JP2002142023A - Server system and communication data transmission method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a server machine that reduces a call tariff in the case of making a speech between unspecified talkers on the basis of a specific topic. SOLUTION: A memory device of the server machine 3 stores databases and message boxes of memberships. Each membership registers its message to each message box and selects a conversation with other membership on the basis of the message. When an opposite party is selected, the server machine 3 transmits telephone numbers and charging information of both the parties to a reception repeater 5 via the Internet 4. A phone exchange network 6 makes a call to portable telephone systems 1, 7 of users to connect a telephone line. Thus, the unspecified talkers can make a speech without the direct recognition of the telephone numbers of opposite parties to each other. Installing the reception repeater 5 and the phone exchange network 6 at an area where the call tariff is cheaper can reduce the call tariff.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server system and a communication data transmission method for realizing conversation mode communication between unspecified speakers using a telephone.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, message communication, two-shot, and toll-free (registered trademark) have been used as telephone communication between unspecified speakers.
Etc. are known. The toll-free number is for the caller to pay the call fee, not the person who made the call, and is widely used in mail-order sales and information providing services.

[0003] In the case of overseas telephone communication,
A callback method is known as a method for significantly reducing telephone charges. In the callback method, conventionally, users who can use this system are registered in advance.
When a user makes a call using a callback, a call is made to an overseas callback company via a domestic telephone exchange network and an international telephone exchange network. When the callback operator receives the call, the caller temporarily hangs up. The callback company calls back to the calling party's telephone number in Japan. The caller receives this call, enters a call state, and then inputs the telephone number of the other party to call using a push button or the like. The callback company detects the number and calls the destination number to connect the domestic caller and the overseas destination.

[0004]

However, if such a conventional public telephone service is used, the toll-free charge from a mobile phone call is set high due to domestic circumstances, and the caller of the toll-free telephone is used. There is a drawback that it is difficult for a mail order company or the like to introduce a toll-free service in terms of business profitability. On the other hand, mobile phones have become widespread in recent years, and the number of users who use only mobile phones over fixed phones has been increasing rapidly. there were.

Further, in the conventional communication using the callback technique, communication is possible only when the telephone number of the other party is recognized in advance, and a conversation is started by selecting an arbitrary party from a specific topic. There is a disadvantage that a conversation mode service between unspecified speakers cannot be introduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has been made in view of the above circumstances. The purpose is to be able to significantly reduce fees.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server system connected to a computer network and a public telephone line, wherein a call and information selection signal obtained through the public telephone line are provided. And a telephone line interface unit for outputting requested information via a public telephone line, and a specific caller and called party as a registered member, and a telephone number and / or one of the calling party and called party User data holding means for holding billing information, message storage means for storing a message from the registered member, a communication interface unit for transmitting necessary information to the computer network, and a telephone line interface unit. It controls writing to the message storage means after an incoming call and at least based on a caller's selection signal. Sending a message consisting of two selectable data to the caller's phone and, based on a talker selection signal from the caller's phone, the caller's and correspondent's telephone numbers or caller and Communication control means for transmitting at least one of the member information of the communication partner to the computer network.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server system connected to a computer network, which receives a call from a telephone having an image display function and a selection signal of a writing site, and transmits information to the telephone. A telephone line interface unit to be output, user data holding means for holding a specific caller and called party as a registered member, and holding the caller's and called party's telephone numbers and either one of the billing information; A message storage unit for storing a message from a member, a communication interface unit for transmitting necessary information to the computer network, and controlling writing to the message storage unit after an incoming call to the telephone line interface unit; A message comprising at least one selectable data based on a caller's selection signal; Transmitting to the caller's phone, and based on a speaker selection signal from the caller's phone, at least one of the caller's and communication partner's telephone numbers or the caller's and communication partner's member information, Communication control means for transmitting to a computer network.

The invention of claim 3 of the present application is directed to claim 1 or 2
In the server system of the above, the user data holding means bears a call charge, and a second member which does not bear the call charge and does not hold the charge information, with the first type member holding the charge information.
It is characterized by holding data on seed members.

The invention of claim 4 of the present application is directed to claim 1 or 2
In the server system of the above, the message storage means comprises, for each registered member, a private message box that is set and readable by all registered members and readable only by the member, and an open message box that can be written and read by all registered members. It is characterized by including.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the server system of the second aspect, the message held in the message storage means includes at least one of text information and image information provided by the caller. It is characterized by the following.

[0012] The invention of claim 6 of the present application is a communication data transmitting method for transmitting communication data connected to a computer network and a public telephone line, wherein a specific caller and a callee are registered as a registered member. Holding the telephone numbers of the caller and the callee and either one of the billing information, storing the message of the registered member after an incoming call from the registered member, and at least one selectable data based on a selection signal of the caller. To the caller's phone, and, based on a speaker selection signal from the caller's phone, a telephone number of the caller and the other party or a member of the caller and the other party At least one of the information is transmitted to the computer network.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication system including a server machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a user's mobile phone 1 is connected to a server machine 3 via a public telephone line 2. The server machine 3 receives information from the registered member via the public telephone line 2 and also performs various functions such as responding by returning voice or character reception and holding a message. The server machine 3 has a function of transmitting predetermined information to the Internet network 4 and receiving necessary data. Also, a receiving repeater 5 is installed outside via the Internet network 4, and a telephone exchange network 6 of a callback reseller is connected to the receive repeater 5. The telephone exchange network 6 is a telephone exchange network that implements a plurality of telephone exchanges based on an instruction from the receiving repeater 5.

Next, the detailed configuration of the server machine 3 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. As public telephone lines connected to the server machine 3, there are telephone lines for first and second type members as described later. Server machine 3
Is connected to a voice processing unit 12 and a digital conversion unit 13 via a telephone line interface (I / F) 11. The voice processing unit 12 converts a message such as a predetermined operation guide or a user's message held as data into voice information and outputs the voice information from the public telephone line 2 based on an instruction from the CPU 14. The digital conversion unit 13 is a conversion unit that converts an FSK signal from the mobile phone 1 operated via the public telephone line 2 into a digital signal, and its output is given to the CPU 14. The input unit 15, the display unit 16, and the memory device 17 are connected to the CPU 14. As the memory device 17, a large-capacity memory having a data area 17A and a program area 17B is used. The CPU 14 is the communication interface 1
8 and connected to the Internet 4.

Next, the data area 17A in the memory device 17
Will be described. FIG. 3 is a message map showing the member database in the data area 17A of the message device 17. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a message box corresponding to a member of each member number. The data area 17A is provided with an area including a member data table 21 as user data holding means and message boxes 22, 23, and 24 as message storage means. A user who uses this communication system is a caller or a callee, and is thus registered in advance as a member. Information on the registered members is held in the member data table 21. This member data table 2
1 includes, as shown in the figure, identification of a first-type member and a second-type member, a member number, a telephone number of a mobile phone of the member, a number of a member-specific message box, and a password corresponding to the message box. Is provided. The first type member is a member who bears the cost related to the call, and is provided with a charge data area including various information for charging the member, in addition to the talkable time. The billing data may be provided with an area for recording the name, address, and other attributes of the member.

The second member is a member who does not bear the call cost, and retains the same data as the first member except for billing data. That is, as shown in the data table of the second type members in FIG. 3, there are areas for member numbers, telephone numbers, message box numbers, and personal identification numbers. In addition to this, a telephone number may be set as a third-type member who does not set a message box for a person who newly starts a call.

Next, the message box will be described. A message box is an area for holding messages from members. A private message box (hereinafter simply referred to as a private box) set for each member and an open message box (hereinafter,
There is simply an open box). FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a configuration of the private box 22 of the first type member having the member number A1. The private box 22 is provided with a large number of areas for holding, in addition to the index, a message and a second type of member number that imbued the message. For each of the second type members, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the private box 23 of the member number B1 is displayed, in addition to the index, a message and the member number of the first type member who called the message. Is provided. Also, in FIG.
4 shows an example in which a message and a member number arbitrarily written by the first and second members are recorded together with the index.

Next, the operation of the server machine 3 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts showing processing when a call is received on the first type member line. When there is an incoming call from the member, a signal is transmitted via the telephone line interface 11 and the digital conversion unit 13 to the CP.
It is transmitted to U14. When the operation starts, first, in step S1
It is checked whether or not the user has been registered as a member. If not, the process proceeds to routine S2 to perform a new registration process. If the member is a registered member, the operation proceeds to the operation guidance of the top menu in step S3. In the operation guide, the registered member is requested to select message processing, credit settlement processing, and remaining time confirmation processing. When the credit settlement process (step S5) is selected in the menu selection process, the member is settled, and when the remaining time confirmation process (step S6) is selected, the confirmation of the remaining use time is performed. Usage fee transfer destination guidance processing (step S
Perform 7) and return to the operation guide step S3. When the message processing step S4 is selected, the presence / absence of a private box of the member is determined, and if not, a new private box creation process (routine S9) is performed.

In the new box creation processing routine S9, the user creates a new private box.
In this case, a prescribed private box number and a password for it are determined. If there is already a private box, the flow advances to step S10 to request input of the box number and the password. When these are input, it is determined whether the member's private box number and password are correct, and error processing is performed for an incorrect number (step S11). If the number is correct, the number of messages contained in the box is output (step S12). Next, by performing the operation guidance shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the selection of the message menu is requested. In the message menu, the following menu can be selected based on the operation guidance in step S13. That is, processing of reproduction of the open box (routine S14), recording in the open box (routine S15), reproduction of the private box (routine S16), recording in the private box (routine S17), or returning to the main menu (step S18) Alternatively, end (Step S19) processing is selected.

Next, the processing for the second kind member is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The same steps as those in the flowchart described above use the same step numbers.
When there is an incoming call on the line for the second class member, it checks whether or not it has been registered as a member, as in the case of the first class member.
If not registered, new registration is performed in routine S2. Then, the process proceeds to the operation guidance and message processing in steps S3 and S4, and it is checked whether or not there is a private box for the member (step S8). The following operations are the same as the operations in FIGS. 5 and 6 described above. If there is no private box, a new box creation process is performed. If there is a private box, a box number and a password are required to be input. Sometimes the number of messages is output. The processing shown in FIG. 6 is the same as the processing for the first-class members, in which operation guidance is performed and a selection of the processing is requested.

Next, the open reproduction process of the routine S14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the open reproduction process is started, first, steps S21 and S22
Performs guidance of open reproduction, and acquires the message held in the open box. Then, it is determined whether there is a message (step S23). If there is no message, the process proceeds to the operation guide of step S13 in FIG. 6, and if there is a message, the first message is reproduced (step S24). Next, the user is requested to select a process, a process of recording in the private box of the partner who has just reproduced (routine S25), reproduction of the previous message (step S26), and replay of the same message (step S2)
7) Request the reproduction of the next message (step S28), return to the main routine (step S29), and select conversation (step S30). When the processing of steps 26 to 29 is selected, the process proceeds to the selected message or returns to the main routine. When the conversation is selected, the process proceeds to step S31, where the telephone number of the member whose message contained in the open box has been reproduced and the telephone number of the user who has requested reproduction of the message are transmitted to the Internet network 4 according to a format described later. When the box recording process is completed in the routine S25, the process proceeds to step S32 or step S32.
At 33, select to play the message again or to play the next message.

Next, an open recording process routine (S15)
Will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the open recording process is started, guidance for open recording is provided in step S41, and a message to the open box spoken by the user via the telephone line is temporarily held. Then, the process proceeds to step S43 to guide the subsequent operation, and waits for the user's selection. The user can select registration processing of the recorded message (step S44), confirmation processing (step S45), retry (step S46), and cancel of the recorded message (step S47). When the registration process is selected, the temporarily held message is indexed and registered in the open box 24 as shown in FIG. Step S if confirmation
Proceeding to 48, the recorded message is reproduced and the process returns to step S43. In the case of a retry, the process returns to step S41.

Next, the box reproduction processing routine S16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the box playback process is started, guidance for box playback is provided in step S51 of FIG. 10, and then the presence or absence of a message is determined (step S52). If there is no message, the process returns to the original routine, and if there is a message, the number of messages is output (step S53). Then, the first message is obtained and reproduced (steps S54 and S5).
5). Wait for user selection after playback. The user makes a box recording for creating a reply to the reproduced message (routine S56), deletes the message (step S57), reproduces the previous message (step S58), reproduces the message again (step S59), Reproduction of the message (step S60), return to the main routine (step S61), and conversation selection with the message creator (step S62) can be selected. When the conversation is selected in step S62, the telephone number of the member whose message contained in the private box has been reproduced and the telephone number of the user who has requested reproduction of the message are transmitted to the Internet network 4 according to a format described later (step S6).
3). If a reply is to be made, a box recording process is performed on the other party's private box in routine S56. When this is completed, replay or next message play is selected (steps S64 and S65).

Next, box recording routines S17 and S2
5, the operation of S56 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the operation starts, first, in step S71,
, The user is informed of the box recording, and waits for the input of the box number of the destination to be recorded. It is determined whether or not this number is normal. If not, the process returns to the main routine. If it is a normal box number, the flow advances to step S74 to temporarily hold the message spoken by the caller. Next, in step S75, operation guidance is performed, and the next selection is awaited. The user can select a process of registering the held message in the other party's private box (step S76), a process of confirming the recorded message (step S77), a retry (step S78), and a cancellation (step S79). When the confirmation process is selected, the message once recorded is reproduced again (step S80), and the process returns to the operation guide.

At the start of the conversation, steps S31 and S63
In the first format according to the format shown in FIG.
Kind member's phone number T1 and second kind member's phone number T
2, the receiving relay device 5 in which the billing information of the first type member is farther from the server machine 3 via the Internet 4
Is forwarded to The transmission data may be transmitted with the member number of the first or second type member added. Where CPU
Reference numeral 14 denotes message boxes 22 and 2 serving as message storage means after an incoming call to the telephone line interface unit.
Sending a message comprising at least one selectable data to the caller's telephone based on the caller's selection signal, and selecting a speaker from the caller's telephone; A function of communication control means for transmitting data to the Internet network by transmitting the telephone numbers of the caller and the communication partner and the billing data of the first type member to the computer network based on the signal. I have.

Next, the operation of the receiving repeater 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When receiving the data signal shown in FIG. 12A from the server machine 3 via the Internet 4, the reception relay device 5 proceeds from step S 101 to step S 102 and converts the received telephone numbers T 1 and T 2 into the telephone exchange network 6. To send to. In the telephone exchange network 6, a call is made from these two telephone numbers T1 and T2 to the user's telephone 1 and the other party's telephone 7 in FIG. 1 and both are connected so as to be in a talking state. The reception relay device 5 checks whether or not the connection state has been reached until the time is up (steps S103 and S104). If connected, the process proceeds to step S105, and the billing data is sequentially changed as time passes. In other words, it detects whether or not the connection has been completed, while subtracting the available time for communication according to the usage time. In steps S105 and S106, the accounting data is changed until the connection is completed. When the user disconnects the line or the talk time ends, the call is disconnected. Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the telephone number T1 of the first type member,
Alternatively, the member number and the changed accounting information are returned to the server machine 3 via the Internet 4 (step S107). If the time is up in step S104, the process proceeds to step S108, and a connection disable notification is returned to the server machine 3.

The server machine 3 changes the charging information of the first type member in the member database based on the changed charging information. In this way, the first and second members can arbitrarily select a partner based on a message entered in the open box or their own private box and start a conversation. Even if the telephone number of the other party is unknown in advance, it is possible to have a conversation based on a specific theme based on a message recognized in advance. Here, if the receiving repeater 5 and the telephone exchange network 6 are installed in a country such as the United States where telephone charges are inexpensive, the overall telephone charges will be greatly reduced regardless of the member's country. Can be.

FIG. 14 is a data format diagram showing another embodiment of FIG. In this embodiment, at the start of a conversation, in steps S31 and S63, FIG.
According to the format shown in (a), only the telephone number T1 of the first type member and the telephone number T2 of the second type member are transferred from the server machine 3 to the remote receiving relay device 5 via the Internet network 4. This transmission data is of the first type or the second type.
The member number of the seed member may be added and transmitted. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14B, the reception relay device 5 returns the telephone number T1 of the first type member at the end of the connection and the line usage time due to the connection to the server machine 3 via the Internet network 4. Can also. Also, the server machine 3 can change the charging information of the first type member in the member database based on the line use time. When the member data table is held on the receiving relay device side, the first
The conversation can be started by transmitting the seed number and the second type member number.

In the above-described embodiment, a system is shown in which a destination can be selected in a voice-only communication mode so that messages can be directly exchanged. However, the present invention relates to character information and characters of still images and moving images. The present invention can be applied to a communication system using a portable terminal such as a so-called i-mode or e-mail having a function of displaying images, a mobile phone, or the like. In this case, the message selection screen, the number of messages in the private box and the open box, and the like may be displayed in a graphic form so that the user can select one of them. The message may be a text or an image as well as a voice, and the message including the text or the image may be written or read.
Also, a single server machine that connects a plurality of server machines connected to the mobile phone and connects to the Internet may be provided.

The present invention is not limited to communication between unspecified speakers,
It can be applied to catalog shopping, tele-shopping, etc., one of which is a business. In this case, the first-class member can be set as an order reception counter divided for each product section. Further, the present invention can also be applied to inquiries about products provided by a company to general users, and consultation work on how to use software after sale. In this case, a communication system in which the first-class members are charged can be constructed by certifying each type-member as a first-class member for each type of product and the outline item of the consultation content. In this case, the second type member is a general user who has purchased the product. Even when general users use only mobile phones, they can make outgoing calls directly to mobile phones, enabling low-cost communication, thus significantly reducing the communication costs borne by first-class members. Can be.

[0031]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a registered member registers a message in a message box, thereby enabling conversation between unspecified speakers sharing a topic based on the message. A server system for performing the above can be realized. In this system, members can start conversations and obtain necessary information without disclosing their phone numbers. In addition, since the member who bears the call cost is determined in advance, it is possible to have a conversation with other members within the range of the talkable time with the billing amount, and realize a toll-free service at a low price. The effect is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication system including a server machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of a member database in a data area of the memory device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a message box in a data area of the memory device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating the operation of the server machine for the first type member of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the operation of the server machine for the first type member of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the server machine for the second type member of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an open playback process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an open recording process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a box reproduction process according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a box recording process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a data format used for a telephone call between the server system of the present embodiment and the reception relay device via the Internet network.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the reception relay device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a data format diagram showing another example of communication between the server system of the present embodiment and the reception relay device via the Internet network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,7 Mobile phone 2 Public telephone line 3 Server machine 4 Internet network 5 Receiving relay device 6 Telephone exchange network 11 Telephone line interface 12 Voice processing unit 13 Digital conversion unit 14 CPU 15 Input unit 16 Display unit 17 Memory device 18 Communication interface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 7/38 H04Q 7/04 DF term (Reference) 5K015 AB01 AE01 GA01 GA02 5K024 AA72 BB05 CC01 FF03 FF05 FF06 GG05 5K025 AA08 CC01 FF17 GG05 GG12 GG29 HH06 JJ02 5K067 AA41 DD52 DD53 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF02 FF04 GG01 GG11 HH05 HH23 5K101 KK05 LL12 NN07 NN15

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A server system connected to a computer network and a public telephone line, comprising: receiving a call and an information selection signal obtained through the public telephone line, and transmitting the requested information to the public telephone line. A telephone line interface unit for outputting via a telephone line, user data holding means for holding specific callers and callees as registered members, and holding the caller and callee telephone numbers and either one of the billing information; A message storage unit for storing a message from the registered member; a communication interface unit for transmitting necessary information to the computer network; and controlling writing to the message storage unit after an incoming call to the telephone line interface unit. And a message comprising at least one selectable data based on the caller's selection signal. Is transmitted to the caller's telephone, and based on a speaker selection signal from the caller's telephone, at least the telephone numbers of the caller and the communication partner or the member information of the caller and the communication partner. Communication control means for transmitting one to the computer network. 2. A server system connected to a computer network, comprising: a telephone line interface unit that receives a call from a telephone having an image display function and a selection signal of a writing site, and outputs information to the telephone; A specific caller and a callee as a registered member, user data holding means for holding either the caller's or callee's telephone number or any one of billing information, and storing a message from the registered member A message storage unit, a communication interface unit for transmitting necessary information to the computer network, and controlling writing to the message storage unit after an incoming call to the telephone line interface unit, Directing a message comprising at least one selectable data to the caller's telephone based on the Transmitting to the computer network at least one of a telephone number of the caller and the communication partner or member information of the caller and the communication partner based on a speaker selection signal from the caller's telephone. And a communication control unit. 3. The user data holding means holds data relating to a first-type member that bears a call charge and retains billing information and a second-type member that does not bear a call charge and retains billing information. The server system according to claim 1, wherein the server system performs the operation. 4. The message storage means includes, for each registered member, a private message box which is set and readable by all registered members and readable only by the member, and an open message box which is readable and readable by all registered members. The server system according to claim 1, wherein the server system includes the server system. 5. The server system according to claim 2, wherein the message stored in the message storage unit includes at least one of text information and image information provided by the caller. 6. A communication data transmission method for transmitting communication data connected to a computer network and a public telephone line, wherein a specific caller and a callee are registered members and telephone numbers of the caller and the callee. And storing one of the billing information, storing a message of the registered member after receiving from the registered member, and calling the message including at least one selectable data based on a caller's selection signal. And transmitting at least one of the telephone numbers of the caller and the communication partner or the member information of the caller and the communication partner based on a speaker selection signal from the caller's telephone. A communication data transmission method for transmitting data to a network.