JP3508417B2 - Data communication method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication method for easily obtaining a telephone number of an access point of a data communication service provider, which is most convenient for a caller, by a telephone number search server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To obtain the telephone number of an access point of a data communication service provider, manually call the set point of the communication software from a list of access point telephone numbers such as printed materials and general magazines distributed by the relevant provider. The caller has entered a number or has selected the telephone number of the access point that is most appropriate from the list of access points in the communication software in terms of communication charges or communication speed.

[0003]

When the telephone number of the access point is manually input into the communication software, it is not only a hassle for the caller, but the line corresponding to the telephone number in the telephone number list is mistaken for the telephone number. There is a possibility that you may make a mistake in entering, and if you make a call as it is, there is a risk that you will make a wrong call. In particular, since many communication softwares have a function to make repeated calls, a wrong call may be made repeatedly, resulting in a nuisance call. Further, there is a problem in that the telephone number of a suitable access point cannot be found even if the user tries to connect to a data communication service provider from a place other than the place normally used for business trips and trips.
In addition, when an access point is newly installed, removed, or its phone number is changed, inquire to the telecommunications carrier to obtain the most appropriate new access point phone number, or issue a new publication. It was necessary to purchase such magazines, and wasted resources such as time and money to obtain the information on the telephone number. The present invention is proposed to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to make it possible to easily obtain the telephone number of the access point that is most convenient for the user.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is to automatically obtain the most convenient access point telephone number for a caller from a telephone number search server using a communication line. is there.

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention incorporates in advance into the communication software on the caller side when the telephone number of the access point of the data communication service provider that is most convenient for the caller is unknown. Connect to the phone number search server by using the phone number etc., obtain the phone number of the access point that is the most convenient for the caller, disconnect the connection with the phone number search server, and then connect to the access point. Means to do so will be provided. As a result, even if the neighboring access points are unknown, it is possible to easily find the access point and receive the data communication service.

Further, the present invention automatically obtains the telephone number of the access point which is the most convenient for the caller from the telephone number search server by using the communication line, and automatically calls the telephone number of the obtained access point. This is to call back and connect with the telecommunications carrier.

According to the invention configured as described above, the telephone number search server obtains the position of the calling party, so that the calling point has the access point with the least charge or the fastest communication speed. access point,
Furthermore, the telephone number search server selects the most convenient one for the caller from the reasons such as the access point closest to the caller, and notifies the communication software on the caller side of the telephone number of the access point. By doing so, the communication software can automatically make a call to the access point and receive the data communication service by connecting. The telephone number of the most convenient access point may be selected by the telephone number search server, or the telephone number search server may provide only the telephone number data and the communication software on the calling side may select the telephone number. May be.

Further, according to the present invention, as a means for the telephone number search server to identify the position of the caller, the search server automatically obtains the telephone number of the user and uses the area code to call the caller. The position of is specified. This saves the trouble of setting the current caller's position such as the area code in the communication software.

Further, the present invention may be such that the telephone number search server and the caller are connected by a LAN or WAN. This saves the cost of connecting to the telephone number search server even if it is not a free dial. Further, it is convenient that the database in the telephone number search server can be freely updated or added according to the request of the user connected by LAN or WAN.

[0010] If the telephone number search server is a free dialing service, which is a free call service, it is even better because the caller can search without worrying about the charge to the telephone number search server.
Also, the business operator who installs the telephone number search server may or may not be the same as the data communication service operator having the access point, and the main business is the telephone number search service that is separate from the data communication service operator. May be a business operator of.

FIG. 1 shows a system diagram of communications for implementing the present invention. Caller's computer (10), caller's communication software and communication modem or TA (Terminal A)
dapter) (11), a telephone number search server (12) connected by a communication line, and its communication modem (13).

FIG. 2 is a systematic diagram of communication for automatically obtaining the telephone number of a calling party using the present invention. Caller's computer (10), caller's communication software and communication modem or TA (11), telephone number search server (12) connected by communication line and its communication modem (13), and outgoing telephone number notification It is composed of a device (14). The calling number notification device is installed on the phone number search server side,
If there is a caller ID notification service such as NTT's INS64 on the digital communication line, this device is not necessary.

FIG. 3 shows a LAN (Local Ar) using the present invention.
It is a system diagram of communication when a telephone number search server is installed on an ea network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network). It is composed of a caller's computer (10), caller's side communication software, a communication modem or TA (11), and a telephone number search server (12) connected by LAN or WAN.

The operation of the method of the present invention will be described below. The operation explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 4 is intended for connection to an electronic bulletin board, a database, or the like. The communication application occupies the communication port of the computer and controls all communication. First, the caller launches a communication application on the computer. (100) If the telephone number of the access point of the desired data communication service provider is known by the settings in the communication application, call the access point directly and complete the connection. (101) If the telephone number is unknown, call the telephone number search server through the public line. (102) When connected to the telephone number search server, the search server obtains location information such as the area code of the caller. (103) For this, the area code may be set in advance in the setting location of the communication application, or a means for knowing the telephone number of the communication partner may be provided on the search server side so that it can be automatically obtained. The communication application sends to the search server a priority item among the selection items such as the access point with the least charge, the access point with the fastest communication speed, and the access point with the shortest distance. The search server receives it and searches the database that it has for the most convenient access point for the caller (104),
The telephone number is sent to the communication software on the user side (105) and the line is disconnected. (106) The communication application on the user side terminates the connection to the access point (107) and terminates the application if the fee charged for the access point is outside the user's allowable range (107). (108) If it is within the allowable range, call the access point telephone number and connect. (109) The communication application receives information such as electronic bulletin boards, electronic mail, and databases. (110)

The operation explanatory diagram shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 5 is intended for dial-up connection to the Internet. A PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) driver can control the data link layer in the OSI reference model and operate a plurality of communication applications. The user activates the PPP driver on the computer. (200) If the telephone number of the access point of the desired Internet service provider is known by the setting in the PPP driver, the telephone is directly called to the access point and the connection is completed. (201) If the telephone number is unknown, call the telephone number search server through the public line. (202) When connected to the telephone number search server, the search server obtains location information such as the area code of the caller. (203) The PPP driver sends, to the search server, prioritized items among the selected items such as the access point with the least charge, the access point with the fastest communication speed, and the access point with the shortest distance. The search server receives the request, searches the database that it has for the most convenient access point for the caller (204), sends the telephone number to the PPP driver on the user side (205), and disconnects the line. . (206) The communication software on the user side terminates the connection to the access point (207) and terminates the application if the charge for the access point is outside the user's allowable range (207). (208) If it is within the allowable range, call the access point telephone number (209) and connect. (210) Launch an Internet application and receive information from the Internet such as electronic mail and WWW. (twenty one
1)

The operation explanatory view shown in FIG. 6 shows a telephone number search server placed on a LAN or WAN. The caller launches a communication application on the computer. (300) If the telephone number of the access point of the desired data communication service provider is known by the settings in the communication application, call the access point directly to complete the connection. (301) If the telephone number is unknown, the telephone number of the access point is inquired to the telephone number search server via LAN or WAN. (302) When connected to the telephone number search server, the search server obtains the location information of the calling party such as the area code. (303) The communication software sends priority items to the search server among the selection items such as the access point with the least charge, the access point with the fastest communication speed, and the access point with the shortest distance. The search server receives the request, searches the holding database for the most convenient access point for the caller (304), and sends out the telephone number to the communication software on the user side. (305) The communication software on the side of the user terminates the connection to the access point (306) and terminates the application if the call charge of the access point is outside the allowable range of the user (306). (307) If it is within the allowable range, call the access point telephone number and connect. (308) The communication application receives information such as electronic bulletin boards and databases. (309)

[0017]

According to the present invention, when the telephone number of the access point of the data communication service provider is unknown due to a business trip, a trip, a move, etc., the telephone number is manually input from the access point telephone number list from a printed matter or the like. It also saves the caller from manually entering the telephone number of the access point from the access point list in the communication software. In addition, it is possible to avoid wasting resources such as time and cost such as inquiries to know the access point phone number and purchasing books, and to avoid nuisance calls caused by incorrect input due to manual input, which is most convenient for callers. The telephone number of the access point is automatically obtained, and the advantageous effect that the data communication service can be received is exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram of a communication system for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a communication system for obtaining a telephone number of a calling party using the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a basic configuration diagram when a telephone number search server is installed on a LAN or WAN using the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation step diagram when connecting to an electronic bulletin board or the like using the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operational step diagram for dial-up connection to the Internet using the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation step diagram when a telephone number search server is installed on a LAN or WAN using the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Computer and communication software 11 Modem or TA 12 Phone number search server 13 Modem or TA 14 Calling telephone number notification device 15 network adapter 16 network adapters

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 11/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data communication method for connecting to a data communication service provider via a communication line, comprising a plurality of access points of the data communication service provider.
Connecting to the telephone number search server storing the telephone number of the access point and obtaining the telephone number of the most convenient access point among the plurality of access points, and the obtained telephone number. By making a call, the most convenient
Second procedure and, a data communication method having a connecting an access point to a data communication service provider via the. 2. The second procedure is the same as the first procedure.
If the telephone number of the access point you have handled is outside the allowable range
In that case, the connection to the access point is canceled in claim 1.
Described data communication method. 3. The data communication according to claim 1 , wherein in the first procedure, the telephone number of the own device is acquired by transmitting the telephone number of its own device to the telephone number search server. Method.