JPH1168747A - Information communication method and information communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information communication method and a system by which the user receives an information communication service equal to as if to be connected to pluralities of, e.g. ISPs by having only to access a service source of one information communication service and the user management of access is facilitated. SOLUTION: A server device 2 and pluralities of communication terminals 1 are connected via a network. The communication terminal equipment 1 accesses to the server device s through a network that is assigned to each user or each communication terminal equipment 1 in advance and managed by a management equipment managing part of the network. Each network management equipment 7 informs information relating to an access history through the network from each communication terminal equipment 1 to the server device 2. Then the server device 2 manages centralizingly the utility state of the communication terminal equipment 1 or its user together with charge imposition management in response to the communication history.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information communication method and an information communication system using a server and a communication terminal connected via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has become possible for individual users to receive various necessary communication services by using a telephone network as an access line to the Internet. For example, e-mail can be exchanged through the Internet, and various information existing on the Internet can be provided.

Recently, due to the spread of portable wireless communication terminals such as PHS terminals and the increase in transmission speed of data communication using these portable wireless communication terminals, not only voice communication but also, for example, text data and image data. Wireless data communication services for wirelessly communicating various data, such as, for example, have been attracting attention.

For example, in the case of using a PHS terminal, data communication at a transmission speed of 32 kbit / sec becomes possible, and the transmission speed of 28.8 kbit / sec or 33.3 kbit / sec when a modem is used on an analog telephone line. The transmission speed is about the same as 6 kbits / sec.
The environment where facsimile communication and the like can be performed from outdoors using a portable wireless communication terminal has been established.

[0005] Therefore, it is becoming possible to access the Internet from this portable radio communication terminal and receive various information communication services.

[0006]

By the way, when receiving an information communication service such as an information providing service through the Internet, a user of a personal computer or a portable information communication terminal generally requires a specific Internet service.・ Contract an information communication service with a service provider (hereinafter referred to as ISP). Then, when receiving an actual information and communication service, the ISP having the contractual relationship is accessed, the ISP is connected to its own terminal, and a request for the provided service is made.
P can be provided with an information communication service.

[0007] In this case, for example, when the information communication service is an information providing service, information that can be provided by each ISP is limited to information provided in the ISP server and collected from a content provider in the network of the ISP. Can be Therefore, when information that cannot be obtained from one ISP becomes necessary, it is necessary to separately contract with another ISP that can provide the information.

In such a situation where a plurality of ISPs are contracted, the user must select and access an ISP according to necessary information. Providable information must be stored, and an operation for requesting information provision becomes troublesome.

[0009] In addition, the specifications of information to be provided may be different for each ISP.
In order to receive the information providing service from the SP, it is necessary to provide an application according to the specifications of each information and, in some cases, hardware for each ISP. This is especially true for portable information communication terminals where it is important to reduce the burden on applications and simplify hardware.
This is particularly problematic.

[0010] The information requested by the user is an ISP.
If the server does not exist, there is an ISP that obtains the information from another ISP and provides a service to the user, but in this case, the charging system differs for each ISP. For example, there is a problem that charging management for a user's access history becomes very complicated.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides an information communication service as if it were connected to a plurality of ISPs, for example, by accessing only one information communication service providing source. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information communication method and system in which user management is easy.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a server device and a plurality of communication terminals managed by the server device are connected via a network. An information communication method for receiving an information communication service by accessing the server device through the network, wherein an access to the server device from the communication terminal is performed by an administrator who manages a part of the network. Information on the access history of each of the communication terminals through the network while being performed through a network managed by an administrator device assigned to each of the communication terminals or each of its users in advance. From each of the network administrator devices to the server device. Wherein the server apparatus centrally manages the usage status of the communication terminal or its user, including charging management according to the communication history. Provide a communication method.

[0013] In the first aspect of the present invention,
The server device is connected to a network administrator device, for example, an ISP server through, for example, a dedicated line or the Internet.

The access of the user from the communication terminal is based on IS
It is executed not for P but for the server device. But,
This access is assigned in advance to each user or each communication terminal, and a network administrator device having a predetermined contract relationship with the server device, that is, an ISP, so as to perform authentication management and access history management of the user or the communication terminal.
With this, authentication management is performed, and connection is made to the server device.

If the access is, for example, a request for providing information, the server device may include one or more network manager devices, such as IS, connected to the server device.
The provided information provided by P is also used as a part of the provided information, and the information is provided according to the access from the user.

Then, the ISP reports the access history of each of the authenticated communication terminals or users to the server device. The server device centrally performs user management based on the access history information and the like.

Accordingly, the user of the communication terminal can receive an information providing service equivalent to contracting with a plurality of ISPs, simply by contracting with the administrator of the server device.
In this case, the communication interface can be unified for a plurality of ISPs. Also,
Of course, it is also possible to enjoy the information communication service provided by this server device.

On the other hand, a network administrator such as an ISP contracts with the server device and connects the administrator device to the server device, thereby preventing a user from accessing a server device that also has a service that he does not have. By performing the process through the own administrator device, an increase in the number of users using the network managed by the own device can be expected. In addition, since the user management is performed centrally by the server device, there is no need for the ISP to manage the difference in the billing system from other ISPs.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the information communication method and the information communication system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, an information providing system is constructed by connecting a plurality of communication terminals in contract with the common server device to one common server device via a network.

In this embodiment, the communication terminal is configured as a portable wireless communication terminal, has a function of receiving information provided from a common server device, and has a PHS (Personal Handy Phone System) telephone. It is also provided with a data communication function of a function, a facsimile, and an e-mail. Then, at the time of facsimile or e-mail, information transmission from each portable wireless communication terminal to a desired partner and reception of information addressed to oneself are performed by cooperation between each portable wireless communication terminal and the server device. It is configured as follows. That is, in this embodiment, the information communication service includes not only the information providing service but also the data communication service of e-mail and facsimile.

[Description of Network System] FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conceptual configuration of a communication network system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
In the figure, 1 is a portable wireless communication terminal having a contractual relationship with the common server device, and 2 is a common server device. A plurality of portable wireless communication terminals 1 and a common common server device 2 include a network 3 for portable wireless communication terminals, and a dedicated backbone connected to the network 3 through one or more access points 4. It is connected through the network 5.

The portable wireless communication terminal network 3 includes:
Other mobile wireless communication terminals that are not in contract with the common server device 2 are also connected. However, a mobile wireless communication terminal that can receive an information providing service from the common server device 2 as described later is provided in advance by the common server. Only the portable wireless communication terminal 1 contracted with the device 2. In order to avoid confusion with a portable wireless communication terminal having no contractual relationship with the common server device 2, in the following description, a portable wireless communication terminal having a contractual relationship with the common server device 2 will be referred to as a member terminal.

Each of the plurality of member terminals 1 and other portable wireless communication terminals of the same type is wirelessly connected to a wireless base station 6 provided in a predetermined area unit in consideration of, for example, a range where radio waves can reach. In the network 3 for a portable wireless communication terminal such as a connection between the wireless base stations 6, an optical cable is used, for example.

A network management server 7 for managing the network 5 is connected to the dedicated backbone network 5. This network management server device 7
Manages so-called routing between the common server device 2 and the member terminal 1. Therefore, from the viewpoint of routing management in the network management server device 7, the common server device 2 can be positioned as one of the terminal devices connected to the dedicated backbone network 5. In this case, the network management server device 7 is also connected to the Internet 8.

In this embodiment, the network management server device 7 is also directly connected to the common server device 2 and stores the access history of the member terminal 1 to the common server device 2 and the like. The management server 7 is configured to send the information to the common server 2. That is, in the present embodiment, the common server device 2 is configured to perform general member management such as charging log collection of the member terminal 1.

That is, in the case of this embodiment, the member terminal 1 has a contract relationship with the common server device 2 and
It does not have a contract relationship with the network management server device 7. The common server device 2 manages the member terminal 1 on the network connection by using the network management server device 7.
And there is also a contract relationship between the common server device 2 and the network management server device 7. Therefore, the common server device 2 can be connected to another dedicated backbone network and its network management server device in exactly the same relationship as the dedicated backbone network 5 and the network management server device 7 described above. .

In the case of this embodiment, the common server device 2
As seen from the above, a specific dedicated backbone network is assigned to each member terminal 1, and access from each member terminal 1 to the common server device 2 must be performed by the dedicated backbone assigned to that member terminal. Although the management is performed so as to pass through the network, when viewed from the member terminal 1, the contract relationship between the common server device 2 and the network management server device 7 is completely irrelevant. Only the common server device 2 is accessed and managed by the common server device 2 only.

According to such a network management configuration, for example, by providing the common server device 2 with all the service functions of the individual network management server devices 7, the user of the member terminal 1 In order to receive various services provided by the network management server device 7 of
Instead of making a contract with the common server device 2, various services provided by the common server device 2 can be received only by creating a contract relationship with the common server device 2, which is very convenient.

The common server device 2 is connected to a public line network 9, and as described later, the member terminal 1 is connected to a communication terminal 10 such as a facsimile terminal or a personal computer connected to the public line network 9. A function is provided for enabling transmission and reception of communication data between the devices.

Further, in this embodiment, the common server device 2 includes a storage unit which is a part of a provided information database in order to provide the member terminal 1 with an information providing service. Also, the common server device 2 is connected to the content providing device 11, and obtains information from the content providing device 11, which is the rest of the database of information provided to the member, and provides the information to the member terminal 1. I do.

The content providing device 11 is provided by a providing company having unique providing information, and provides the information to the member terminal 1 through the common server device 2 according to a contract with a service company having the common server device 2. Is what you do. In FIG. 1, the content providing device 11
Although only the number is shown, a plurality of content providing apparatuses 11 may be connected to the common server apparatus 2.

The connection between the common server device 2 and the content providing device 11 may be connected through a dedicated line or connected through a network such as the Internet.

In the case of this embodiment, information from the content providing device 11 connected to the common server device 2 through these dedicated lines or the network is
However, when there is a request for providing information from the member terminal 1, the content providing device 11 is accessed and acquired, and is provided to the requesting member terminal 1.

It is also conceivable to obtain information from the content providing device 11 as needed and store it in the built-in memory unit of the common server device 2 to keep the contents stored in the built-in memory unit up to date. When the number of providing devices 11 increases and the amount of provided information increases, there is a problem that the memory unit of the common server device 2 must be enlarged.

On the other hand, as in this embodiment,
When the common server device 2 acquires only the requested information from the content providing device 11 and provides it to the member terminal 1 when a request is made from the member terminal 1, the memory of the common server device 2 can be obtained. The size of the department will not be large.
If the information provided in the content providing device 11 is constantly updated, the common server device 2 can always provide the latest information to the member terminal 1 simply by acquiring the information from the content providing device 11. it can.

In this embodiment, the common server device 2 is connected to one or a plurality of content providing devices 11 and collects information from these content providing devices 11 in a concentrated manner to form a member terminal. 1, the member terminal 1 does not need to make a contract with each of the content providing devices 11, and regardless of the format of information from the plurality of content providing devices 11, etc. Necessary information can be received from the common server device 2.

As a method of providing content to the common server device 2 by a provider having unique provided information, the content is not provided to the common server device 2 by connecting through a dedicated line or a network as described above. There is also a mode in which a content provider provides a recording medium such as a CD-ROM to the common server device 2 and stores the recording medium in the storage unit of the common server device 2.

In this embodiment, when a contract between the user of the portable wireless communication terminal 1 and the company that owns the common server device 2 is made, as described above, the portable wireless communication terminal 1
Becomes the member terminal 1. For example, the purchase of the member terminal 1 by the user can be regarded as the occurrence of a contract relationship with the common server device 2.

That is, the portable radio communication terminal is connected to the member terminal 1
When the user makes a purchase, the member terminal 1
As described above, the address information of the common server device 2 through the specific dedicated backbone network for each terminal is given in advance and stored in the nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory also stores identification information (member information) indicating that the terminal is a member terminal. However, the address information and the member information of the common server device 2 may be written and registered in the member terminal 1 by the terminal salesperson or the purchaser when the member terminal 1 is purchased. It is good to keep. In this case, since the operation of inputting the address is not required at all, the user can use the member terminal 1 without being conscious of the common server device.

Then, as described later, the member terminal 1
When receiving the information providing service of the common server device 2 or when the member terminal 1 starts processing of facsimile communication or e-mail communication, the address information and the member information stored in advance are stored before the processing. , The member terminal 1 automatically executes a process of connecting to the common server device 2.

In this embodiment, the member terminal 1
Is excellent in portability and can be provided with various information by accessing the common server device 2 anytime and from any place.

Further, in this embodiment, the member terminal 1 realizes its facsimile communication and e-mail communication functions and related functions by cooperating with the common server device 2. That is, the member terminal 1 does not have a large-capacity memory for these communications. Instead, the common server device 2 includes a memory or a memory area for receiving data of each member terminal 1. Member terminal 1
, The application for realizing various functions except the application for the minimum required processing (software of the microcomputer), for example, the application for the display application, is left to the common server device 2. . That is, in the member terminal 1, when the user performs a key operation, for example, corresponding to a request for obtaining a target function, the request is sent to the common server device 2, and the common server device 2 The application runs. Then, the processing result of the application is sent to the member terminal 1.

The above is the outline of the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. A more specific configuration will be described below.

FIG. 2 shows the concept of the communication network system shown in FIG. 1 more concretely. In this case, the member terminal 1 has a multifunction peripheral configuration of a PHS telephone terminal and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) having a data communication function. In addition to the PHS telephone function, the member terminal 1 has a facsimile communication It has a function and an e-mail communication function, and also has a function of receiving information provision from the common server device 2.

In this example, the network 3 for the portable radio communication terminal to which the radio base station 6 is connected is a PHS / ISD
N network 3n. Therefore, the member terminal 1 can perform telephone communication with another member terminal 1 or a non-member PHS terminal through the wireless base station 6-PHS / ISDN network 3n-wireless base station 6, and also has the wireless base station 6-PHS / ISDN.
Telephone communication can be performed with a general subscriber telephone terminal through the network 3n.

In this example, the dedicated backbone network 5
One or more, in the example shown, two networks managed by two ISPs (Internet Service Providers). That is, 51N and 52N are:
Each of the ISP backbones, that is, a network such as a LAN, and the ISP backbones 51N and 52N and the PHS / ISDN network 3n are PIs, which are industry standard schemes for PHS with a transmission speed of 32 kbit / sec.
AFS (PHS Internet Access F
Orum Standard) Access Point 4
They are connected through 1P and 42P.

Reference numerals 51R and 52R denote routers for the respective ISPs, through which the ISP backbones 51N and 52N and the ISP server devices 71I and 72 corresponding to the network management server device 7 are connected.
I and the common server device 2 are connected. That is, a contract is concluded between the common server device 2 and the two ISPs, and as a result, they are connected by a dedicated line.

Each of the ISP server devices 71I and 72I authenticates the access from the member terminal 1, as described above, by entrusting the common server device 2 side. That is, the ISP server devices 71I and 72I have the ISP server devices 71I and 72I
Terminal 1 that accesses common server device 2 via
Member information (identification information) such as a member ID and a password are registered in advance. In this case, the member terminal 1
Each ISP determines which ISP is used to access the common server device 2. This is determined on the common server device 2 side at the time of contract between the member terminal 1 and the common server device 2, and the respective ISP server devices 71I, 7I
Member information to be managed by 2I has been notified in advance from the common server device 2. As described above, the member does not know at all which ISP he or she accesses the common server device 2.

Then, the ISP server devices 71I and 72I
When an access is made to a terminal connected to each of the ISP backbones 51N and 52N, the terminal that has made the access is referred to as the ISP backbone 51N.
N, 52N, it is authenticated whether or not the member terminal 1 is to be connected to the common server device 2. If the member terminal 1, the access is received by the common server device 2 through the routers 51R, 52R.

Then, the ISP server devices 71I and 7I
2I sends to the common server device 2 an access history (log) of the member terminal 1 which is managed by authentication. The common server device 2 receives the access history information of each of the plurality of member terminals from the ISP server devices 71I and 72I, and comprehensively manages the billing of each of the member terminals.

In this example, the content providing device 11
It is connected to the common server device 2 via the Internet 8, and when the common server device 2 is needed, information to be provided from the content providing device 11 is acquired via the Internet 8 and provided to the member terminal 1. As described above, the content providing device 11 can be connected to the common server device 2 not through the Internet 8 but through a dedicated line. Further, the ISP server device 7I can also be a content providing device.

[Configuration of Common Server Device 2] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the common server device 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the common server device 2 includes a master server 21, a mail server 22, a facsimile server 23, an incoming call notification server 24, and an HTTP (H
hyper Text Transfer Protocol
ol) A D server 25, a content server 26, and a content proxy server 27 are connected by a LAN (local area network). This LAN is also connected to the Internet 8.

The master server 21 performs management of member data, application for content options, cancellation processing, and management and maintenance of the entire network. The master server 21 includes a memory 21M that stores member data (user information) and the like.

The mail server 22 mainly manages and operates a mail service, and is a POP (Post).
Office Protocol) or IMAP
(Internet Message Access
(Protocol) server function, and performs interface processing with the member terminal 1. The mail server 22 includes a memory 22M called a mailbox for member terminals. The mail box 22M has a memory area divided for each of the member terminals 1, and stores received data of an e-mail addressed to each of the member terminals for each of the member terminals.

In this embodiment, as described later, a message transmitted from one member terminal to another member terminal is
Facsimile data in text data format that does not include image data (image data) is also stored in this mailbox 2
It is stored as e-mail data in the 2M memory area for the other member terminal.

The facsimile server 23 executes a facsimile communication function application. A mail server function is implemented for the interface with the member terminal 1, and a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) for G3 facsimile
It also has a communication line function and is connected to the ISDN 9. Further, a memory 23M called a facsimile box (hereinafter referred to as a facsimile box) for storing image data as facsimile data is provided. The FAX box 23M also has a memory area divided for each member terminal, and stores facsimile reception data including image data addressed to each member terminal for each member terminal 1.

When an incoming e-mail or facsimile is received by the member terminal, the incoming notification server 24
This is for notifying each member terminal 1 of the incoming call through an N line (ISDN network 9).

The HTTPD server 25 controls an interface with the member terminal 1. All processes when the member terminal 1 is connected to the common server device 2 are as follows:
Via the server 25, each functional server is connected.

The content server 26 is a server for content information processing provided by the common server device 2. The server 26 uses 2 for content information to be provided.
And two information storage memories 26A and 26B. The one memory 26A is for holding information to be provided in the server 26 in advance. Another memory 2
6B does not hold information to be provided in the common server device 2 and temporarily stores data obtained from the content providing device 11 via the Internet 8 in use in the embodiment of FIG. belongs to.

The content proxy server 27 is used to acquire content data from the external content providing device 11 via the Internet 8. The proxy server 27 functions in conjunction with a firewall (not shown) to create an environment in which the outside can be freely accessed from the inside of the firewall while preventing unauthorized access from the outside.

As described above, the common server device 2 stores the information stored in the memory 26A as the information to be provided to the member terminal 1 and the information obtained from the content providing device 11 outside the common server device 2. Both are prepared. When the information requested from the member terminal 1 is stored in the memory 26A, the information is read from the memory 26A, provided to the member terminal 1, and is not stored in the memory 26A. At times, it is obtained from the content providing device 11 via the Internet 8 and provided to the member terminal 1. This information providing process will be described later in detail.

[Regarding Member Terminal 1] Next, the member terminal 1
Will be described. FIG. 4 shows an example of the external appearance of the member terminal 1, and FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal circuit configuration of the member terminal 1. As described above, the member terminal 1 of this example
Has a configuration of a composite terminal having a PHS telephone function, a facsimile communication, an e-mail communication, and a data communication function for receiving an information providing service.

The member terminal 1 of this embodiment is different from the member terminal 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A and FIG.
In the state shown in FIG. 4A in which the cover 101 is closed and the cover 101 is closed, a telephone mode for operating as a PHS telephone terminal is set,
In the state of FIG. 4B in which the lid 101 is opened, a data communication mode in which a facsimile communication function, an e-mail communication function, and an information providing service receiving function can be obtained. Although not shown, the lid 1
01 is provided with a sensor for detecting the opening and closing of 01. As this sensor, for example, a protrusion may be provided on the inside of the lid 101, and a mechanical switch that mechanically presses the press switch by the protrusion, a sensor switch using a magnet, or the like may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a numeric keypad 102 for telephone (for dialing) is provided on the front side of the lid 101. 103 is an antenna for PHS.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the member terminal 1 has a main body 10 that appears when the lid 101 is opened.
On the 0-side surface, a large LCD (liquid crystal display) 105
The display screen of the LCD 105 can display a communication message, a function list menu, a provided information list list, a received facsimile list, a received e-mail list, and the like. When a menu or list cannot be displayed on one screen, the entire screen can be displayed by scrolling the screen or switching to the next page.

In the state of FIG. 4A with the lid 101 closed,
LCD window 104 made of, for example, a transparent plastic plate
The display surface of the LCD 105 can be seen through.
In this case, with the lid 101 closed, the LCD display window 1
LC so that the display is performed only on the part that can be seen from 04
D105 is display-controlled.

In the member terminal 1 of this embodiment,
A transparent touch panel 106 is affixed to the surface of the LCD 105, and has a function of receiving a touch operation by a pen 107 detachably attached to the back side of the lid 101 as shown in FIG. I am preparing for it.

A plurality of key buttons 108 such as a menu key K1, an online connection key K2, a function key K3,... Are provided as direct keys on the back side of the lid 101. Further, on the right side of the LCD 105, a jog dial key 109 having two functions of a rotation key and a push button key is provided. When the jog dial key 109 is rotated as a rotation key, for example, an item selection operation in a menu or the like can be performed.
When a push operation is performed as a push button key, it is handled as meaning to determine and input the selected item.

Next, a circuit block of the member terminal 1 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The member terminal 1 of this example is roughly divided into a communication function unit 110 and a control unit 120.

The communication function unit 110 includes an antenna 111,
An RF processing unit 112, a transmission / reception data processing unit 113, a microphone amplifier 114, a speaker amplifier 115,
It comprises a microphone 100MC and a speaker 100SP.

The control unit 120 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes a system control unit 121 constituted by a CPU, a ROM 122, and a DRAM 123.
And a flash memory 124 as a rewritable nonvolatile memory.

The system control unit 121 includes a cover 1
A switch SW that is turned on and off in response to opening and closing of the cover 101 is connected. The system control unit 121 detects whether the lid 101 is in an open state or a closed state by turning on or off the switch SW. In the state, the member terminal 1 is controlled as a PHS telephone terminal. When the lid 101 is open, the member terminal 1 is controlled as a communication terminal, a facsimile communication terminal, or a mail communication terminal.

The system control unit 121 receives information indicating the state of the key switch group of the numeric keypad 102 and the switch group of the key button 108 provided on the back side of the lid 101. When a user performs a key operation, the control unit 121 detects whether the key operation is one of the numeric keypad 102 and the key button 108, and executes a process corresponding to the detected key.

An LCD driver 125 is connected to the system control unit 121, and a ROM (to be described later)
LCD1 using the program 122 and display data
At 05, information provided from the common server device 2 is displayed, and other display images are displayed.

The system control unit 121 includes a buzzer 127 and an LED for notifying the user of an incoming call, facsimile and mail.
(Light emitting diode) 126 is connected.

The ROM 122 stores a program for controlling a sequence for connection with the common server device 2,
Members such as a control program for S telephone communication, a control program for receiving an information providing service, a control program for facsimile transmission, a control program for mail transmission, a control program for receiving facsimile data and mail data, etc. A communication application program necessary for communication with the terminal 1 and an LCD
A display control program 105, display data such as a menu, and the like are stored.

As will be described later, the DRAM 123 temporarily stores received data obtained from the common server device 2 and has a memory area used as a work area.

As described above, the address information on the network for automatically connecting the member terminal 1 to the common server device 2 through the ISP server device 71I or 72I is stored in the flash memory 124 in advance. In the flash memory 124, the member terminal 1 is a terminal having a contractual relationship with the common server device 2, and includes a facsimile communication service, an e-mail service,
In addition, it indicates that the terminal can receive the information providing service from the common server device 2, and also stores identification information (member information) for identifying each member terminal.

As described above, the member information is also stored in the main server 21 of the common server device 2 and managed by the common server device 2. The ISP server devices 71I and 72I also perform authentication based on the member information as to whether or not the accessing is a member.

Further, the flash memory 124 has a D
An area is provided for storing data that the user wants to save, of the received data temporarily stored in the RAM 123.

The operation of the member terminal 1 having the above configuration will be described below, including the operation of the related common server device.

[PHS Phone Mode] First, the PHS phone mode will be described. When the telephone number of the other party is dialed in using the numeric keypad 102 with the lid 101 closed, a call is made. In addition, when the member terminal 1 as a PHS telephone terminal receives an incoming call with the lid 101 closed, the user is notified by a buzzer 127, and when the user answers, the incoming call is received. Can be made, and it becomes a call state.

When a call is received with the lid 101 opened, a call can be made at any time by pressing a call key (not shown) provided on the main body 100 side. However, the call is performed with the lid 101 closed.

At the time of this PHS telephone call, the member terminal 1 transmits a transmission signal and receives a reception signal while the transmission / reception data processing unit 113 receives control from the system control unit 121.

That is, the audio signal from the microphone 100MC is transmitted to the transmission / reception data processor 1 via the amplifier 114.
13 to be converted into transmission data and transmitted to the RF processor 1
12, data is transmitted to the wireless base station 6 via the antenna 111, and voice data from the other party is received by the antenna 111 from the wireless base station 6, and the received data is processed by the transmission / reception data processing unit 113. Being
The call voice signal of the other party is restored, and it is supplied to the speaker 100SP through the amplifier 115 and is emitted.

[Data Communication Mode] Next, the data communication mode will be described. In this communication mode, the member terminal 1 is configured to realize a facsimile function, an e-mail function, a WWW browser function, a memo function, and the like. A list menu of these functions can be displayed by operating a menu key of the key buttons 108.
It is displayed on the screen of the CD 105. And the user,
By selecting and deciding a desired function from the function list menu displayed on the screen of the LCD 105 by rotating and pressing the jog dial key 109, the member terminal 1 enters the state of the mode in which the function is executed. become.

In the member terminal 1 of this embodiment, when transmitting and receiving facsimile data,
The transmission and reception of electronic mail are all processed via the common server device 2.

The data exchange between the member terminal 1 and the common server device 2 is performed by a communication method compatible with the networks 3 and 5 irrespective of a predetermined communication method as a facsimile communication method. To do. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the facsimile data and the e-mail data
SMTP (Simple Mail), a standard procedure used to transfer e-mail over the Internet
Transfer Protocol (Transfer Protocol), and information provided from the common server device 2 in the WWW browser function is HTTP (Hyper Text Tr).
The transmission data and the reception data are exchanged between the member terminal 1 and the common server device 2 according to the PIAFS method using the PHS network by using the transfer protocol.

In this case, in the member terminal 1, the transmission data is temporarily stored in the DRAM 123, read out by the system control unit 121 by executing the transmission, and
In the communication protocol and the data format described above, the data is wirelessly transmitted via the transmission / reception data processing unit 113, the RF processing unit 112, and the antenna 111 in order.

The data received from the common server device 2 is received by the antenna 111 and is temporarily stored in the DRAM 123 by the system control unit 121 through the RF processing unit 112 and the transmission / reception data processing unit 113. Then, under the control of the system control unit 121, L
The data is sent as display data to the LCD 105 through the CD driver 125, and the display content based on the received data is displayed.

The memo function includes a "handwritten memo" for inputting using the pen 107 and the touch panel 106, and an LCD.
There is a "type memo" in which a keyboard is displayed on the screen 105 and a document is created using the display keyboard. In both cases of the handwritten memo and the type memo, the created image or document can be transmitted as facsimile data.

That is, in either the handwritten memo mode or the type memo mode, a menu bar including an icon of “FAX transmission (facsimile transmission)” is displayed on the screen of the LCD 105, and this “FAX transmission” is displayed.
Is selected with, for example, a pen, an input mode screen for a telephone number of a destination terminal to be transmitted or a facsimile title is displayed. Then, after inputting the telephone number and title of the partner terminal and selecting the "send" icon displayed in this mode, the image or document created by the handwritten memo or the type memo is transmitted as facsimile data. .

However, as described above, in this case, the facsimile data is transmitted to the common server device 2 as e-mail data, so that the image data and the document data are not bitmap data of facsimile communication, but
The image data is, for example, GIF (Graphics In)
(Change Format), and the document data is in a text data format.

When the destination is other than the member, the common server device 2 executes a process of converting the received data into bitmap data and transmitting the data to a terminal other than the member by facsimile. When the destination is the member terminal 1, the common server device 2 stores the received data in the mailbox 22 M or the FAX box 23 M, and sends the data to each member terminal 1 via the incoming call notification server 24. Notify that there was an incoming call. This incoming call notification is performed not only when facsimile data is received but also when e-mail data is received.

When the online connection key K2 of the key buttons 108 is pressed when the facsimile function is selected, the member terminal 1 automatically performs a process for connecting to the common server device 2. That is, the member terminal 1 sends a request to connect to the common server device 2 based on the address data in the flash memory 124. Then, the ISP server 71I or 72I, which is a network management server,
Authenticates whether or not the terminal that has accessed is a member terminal, and if it is a member terminal, performs a process of connecting to the common server device 2.

The common server device 2 recognizes the connected member terminal, creates a list of facsimile reception data received to the member terminal, and sends the list to the member terminal 1. Therefore, in this example, the online connection key K2
Also has a role of a request key for the received data list.

[0098] The member terminal 1 receives the
The data of the list is received and temporarily stored in the DRAM 123, and the list is displayed on the screen of the LCD 105. The user can use the jog dial key 109 or the pen 10
7, the user can select desired facsimile reception data from this list. When the desired facsimile reception data is selected and the “capture” icon is selected, the member terminal 1 transmits a request to acquire the reception data to the common server device 2.

When this request is received, the common server device 2
Extracts the requested facsimile reception data and sends it to the member terminal 1 by e-mail SMTP. The member terminal 1 temporarily stores the received data in the DRAM 123, converts the data into display data, and displays the display data on the screen of the LCD 105. Therefore, the user can select necessary facsimile data and view it on the LCD 105 screen.

Also, when the electronic mail function is selected and the online connection key K2 of the key buttons 108 is pressed, the member terminal 1 is operated in the same manner as when the facsimile function is selected. , A process for connecting to the common server device 2 is automatically performed. Then, the common server device 2 creates a list of received data of the e-mail and sends it to the member terminal 1.

The member terminal 1 receives the data of the list, and displays the list on the screen of the LCD 105. The user can use the jog dial key 109 or pen 107 to select desired e-mail reception data from this list. When the desired received data of the e-mail is selected and the “capture” icon is selected, the member terminal 1 transmits a request to acquire the received data to the common server device 2.

In response, common server device 2 extracts the received data of the requested e-mail and sends it to member terminal 1 by SMTP. The member terminal 1 temporarily stores the received data in the DRAM 123, converts the data into display data, and displays the display data on the screen of the LCD 105. Therefore, the user selects an e-mail that he / she deems necessary, and
It can be seen on the screen of D105.

When the WWW browser function is selected from the function list menu displayed on the display screen of LCD 105, member terminal 1 operates as an information reproducing terminal.
At this time, the exchange of data between the common server device 2 and the member terminal 1 is performed by HTTP (Hyper Text T).
transfer Protocol) is used, and PH
This is performed by the PIAFS method using the S network. The data format of the information provided from the common server device 2 is HTM
L (Hyper Text Makeup Langu)
age).

Hereinafter, as a specific example of the information communication service in this embodiment, the information acquisition procedure in the WWW browser function will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The operation will be described in consideration of the operation of No. 11.

That is, if the online connection key K2 of the key buttons 108 is pressed while the WWW browser function is selected from the function menu displayed on the display screen of the LCD 105 (procedure S1), the above-described facsimile function In the same manner as when the electronic mail function is selected, the member terminal 1 automatically performs processing for connecting to the common server device 2 (procedure S2). That is, the connection with the common server device 2 is performed using the identification information of the member terminal 1 stored in the flash memory 124 and the address data for connection to the common server device 2 through the ISP server device 71I or 72I. The member terminal 1 sends a request to do so.

In response to this connection request, the ISP server 71I or ISP server 72I, which is a network management server, authenticates whether or not the accessing terminal is a member terminal. This is performed using the identification information indicating whether or not the terminal is a member (step S3). If the terminal is a member terminal, a process of connecting to the common server device 2 is performed (step S4).

Then, the common server device 2 sets the member terminal 1
Receives the connection request from the member terminal, recognizes which member terminal is the connected member terminal (step S5), includes a list of information that can be provided to the member terminal 1 in a so-called homepage, 1 (procedure S6). Therefore, in this example, the online connection key K2 also has a role of a request key for a list of available information. FIG. 8 shows an example of the list of available information. The information that can be provided includes information that the ISP servers 71I and 72I have.

In the member terminal 1, a home page including the list of available information is displayed on the screen of the LCD 105 (step S7). Then, the user performs an operation of selecting information desired by the user from the list. In the example of FIG.
A button icon AI indicating information content is displayed.
An operation such as instructing the button icon of the requested information with the pen 107 is performed (step S8). In response to this operation, the member terminal 1 sends the request for providing the specified information to the common server device 2 (step S9).

Upon receiving the information provision request from the member terminal 1, the common server device 2 analyzes what the requested information is (step S10). As a result of this analysis, it is determined whether or not the information provided by the request is the information stored in the internal memory 26A (step S11). The requested information is read from the memory 26A and transmitted to the requesting member terminal 1 (step S1).
2). If the provision request information is information that is not stored in the memory 26A, the common server device 2 accesses the information provision apparatus 11 that provides the information, obtains the provision request information, and makes a request. Is transmitted to the member terminal 1 (step S13). In this case, the information providing device 11 includes:
It is assumed that ISP71 and I72I are also included.

Next, the member terminal 1 receives the information sent from the common server device 2 in step S12 or step S13, develops it into display information, displays it on the display screen of the LCD 105, and presents it to the user ( Procedure S14).

As described above, the member terminal 1 obtains desired information by selecting from the list of information that the common server device 2 can provide information shown in FIG.
It can be viewed on the LCD 105.

In this case, the common server device 2 includes information from the content providing device 11 as an external information providing device that is not stored in the built-in memory 26A in the list of available information, and The common server device 2 obtains the information from the content providing device 11 and provides it to the member terminal 1 when the request is sent to the terminal 1 and the member terminal 1 requests the information of the content providing device 11. The member terminal 1 can receive more provided information than the information stored in the common server device 2.

Further, the member terminal 1 operates as if all the provided information is stored in the common server device 2.
Since the information provision request only needs to be made to the common server device 2, the information provision request operation is very simple. In other words, in the case of the related art in which information is individually requested to the content providing apparatus 11 including the ISP, a connection request must be issued to each of the content providing apparatuses, and then the information providing request must be sent. However, in the case of this embodiment, the information provision request only needs to be sent to the common server device 2 without being aware of one or more content providing devices 11 connected to the common server device 2. The operation of the user is simplified.

Further, in this embodiment, an information provision request is transmitted from the portable radio communication terminal, and the provided information can be viewed on the display screen, so that necessary information can be obtained when necessary. Can be used.

In the same manner as described above, the member terminal 1 sends out a connection request to the common server device 2 and connects to the common server device 2 to enjoy the e-mail service and the facsimile communication service. Can be.

In the above embodiment, one member identification information is assigned to each member terminal. However, a member terminal can be loaded with a PCMCIA standard card, for example, and the member information is stored in the PCMCIA card. When the connection is requested from the member terminal to the common server device 2 so that the member terminal can be accessed by including the member information of the PCMCIA card, even if the terminal is shared, it can be shared by each member. User management can be performed by the server device.

In the above embodiment, the case where the portable radio communication terminal has the function of the PHS telephone has been described, but the portable telephone may be used as the telephone function. In that case, a network for a mobile phone will be used as the network.

The communication terminal of the present invention is not limited to a portable radio communication terminal, but may be a portable personal computer through a wired telephone line or another communication terminal.

[0119]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user of a communication terminal can receive an information providing service equivalent to a contract with a plurality of ISPs, simply by contracting with a server administrator. Can be. That is, even if the information to be provided is distributed to a plurality of information providing apparatuses such as ISPs, the user of the communication terminal can use the individual ISPs.
It is not necessary to contract with an information providing device such as.

In this case, the communication interface can be unified for a plurality of ISPs. In addition, it is of course possible to enjoy the information communication service provided by this server device.

Further, a network administrator such as an ISP contracts with the server device and connects the administrator device to the server device so that the user can access the server device having services which the user does not have. By performing the process through the own administrator device, an increase in the number of users using the network managed by the own device can be expected. In addition, since the user management is performed centrally by the server device, there is no need for the ISP to manage the difference in the billing system from other ISPs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an entire network configuration to which an embodiment of an information communication system according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a network configuration in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a server device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a part of a flowchart showing a procedure in an embodiment of the information communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a part of a flowchart showing a procedure in an embodiment of the information communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a list of provided information displayed on a communication terminal of the information communication system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable wireless communication terminal (member terminal), 2 ... Common server apparatus, 3 ... Network for portable wireless communication terminals, 4 ... Access point, 5 ... Dedicated trunk network, 6 ... Wireless base station, 7 ... Network management server apparatus, Reference numeral 21: master server, 22: mail server, 23: facsimile server, 24: incoming call notification server, 100: portable radio communication terminal body, 101: lid, 102: numeric keypad, 103: antenna, 105: LCD, 106: touch panel, 108 …
Key buttons, 121: System control unit, 122: R
OM, 123 ... DRAM

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A server device and a plurality of communication terminals managed by the server device are connected through a network, and the communication terminal receives the information communication service by accessing the server device through the network. An information communication method, wherein the server device is connected to one or a plurality of administrator devices that manage a part of the network, and the communication terminal accesses the server device from the network. Of the administrator devices that manage part of the communication terminal, the communication is performed through a network managed by the administrator device assigned to each of the communication terminals or each user in advance, and the communication from each of the communication terminals is performed. Information about the history of access through the network, Each of the administrator devices notifies the server device, and the server device centrally manages the usage status of the communication terminal or its user including the charge management according to the communication history. An information communication method characterized by doing so. 2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said server device and said communication terminal are irrespective of a network interposed therebetween.
2. The information communication method according to claim 1, wherein data is transmitted and received by a predetermined communication interface. 3. The information communication method according to claim 1, wherein said network includes a network managed by an Internet provider. 4. The network includes a network for a portable telephone terminal, and the communication terminal includes wireless communication means for communicating through a wireless base station for the portable telephone terminal. The information communication method according to claim 1. 5. A server device and a plurality of communication terminals managed by the server device are connected through a network, and the communication terminal accesses the server device through the network to receive an information communication service. An information communication system, wherein the server device generates a communication path with the communication terminal in response to a connection request from the communication terminal; and Means for receiving and managing access history information for each of them, and means for receiving an information communication service request from the communication terminal and executing the requested service, the communication terminal comprising: In response to the request operation, the pre-stored address information for connection is read, and Means for transmitting the connection request to the server device through the specified network and generating the communication path with the server device, based on a request operation of the information communication service by the user Means for sending the information communication service request to the server device through the communication path. 6. A communication system between the server device and the communication terminal irrespective of the network interposed therebetween.
The information communication system according to claim 5, wherein data is transmitted and received by a predetermined communication interface. 7. The information communication system according to claim 5, wherein said network includes a network managed by an Internet provider. 8. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the network includes a network for a portable telephone terminal, and the communication terminal includes a wireless communication unit for communicating through a wireless base station for the portable telephone terminal. The information communication system according to claim 5, wherein