JP3567143B2 - Incoming image distribution system and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an incoming image distribution system and method for distributing such an incoming image to a communication terminal such as a mobile phone having a function of displaying an incoming image according to a caller at the time of an incoming call.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Some mobile phones have a function of displaying, on a screen, an incoming image corresponding to a telephone number of a calling side when receiving an incoming call. According to the mobile phone having such a function, the caller can know the caller only by looking at the screen display, which is very convenient. Also, by displaying various images on the screen, it is possible to give the mobile phone a kind of entertainment. The function of displaying the incoming call image is such that the user of the mobile phone registers in advance the telephone number of the caller and the incoming call image corresponding to the caller in the memory of the telephone, and stores the caller's telephone number at the time of an incoming call. This is realized by reading the corresponding incoming image from the memory and displaying it on the screen.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Services for distributing such incoming images on a network already exist. That is, the user of the mobile phone downloads a desired image from an image distribution site on the Internet, registers the image in the memory of the mobile phone in association with the caller's telephone number, and receives this image according to the caller. It has already been used as an image. However, conventionally, the user of the receiving telephone selects and registers an incoming image according to the caller, and there is no distribution service that allows the caller to specify his own incoming image. .
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a communication terminal having a function of displaying an incoming image corresponding to an originating communication terminal, a caller designating his / her own incoming image and receiving-side communication An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for distributing incoming images that can be distributed to terminals.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is provided with an incoming image memory that stores in association with unique originating ID and image data to the communication terminal of the calling side, the calling party ID to the incoming call An incoming image distribution system for distributing an incoming image to a communication terminal having a function of reading corresponding image data from the incoming image memory and displaying it as an incoming image,
To identify, to the user terminal, a caller ID unique to the caller communication terminal, an incoming image corresponding to the caller communication terminal, and a receiver ID unique to the receiver communication terminal for which the caller image should be displayed. Means for transmitting an incoming image designation screen for inputting information of
Means for receiving, as a distribution request, information input to the incoming image designation screen from a user terminal;
Upon receiving the distribution request, executing a process for transmitting the incoming image and the transmitting side ID specified by the distribution request to the communication terminal having the receiving side ID specified by the distribution request in response thereto And characterized in that:
[0006]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the delivery request includes information for specifying the caller ID, the callee ID, and the incoming image, and the caller ID and the call image are transmitted to the communication terminal having the callee ID. Is transmitted. That is, the user who is the sender of the distribution request can specify the incoming image together with the calling party ID and the called party ID. Therefore, by specifying the ID of the own communication terminal as the caller ID, the caller can specify the incoming call image displayed on the callee.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the incoming image distribution system according to the first aspect, the incoming image designation screen includes an input field for a file name of image data stored in the user terminal. And
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the incoming image distribution system according to the first aspect, the incoming image designation screen includes an input field for a file name of image data registered in advance in the image distribution system. It is characterized by.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the incoming call image distribution system according to the third aspect, the pre-registered image data includes data of an advertisement image, and each of the advertisement images is transmitted to the receiving side communication terminal as an incoming image. It is characterized by further comprising means for calculating an advertisement fee to be collected from the advertiser according to the displayed frequency.
[0010]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the advertisement image can be specified as the incoming image, and the advertisement fee to be collected from the advertiser can be calculated according to the display frequency of the advertisement image. Therefore, the advertisement business can be realized by the incoming image distribution system.
[0011]
The invention described in claim 5 defines the invention described in claim 1 as a method.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an incoming image distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the present embodiment includes an incoming image distribution server 12 connected to the Internet 10. A user terminal 14 and a business server 16 operated by a mobile communication business are connected to the Internet 10. Note that the user terminal 14 may be a computer terminal such as a personal computer or a mobile phone having an Internet connection function. Further, each carrier server 16 is provided for each mobile communication carrier, and between the operator of the incoming image distribution server 12 and each mobile communication carrier, each carrier server 16 is connected to the incoming image distribution server 12. It has been promised that the incoming image should be delivered to the mobile phone 18 under the jurisdiction of the company in response to a request from the company.
[0013]
The incoming image distribution server 12 includes a user database 20, a user image database 22, an advertisement image database 24, an advertisement charging database 26, and an image standard database 28.
[0014]
FIG. 2 shows a data configuration of the user database 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the user database 20 records personal information of each member user, such as a user ID, a password, a mobile phone number, and an address and name.
[0015]
FIG. 3 shows the data configuration of the user image database 22. As shown in FIG. 3, in the user image database 22, image data representing an image provided by a member user and a user ID of a user who is a provider are recorded in association with each other.
[0016]
FIG. 4 shows a data configuration of the advertisement image database 24. As shown in FIG. 4, in the advertisement image database 24, the image data of the advertisement image and the advertiser ID indicating the advertiser are recorded in association with each other.
[0017]
FIG. 5 shows a data configuration of the advertisement charging database 26. As shown in FIG. 5, for each advertisement image, the image data file name and the telephone numbers of the calling side and the called side in the call in which the advertisement image is displayed as the incoming image are recorded in the advertisement charging database 26 in association with each other. ing.
[0018]
In the image standard database 28, the data format (JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, etc.) and data size of an image that can be displayed on a mobile phone terminal are recorded for each mobile communication carrier.
[0019]
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the content of the processing performed in the present embodiment. When the member user accesses the incoming image distribution server 12 from the user terminal 14 (S100), the user is authenticated using the user ID and the password, and then the incoming image distribution server 12 transmits the incoming image designation screen to the user terminal 14. (S102).
[0020]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the incoming image designation screen. As shown in FIG. 7, the image registration screen includes an input field for a receiving-side telephone number, a selection field for a method for specifying an incoming image, and a “Send” button. In the incoming image designation method selection field, as the incoming image designating method, (1) "image transmission" for transmitting image data recorded in the user terminal 14, and (2) pre-registered in the user image database 22. "Designation of user image" for selecting a desired image from existing images, and "(3) Designation of advertisement image" for selecting from advertisement images provided by the advertiser and registered in advance in the advertisement image database 24. Can be selected from any of the three options.
[0021]
Each of the selections (1) to (3) is provided with a file name input field and a "reference" button. In the file name input field, the file name of the designated image data is input as the incoming image. Further, when the "reference" button is clicked, a list of selectable image data file names and thumbnail images is displayed, and the file name can be selected from the list display.
[0022]
When the receiver's telephone number is entered in the above image registration screen and the incoming image is designated, and the "Send" button is clicked, these input contents are used as the incoming image distribution request as the incoming image distribution server. 12 (S104). Then, the incoming image distribution server 12 transmits a request to distribute the incoming image to the mobile phone 18 to the business server 16 based on the received data (S106).
[0023]
Specifically, when (1) "image transmission" is selected as the method of specifying the incoming image, the image data of the input image file name is transmitted from the user terminal 14 to the incoming image distribution server 12 together with the incoming telephone number. Sent to The incoming image distribution server 12 inquires of the communication service provider responsible for the mobile phone 18 on the receiving side, for example, to the service server 16 of each mobile communication service provider, based on the transmitted receiving-side telephone number. Identify. The image file format and data size suitable for the mobile communication carrier identified in this way are acquired with reference to the image standard database 28, and the image data received from the user terminal 14 is converted into the acquired image file format and data size. At this time, the hue, contrast, and the like of the image may be automatically adjusted, or the degree of adjustment may be specified by the user. Then, by referring to the user database 20, the telephone number of the user who is the requester of the incoming image distribution (that is, the transmitting side telephone number) is obtained, and the transmitting side telephone number and the converted image data are stored in the receiving side telephone number. The request to transmit the number to the mobile phone 18 is transmitted to the carrier server 16 of the mobile communication carrier that controls the called mobile phone 18 identified as described above.
[0024]
If (2) “user image specification” or (3) “advertisement image specification” is selected as the method of specifying the incoming image, the input image file name is transmitted to the incoming image distribution server 12 together with the receiving-side telephone number. Sent. The incoming image distribution server 12 confirms that the image data of the transmitted image file name is recorded in the user image database 24 or the advertisement image database 26. Then, in the same manner as in the case of the above-mentioned “image transmission”, the image data is converted so as to be compatible with the mobile phone 18 of the receiving side, and the telephone number of the calling side is obtained. Is transmitted to the carrier server 16 of the mobile communication carrier that controls the called-side mobile phone 18.
[0025]
The business server 16 that has received the image distribution request from the incoming image distribution server 12 distributes the specified incoming image to the mobile phone 18 having the specified receiving telephone number (S108).
[0026]
The mobile phone 18 associates the calling telephone number and the image data distributed from the corresponding business server 16 and registers them in the incoming image memory. Then, when there is an incoming call from the calling side telephone number registered in the incoming call image memory, the image data corresponding to the calling side telephone number is displayed as the incoming call image.
[0027]
Next, a description will be given of a process of calculating an advertisement fee to be paid from the advertiser to each of the transmitting side and the receiving side when the advertisement image is distributed as the incoming image. When an incoming call is received, the mobile phone 18 determines whether the displayed incoming image is an advertisement image or not, and if the received image is an advertisement image, changes the file name of the displayed incoming image to The image data is transmitted to the incoming image distribution server 12 together with its own telephone number (that is, the telephone number on the receiving side) and the telephone number on the transmitting side. The determination as to whether or not the advertisement image is an advertisement image can be made, for example, by giving an image file name so that the user image and the advertisement image can be distinguished, or by distinguishing the advertisement image from the user image in a predetermined header area of the image data. This can be done by recording a flag for performing the operation. The incoming image distribution server 12 associates the transmitted advertisement image file name, transmitting side telephone number, and receiving side telephone number and records them in the advertisement charging database 26. Then, at an appropriate timing (for example, once a month), the advertisement fee to be paid from the advertiser of each advertisement image to each user is calculated with reference to the advertisement charging database 26. Specifically, the advertiser pays a predetermined amount (for example, 1 yen to the caller and 3 yen to the callee) from the advertiser of each advertisement image to the user on the calling side and the called side so that the advertisement fee is paid. Is calculated, the advertisement fee for each advertiser is totaled, and the billing process for the advertiser is executed, and the payment amount to each user is totaled to execute the payment process for each user. The payment process to the user can be performed by, for example, entrusting a mobile communication carrier and subtracting the amount corresponding to the advertisement fee from the call fee.
[0028]
In the above description, the data file name of the advertisement image, which is the incoming image, is notified from the mobile phone 18 to the incoming image distribution server 12 at the time of the incoming call on the receiving side, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the call history information (information including the calling side telephone number and the called side telephone number for each call) can be obtained from, the advertisement fee calculation process can be performed based on the call history information. That is, when the advertisement image is specified as the incoming image, data relating the calling telephone number, the receiving telephone number, and the file name of the advertisement image is recorded in the incoming image distribution server 12, and By collating this data with the call history information, the caller-side telephone number and the receiver-side telephone number of the call in which each advertisement image is displayed as the incoming image are obtained.
[0029]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, each user sets the calling phone number, the called phone number, and the incoming image to be displayed when receiving a call from the calling phone number to the called phone number. By designating, the incoming call image can be distributed to the mobile phone 18 of the called telephone number. That is, each user can freely set the incoming call image displayed on the other party's mobile phone 18 when he or she is the caller.
[0030]
In addition, the user can designate a pre-registered advertisement image as the incoming image, and the advertiser calculates the advertisement fee to be paid to the user according to the frequency at which the advertisement image is displayed as the incoming image. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is also possible to develop the advertising business by using the incoming image distribution service. In the above-described embodiment, the advertisement fee to be paid to the calling side and the receiving side user is calculated according to the display frequency of the advertisement image. The advertisement fee may be paid according to the display frequency of the image, and the advertisement fee may be calculated.
[0032]
In this case, the fact that the advertisement image is displayed as the incoming image can be recognized by the incoming image distribution server 12 at the time of an incoming call. It is not necessary to notify to.
[0033]
Further, in the above embodiment, only the member user can receive the service by adopting the registration system. However, the registration system may not be adopted, and the user's own mobile phone number may be input as the calling side phone number when accessing the incoming image distribution server 12.
[0034]
Further, in the above embodiment, the mobile phone number of the user who is the requester of the incoming image distribution is automatically set as the caller telephone number. However, the caller telephone number may be arbitrarily specified. Good. In this case, a specific telephone number (for example, the telephone number of an acquaintance / friend) is specified as the calling side telephone number, and the own mobile telephone number is specified as the receiving side telephone number. It is possible to distribute the incoming image for the telephone number. However, in order to prevent mischief such as distributing an image to an unspecified person, prior to distributing the incoming image, the calling party's telephone number is registered in the telephone directory with respect to the mobile phone 18 of the destination telephone number. An inquiry may be made as to whether or not the incoming image has been registered, and only when the registered image is registered, the incoming image is delivered.
[0035]
Further, in the above embodiment, the incoming image distribution server 12 is provided separately from the carrier server 16 of each mobile communication carrier so that the image can be delivered to the mobile phone 18 controlled by various mobile communication carriers. Is distributed from each business server 16. However, when only the mobile phone 18 of a specific mobile communication carrier is supported, the carrier server 16 may be integrated with the incoming image distribution server 12 so that the incoming image distribution server 12 itself performs image distribution. . In the case where the two servers are integrated in this way, instead of specifying the incoming image in advance as in the above-described embodiment, the user specifies the incoming image at the time of outgoing call, and the incoming image is displayed on the receiving side mobile phone. 18 can be displayed.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first to third and fifth aspects of the present invention, the user who is the sender of the distribution request of the incoming image can specify the incoming image together with the caller ID and the receiver ID. Therefore, according to the present invention, by specifying the ID of its own communication terminal as the caller ID, the caller can specify the incoming call image displayed on the callee.
[0037]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the advertisement image can be specified as the incoming image, and the advertisement fee to be collected from the advertiser can be calculated according to the display frequency of the advertisement image. For this reason, according to the present invention, the advertisement business can be realized by the incoming image distribution system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an incoming image distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a user database.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a user image database.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a data configuration of an advertisement image database.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of an advertisement charging database.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the contents of processing performed in the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an incoming image designation screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Internet 12 Incoming image distribution server 14 User terminal 16 Business server 18 Mobile phone

Claims (5)

A function of providing an incoming call image memory for storing a caller ID and image data unique to the caller communication terminal and storing image data corresponding to the caller ID from the incoming image memory and displaying as an incoming image when an incoming call is received. An incoming image distribution system for delivering an incoming image to a communication terminal having
To identify, to the user terminal, a caller ID unique to the caller communication terminal, an incoming image corresponding to the caller communication terminal, and a receiver ID unique to the receiver communication terminal for which the caller image should be displayed. Means for transmitting an incoming image designation screen for inputting information of
Means for receiving, as a distribution request, information input to the incoming image designation screen from a user terminal;
Upon receiving the distribution request, executing a process for transmitting the incoming image and the transmitting side ID specified by the distribution request to the communication terminal having the receiving side ID specified by the distribution request in response thereto And an incoming image distribution system. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the incoming image designation screen includes an input field for a file name of image data stored in the user terminal . 2. The incoming image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the incoming image designation screen includes an input field for a file name of image data registered in the image distribution system in advance . 4. The incoming image distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the pre-registered image data includes advertisement image data, and is collected from an advertiser in accordance with the frequency at which each advertisement image is displayed as an incoming image on the receiving communication terminal. A system further comprising means for calculating an advertisement fee to be paid. A function of providing an incoming call image memory for storing a caller ID and image data unique to the caller communication terminal and storing image data corresponding to the caller ID from the incoming image memory and displaying as an incoming image when an incoming call is received. An incoming image distribution method for distributing an incoming image to a communication terminal having
To identify, to the user terminal, a caller ID unique to the caller communication terminal, an incoming image corresponding to the caller communication terminal, and a receiver ID unique to the receiver communication terminal for which the caller image should be displayed. Transmitting an incoming image designation screen for inputting information of
Receiving , from a user terminal, information input to the incoming image designation screen as a distribution request ;
Receiving the distribution request, executing a process for transmitting the incoming image and the transmitting side ID specified by the distribution request to the communication terminal having the receiving side ID specified by the distribution request in response thereto And an incoming image distribution system.

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