JPH11127259A - Communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication system that can perform an appropriate reception notification in accordance with reception/reproduction ability of communication equipment on the reception side or condition of a user. SOLUTION: A server 10 of a provider stores a picture mail in a mail box corresponding to a transmitter's telephone number when it is transmitted from a communication terminal 6 on the transmitter side. Next, used equipment corresponding to the telephone number of a transmitter is acquired from a preset table and, furthermore, a notifying form corresponding to the used equipment is acquired from the preset table for the acquired used equipment. Then, after calling with the telephone number on the reception side set at the time of transmission and automatically connecting a line, the server 10 notifies that it receives a picture mail at a communication terminal on the reception side in the notifying form (an icon, a letter, a voice, an electronic mail, a fax image and so on).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a communication system for transmitting and receiving image data via a public line network, and more particularly to a communication system for notifying the arrival of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication system for transmitting and receiving various data via a digital or analog communication network in a computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) has been constructed. For example, in personal computer communication that provides transmission / reception of e-mails on a host computer through a public line and up / download services of bulletin boards, software, and the like, generally, each user accesses the host computer to send an e-mail addressed to the user. Or you can use a pager notification service to know that you have received an e-mail.

[0003] In the Internet, intranet, and the like, in general, a user regularly accesses a mail server to check whether an e-mail addressed to the user has arrived. In addition, as an e-mail service, when an e-mail is sent from a certain communication terminal, it is temporarily stored in the mailbox of the mail server, then notified to the destination communication terminal, and automatically retransmitted. There is.

[0004]

By the way, in recent years, hardware and software, communication network, and the like have made it possible to attach image data, audio data, and the like in addition to electronic mail consisting of only character information. It has become to. E-mail containing only text information can be received by almost any device without being restricted by the performance of the receiving device.However, in the case of e-mail with image data as main data and voice data or text attached In such a case, there is a restriction due to the performance (reception / reproduction capability) of the communication device on the receiving side.

Therefore, in a communication system for transmitting and receiving image mail to which voice data or characters are attached, it is difficult to directly transfer the image mail to the receiving side. It is desirable to make an incoming call notification according to the reception / reproduction performance of the communication device. Further, the user on the receiving side does not always use a device that can receive image mail, and may need to notify a normal telephone or fax machine. However, the conventional communication system does not cope with the above-described situation, and there has been a problem that an appropriate incoming call notification cannot be made according to the situation of the receiving-side communication device or the user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system capable of performing an appropriate incoming call notification according to the receiving / reproducing ability of a communication device on the receiving side or the situation of a user.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system for transmitting and receiving electronic mail between communication terminals via a server connected to a communication network. The server is characterized in that, after temporarily storing an e-mail composed of image data transmitted by a communication terminal on the transmission side, an incoming call notification is made in a form according to the reception capability of the communication terminal on the reception side.

In a preferred embodiment, the server is at least one of a character, a voice, and an image, or a combination thereof, according to the receiving capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side. You may make it notify an incoming call.

In a preferred embodiment, the server includes a type data table in which the telephone numbers of the communication terminals are associated with the types thereof.
A notification form data table in which a type of the communication terminal on the receiving side and a notification form for the type are associated with each other, and the communication terminal on the transmitting side transmits the electronic mail by using the telephone number of the receiving side specified by the telephone number. The type of the receiving communication terminal is determined by searching a type data table, and the notification form data table is searched by the type of the receiving communication terminal to notify the receiving communication terminal. The form may be determined.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the communication terminal may be connected to the communication line wirelessly or by wire, for example.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings as an example in which the present invention is applied to an incoming notification of an image mail composed of image data. A. Configuration of Example A-1. Configuration of Communication System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication network (digital or analog) such as a PHS or a mobile phone (cellular) spread throughout the country, which is a point of the present invention in the base stations 9a and 9b installed in various places. A server 10 of a provider that provides various services is connected. The communication line network (digital or analog) 2 is a general public line capable of communicating with the communication line network, and is connected to a telephone 3, a facsimile device 4, a computer 5, and the like. The telephone 3 and the facsimile device 4 are ordinary devices. The computer 5 stores data such as a modem /
It is connected to the communication network 2 via voice conversion means.

The communication terminal 6 has a voice communication function similar to that of a normal telephone, has an electronic camera capable of capturing images, and can transmit and receive image data and voice data in addition to characters. The display unit includes a color liquid crystal display and can reproduce received image data. The communication terminal 7 is the PHS terminal described above,
With the same voice call function as a normal telephone,
It has a liquid crystal display that can display characters and simple icons. The communication terminal 8 is the above-described mobile phone,
Like the HS terminal, it has a voice call function similar to that of a normal telephone, and has a liquid crystal display capable of displaying characters and simple icons.

Next, the server 10 of the provider performs data communication (characters, images, voices, etc.) between the communication terminals 3, 4, 5, the telephone 3, the FAX machine 4, and the computer 5 via the communication networks 1, 2. ), Provision of various information to the communication terminals 3a and 3b, management (transmission notification) and control of transmission and reception of various data, and the like. In particular, the server 10 has a mailbox for each user in order to provide an image mail transmission / reception service in which characters and voices are attached to the image data based on the image data, and the server 10 transmits the mail from the communication terminal on the transmission side. The received image mail is stored in a mailbox prepared for the user on the receiving side, and a mail notification notifying that the image mail has arrived at the communication terminal on the receiving side is made.

A-2. Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication terminal in the communication system described above. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a CCD, which converts a still image formed through a lens (not shown) into an electric signal and supplies the electric signal to a buffer 21. The buffer 21 amplifies the still video signal to a predetermined level, and then supplies the signal to the A / D converter 22. A / D converter 22
Converts the still video signal into digital data (hereinafter, referred to as a video signal), and then supplies the digital data to a TG (Timing Generator) 23. TG23 is CCD
A timing signal for controlling the drive circuit 24 for driving the drive circuit 20 is generated and supplied to the drive circuit 24, and the video signal is taken in according to the timing signal and output to the data bus.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a DRAM (dynamic memory), which is a storage medium for temporarily storing the video signal output from the TG 23. This video signal is read out at the point of time when shooting for one screen is completed, and is subjected to a color calculation process for separating a luminance signal and a color signal. Also, reference numeral 26 denotes, for example, a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group)
This is a compression / expansion unit that performs processing of expanding a compressed video signal while compressing by a compression method such as p). Reference numeral 27 denotes a flash memory for storing the compressed video signal (luminance signal and color signal). VRAM28
Is a storage medium for storing a digital video signal in which a chrominance signal is superimposed on a luminance signal expanded by the compression / expansion unit 7 and a synchronization signal or the like is added.

Next, reference numeral 30 denotes a transmission / reception unit, which comprises a frequency conversion unit comprising a reception unit and a transmission unit, and a modem comprising a reception unit and a transmission unit. The reception unit of the frequency conversion unit converts a signal received by the antenna ANT, which is input through an antenna switch for distributing transmission / reception,
By mixing with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from the PLL synthesizer, the 1.9 GHz band to 1 M
The frequency is converted to an IF (intermediate frequency) signal near the Hz band.
Further, the transmitting unit of the frequency conversion unit mixes a π / 4-shift QPSK modulated wave supplied from a modem described later with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from the PLL synthesizer so that the frequency becomes 1.9 GHz. Convert and radiate from antenna ANT via antenna switch. Next, the receiving section of the modem described above receives I from the frequency converting section.
The F signal is demodulated and separated into IQ data to form a data string.
It is sent to the communication control unit 31. Further, the transmitting unit of the modem creates IQ data from the data supplied from the communication control unit 31, modulates the data by π / 4 shift QPSK, and sends the modulated data to the frequency conversion unit of the transmitting / receiving unit 30.

Next, the communication control unit 31 is composed of a transmitting side and a receiving side, and performs frame synchronization and slot data format processing. The receiving side extracts data for one slot at a predetermined timing from the received data supplied from the modem of the transmitting / receiving section 30, extracts a unique word (synchronization signal) from this data, and generates a frame synchronization signal. After the descrambling of the control data section and the audio data section, the control data is sent to the CPU 35 and the audio data is sent to the audio processing section 32. Further, the transmitting side adds control data and the like to the audio data supplied from the audio processing unit 12, adds scramble and the like, and then adds a unique word and the like to create transmission data for one slot. At a predetermined timing, it is inserted into a predetermined slot in the frame and transmitted to the modem of the transmission / reception unit 30.

Next, the above-mentioned audio processing unit 32 is composed of a speech codec and a PCM codec. The speech codec performs compression / expansion processing of digital data, and includes a receiving side and a transmitting side. The receiving side receives the ADPCM audio signal (4 bits × 8 kHz = 3) supplied from the communication control unit 31.
2Kbps) to PCM audio signal (8 bits x 8KHz =
Decompress to 64Kbps to expand PCM
Output to codec. The transmitting side encodes the PCM audio signal supplied from the PCM codec into an ADPCM audio signal, compresses the signal, and sends the signal to the communication control unit 31. The above-described PCM codec performs an analog / digital conversion process. The receiving side converts the PCM audio signal supplied from the speech codec into an analog audio signal by D / A conversion, and outputs the analog audio signal from the speaker 33. The transmitting side converts the analog audio signal input from the microphone 34 into a PCM signal by A / D conversion, and sends the PCM signal to the speech codec.

The CPU 35 operates according to the program in the ROM 36 and the state of the switch of the key input unit 38 to capture images by the CCD 20 and perform communication (voice, data transfer, etc.) by the PHS communication system. Control. The ROM 36 stores programs executed by the CPU 35, various parameters, and the like. Reference numeral 37 denotes a RAM (random access memory) which is used as a working area for the CPU 35, used as an area for storing a voice message storage area during an answering machine, etc. An address book including an address and a destination telephone number is stored.

Next, the key input unit 38 includes a numeric key for inputting the telephone number of the other party, a switch for on-hook / off-hook, a volume switch for changing the audio output, a shutter key for capturing an external image, an operation mode key, and the like. Be composed. The state of these keys and switches is
5 is supplied. Also, an LCD (color liquid crystal display) 3
Numeral 9 displays an analog video signal converted from the digital video signal by a D / A converter (not shown) as an image, and displays various data such as an operation mode, a telephone number, and a talk time.

A-3. Configuration of Provider Next, a description will be given of a partial configuration of the server 10 of the provider described above. The server 10 is composed of a so-called computer. In the present embodiment, a large-capacity external storage device (not shown) is connected to accumulate a large amount of image data, and the server 10 has a communication function corresponding to multiple lines. Have. As described above, the server 10 stores the image mail transmitted from the communication terminal on the transmission side in a mailbox prepared for the user on the reception side and that the image mail has arrived at the communication terminal on the reception side. Notification of incoming call. At this time, the incoming call notification is made by selecting an appropriate form according to the capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side.

That is, in order to ensure that the user on the receiving side can receive the notification of the arrival of the image mail, the capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side, that is, the receivable data format and the availability of image display, The form of the notification of the arrival of the image mail is changed according to the permission / prohibition of the sound reproduction (or output), the permission / prohibition of the character display, and the like. here,
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a correspondence relationship between the receiving device used and the form of the image mail incoming notification to the used device. In the figure, an image telephone is a PHS terminal that can receive and transmit the above-described video, and notifies the communication terminal of an incoming call using an icon. Also, PHS
An incoming call notification is sent to a terminal or a mobile phone by text or voice. Also, since sound cannot be reproduced for the pager, an incoming call notification is made using characters. next,
A personal computer (e-mail can be received) is notified of the incoming call by e-mail. In addition, in the case of a normal telephone, an incoming call is notified by voice, and in the case of a FAX device, an incoming call is notified by a FAX image. The correspondence is set in advance as rewritable as a table 40, and is referred to when an incoming notification of image data is performed.

Also, the server 10 of the provider needs to know what kind of device the receiving side of the image data uses. FIG. 4 shows the server 10 (on the receiving side).
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a table 41 in which telephone numbers are associated with devices to be used for the telephone numbers. For example, the phone number "060-
666-6666 is an image phone, and the phone number is 03-530-111.
"1" is a personal computer (a telephone line to which a modem is connected). Similarly, the telephone number "0425-35-12
34 "is a fax machine, and the telephone number is" 050-555-5555 "
Is PHS. That is, the provider server 10
When the image mail is transmitted from the transmission side, based on the telephone number of the reception side set on the transmission side, the device refers to the table 41 shown in FIG. 4 and acquires the device using the telephone number. After that, referring to the table 40 shown in FIG. 3, the form of the notification of the arrival of the image mail to the device is acquired.

For example, assuming that the transmitting side sets the telephone number “060-666-6666” as the receiving side and transmits the image data, the server 10 of the provider uses the table 41 shown in FIG. It is acquired that the device to be used is “image phone”, and further that the notification form for “image phone” is “icon” from the table 40 shown in FIG. Therefore, when notifying that the image mail has been received, the server 10 transmits the telephone number “060-666-66”.
66, and when the line is connected, a "code" for displaying an icon indicating that the image mail has been received on the image telephone on the receiving side is transmitted. Upon receiving the “code”, the receiving side image telephone, according to the “code”,
A predetermined "icon" stored inside is displayed on the LCD to notify the user.

The telephone number of the receiving side is "03-530-111
If “1”, the device used on the receiving side is “personal computer” from the table 41 in FIG. Similarly, the phone number "0425-35-123
If it is "4", it is a FAX machine, so it is notified by sending a FAX image (a text message such as "Image mail has arrived") and the telephone number "050-555-5555"
If so, it is a PHS, so it is notified by a character code. Although not shown, the notification is made by a character code in the case of a pager, and by voice in the case of a telephone.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a device configuration that can be used by a receiving user who has received an incoming call notification to actually receive an image mail. In the figure, the model is a device that is normally used, and the image download mode is a device mode that can be used to actually receive an image mail. When an incoming call notification is received by the image telephone, in other words, when the image telephone is normally used, the server of the provider is accessed using the device as it is. When a PHS terminal is normally used, access is made with a personal computer capable of displaying image data, or an electronic still camera and a PDA (Personal digital A
A device capable of displaying an image such as a ssistant is connected, and the server 10 of the provider is accessed.

Similarly, when a mobile phone is normally used, access is made by a personal computer capable of displaying image data, or a device capable of displaying an image such as an electronic still camera is connected to the mobile phone. , Access the server 10 of the provider. When the pager is normally used, an electronic still camera is connected to a personal computer capable of displaying image data, a PHS terminal or a mobile phone, and accesses the server 10 of the provider. When a personal computer is normally used, a device capable of displaying an image, such as an electronic still camera, is connected to the personal computer or an image phone, a PHS terminal, or a mobile phone, and the server 10 of the provider is accessed. . When a telephone or a facsimile device is normally used, a personal computer capable of displaying image data or a device capable of displaying an image such as an electronic still camera is connected to the image telephone, PHS terminal, or mobile phone. , Access the server 10 of the provider.
It should be noted that the above-described receiving mode of the image mail is merely an example, and it goes without saying that any mode may be used.

B. Next, an operation of the communication system according to the above-described embodiment will be described. In the following description, the reception (download) of the image mail is out of the gist of the present invention, and thus the description is omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the image mail transmitting operation of the communication device on the transmitting side according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the image mail notifying operation on the provider side according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart for performing. In the following, the communication device on the transmission side will be described as the communication device 6 (image telephone) in FIG. First, the user of the communication terminal 6 transmits an image mail in step S
At 10, the image mode (image mail transmission mode) is set by the function mode key. Next, in step S12, the transmitted image is photographed by the CCD 20. Subsequently, step S1
In step S4, a voice to be attached to the image data is input from the microphone 34, and in step S16, a character (text) to be attached to the image data is input from the key input unit. Then, after inputting the telephone number of the transmission destination (reception side) in step S18, the server 10 of the predetermined provider is input in step S20.
Access to and send the image mail.

The server 10 of the provider confirms the incoming call in step S30 shown in FIG. 7, and if there is an incoming call, determines in step S32 whether the incoming call is from a user for transmitting an image mail. If it is an incoming call for image mail transmission, the process proceeds to step S34, and the transmitted image mail is stored in the mailbox corresponding to the telephone number of the transmission destination. Next, in step S36, FIG.
With reference to the table shown in FIG. 7, the used device corresponding to the telephone number of the transmission destination is acquired, and in step S38, the notification form for the acquired used device is acquired with reference to the table shown in FIG.

Next, in step S40, a call is made with the telephone number of the transmission destination, and the line is automatically connected.
Then, by transmitting the notification information corresponding to the notification mode to the destination terminal, it is notified that the image mail has been received.
Here, FIG. 8 shows the notification step (step S42).
5 is a flowchart for explaining the details of FIG. FIGS. 9 and 10 are conceptual diagrams showing the state of the communication device on the receiving side that has received the notification of the arrival of the image mail. As shown in the drawing, first, in step S50, the equipment (image telephone, PH) used at the transmission destination (reception side) acquired in step S36.
S / mobile phone, pager, personal computer, telephone, fax)
, The flow branches to steps corresponding to the respective notification modes.

If the receiving side is an image telephone, the code corresponding to the icon indicating that the image mail has been received is transmitted, so that the provider receives the image mail on the display unit as shown in FIG. 9A. An icon indicating that the operation has been performed is displayed. Further, in the case of the PHS 7 / cellular phone 8, by transmitting characters or / and voice, a message indicating that the provider has received the image mail is displayed on the display unit as shown in FIG. "Image mail received") is displayed, and sound (for example, "Image mail received.") Is played from the speaker. In the case of the pager 11, by transmitting characters, a message indicating that the provider has received the image mail (for example, “image mail chak sin”) is displayed on the display unit as shown in FIG. 9C. Is displayed.

In the case of the personal computer 5, by sending an e-mail, a window indicating that an e-mail from the provider has arrived is displayed on the monitor as shown in FIG. The user can select the “Yes” button to immediately view the e-mail. The e-mail includes a message indicating that the provider has received the image mail (for example, “image mail chaksin”). When notifying by e-mail, the notification time and the sender name of the image mail, the telephone number of the sender, the size of the image mail, the presence or absence of voice data, the presence or absence of character data, etc. should be added. You may.

Further, in the case of the telephone 3, by transmitting a voice, a message indicating that the provider has received the image mail by voice from the speaker of the receiver (for example, "image") as shown in FIG. An email has arrived. ") In the case of the FAX machine 4, F
By transmitting the AX image, as shown in FIG. 10C, a message indicating that the provider has received the image mail (for example, “Image mail has arrived”) is output. When notifying by fax image,
As in the case of the electronic mail, the notification time and the sender's name of the image mail, the telephone number of the sender, the size of the image mail, the presence / absence of voice data, the presence / absence of character data, and the like may be added and notified.

As described above, in this embodiment, when an image mail is transmitted from the communication terminal 6 on the transmission side, the server 10 of the provider stores the image mail in the mailbox corresponding to the telephone number of the transmission destination, A device to be used corresponding to the telephone number of the transmission destination is acquired from the preset table 41, and then a notification form for the device to be acquired is acquired from the table 40 preset for the acquired device to be used, After calling and connecting the line with the receiver's telephone number set at the time of transmission, the image mail was received by the receiver's communication terminal in the above-mentioned notification mode (icon, character, voice, e-mail, FAX image, etc.). Therefore, an appropriate incoming call notification can be made according to the receiving / reproducing ability of the communication device on the receiving side or the situation of the user.

In the above embodiment, one device is used to notify the arrival of the image mail. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be notified.
Further, a priority incoming call order may be designated for a plurality of devices to be used, and incoming calls may be sequentially notified based on the priority incoming call order.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a communication system for transmitting and receiving e-mail between communication terminals via a server connected to a communication line network, the server transmits the electronic mail to a communication terminal on the transmission side. Once the e-mail composed of the received image data is once stored, an incoming call notification is made in a form according to the receiving capability of the receiving communication terminal, so that the receiving / reproducing capability of the receiving communication device or the user's situation There is an advantage that an appropriate incoming call notification can be made accordingly.

[0038] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the server, according to the receiving capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side,
At least one of text, voice, image, or a combination of them is used to make an incoming call notification, so that an appropriate incoming call notification can be made according to the receiving / reproducing ability of the receiving communication device or the user's situation. The advantage is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the server searches the type data table with the telephone number of the receiving side designated when the transmitting communication terminal transmits an electronic mail. Since the type of the communication terminal on the receiving side is determined and the notification mode data table is searched by the type of the communication terminal on the receiving side, the notification mode to the communication terminal on the receiving side is determined. , Processing can be performed only by the server without burdening communication terminals, and existing communication terminals can be used effectively,
There is an advantage that an appropriate incoming call notification can be made according to the receiving / reproducing ability of the communication device on the receiving side or the situation of the user.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the communication terminal is connected to the communication line wirelessly or by wire, so that the receiving / reproducing capability of the communication device on the receiving side or the status of the user can be established. In this case, it is possible to perform an appropriate incoming call notification according to the above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication terminal according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a correspondence relationship between a used device on a receiving side and a form of an incoming notification of an image mail to the used device.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a table in which a telephone number (on a receiving side) of a provider is associated with a device to be used corresponding to the telephone number.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a device configuration that can be used by a receiving user who has received an incoming call notification to actually receive an image mail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an image mail transmission operation of the communication device on the transmission side according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image mail notification operation on the provider side according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating details of the notification step (step S42).

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a state of a receiving-side communication device that has received an incoming notification of an image mail.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state of a communication device on the receiving side that has received an image mail arrival notification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 communication line network 3 telephone 4 FAX machine 5 computer 6 image telephone 7 PHS terminal 8 mobile telephone 9a, 9b public base station 10 server 11 pager

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication system for transmitting and receiving e-mail between communication terminals via a server connected to a communication line network, wherein the server temporarily stores e-mail composed of image data transmitted by a transmission-side communication terminal. A communication system that performs an incoming call notification in a form according to the receiving capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side. 2. The server according to claim 1, wherein the server performs an incoming call notification based on at least one of a character, a voice, and an image, or a combination thereof, according to a receiving capability of the communication terminal on the receiving side. Communication system. 3. The server comprises: a type data table in which telephone numbers of the communication terminals are associated with types thereof; and notification form data in which the types of the communication terminals on the receiving side are associated with notification forms corresponding to the types. And a table, the type of the receiving-side communication terminal is determined by searching the type data table with the receiving-side telephone number specified when the transmitting-side communication terminal transmits an e-mail, 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein a notification mode to the communication terminal on the receiving side is determined by searching the notification mode data table according to a type of the communication terminal on the receiving side. 4. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said communication terminal is connected to said communication line wirelessly or by wire.