, a control section 27 selects the adapted terminal dependent contents group corresponding to the environment of the receiver side from the adaptive terminal dependent contents groups.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication method and a communication system for transmitting communication information such as electronic mail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a communication method, a method of transmitting communication information from a transmitting system to a receiving system via a communication line such as the Internet or a recording medium has been used. The communication information to be transmitted includes an e-mail or a data file such as an image and a sound attached to the e-mail, and the communication information received by the receiving system is transmitted through a display unit, a sound output unit, and the like. To be played back. There are various types of information terminals used as the receiving system, such as personal computers and mobile phones.

[0003]

<First Problem> In such a communication method, there are various environments for receiving and reproducing communication information of a receiving system.
For example, various formats exist for image information and audio information, and depending on the reproduction environment of the receiving system, the received image information and audio information may not be able to be reproduced due to the difference in the adopted data format.

There are various levels of environmental capabilities on the receiving side, and the quality and amount of information that can be received and reproduced on the receiving side are also different. For example, the resolution (size) of images that can be reproduced, the number of colors, the number of frames (frames) per unit time of a moving image, the sampling frequency of audio, the number of chords (voices) of MIDI music, etc., vary greatly depending on the receiving side. ing. In addition, the cost varies depending on the transmission path and recording medium used as a communication medium. (Sending large amounts of data to a low-speed communication line increases the cost, and storing large amounts of communication information in the storage device of the receiving system. Also increase the cost).

<Second problem> [0005] Contents such as images and sounds used for creating communication information are those created by a sender using a method such as video recording or sound recording, and those generally distributed (or marketed). In some cases) images (video clips), audio (music), MIDI information, etc. created by others.

In the latter case, the amount of distributed contents is enormous, and the format, quality and information capacity are also diversified. Choosing the appropriate content is also an issue, requiring expertise. In particular, when the content is selected on a small portable terminal such as a mobile phone, the number of buttons and keys that can be operated is small, which is very inconvenient.

<Third Problem> The communication information to be transmitted may be in the form of information such as an image, a sound, a sentence or the like according to the purpose of use (New Year's card, summer visit, birthday celebration, ceremonial occasion, etc.). In some cases, it is necessary to create a combination of different contents, but in many cases, it is difficult to select an appropriate combination of contents that matches the purpose of use from a huge number of combinations.

<Fourth Problem> Furthermore, when an e-mail including an image or a voice is transmitted, the information capacity of the e-mail is larger than when an e-mail including only characters is transmitted as communication information. This increases the occupation time of the receiving side system at the time of receiving, etc., or imposes a large burden on the receiving side system such as requiring a large storage capacity when storing received e-mail. It will be.

[0009] Further, when the content of the communication information has a strong message property such as an image or a voice, the recipient may be unpleasant (whether well-intentioned or malicious).
In addition, malicious emails (e.g., emails with computer viruses or emails with threatening content) from strangers or unwanted parties may be required to be received. It is necessary to provide a means for rejecting reception.

<Fifth Problem> Further, as a method of managing a communication address assigned to a receiving system used by a receiver on the sender side, there is a method using an address list. In this regard, in the address list used in the conventional communication method, one communication address assigned to the receiving system used by the recipient is associated with the recipient identification information assigned to one recipient. Can be registered.

However, in reality, one receiver may use a plurality of receiver systems to which different communication addresses are assigned. In such a case, the receiver may use a plurality of receiver systems. When managing a plurality of communication addresses using a conventional address list, it is necessary to provide recipient identification information for each communication address. For this reason, in the conventional communication system, the address list becomes complicated, and the communication address desired by the receiver cannot be quickly specified.

<Object of the Invention> Accordingly, in view of the above problems, a first object of the present invention is to reduce the burden on the sender concerning the conversion processing of communication information for adapting to the environment of the receiving side. A communication method and a communication system are provided.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a communication method and a communication system which can eliminate the work of a sender for selecting a content adapted to the environment of a receiving side when creating communication information. is there.

Further, a third object of the present invention is to provide a communication method and a communication system capable of easily selecting contents used for creating communication information according to the purpose of use of the communication information.

[0015] A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a communication method and a communication system in which a receiver can select whether or not to receive communication information to the receiver system.

Further, a fifth object of the present invention is to provide a communication method and a communication system in which a receiver can select whether or not to receive communication information to the receiving side system according to the contents of the communication information. It is to provide.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a communication method and a communication system capable of simplifying an address list and quickly specifying a communication address desired by a receiver.

[0018]

The technical means for achieving the above object is to transmit communication information from a sender's transmitting system to a receiver's receiving system using a transmission line or a recording medium as a communication medium. A communication method for transmitting the communication information, when the communication information to be transmitted is not adapted to a receiving environment defined by at least one of the receiving system or the communication medium. Adapts the communication information to the environment of the receiving side, to the transmitting side system, the receiving side system, or a base station provided in the transmission path when the transmission path is used as the communication medium. It is characterized in that conversion is performed so that

[0019] Preferably, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the transmission side system, the reception side system, or the base station interposed in the transmission path includes the environment of the reception side. And an adaptive condition list in which a plurality of types of adaptive conditions of the communication information respectively corresponding to each type of environment of the receiving side are provided, and the receiving side to which the communication information is to be transmitted is provided. When a system is specified by the sender, the transmitting system, the receiving system, or, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the base station provided in the transmission path, Using the adaptive condition list, the adaptive condition corresponding to the type of the environment of the identified receiving system is selected from among the plurality of types of adaptive conditions, and the selected It is preferable to perform the conversion of the communication information based on the use condition.

[0020] Preferably, the transmitting side system includes:
Alternatively, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the base station provided in the transmission path is provided with a plurality of contents used to create the communication information, and each of the contents is When the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted is specified by the sender via the transmitting system, the transmission is performed. It is preferable that the local system or the base station selects a content adapted to the type of the environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving system from the plurality of contents.

Further preferably, when the transmission path is used as the transmission system, the reception system or the communication medium, the base station interposed in the transmission path preferably includes the A plurality of types of content groups that can be used to create the communication information classified based on a substantial difference in content are provided, and each type of content group is adapted to each type of the receiving environment. A plurality of contents having different adaptation forms, and the type-specific content group used from the plurality of type-specific content groups is specified by the sender via the transmission-side system, When the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted is specified, the specified system-specific code is transmitted to the transmitting system or the base station. From among the plurality of content Ceiling group, it is preferable to elect a content adapted to the type of the recipient of the environment corresponding to the receiving system specified.

Also, preferably, the transmission side system,
Alternatively, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the base station is provided with a plurality of form-based content groups classified based on a difference in information form, and the form-based content The group includes a plurality of contents having different contents, which can be used for creating the communication information, in a selectable manner. Are associated with each other in a plurality of types of association modes respectively corresponding to a plurality of usage purposes, and the respective types of association modes are different from each other in each of the type-specific content groups, and From the different content groups to the lower level hierarchical content group side, for each layer, based on the relevance of each content. Only good to have.

Further, preferably, the information form of at least a part of the plurality of form-specific content groups is one of an image, a sound, and a character.

Preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and when transmitting the communication information from the transmission side system to the reception side system via the transmission path, the base station transmits the communication information to the base station. While temporarily holding the information, the base station transmits the broadcast information to the receiving system via the transmission path, and a transmission request is given from the receiving system to the base station via the transmission path. Preferably, the base station transmits the held communication information to the receiving side system.

Further, preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and when transmitting the communication information to the reception side system via the transmission path, the transmission side system or the base station transmits: The content information indicating the content of the information body included in the communication information is transmitted to the receiving system, in response to a transmission request is given from the receiving system to the transmitting system or the base station, The transmitting system or the base station may transmit the information body to the receiving system.

Preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and an address list is provided in the transmitting system or a base station provided in the transmission path, and the address list is At least one recipient identification information assigned to each recipient, and at least one address group separately associated with each recipient identification information, wherein each address group is associated with the address group. Preferably, it can include communication addresses of a plurality of receiving side systems used by the recipient corresponding to the received recipient identification information.

Further, a technical means for achieving the above object is a communication system for transmitting communication information from a transmission side system of a sender to a reception side system of a receiver using a transmission line or a recording medium as a communication medium. If the communication information to be transmitted at the time of transmitting the communication information is not adapted to the environment of the reception side defined by at least one of the reception side system and the communication medium, the transmission side When the transmission path is used as a system, the reception side system, or the communication medium, a base station provided in the transmission path converts the communication information so as to adapt to the environment of the reception side. Is good.

Also, preferably, the transmitting side system,
In the case where the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the reception side system or the base station interposed in the transmission path includes a type of the environment of the reception side, and each of the environment of the reception side. An adaptive condition list is provided in which a plurality of types of adaptive conditions of the communication information respectively corresponding to types are provided, and the transmission path is used as the transmission system, the reception system, or the communication medium. In the case, the base station interposed in the transmission path, when the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted is specified by the sender, using the adaptation condition list,
Preferably, the adaptive condition corresponding to the type of the environment of the specified receiving side system is selected from the plurality of types of adaptive conditions, and the communication information is converted based on the selected applied condition.

[0029] Further, preferably, said transmission side system or said base station interposed in said transmission path when said transmission path is used as said communication medium is used for creating said communication information. A plurality of contents are provided, each of the contents is adapted to any one of a plurality of types of the receiving environment, and the communication information is transmitted by the sender via the transmitting system. When the receiving side system is specified, the transmitting side system or the base station transmits contents adapted to the type of environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving side system among the plurality of contents. It is good to choose.

[0030] Preferably, the transmitting side system includes:
When the transmission path is used as the receiving system or the communication medium, the base station interposed in the transmission path includes the content classified based on a substantial difference in content to be included. A plurality of type-specific content groups that can be used for creating communication information are provided, and the type-specific content groups include a plurality of content types that are different from each other and that are adapted to the respective types of the receiving-side environment. Via the transmitting system, the sender identifies the type-specific content group used from the plurality of type-specific content groups, and identifies the receiving system to which the communication information is transmitted. Then, the transmitting system or the base station is identified from the plurality of contents of the identified type-specific content group, It is to elect a content to adapt to the type of the recipient of the environment corresponding to the receiving system.

[0031] Further, preferably, when the transmission path is used as the communication system or the communication medium, the base station includes a plurality of content groups classified by form based on a difference in information form. The plurality of content groups are provided in a hierarchical manner, and each of the content groups according to the forms includes a plurality of contents having different contents which can be used for creating the communication information, which are different from each other. Are associated with each other in a plurality of types of association modes respectively corresponding to a plurality of preset use purposes of the communication information,
The associating modes of the respective types are such that the respective contents of the different form-specific content groups are different from each other in each form from the higher-level form-specific content group to the lower-level form-specific content group side. Preferably, the contents are associated based on their relevance.

Preferably, the information form of at least a part of the plurality of form-specific content groups is one of an image, a sound, and a character.

[0033] More preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and the base station, when the communication information is transmitted from the transmission side system via the transmission path, temporarily stores the communication information. On the other hand, the broadcast information is transmitted to the receiving system via the transmission path, and in response to a transmission request being given from the receiving system via the transmission path, the broadcast information is stored. Preferably, the communication information is transmitted to the receiving side system via the transmission path.

Preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and when the communication information is transmitted to the reception side system via the transmission path, the transmission side system or the base station is used. Transmitting content information indicating the content of the information body included in the communication information to the receiving system, in response to a transmission request being given from the receiving system to the transmitting system or the base station. The transmitting system or the base station may transmit the information body to the receiving system.

Further preferably, the transmission path is used as the communication medium, and an address list is provided in the transmitting system or a base station provided in the transmission path, and the address list is At least one recipient identification information assigned to each recipient, and at least one address group separately associated with each recipient identification information, wherein each address group is associated with the address group. Preferably, it can include communication addresses of a plurality of receiving side systems used by the recipient corresponding to the received recipient identification information.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <Background Art> First, prior to a description of a specific embodiment, a brief background art to which the present invention is applied will be briefly described.

FIGS. 1 to 3 exemplarily show a system configuration example in the case where normal information is transmitted using a transmission path as a communication medium, and FIG. 4 shows a communication using a recording medium as a communication medium. FIG. 2 exemplarily shows a typical system configuration example when information is transmitted.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration in which communication information is transmitted from a transmitting system 7 to a receiving system 9 via a plurality of base stations 3 and 5 provided in a transmission line 1. . FIG. 2 shows a case where communication information is interposed in a transmission line 1.
1 shows a system configuration in which data is transmitted from a transmitting system 7 to a receiving system 9 via one base station 11. FIG. 3 shows a system configuration in which a base station is not provided in the transmission path 1 and communication information is directly transmitted from the transmission system 7 to the reception system 9 via the transmission path 1.

In the system configuration shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium 13 in which the communication information has been written by the transmitting system 7 is transferred to the recipient by mail or the like without using the transmission line 1, and the receiving system 9 of the recipient is used. The communication side reads the communication information from the recording medium 13 so that the communication information is transmitted to the transmission side system 7.
To the receiving side system 9.

In the configuration of FIGS. 1 to 3, any information processing device such as a mail server (gateway) is used as the base stations 3, 5, and 11. here,
The base station 3 is a transmitting-side base station (for example, a server of a provider used by the sender under contract or the like), and the base station 5 is a receiving-side base station (for example, used by the receiver under contract or the like). Provider server, etc.). In the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of transmission side systems 7 and reception side systems 9 are generally connectable to each of the base stations 3, 5, and 11 via the connection path 1.

The transmitting system 7 and the receiving system 9 include a PC (personal computer), a mobile phone, a home game machine, an STB (Set Top Box: Internet terminal with TV), a station, a street corner, and a store. Information terminal (for example, MMS (Multi Media Stat)
Any information terminal such as ion)) is used.

As the connection path 1, an arbitrary communication line such as the Internet, a portable telephone line network, a public telephone line network, or a high-speed large-capacity communication network such as broadband is used. As the recording medium 13, a disk-type recording medium such as a floppy disk, a semiconductor memory, or a card-type recording medium such as an IC card is used.

The communication information to be transmitted may be any electronic information such as electronic mail. In addition, there are many e-mails to which various attached information files such as image information files, audio information files, and MIDI information files can be attached.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data structure of a general electronic mail with a sound image. As shown in FIG. 5, the e-mail includes a header information D1 including a destination, a subject, various link information, and other information, and a text information body D.
2. It has attached audio information D3 and image information D4.

<First Embodiment> A communication method according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that the communication method according to the present embodiment is applicable to at least the above-described system configurations in FIGS.

<First Feature> In the communication method according to the present embodiment, the created communication information is transmitted from the transmission side system 7 via the transmission line 1 to the reception side system 9 of a specific partner via the transmission line 1. When transmitting the communication information (or when writing the communication information to be transmitted to the recording medium 13), the transmission-side system 7 applies the communication information to the environment of the reception side.
After that, the data is transmitted to the transmission path 1 (or written on the recording medium 13).

Here, the environment on the receiving side means the receiving / reproducing capability of the receiving side system 9 on the other side, the transmission path 1 (particularly,
A transmission cost (for example, a time and a fee required for transmitting a certain amount of information) of the transmission path portion between the base stations 5 and 11 and the other receiving system 9 or a recording cost of the recording medium 13 ( The number and cost of recording media required to record a certain amount of information).

If the environment on the receiving side is different, the format and information capacity of communication information suitable for receiving and reproducing, or capable of receiving and reproducing, etc. in the receiving system 9 are different. It is necessary to convert the format and information capacity of communication information according to the type.

The conversion that needs to be performed depending on the type of environment on the receiving side includes, for example, the format of image information,
Image resolution (size), number of colors, number of frames per unit time of video (frame rate), number of audio tracks,
For example, the number of MIDI tracks.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the transmission side system 7 used in the communication method according to the present embodiment. In a storage device 21 constituted by a hard disk or the like of the transmission side system 7, an adaptation condition list used for conversion processing of communication information and determination of necessity of the conversion processing is registered.

In the adaptation condition list, the sender using the transmission side system 7 adapts to a plurality of types of receiving side environments in which communication information may be transmitted and the respective types of receiving side environments. A plurality of types of adaptive conditions of communication information are registered in association with each other.

Table 1 below briefly shows, in part, an example of the adaptive condition list. In Table 1, three types of receiving-side environments when a PC, a mobile phone, and an STB are used as the receiving-side system 9 are registered, and are included in communication information adapted to each type of receiving-side environment. Adaptive conditions, such as image information and audio information, are registered in association with each other.

[0053]

[Table 1]

Such an adaptive condition list is created by manual input through an operation input unit (not shown) of the transmission side system 7 or read from a recording medium on which the adaptive condition list is recorded. There is a case where the information is obtained from a specific database or each receiving system of the transmission partner via the Internet. To create the adaptation condition list, a compatibility table in which the terminal names of each type of terminal are associated with the adaptation conditions of each type of terminal may be used. If the condition is unknown, the adaptation condition of the terminal similar to the transmitting system may be used.

Then, for example, when communication information to be transmitted is created and the receiving system 9 (or the type of the receiving system 9) to be transmitted is specified and a transmission instruction is given, in response to this, The control unit 27 of the information processing unit 23 of the transmission side system 7 specifies the type of the environment of the reception side corresponding to the reception side system 9 (or the type of the reception side system 9) as the transmission partner, and the communication information specifies the type of environment. The storage device 2 determines whether or not it has been adapted to the type of environment of the receiving side that has been set.
The determination is made based on the adaptation condition corresponding to the environment of the corresponding type in the adaptation condition list stored in 1. This determination is made by determining whether or not conditions such as the format and capacity of the communication information conform to the corresponding adaptive conditions in the adaptive condition list.

When the communication information conforms to the corresponding adaptation condition in the adaptation condition list, the communication information is compressed by the control unit 27 as necessary, and then compressed via the communication unit 29. It is sent out to the transmission path 1. Alternatively, under the control of the control unit 27, the communication information is written in the writing / reading device 31.
Is written to the communication recording medium 13 via the.

On the other hand, if the communication information does not conform to the corresponding adaptation condition in the adaptation condition list, the control unit 27
The communication information is converted by the conversion processing unit 33. On this occasion,
The control unit 27 sends to the conversion processing unit 33 the information included in the communication information to be converted (here, image information, audio information, or MIDI information separated from the e-mail by the control unit 27) and the information. The corresponding adaptation condition in the adaptation condition list to be caused is given, and the conversion processing unit 33 converts information to be transformed in the communication information so as to adapt to the given adaptation condition. The converted communication information is sent out to the transmission path 1 via the communication unit 29 under the control of the control unit 27 (or written to the communication recording medium 13 via the writing / reading device 31).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the conversion processing unit 33. The conversion processing unit 33 includes an image information conversion unit 41 for converting image information, an audio information conversion unit 43 for converting audio information, and a MIDI information conversion unit 45 for converting MIDI information. Note that the image information, audio information, and MIDI information to be converted are included in the communication information as an attached file of an electronic mail or the like.

The image information conversion unit 41 includes a resolution conversion unit 41
a, a frame rate conversion unit 41b, and a color number conversion unit 41
c, a format conversion unit 41d, and a compression processing unit 41e.
And

The resolution conversion unit 41a converts the resolution of the given image information so as to adapt to the adaptation condition relating to the given resolution. Similarly, the frame rate converter 41b, the number of colors converter 41c, and the format converter 4
1d converts the frame rate, the number of colors, and the format of the given image information so as to adapt to the adaptation conditions regarding the given frame rate, number of colors, and the format. The compression processing unit 41e includes the conversion units 41a to 41
d, the compression ratio is adjusted so that the capacity of the given image information after the conversion by d adapts to the adaptation condition relating to the given information capacity, and the converted image information is compressed and the control unit 2
7 is output.

The audio information conversion unit 43a includes a sampling rate conversion unit 43a, a track down 43b, a thinning processing unit 43c, a format conversion unit 43d, an image synchronization processing unit 43e, and a compression processing unit 43f.

The sampling rate converter 43a and the format converter 43d convert the given sampling rate and format of the audio information so as to adapt to the given sampling rate and frame rate adaptation conditions. Track down section 43b
Performs a track-down process of reducing the number of tracks of audio information as necessary so that the number of tracks of the supplied audio information adapts to the adaptation condition regarding the given number of tracks.

The thinning-out processing section 43c has a function of converting the capacity of the audio information so as to adapt to the corresponding adaptation condition by thinning out the audio information by various methods, and a control of the image synchronization processing section 43e described later. A function of adjusting synchronization of audio information with image information by thinning out information.

The image synchronization processing section 43e is provided to prevent the synchronization between the image information and the audio information from being lost by the conversion, and the conversion causes the synchronization between the image information and the audio information to be lost (or If it is damaged), a synchronization recovery process is performed.

As a method of the synchronization recovery, for example, in a case where the audio information is music and an image is switched in synchronization with the switching of music, and when the synchronization is lost due to conversion, A flag for causing the receiving side system 9 to recognize the switching timing of the image,
There is a method of adding the information to the image information at a timing corresponding to the music switching. Alternatively, image information (moving image) by the frame rate conversion unit 41b of the image information conversion unit 41
In accordance with the degree of the rate conversion of the
There is a method of maintaining synchronization between the image information and the audio information by controlling the degree of the thinning process of c.

The compression processing section 43f includes conversion sections 43a, 43
d and the compression rate is adjusted so that the capacity of the given audio information after the processing by the thinning-out processing unit 43c is adapted to the adaptation condition regarding the given information capacity, and the audio information after the processing is The data is compressed and output to the control unit 27.

The MIDI information converter 45 includes a channel number converter 45a, an additional information processor 45b, and a thinning processor 4.
5c and an image synchronization processing unit 45d.

The channel number conversion section 45a reduces the number of MIDI information channels as necessary so that the number of MIDI information channels adapts to the adaptation condition for the given number of channels. Additional information processing unit 4
5b converts the additional information of the given MIDI information so as to adapt to the given adaptation condition regarding the additional information.

The thinning processing section 45c has a function of converting the capacity of the MIDI information so as to adapt to the corresponding adaptation condition by thinning the MIDI information by various methods, and a control of the image synchronization processing section 45d to be described later. It has a function of adjusting the synchronization of the MIDI information with the image information by thinning out the information.

The image synchronization processing section 45d is provided to prevent the synchronization between the image information and the MIDI from being impaired by the conversion, and the conversion impairs (or impairs) the synchronization between the image information and the audio information. ), A synchronization recovery process is performed.

As a method of the synchronization recovery, for example, M
When the image is switched in synchronization with the switching of the IDI music, if the synchronization is lost due to the conversion, a flag for causing the receiving system 9 to recognize the image switching timing is set to the MIDI music. Is provided in the image information at a timing corresponding to the switching of the image information. Alternatively, by controlling the degree of the thinning processing performed by the thinning processing section 45c in accordance with the degree of the rate conversion of the image information (moving image) by the frame rate converting section 41b of the image information converting section 41, the image information and the MIDI can be obtained. There is a way to keep in sync with the information.

As described above, the MIDI processed by the functional elements (45a to 45d) of the MIDI information conversion unit 45
The information is sent to the control unit 27.

When the converted image information, audio information, or MIDI information is supplied from the conversion processing unit 33, the control unit 27 sends the supplied image information, audio information, or MIDI information.
The communication unit 29 re-combines the DI information and attaches it to the e-mail.
(Or writing to the recording medium 13 for communication via the writing / reading device 31).

In the present embodiment, the communication information is converted based on the adaptation conditions corresponding to the environment of each type of receiver in the adaptation information list already registered in the storage device 21 at the time of transmission. Before the transmission processing, the receiving side system 9 or the base station 3 of the transmission destination via the transmission path 1
The adaptive condition information adapted to the environment of the receiving side of the transmission destination may be obtained from the databases 5 and 11, and the communication information may be converted based on the obtained adaptive condition information.

Further, by reducing the number of characters included in the character information (text information) in the electronic mail, the capacity of the character information may be converted so as to be adapted to the applicable condition.

Further, in the present embodiment, the information processing unit 23 operated by the control program includes the information conversion units 41, 43, 4
5 functional elements (41a to 41e, 43a to 43f, 4
5a to 45d), and each functional element (4
1a to 41e, 43a to 43f, and 45a to 45d) may be provided.

As described above, according to the first characteristic point, when the communication information to be transmitted is not adapted to the environment of the receiving side, the communication information is transmitted by the transmitting side system 7 to the receiving side. Since the data is automatically converted so as to adapt to the environment and transmitted to the other party (or written to the recording medium 13), the sender does not need to perform any special conversion of communication information, etc., and adapts to the environment of the receiving side. It is possible to reduce the burden on the sender regarding the conversion processing of the communication information for performing the conversion.

<Second feature point> By the way, in creating communication information, communication information is created using contents selected from a plurality of contents (samples) created in advance or obtained from outside. Often do. For example, when creating communication information to be used as a hot summer visit, the document information is created using a fixed sentence (content) of the hot summer visit, and content such as music and images that match the hot summer visit is selected and attached to the document information. May create communication information.

In response to this, in the present embodiment, the storage device 21 provided in the transmitting system 7 stores a plurality of adaptive terminal-specific content groups 51a to 51a classified according to the corresponding receiving environment type. 51d is recorded. The storage device 21 indicates the type of environment on the receiving side of each receiving side system 9 to which communication information is to be transmitted, and which content group 51a to 51d corresponds to each type of receiving side environment. Correspondence information is stored.

The content groups 51a to 51c include a personal computer, a mobile phone or an ST
A plurality of contents such as characters, voices, images, etc., which are adapted to the type of environment of each receiving side when B is selected, are included in a selectable manner. A plurality of contents such as characters, sounds, images, and the like that can be adapted to each type of environment on the side are selectably included.

Here, the content groups 51a to 51d are
As shown in FIG. 8, the information may be created by being classified into one hierarchy, or may be created by being classified into a plurality of hierarchies in a tree shape corresponding to the classification of the environment type on the receiving side.

The sender specifies the transmission partner by, for example,
FIG. 9 displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the transmission side system 7
Is performed using a menu 53 as shown in FIG. In the menu 53, a plurality of pieces of identification information 53a indicating each pre-registered receiving side system 9 (or the type of the receiving side system 9) as a transmission partner are displayed. Each identification information 53a
Indicates the corresponding receiving system 9 (or the type of the receiving system 9) using the type (model name or the like) of the personal computer or the mobile phone of the receiving system 9 or the difference in display color. Then, for example, by specifying any of the identification information 53a with a cursor or the like on the display screen, the receiving system 9 (or the type of the receiving system 9) to be the transmission partner is specified. Here,
Each identification information 53a in the menu 53 and each content group 51a to 51 provided in the storage device 21 have a one-to-one correspondence.

The sender's receiving system 9 by the sender
(Or the type of the receiving system 9) is specified,
The control unit 27 of the information processing unit 23 of the transmission side system 7 specifies the reception side environment corresponding to the specified reception side system 9 (or the type of the reception side system 9), and stores the environment in the storage device 21. On the basis of the correspondence information, the content groups 51a to 51a to
51d is selected from the plurality of content groups 51a to 51d, and the contents included in the selected content groups 51a to 51d are presented to the sender so as to be selectable so as to be adapted to the environment on the receiving side. In the present embodiment, when the type of the receiving system 9 is specified by selecting the identification information 53a in the menu 53, the control unit 27 selects the content groups 51a to 51d corresponding to the identification information 53a. Accordingly, the content groups 51a to 51c corresponding to the type of the specified receiving side system 9
51d is selected.

When communication information is created by using the content selected by the sender from the contents extracted as described above, the communication information is transmitted to the communication unit 29 and the transmission path 1 by the control unit 27. (Or written to the recording medium 13 via the writing / reading device 31).

Since the content group 51d includes general-purpose content, if the content group 51d is selected by the sender and communication information is created using the content included in the content group 51d. , Based on the adaptive relation list stored in the storage device 21, before transmitting the communication information, the content group 51d
The above-described conversion processing is performed on the content selected from.

As described above, according to the second characteristic point, when the receiver side system 9 to which communication information is to be transmitted is specified by the sender, the transmission side system 7 stores the information in the storage device 21. A plurality of content groups 51a-5
1d, the content adapted to the type of the environment of the receiving side of the receiving system 9 specified is selected, so that the sender can select a desired content from the selected content groups 51a to 51d. By selecting the content to be used, communication information adapted to the environment of the receiving side can be created, and as a result, the work of the sender to select the content adapted to the environment of the receiving side when creating the communication information is unnecessary. can do.

Note that, in this feature, the plurality of contents stored in the storage device 21 are divided into adaptive terminal-specific content groups 51a to 51d provided according to the type of environment on the receiving side.
However, a plurality of contents may be classified based on a substantial difference between the contents.

That is, in this case, a plurality of types of content groups classified based on the difference in the substantial contents of the contained contents are provided. Are classified into content groups by type. As a result, each type of content group includes a plurality of contents having substantially the same contents but different types of environment on the receiving side to which the contents are applied. For example, in the case of image contents, contents having the same image content but different resolutions and formats are classified into the same content group.

In this modification, when the sender specifies the type-specific content group to be used from the plurality of type-specific content groups and specifies the receiving-side system to which communication information is to be transmitted, the specification is performed. From the plurality of contents included in the type-specific content group, the control unit 27 selects a content adapted to the type of the environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving side system.

<Third Feature> The plurality of contents stored in the storage device 21 provided in the transmission side system 7 are as follows.
As shown in FIG. 10, the information is classified into a plurality of form-based content groups 55, 57, and 59 based on the difference in the information form (here, image, sound, and character). 55a to 55c form a hierarchical structure. As a result, the content groups 55 and 5 for each form
7, 59 include a plurality of contents 61, 63, 65 different from each other that can be used for creating communication information. Here, a plurality of image contents 61
Is a higher layer, a content group 57 including a plurality of audio contents 63 is a middle layer, and a content group 59 including a plurality of text contents 65 is a lower layer.

The storage device 21 stores a plurality of usage purposes (or contents, themes, scenarios) 67 of the transmitted communication information in a selectable manner.

Then, the contents 61, 63, 6 of the form-specific contents groups 55, 57, 59 different from each other.
5 are associated with each other by a plurality of types of association modes A and B respectively corresponding to a plurality of use purposes 67 registered in advance, as indicated by solid arrows or chain arrows. The association modes A and B of each type correspond to the content 6 of each of
1, 63, 65 are separated from the upper-level content group 55, 57 by the lower-level content group 57, 5
9, each of the contents 61, along the corresponding purpose of use 67, with or without branching in a tree shape.
The association is made based on the association between 63 and 65. Also,
Each type of associating mode A, B includes each purpose of use 67 and each content 6 of the highest hierarchy related to the purpose of use 67.
1 is also associated.

For example, according to the association mode A, the purpose of use 67a and the contents 61a to 63c are associated. Between the content group 55 and the content group 57, the content 61a, the content 63a, 63b,
Content 61b, content 63b, and content 6
1c and the content 63c are associated with each other. Between the content group 57 and the content group 59,
Content 63a, content 65a, and content 6
3b, contents 65a and 65b, and contents 63c
And the content 65c are associated with each other.

That is, the association between each usage purpose 67 and each content 61 of the content group 55 and the association between each content group 55, 57, 59 are made from the possible usage 67 and each content 61, 6
The selection is performed based on the relevance of the contents of 3,65.

When the use purpose 67 of the communication information to be created is selected from a plurality of use purposes 67 registered in advance by the sender, the association mode A corresponding to the selected use purpose 67 is selected. , B, the content group 5 of the highest hierarchy is
Out of a plurality of contents 55, the intended purpose 6
At least one content 61 related to 7 is selected as a candidate. At this time, for example, when the purpose of use 67a is selected by the sender, the content 61a
To 61 c are selected as candidates by the control unit 27.

Subsequently, when the sender selects a content 61 to be used for creating communication information from the candidate contents 61 selected from the content group 55, the content 61 related to the selected content 61 is obtained. At least one content 63 is selected for the intended purpose 6
7 based on association modes A and B corresponding to
7, the content is selected from the plurality of contents 63 of the content group 57 in the middle hierarchy. At this time, for example,
When the content 61a is selected by the sender, the content 63a, 63b is selected by the control unit 27 as a candidate.

Subsequently, similarly, when the sender selects a content 63 to be used for creating communication information from the candidate content 63 selected from the content group 57, the selected content 63 is selected. Is associated with the selected use purpose 67 based on the association modes A and B,
The control unit 27 selects one of the plurality of contents 65 of the lower-level content group 59. At this time,
For example, when the content 63a is selected by the sender, the content 65a is selected as a candidate by the control unit 27.

Then, when the sender selects the content 65 to be used for creating the communication information from the candidates 65 selected from the content group 59, the content 65 is used for creating the communication information. image,
The combination of the audio and text contents 61, 63, and 65 is determined.

As described above, according to the third characteristic point, out of the huge number of combinations of contents 61, 63, and 65, the contents 6 used for creating communication information are determined.
The combination of 1, 63, 65 is used for the purpose 67 of the communication information.
Can be easily selected according to

<Fourth Feature> The storage device 21 provided in the receiving system 7 has an address list 7 in which communication addresses (eg, mail addresses) of transmission destinations are registered.
1 (see FIG. 11) is registered.

As shown in FIG. 11, the address list 71 includes at least one (three in FIG. 11) identifiers (recipient identification information) 73 assigned to each receiver, and each identifier 73 At least one (FIG. 1)
Address group 75). The identifier 73 is identification information for identifying each recipient,
It is composed of the name of the recipient.

Each address group 75 has its own address group 75.
Can include the communication addresses 77 of the plurality of receiving-side systems 9 used by the recipient corresponding to the identifier 73 associated with.

The plurality of communication addresses 77 included in the address list 71 are classified into a plurality of items 79 based on the attribute of the communication address 77 or the attribute of the receiving system 9 to which the communication address 77 is assigned. I have. For example, in the item 79a, the communication address 77 used by the recipient at work is registered, and in the item 79b, the communication address 7 used by the recipient on the mobile phone is registered.
7, the communication address 77 used by the recipient at home is registered in the item 79c, and the item 79d is registered in the item 79d.
Communication address 7 used when the recipient is in a car using a car navigation device with a communication function
7 is registered.

An address list 71 can be displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the transmitting system 7.
Using the address list 71, the communication address 77 of the communication information transmission destination can be specified.

That is, a plurality of communication addresses 77 included in the address list 71 are displayed on the display section as shown in FIG. Is displayed in each cell, and the communication address 77 of the transmission destination can be specified by moving a cursor or the like to a desired cell.

As described above, according to the address list 71 according to the fourth feature point, when each recipient uses a plurality of communication addresses 77, a single address for specifying each recipient is used. A plurality of communication addresses 77 can be associated with one identifier 73, and as a result, the address list 71
Can be simplified, and the communication address 77 desired by the receiver can be quickly specified.

The configuration and function of the transmitting side system 7 according to the above-described first to third feature points are changed to the base stations 3, 5
Or 11 or the receiving side system 9. Further, the configuration and function of the transmitting system 7 according to the above-described fourth feature may be provided in the base stations 3, 5, and 11. In such a case, these configurations and functions provided in the base station 3, 5, or 11 are used by the sender via the transmission system 7 and the transmission path 1.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a base station used in the communication method according to the embodiment. The communication method according to the present embodiment is applicable to, for example, the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.

In the communication method according to the present embodiment, at least a part of the processing for creating communication information is performed by the base stations 3 and 5.
Or 11 is performed. That is, the storage device 81 provided in the base station 3, 5, or 11 has
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of adaptive terminal-specific content groups 83a to 83d similar to the second feature of the first embodiment are provided, and a content use history 85 is stored.

In the storage device 81, the type of environment on the receiving side of each receiving side system 9 to which communication information is to be transmitted, and any of the content groups 83a to 83d correspond to each type of receiving side environment. Correspondence information indicating whether or not the information has been stored is stored. Further, the storage device 81 also stores an adaptive condition list similar to the adaptive condition list shown in Table 1 described above.

The features of each of the content groups 83a to 83d and the contents of the content included in each of the content groups 83a to 83d are the same as those of the above-described content groups 51a to 51d, and therefore, detailed description is omitted here. The content use history information 85 is, for example, information that records how a user (sender) uses which content stored in the storage device 81, such as charging for each user, managing copyright of each content, It can be used as marketing information such as tabulation of popular content. The management and update of the content usage history information 85 are performed by the control unit 89 of the information processing unit 87 provided in the base station 3, 5, or 11.

When using the contents in the storage device 81 of the base station 3, 5 or 11, the request information D5 (FIG. 14) for supplying the use of the contents via the transmission side system 7 and the transmission path 1 is used. , Base station 3, 5 or 1
1 to be used.

The request information D4 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
4 is transmitted to the base station 3, 5 or 11 while being included in the communication information as shown in FIG. The request information D4 requests the use of image content and audio content, and includes content group identification information indicating which content group 83a to 83d among the plurality of content groups 83a to 83d is to be used. Specified content group 8
Content identification information indicating which content included in 3a to 83d is to be used. The header information D1 and the text information body D2 included in the communication information of FIG. 14 are substantially the same as the header information D1 and the text information body D2 included in the communication information of FIG.

As the content group specifying information, for example,
Information indicating the type of environment on the receiving side corresponding to the receiving side system 9 of the transmission partner can be considered. In this case, when information indicating the type of environment on the receiving side is provided to the base station 3, 5 or 11 via the transmission path 1, the control unit 89 of the information processing unit 87
, Based on the correspondence information stored in the storage device 83, a plurality of content groups 83a to 83d adapted to the specified environment on the receiving side.
d, and a content corresponding to the transmitted content specifying information is selected from the selected content groups 83a to 83d and attached to the text information body D2, as shown in FIG. The communication information is completed and transmitted to the receiving side system 9 of the transmission partner via the communication unit 93 and the transmission path 1.

Since the contents group 83d includes general-purpose contents, when the contents group 83d is selected by the sender and communication information is created using the contents included in the contents group 83d. Before the transmission of the communication information based on the adaptive relation list stored in the storage device 83, the conversion processing of the conversion processing unit 91 performed according to the instruction of the control unit 89 performs the conversion process on the content selected from the content group 83d. The above-described conversion processing is performed. The configuration, function, and contents of the conversion processing of the conversion processing unit 91 are the same as those of the conversion processing unit 3 described above.
Substantially similar to 3.

As described above, according to the communication method according to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment, such as reduction of the burden on the sender when creating communication information, can be obtained. The effect is also obtained.

That is, in the communication method according to the present embodiment, a plurality of contents are prepared in the base station 3, 5, or 11, and the sender transmits the contents to the transmission side system 7 and the transmission path 1.
When a content to be used for creating communication information is specified via the communication terminal, communication information is created and completed in the base station 3, 5, or 11 using the content, and is transmitted to the receiving system 9. Therefore, there is no need to store (or read) contents having a large information capacity such as images and sounds in the transmission side system 7. For this reason, even when a simple mobile terminal such as a mobile phone having a small information processing capacity is used as the transmitting system 7, communication information created using contents having a large information capacity such as images and voices is transmitted to the receiving side. Can be transmitted to the system 9.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of contents stored in the storage device 81 are divided into adaptive terminal-specific content groups 83a to 83d provided according to the type of environment on the receiving side.
However, a plurality of contents may be classified based on a substantial difference between the contents.

That is, in this case, a plurality of types of content groups classified based on the difference in the substantial contents of the included contents are provided. Are classified into content groups by type. As a result, each type of content group includes a plurality of contents having substantially the same contents but different types of environment on the receiving side to which the contents are applied. For example, in the case of image contents, contents having the same image content but different resolutions and formats are classified into the same content group.

In this case, each type of content group is provided with identification information such as a title indicating the content of the content included therein. Along with this, the sender can access the base station 3,
By including identification information such as a title indicating a type-specific content group desired to be used in the request information D5 transmitted to 5 or 11, a desired type-specific content group can be specified. At this time, this identification information
It corresponds to the above-mentioned content group specifying information. In addition, the storage device 81 stores adaptation relationship information indicating which type of reception-side environment (or which type of reception-side system 9) each content included in each type of content group is adapted to. Is done.

In this modification, the request information D5 is transmitted from the transmitting system 7 to the base station 3, 5, or 11.
Is transmitted via the transmission line 1 to the base station 3,
5 or 11, the control unit 89 of the information processing unit 87 selects a type-specific content group indicated by the identification information from the plurality of type-specific content groups,
From the selected type-specific content group, the type of the environment on the receiving side (or the type of the receiving system 9) included in the request information D5 based on the correspondence information.
Is selected and attached to the text information body D2 to complete the communication information as shown in FIG. 5 and transmitted to the receiving-side system 9 via the communication unit 93 and the transmission path 1. Send.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 15 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
Base station 5 or 1 used in communication method according to embodiment
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of FIG. The communication method according to the present embodiment is applicable to, for example, the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. The communication method according to the present embodiment is used in combination with the communication method according to the first or second embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the created communication information is
When transmitted from the transmission side system 7 to the base station 5 or 11, the information processing section 9 provided in the base station 5 or 11
1 temporarily stores the communication information in the storage device 93, and transmits the broadcast information indicating the arrival of the communication information to the corresponding receiving system 9 via the communication unit 95 and the transmission path 1.
Send to The broadcast information includes not only information indicating the arrival of the communication information but also information indicating the type of the communication information that has arrived (characters only, characters and images or characters and images and voices), and information indicating the information capacity of the communication information. It may be included. Then, according to the notification information, for example, a message such as “Image / voice mail has arrived. Do you want to download?” Is sent by e-mail or voice message.

Here, the storage device 93 is provided with a database of each receiver using the base station 5 or 11, and the communication information sent to each receiver stores the information of the corresponding receiver. Once stored in the database.

When a transmission request for requesting transmission of communication information is transmitted from the receiving system 9 that has transmitted the broadcast information via the transmission line 1, the information processing section 91 stores the transmission request in response to the transmission request. The communication information stored in the device 93 is read and transmitted to the corresponding receiving system 9 via the communication unit 95 and the transmission path 1. The transmitted communication information is appropriately reproduced in the receiving system.

Here, when the communication information is transmitted from the base station 5 or 11 to the receiving system 9, the corresponding communication information in the storage device 93 is deleted in principle. However,
If desired by the recipient, the communication information may be stored in the storage device 93 without being deleted even after downloading. Alternatively, when the receiver receives the broadcast information indicating the arrival of the communication information in the receiving system 9, the receiver issues an erasure instruction instructing erasure of the communication information via the transmission line 1 to the base station 5 or 11.
, The communication information in the storage device 93 may be deleted without downloading. Alternatively, communication information for which a transmission request is not made for a certain period or more after transmission of the notification information may be deleted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when communication information is transmitted from the transmission system 7 to the reception system 9 via the transmission path 1, the communication information is temporarily transmitted to the base station 5 or 11. On the other hand, the broadcast information is transmitted from the base station 5 or 11 to the receiving system 9 via the transmission path 1, and a transmission request is transmitted from the receiving system 9 to the base station 5 or 11 via the transmission path 1. Since the communication information held in the base station 5 or 11 is transmitted to the receiving side system 9 in response to the reception, the broadcast information is transmitted when the broadcast information is transmitted from the base station 5 or 11. The user can select whether or not the communication information needs to be received by the receiving system 9 and the timing of receiving the communication information to the receiving system 9.

As a result, the receiver determines the status of the receiving terminal or the like used as the receiving system 9 (for example, the capacity or remaining amount of the memory of the receiving terminal, the communication between the receiving terminal and the base station 5 or 11 used). Costly and timely transmission cost of the transmission path 1,
Or the receiving terminal's ability to reproduce communication information, etc.)
There are cases where the user wants to receive communication information, receives but wants to select the timing of reception, or wants to receive in another receiving system 9 instead of the receiving system 9 used at that time. It is possible to appropriately respond to the needs of these recipients.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 16 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Base station 5 or 1 used in communication method according to embodiment
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of FIG. The communication method according to the present embodiment is applicable to, for example, the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, voice information D3 and / or image information D3 are added to text information body D2.
4 is transmitted to the receiving side system 9 first, as shown in FIG.
Instead of audio information D3 and / or image information D4,
The audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7 are attached to the header information D1 and the text information body D2 and transmitted to the receiving side. Here, the audio information D
The description of 3 and / or the image information D4 means both the audio information D3 and the image information D4, or one of the audio information D3 and the image information D4. Here, the information body of the communication information transmitted to the receiving system 9 corresponds to the text information body D2, the voice information D3, and the image information D4.

The audio information pull information D6 and the image information pull information D7 include internal information indicating the contents of the audio information D4 and the image information D6 corresponding to the audio information pull information D6 and the image information pull information D7, and the audio information Pull information necessary for downloading D4 and image information D6 from the storage device 101 of the base station 5 or 11 to the receiving system 9 via the transmission path 1 is included.

Here, for example, the storage device 101 provided in the base station 5 or 11 stores a plurality of contents such as voices and images that can be used by the sender and the receiver of the communication information. The user selects content to be transmitted to the receiving system 9 via the transmitting system 7 and the transmission path 1.

Preferably, as in the above-described second embodiment and its modifications, a plurality of contents stored in the storage device 101 are transferred to a plurality of adaptive terminal-specific content groups 83.
a-83d or classified by type,
If the user wants to use the audio content or the image content in the storage device 101, the sender sends the header information D1 and the text information body D2 to be transmitted to the other party, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, it is preferable to attach predetermined request information D5 for specifying the image content and transmit the request to the base station 5 or 11 via the transmission system 7 and the transmission path 1.

In this case, the information processing section 103 provided in the base station 5 or 11 includes the transmission line 1 and its communication section 10.
5, when the request information D5 is attached to the header information D1 and the text information body D2 and transmitted, the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull corresponding to the content specified by the request information D5. The information D7 is created, and the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7 are attached to the header information D1 and the text information body D2 via the communication unit 105 and the transmission path 1 to receive the information D7. Send to system 9.

In the receiving side system 9, the audio information pull information D attached to the header information D1 and the character information body D2
6 and / or image information pull information D7,
Based on the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7, the audio information D3 corresponding to the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7.
And / or content information indicating the content of the image information D4 is displayed on the display unit and output. At this time, the content information output by the receiving side system 9 includes, for example, when an instruction to transmit music information as audio information D3 is given to the base station 5 or 11 from the sender, the title of the music information Information indicating the contents such as is conceivable.

The receiver refers to the output content information and transmits a transmission request to the base station 5 or 11 via the receiving system 9 and the transmission path 1 at a desired timing. The audio information D3 and / or image information D4 corresponding to the transmitted audio information pull information D6 and / or image information pull information D7 can be downloaded from the base station 5 or 11. At this time, when there is a plurality of audio information D3 and / or image information D4 for which a transmission instruction is given from the sender to the base station 5 or 11 (for example, a transmission instruction for music information of a plurality of music pieces is given). In such a case), the receiver may be able to select audio information D3 and / or image information D4 to be downloaded from among the plurality of audio information D3 and / or image information D4.

In response to this, when a request to transmit audio information D3 and / or image information D4 is transmitted from the receiving side system 9 via the transmission path 1 and the communication section 105 from the receiving side system 9, The corresponding content is read from the storage device 101, and the format conversion, the conversion of the information capacity, and the like are performed as necessary in the same manner as in the first embodiment so as to adapt to the environment of the receiving side of the receiving side system 9 that is the transmission destination. After performing the transmission by the method, the communication unit 105 and the transmission path 1
Is transmitted to the corresponding receiving side system 9 via. At this time, which content should be selected from the plurality of contents stored in the storage device 101 to be adapted to the environment of the receiving side, or what kind of conversion processing should be performed on the content (audio information D3 or image data). The information processing unit 101 determines whether the information D4) adapts to the environment on the receiving side, based on the request information D5, the correspondence information, the adaptation condition list, and the like, in the same manner as in the above-described second embodiment. Done.

Here, the information for causing the base station 5 or 11 to specify the type of the environment on the receiving side is included in the request information D5 and given from the transmitting system 9 to the base station 5 or 11. However, when the transmission request of the audio information D3 and / or the image information D4 is transmitted from the receiving system 9 to the base station 5 or 11, the receiving system 9 may give the request to the base station 5 or 11.

As described above, according to the communication method of the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments, such as reducing the burden on the sender and the transmitting system 7 when creating communication information, can be obtained. In addition to the above, the following effects are also obtained.

That is, in the communication method according to the present embodiment, when the communication information is transmitted from the transmission system 7 to the reception system 9 via the transmission path 1, the communication information to be transmitted to the reception system 9 is not included. At least a part of the information body (here, audio information D3 and / or image information D4) held in the base station 5 or 11 is stored in the base station 5 or 11, and the audio information D3 and / or The audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7 including the contents of the image information D4 and the information necessary for downloading the image information D4 are transmitted to other part of the information body included in the communication information (here, characters The information is transmitted to the corresponding receiving system 9 together with the information body D2), and in response to the transmission request from the receiving system 9 to the base station 5 or 11, the base station 5 or 11 is transmitted. 5 or 11, audio information D3
And / or transmitting the image information D4 to the receiving side system 9. Because of this, the recipient
The audio information pull information D6 and / or
Alternatively, when the image information pull information D7 is transmitted, after confirming the contents of the audio information D3 and / or the image information D4 based on the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7, The necessity of receiving the audio information D3 and / or the image information D4 to the reception side system 9 and the reception timing to the reception side system 9 can be selected.

Further, in the communication method according to the present embodiment,
When the sender transmits communication information to a plurality of recipients at once, there are the following advantages.

That is, in the conventional communication method, when the same communication information (especially, voice information or image information) is to be simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of transmission destinations, the reception environments of the transmission destinations are different from each other. In order to enable all recipients to receive and reproduce communication information, the communication information is adapted to the reception environment of the transmission destination with the lowest reception environment level among multiple transmission destinations. It was necessary to transmit the communication information to each transmission destination. However, in this method, for example, even for a transmission destination that has a high reception environment level and can receive and reproduce a large size image, only a small size image adapted to a transmission destination of a lower level reception environment is used. There is a disadvantage that transmission is not possible.

On the other hand, in the communication method according to the present embodiment, when the sender instructs the base station 5 or 11 to transmit the communication information to a plurality of parties, the request information D5 requests the audio information D3 and / or the image information. If the contents of the contents constituting the information D4 are specified, when the audio information D3 and / or the image information D4 is transmitted to each of the receiving systems 9, the contents adapted to the receiving environment of each of the receiving systems 9 are transmitted. Is selected (or the content is converted so as to adapt to the receiving environment of each receiving system 9), audio information D3 and / or image information D4 adapted to the receiving environment of the other party are created, and each reception is performed. This is transmitted to the side system 9. For this reason, the sender can transmit communication information adapted to the reception environment of each transmission partner to each transmission partner at once without any trouble.

As a modification of the present embodiment, the communication method according to the present embodiment may be applied to the system configuration shown in FIG.
In this case, the transmission side system 7 is provided with the function of the above-described base station 5 or 11 according to the present embodiment, and when transmitting communication information to the reception side system 9 via the transmission path 1, the transmission side system 7 The base station 5 or 11 holds at least a part of information (here, audio information D3 and / or image information D4) of the information body included in the communication information to be transmitted to the system 9, and stores the audio information D3. And / or the audio information pull information D6 and / or the image information pull information D7 including the contents of the image information D4 and the information necessary for downloading the same are transmitted to other part of the information body included in the communication information (here, In this case, the message is transmitted to the corresponding receiving system 9 together with the text information body D2), and then, in response to the transmission request from the receiving system 9,
The audio information D3 and / or the image information D4 is transmitted to the receiving system 9. Further, the transmission system 7 has a function of creating audio information D3 and / or image information D4 adapted to the environment of each receiving side, similarly to the base station 5 or 11.

[0145]

According to the first, second, tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the communication information to be transmitted is adapted to the environment of the receiving side defined by at least one of the receiving side system and the communication medium. If not, the sending system,
When the transmission path is used as a communication medium, the communication information is converted by the base station interposed in the transmission path so as to adapt to the environment of the reception side. It is possible to reduce the burden on the sender regarding the conversion processing of the communication information for adapting to.

According to the third and twelfth aspects of the present invention, when the sender specifies the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted, the transmitting system or the base station specifies the plurality of contents from the plurality of contents. Content that matches the type of environment on the receiving side of the receiving system is selected, eliminating the need for the sender to select content that matches the environment on the receiving side when creating communication information. be able to.

According to the fourth and thirteenth aspects of the present invention, the type of content group to be used is specified by the sender from among the plurality of type of content groups, and the receiving side system to which communication information is transmitted is provided. When specified, the transmitting system or the base station causes a content that is adapted to the type of environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving system to be selected from the plurality of contents of the specified type of content group. This eliminates the need for the sender to select a content suitable for the environment on the receiving side when creating communication information.

According to the fifth, sixth, fourteenth, and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, the contents of each of the different types of content groups are different from each other in each type corresponding to each predetermined use purpose of the communication information. By the associating mode, from the upper-level form-based content group to the lower-level form-based content group side, each level is related based on the relevance of each content. Depending on the purpose of use of the communication information, the contents of each form-specific content group used for creating the communication information are changed from the upper-level form-specific content group to the lower-level form using the type of association corresponding to the purpose of use. It is possible to sequentially select the content group by form. As a result, out of the vast number of content combinations,
A combination of contents used for creating communication information can be easily selected according to the purpose of use of the communication information.

According to the present invention, when communication information is transmitted from the transmitting system to the receiving system via the transmission path, the communication information is temporarily held in the base station, while Broadcast information is transmitted from the base station to the receiving system via the transmission path, and is held in the base station in response to a transmission request being given from the receiving system to the base station via the transmission path. Since the communication information is transmitted to the receiving system, when the broadcast information is transmitted from the base station, the receiver needs to receive the communication information to the receiving system and the reception timing to the receiving system. Can be selected.

According to the present invention, when transmitting the communication information to the receiving system via the transmission path, the transmitting system or the base station transmits the contents of the information body included in the communication information to the transmitting system or the base station. Is transmitted to the receiving system, and in response to the transmission request being given from the receiving system to the transmitting system or the base station, the information body is transmitted to the transmitting system or the base station. When the content information is transmitted from the base station, the content of the communication information is confirmed based on the content information, and then transmitted to the communication information receiving system. Is required, and the timing of reception to the receiving side system can be selected.

According to the ninth and eighteenth aspects of the present invention, the address list provided in the transmitting system or the base station interposed in the transmission path includes at least one receiver identification assigned to each receiver. Information, and at least one address group separately associated with each of the recipient identification information, and each address group has a recipient corresponding to the recipient identification information associated with the address group. The communication address of multiple receiving systems in use can be included, so if each recipient uses multiple communication addresses, multiple communication Addresses can be associated, and as a result, the address list can be simplified, and the communication address desired by the receiver can be quickly specified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating a system configuration example when normal information is transmitted using a transmission path as a communication medium.

FIG. 2 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating a system configuration example when normal information is transmitted using a transmission path as a communication medium.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating a system configuration example when normal information is transmitted using a transmission path as a communication medium.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily showing a typical system configuration example when communication information is transmitted using a recording medium as a communication medium.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a general electronic mail with an audio image.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a transmission side system used in the communication method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a conversion processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content group.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a menu used when specifying a receiving side system (or its type) of a transmission partner.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an associating mode for associating each content of each type-specific content group.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an address list.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a base station used in a communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing main storage contents of a storage device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of communication information transmitted from a transmitting system to a base station.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a base station used in a communication method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a base station used in a communication method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of information transmitted from a base station to a receiving system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Transmission path 3,5,11 Base station 7 Transmitting system 9 Receiving system 13 Recording medium

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A communication method for transmitting communication information from a transmission side system of a sender to a reception side system of a receiver using a transmission path or a recording medium as a communication medium, wherein: If the communication information to be transmitted is not adapted to a receiving environment defined by at least one of the receiving system or the communication medium, the transmitting system, the receiving system,
Alternatively, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, a base station provided in the transmission path converts the communication information so as to be adapted to the environment of the reception side. . 2. When the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the transmission-side system, the reception-side system, or the base station provided in the transmission path includes the environment of the reception side. An adaptation condition list is provided in which types and a plurality of types of adaptation conditions of the communication information respectively corresponding to each type of the environment of the receiving side are provided, and the receiving side system to which the communication information is to be transmitted is provided. Is specified by the sender, the transmitting system, the receiving system, or, if the transmission path is used as the communication medium, the base station interposed in the transmission path, the adaptation to the Using a condition list, the adaptive condition corresponding to the type of the environment of the identified receiving system is selected from the plurality of types of adaptive conditions, and the selected application condition The communication method according to claim 1, characterized in that to perform conversion of the communication information Zui. 3. The system on the transmitting side or, when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, a plurality of contents used for creating the communication information are provided in the base station interposed in the transmission path. Wherein each of the contents is adapted to any one of a plurality of types of the environment of the reception side, and the reception of the communication information is transmitted by the sender via the transmission side system. Once the local system is identified,
The transmitting system or the base station causes a content adapted to a type of an environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving system among the plurality of contents to be selected. 3. The communication method according to 2. 4. When the transmission path is used as the transmission-side system, the reception-side system, or the communication medium, the base station provided in the transmission path includes substantially the content contained therein. A plurality of types of content groups that can be used to create the communication information classified based on the difference in content are provided, and the type-specific content groups include:
A plurality of contents having different adaptation forms respectively adapted to the respective types of the environment of the receiving side are included, and are used from among the plurality of types of content groups by the sender via the transmitting side system. When the type-specific content group is specified and the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted is specified, the transmitting system or the base station informs the plurality of types of the specified content group to the base station. 3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein a content adapted to the type of environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving side system is selected from the contents. 4. 5. When the transmission path is used as the transmission side system or the communication medium, the base station includes a plurality of form-based content groups classified based on a difference in information form in a hierarchical manner. The form-specific content group includes a plurality of contents having different contents which can be used for creating the communication information, which are selectable. The contents are associated with each other in a plurality of types of association modes respectively corresponding to a plurality of preset use purposes of the communication information, and the types of association modes are different from each other in the form-specific content groups. Each content is transferred from the form-based content group in the upper hierarchy to the form-based content group in the lower hierarchy, for each hierarchical level. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the content is associated based on a relationship between the contents. 6. The information form of at least a part of the plurality of form-specific content groups of the plurality of form-specific content groups is any one of an image, a sound, and a character. Communication method described in. 7. The transmission path is used as the communication medium, and when transmitting the communication information from the transmission side system to the reception side system via the transmission path, the communication information is temporarily transmitted to the base station. While causing the base station to transmit broadcast information to the receiving system via the transmission path, and responding to the transmission request being given from the receiving system to the base station via the transmission path. And the base station
3. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the held communication information is transmitted to the receiving side system. 8. The transmission medium is used as the communication medium, and when transmitting the communication information to the reception system via the transmission path, the communication information is transmitted to the transmission system or the base station. In response to a transmission request from the receiving system to the transmitting system or the base station, the transmitting system transmits content information indicating the content of the information body included in the transmitting system to the transmitting system. The communication method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the system or the base station transmits the information body to the receiving side system. 9. The transmission path is used as the communication medium, and an address list is provided in the transmission-side system or a base station provided in the transmission path, and the address list includes the respective recipients. And at least one address group separately associated with each of the recipient identification information, wherein each of the address groups is associated with the address group. The communication method according to claim 1, wherein the communication method can include communication addresses of a plurality of the receiving side systems used by the recipient corresponding to the recipient identification information. 10. A communication system for transmitting communication information from a transmission side system of a sender to a reception side system of a receiver using a transmission path or a recording medium as a communication medium, wherein the communication information is transmitted when the communication information is transmitted. The communication information of interest is
When the transmission system is not adapted to the environment of the reception side defined by at least one of the reception side system and the communication medium, the transmission side is used as the transmission side system, the reception side system, or the communication medium. A communication system, wherein a base station provided in the transmission path converts the communication information so as to adapt to the environment of the reception side. 11. The transmission-side system, the reception-side system, or the base station provided in the transmission line when the transmission line is used as the communication medium,
An adaptation condition list is provided in which a plurality of types of adaptation conditions of the communication information corresponding to each type of the environment of the reception side and each type of the environment of the reception side are associated with each other. The receiving system, or the base station provided in the transmission path when the transmission path is used as the communication medium, specifies the receiving system to which the communication information is to be transmitted by the sender. Then, using the adaptive condition list, the adaptive condition corresponding to the type of the environment of the specified receiving system is selected from the plurality of types of adaptive conditions, based on the selected applied conditions The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the communication information is converted by performing the conversion. 12. When the transmission path is used as the transmission medium or the communication medium, the base station interposed in the transmission path includes a plurality of contents used for creating the communication information. Wherein each of the contents is adapted to any one of a plurality of types of the environment of the reception side, and the reception of the communication information is transmitted by the sender via the transmission side system. Once the local system is identified,
The transmitting system or the base station selects a content adapted to a type of environment of the receiving side corresponding to the specified receiving system from among the plurality of contents, or The communication system according to claim 11, 13. When the transmission path is used as the transmission-side system, the reception-side system, or the communication medium, the base station provided in the transmission path substantially includes the content contained therein. A plurality of type-specific content groups that can be used for creating the communication information classified based on the difference in content are provided, and the type-specific content groups include a content group that is adapted to each type of the environment of the receiving side. A plurality of contents having different adaptation forms are included, and the type-specific content group used from the plurality of type-specific content groups is specified by the sender via the transmission-side system, and the communication information is specified. When the receiving-side system to be transmitted is specified, the transmitting-side system or the base station determines the type-specific content group of the specified type. Communication system according to claim 10 or 11 out of the number of content, characterized by selecting the content to be adapted to the type of the recipient of the environment corresponding to the receiving system specified. 14. When the transmission path is used as the transmission side system or the communication medium, the base station includes a plurality of form-based content groups classified based on a difference in information form in a hierarchical manner. The form-specific content group includes a plurality of contents having different contents which can be used for creating the communication information, which are selectable. The contents are associated with each other in a plurality of types of association modes respectively corresponding to a plurality of preset use purposes of the communication information, and the types of association modes are different from each other in the form-specific content groups. Each content is moved from the form-specific content group in the upper hierarchy to the form-specific content group in the lower hierarchy, and The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the contents are associated based on the relevance between the contents. 15. The information form of at least a part of the plurality of form-specific content groups of the plurality of form-specific content groups is any one of an image, a sound, and a character. A communication system according to claim 1. 16. The transmission path is used as the communication medium, and when the communication information is transmitted from the transmission side system via the transmission path, the base station temporarily holds the communication information. Transmitting broadcast information to the receiving side system via the transmission path, and responding to a transmission request from the receiving side system being given via the transmission path, storing the held communication information. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the transmission is performed toward the reception-side system via the transmission path. 17. The transmission medium is used as the communication medium, and when the communication information is transmitted to the reception system via the transmission path, the transmission system or the base station communicates with the communication system. Transmitting content information indicating the content of the information body included in the information to the receiving system, and responding to a transmission request from the receiving system being given to the transmitting system or the base station, The communication system according to claim 10, wherein the communication side system or the base station transmits the information body to the reception side system. 18. The transmission path is used as the communication medium, and an address list is provided in the transmission-side system or a base station provided in the transmission path, and the address list is provided for each of the recipients. And at least one address group separately associated with each of the recipient identification information, wherein each of the address groups is associated with the address group. 12. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein communication addresses of a plurality of receiving side systems used by the recipient corresponding to recipient identification information can be included.