JP2003091474A - Communication equipment having downloading function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment capable of automatically downloading a target file through the Internet from a WWW server. SOLUTION: This communication equipment 1 connected to terminal equipment 3, and connected through a communication line to the Internet 7, and provided with a function for independently downloading a file from the Internet, is provided with a Web server 12 for supplying a file downloading request picture to the terminal equipment 3, a reservation table 14 for storing file download request contents constituted of the URL, file name, acquisition time, storage place, and acquisition hierarchy to be downloaded, a memory 16 for storing the downloaded file, a time managing means 117, and a file downloading client 11 for downloading the designated file based on the file downloading request. When the designated time comes, the designated file is downloaded from the Internet to the designated memory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication device such as a terminal adapter or router capable of autonomously downloading files from the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to connect a terminal device 3 such as a personal computer and a World Wide Web (WWW) server 5 via the Internet 7, connection is made via a terminal adapter 1 '. There is. To download files such as music files and image files from the WWW server 5, the terminal device 3 stores the files.
Memory is required, and the communication device 1 ′ such as a terminal adapter or a router exists as a device for simply connecting the terminal device 3 and the Internet 7.

Furthermore, in order to download a file from the WWW server 5 via the Internet 7, the HTT is required.
P (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File
The function of receiving from the WWW server by the Transfer Protocol) protocol is required, and dedicated software is required to obtain the information as to whether or not the file to be downloaded has been updated.

It takes a long time to download a large file such as music or image from the WWW server 5 via the Internet 7. Therefore, for example, when the constant connection service is used, it is desirable to automatically download the target file to the communication terminal device 3 using a time zone such as midnight when the user is not using the communication line. . However, the terminal device 3
However, when the communication line 7 was not used, the file could not be downloaded from the WWW server 5. To download a file in such a situation, it was necessary to operate an unused terminal device only for downloading.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to access from a WWW server via the Internet without using a terminal device such as a personal computer having a function of receiving from a server by HTTP or FTP protocol. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device such as a terminal adapter or a router that can automatically download a file to be downloaded.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a file download client function, a memory function for storing a file, and a file download to a communication device such as a terminal adapter or a router. It has a reservation table to register the contents of.

The present invention has the following control method as the reservation management control of the reservation table. Control the reservation table so that it can be viewed on the Web screen. Control to display the status during reservation, download, and completion. Control so that the reservation table is automatically updated when the status changes. In this way, if the reservation table is displayed in a list, the priority is the lowest when completed when the reservations and downloads are mixed, and it moves to the top of the reservation table on the screen. This makes it easier to check the status on the screen as well as on the screen. Please control to have priority to download even in the order of reservation. With this, when a plurality of reservations are made at the same time, it is possible to sequentially obtain files by increasing the priority from the top of the reservation table. It is equipped with a function to monitor the reservation status periodically, and by automatically changing the status, control to stop the download when the condition is changed.

According to the present invention, the file download can be stopped and the rest of the file is downloaded when the download of the stopped file is restarted.

The downloaded file information (date and time information) is analyzed to obtain file update information, and when there is a file update, the user is notified by mail. In addition, files such as downloaded advertisements and news are stored in memory so that advertisements can be delivered to personal computers that are connected later.

[0010]

With this configuration, a communication device such as a terminal adapter or a router can autonomously download a file from a WWW server via the Internet. Therefore, files can be collected at any time and automatically stored in the built-in memory or the extended memory without activating the terminal device.

Further, by interrupting the download, it is possible to preferentially download a file having a high priority, and it is possible to download the rest of the stopped file when the download is restarted.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a communication device 1 according to the present invention is used to connect a WWW server 5 to an Internet 7.
The outline of the configuration of a system for downloading a file (content) via the Internet will be described. This system includes a communication device 1 to which a terminal device 3 such as a personal computer is connected and a WWW server 5 is connected via the Internet 7.
And a mobile phone 9 carried by the user.

The communication device 1 includes a line control function F10, a file collection function F11, an update determination function F12, a notification function F13, a reservation content holding function F14, a history holding function F15, a storage function F16, and an advertisement. Distribution function F17
And a display function F18 and a terminal communication control function F19.

The line control function F10 is a function for controlling communication with a line and a telephone call.

The file collecting function F11 is a function for collecting files of desired contents from the WWW server via the Internet 7 at a predetermined time.

That is, the file collecting function F11 is a function for autonomously downloading the reservation file set in the reservation table of the reservation content holding function F14, and is executed by HTTP or FTP.

In the reservation table, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the target file, the time to download the file, the storage destination of the file, etc. are set. Further, the priority of download is set in the reservation table, and this download priority is set by a reservation order designation function (not shown).

In the file download according to this reservation, when another high-priority reservation is added while the target file is waiting to be downloaded, the currently waiting download processing order is automatically changed to set the priority. The file with the higher reservation is given priority and is moved to the standby state. If the specified download time is changed during downloading, the download will be stopped immediately. When the specified time is reached again, the download can be resumed from the time when the file that was once stopped is interrupted. To do this, record a flag related to the cancellation of download in the reservation table to be described later, and when restarting the download,
Based on this record, it may be requested to restart the download.

The update determination function F12 periodically accesses the URL set in the reservation content holding function F14, that is, periodically circulates the content, and updates the file of each content from the information such as date and time. It is a function to determine whether the acquired file has been updated.

That is, the update judgment function F12 periodically circulates the files and web information set in the reservation table by the content patrolling function, observes the content update information, and confirms whether the file or Web information is updated. It is a function to judge that the file or Web information has been updated by sending an e-mail to the user's mobile phone if it has been updated.

The notification function F13 is a function of notifying the designated mail address (such as the mobile phone 9) when the file is updated.

The reservation content holding function F14 holds information such as the file name of the content reserved from the PC-linked application on the connected terminal device 3 or the Web, the acquisition time, the accommodating destination of the acquired file, and the priority order. It is a function to perform, and is configured by a reservation table and the like. In the reservation table 14, the URL to download, the file name, the acquisition time, the storage location, and the acquisition hierarchy are written. The writing is set by the web server from the browser of the personal computer or the PC interlocking application. The acquisition time is "Now", "Specified time", "Daily", "Weekly",
You can set "monthly" etc.

The history holding function F15 is a function of holding history information such as the update date and time of the acquired content file, and is composed of a history table and the like.

The accumulation function F16 is a function for accumulating and holding the collected files, and is a built-in memory or an expansion memory.
(External memory connected via external interface)
Composed of etc.

That is, the storage function F16 is a function of storing the file of the content downloaded based on the content of the reservation table in the designated built-in memory or the extended memory. The date and time, file name, version information, etc. of the downloaded file are saved in a separate file as a history file.

The advertisement distribution function F17 periodically accesses the URL set in the reservation content holding function F14 and downloads news and advertisements downloaded to the storage function F16.
This is a function of delivering an advertisement to the conjunction application activated on the terminal device 3 and displaying it on the terminal device 3.

The display function F18 is a function of displaying history information on a display device composed of an LCD or the like when there is update information.

The terminal communication control function F19 is a function for controlling communication with the terminal device 3.

Thus, the communication device 1 according to the present invention
Is configured as a communication device such as a terminal adapter or a router that has a file collection function and can store collected files in a memory.

An outline of the device configuration of the communication device 1 such as a terminal adapter having a download function according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The communication device 1 according to the present invention includes various control units 110, a download client 11, a Web server 120, a reservation table 14, a memory 16, and a T.
CP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Interne
t Protocol) control unit 100, PPP control unit 101,
It is configured to have a line control unit 10 and a terminal communication control unit 19.

The line control unit 10 is an interface for controlling the line on the ISDN (WAN) side, and is a line control function realizing means connected to the Internet 7 via the ISDN line.

The download client 11 has a function of downloading a file and storing the file in a designated memory. The download is executed based on the reservation table.

The various control units 110 include a main control unit 111,
Mail application control unit 112, mail transmission control unit 113, LCD control unit 115, and LED control unit 1
16 and a timer control unit 117.

The main control section 111 is a control section for controlling the entire apparatus, and also monitors activation of the download client and operation of timers and keys.

The mail application control unit 112 is
It is a means for controlling the sending and receiving of mail.

The mail transmission control unit 113 uses the SMTP (Sim
ple Mail Transfer Protocol) A control means for sending mail by the protocol.

The LCD control unit 115 is a control means for displaying characters on the LCD, and displays mail, download history and the like.

The LED control section 116 is a control means for controlling the ignition and extinction of the LED, and is a control means for igniting the LED when notifying completion of file download.

The Web server 120 has a setting screen such as file download, and is a control means for performing setting control in response to a request from the browser of the personal computer.

The reservation table 14 is stored in the Web server 120.
This is a function to manage the reservation table for download, and recognizes priority control of reservation and stop of download. The order of description in the reservation table 14 determines the priority of download. Download from the first writing order. If the acquisition times are the same, download from the highest priority. Also,
By specifying the acquisition order of the files requested by the user, the files can be acquired in the required order, and further, the files in the middle of downloading can be postponed.

The memory 16 includes a built-in memory 161 and an external memory (extended memory) 162 connected to the download client 11 via an external interface 163.

The built-in memory 161 is an internal memory that stores downloaded files.

The external memory 162 is an external memory (extended memory) for storing files like the internal memory 161, and can be detached and connected to an external terminal device or the like, and detached by an external interface connection such as a PCMCIA card. Is possible.

The external memory interface 163 is an interface for connecting the external memory 162 to the download client 11 and the mail server 120.

The terminal communication control section 19 is a means for controlling the communication with the terminal device 3 to realize the terminal communication control function, and is composed of a serial / USB interface. That is, the terminal communication control unit 19 is an interface that is connected to the terminal device 3 and performs serial control.

The TCP / IP control unit 100 is an IP protocol stack.

The PPP control unit 101 performs point-to-point connection.

A file download operation from the Internet in the communication apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

When the user makes a request to download a desired file, the terminal device 3 requests the reservation setting screen (S1), and the Web server 120 transmits the reservation setting screen to the browser of the terminal device 3 (S2). ).

On the setting screen transmitted to the terminal device 3, the user transmits to the Web server 120 a download reservation that specifies the reservation file desired to be downloaded, the download time, and the storage memory, respectively (S3). We
b server 120 reserves the download reservation in reservation table 1
4 (S4).

The download client 11 regularly monitors the reservation table 14 and confirms the download reservation information set in the reservation table 14 (S5).

The download client 11 monitors the reservation time (S6) and checks whether or not there is a download request file in the reservation table 14 (S7). If there is a download reservation file, a download request for the file of the URL set in the reservation table 14 and a request for downloading a predetermined file to the WWW server 5 using the URL are made (S8).

The download client 11 checks whether the file has been updated (S9),
If it has been updated, the file is downloaded from the WWW server 5 (S10) and stored in the memory 16 set in the reservation table 14 (S11).

In this way, the communication device 1 can autonomously download a predetermined file from the WWW server 5 at a predetermined time.

Next, the process for canceling the file download during execution of the file download will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be explained.

Downloading a predetermined file (S1
0, S11), when the download stop instruction is input from the terminal device 3 (S12), the Web server 120 rewrites the reservation table 14 and changes the download reservation (S13). The download client 11 monitors the contents of the download reservation set in the reservation table 14 (S14) and determines whether or not the reservation is changed (S1).
5).

When there is a change to the download reservation in the reservation table 14, the download client 11 uses the W
It requests the WW server 5 to stop downloading the file being downloaded (S16). The WWW server 5, which has received the download cancel request, cancels the download (S1).
7).

A process of resuming the download of the stopped file after stopping the download and downloading another reservation having a high priority will be described with reference to FIG.

When the reservation information being downloaded is changed and the time of another reservation is earlier or the priority of another reservation is higher, the download client 11 issues a WWW command for interrupting the download of the current file. Sending of the server 5 interrupts the download of the current file
Along with (S16, S17), the fact that the download has been interrupted is stored in the history table.

The download client 11 monitors the reservation contents of the reservation table 14 (S18) and determines whether or not there is a reservation change (S19). When the reservation is changed, it is determined whether or not there is a file reserved for download (S20), and when there is, a request for downloading a new file is made to the WWW server 5 (S21). Next, the download client 11 determines whether or not the file has been updated (S22). When the file has been updated, the file is downloaded from the WWW server 5 (S23) and stored in the memory 16 (S24). W
When the download client 11 receives a notification from the WW server 5 that the new file has been downloaded (S25), the download client 11 monitors the reservation content of the reservation table 14 (S26), and the reservation time has come (S27). It is determined whether or not there is a reserved file (S28), and a subsequent download of the file is requested (S28). The download client 11 checks whether the file has been updated (S3
0), the file is downloaded from the WWW server 5 (S31), and is continuously stored in the memory 16 (S3).
2).

The URL file is downloaded while being stored in a designated memory. At this time, it is determined whether or not the file has been updated. Also, when the free space in the memory runs out, the download is stopped.

When the download is normally completed, the main control unit 111 is notified and the LED is turned on to display the completion of the download. The download information can be displayed on the LCD as a history by key operation.

Next, a method of notifying file update information will be described.

The download client 11 refers to the update information and the download history of the acquired file and determines whether the file downloaded in the past has been updated. When the file is updated, the main control unit 111 is notified of that fact.

The main control unit 111 activates the mail application control unit 112 to create a mail of file update information. The mail application control unit 112 that has created the mail transmits the mail from the mail transmission control unit 113 to the designated mobile phone 9 of the user or the mail server via the line. The mail server to send at this time is usually
This is the mail server of the user who is using this device.

Built-in memory 161 or external memory 162
The download file stored in is the Web server 1
2 can be used to transmit to the terminal device 3.

When advertisement data, news information, etc. are downloaded, they can be sent to the connected terminal device as advertisement distribution. We do this control
b server 12.

When the download starts, it takes time for a large file. You can download different files along the way. The information written in the reservation table describes the current state (reserving / downloading / downloaded), and the information being downloaded can be interrupted on the Web screen. The operation is
Change the reservation information on the web screen (reservation time will be the future time and download will be stopped). this is,
The download control can be realized because the reservation table is regularly monitored during the download.

When resuming a file that was once stopped,
Instead of restarting the download from the beginning, restart the download from the middle. This is only valid for downloads from servers that support suspend / resume,
The download control is realized by making an intermediate request to the server.

Although the acquisition time can be set for downloading the file, it can also be acquired periodically such as daily, weekly or monthly. In this case, the download control checks the time stamp (date and time) of the file when downloading the file and determines whether it has been updated from the previously acquired one. You can be notified. this is,
Since this device autonomously performs the function to obtain periodically, it is usually necessary for the user to recognize whether or not it has been updated, but this function notifies the user's mobile phone email address. You can check the updated information on the go.

This is a function of distributing advertisement data, news information, etc. stored in the terminal device to the connected terminal device. Downloads such as contents are stored in internal or external memory. When this information is advertisement data or news, the advertisement data can be distributed by transmitting it to the connected terminal device. Normally, when each terminal device is connected to the Internet, news and advertisements can be acquired and displayed from the Internet, but a connection fee will be charged for each terminal device. According to the present invention, since the news and advertisements are acquired by the communication device 1 and distributed to the terminal devices, the news and advertisements can be displayed on the terminal devices offline.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to set a specified time such as one time, every day, every month, and a specified day in detail, and download the file of the target content.

According to the present invention, the external memory in which the target file is stored can be removed and operated by the portable terminal or portable player.

According to the present invention, the contents can be downloaded at any time regardless of whether the user is using the personal computer, and the personal computer operation and communication load due to the contents download can be reduced. Furthermore, by transmitting the stored contents to a personal computer connected by advertisement distribution, the user can constantly display advertisements and news.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication device having a download function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a communication device having a download function according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a file download procedure in a communication device having a download function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for stopping file download in a communication device having a download function according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for resuming file download suspension in a communication device having a download function according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional terminal adapter.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 communication device 3 Terminal device (personal computer) 5 WWW server 7 Internet (ISDN line) 9 mobile phones 10 line control unit 11 Download Client 14 reservation table 16 memory 19 Terminal communication control unit 100 TCP / IP control unit 101 PPP control unit 110 control unit 111 Main control unit 112 Mail application control unit 113 Email transmission control unit 115 LED control unit 116 LCD control unit 117 Timer control unit 120 Web server 161 Built-in memory 162 external memory (extended memory) 163 External memory interface F10 line control function F11 file collection function F12 update judgment function F13 notification function F14 Reservation content retention function F15 history retention function F16 accumulation function F17 advertisement distribution function F18 display function F19 Terminal communication control function

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Koichi Nago             24-4 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo             Kayo communication inside (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Shimizu             24-4 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo             Kayo communication inside (72) Inventor Ryohei Hatakeyama             3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Tohnichi             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Tatsuki Matsuda             3-19-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Tohnichi             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuaki Sasaki             3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Qinsenji             3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka             Inside Telegraph and Telephone Corporation F-term (reference) 5B082 HA05 HA08                 5K030 HA08 HB19 HC01 HD03 JA03                       KA01 KA02                 5K101 KK02 KK17 LL00 MM06 MM07                       NN18 NN21 PP03 RR12 SS07

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication device, which is connected to a terminal device via a line and is also connected to the Internet via a communication line and has a function of autonomously downloading a file from the Internet, in a file download request screen for the communication device. Web server that supplies the URL and the URL (Uniform Resource) to download
e Locator), file name, acquisition time, storage location, acquisition hierarchy, and a reservation table with an area for storing the file download request contents and an area for storing the download status display, and when the end of the download is monitored and finished Means for writing a conception of download to the reservation table, means for automatically updating the reservation table when the download is completed and monitoring the download status display in the reservation table, and download request conditions of the reservation table Means for determining download priority based on acquisition time and position on reservation table, and means for periodically monitoring addition, change or deletion of download request conditions in the reservation table and interrupting file acquisition during download And time management means A file download management means for downloading a file specified based on the file download request, and downloading the specified file from the Internet to the specified memory at the time specified based on the file download request. Characterized communication device. 2. A mail application and a mail sending means are provided, and the file download management means has a function of determining whether or not the downloaded file has been updated. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the file update information is mailed to the device. 3. The file download management means has means for stopping the file download during the file download, and means for starting the download from the point where the download is stopped when there is a command to restart the download. Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.
The communication device according to 1. 4. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising means for delivering an advertisement to a subordinate terminal device when the downloaded file is an advertisement or news information.