JPH1188416A - Information relay device and communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information relay device and a communication system by which the obtaining of information in a network and information transmission are easily attained without bothering a user. SOLUTION: The system is provided with an information storing server 3 for storing information including a character, voice, a picture, a video or a computer program, etc., the plural information relay devices 5P, 5Q and 5R connected to the information storing server 3 with a communication network 1 and plural information portable terminals 71, 72 and 73 by which communication is executed with the plural information relay devices with electromagnetic wave such as radio wave or an infrared-ray, etc. When it is detected that the information portable terminal 71 enters a communication possible range, the information relay device 5P executes connection to the information portable terminal with electromagnetic wave and also executes connection to the information storing server 3 with the communication network 1 and the information portable terminal 71 receives information from the information storing server 3 with the information relay device 5P.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to an information storage server for storing information including characters, voices, images, videos, computer programs, and the like via a communication line, and can display or reproduce the information. An information relay device that can communicate with a plurality of portable information terminals and relays transmission and reception of information between the information storage server and the portable information terminal; and an information storage server, which is connected to the information storage server via a communication line. The present invention relates to an information relay device, and a communication system having an information portable terminal capable of communicating with the information relay device and capable of easily acquiring information in the information portable terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable information terminal which can be used in this communication system is a compact computer, such as a notebook, which can display information such as characters, voices, images and the like. Is now widespread. As a means for acquiring and inputting information on the network to the portable information terminal, there is a method using communication other than using a physical medium such as a floppy disk or an IC card. As a method of this communication, a method of connecting to a telephone line or the like by a modular code and a method of a wireless communication service such as a mobile phone and a PHS have been put into practical use. As a result, a service is realized in which information such as news articles, music, and computer programs stored in the information storage server is received and used by the information portable terminal.

[0003]

In the use of the portable information terminal described above, information can be naturally input without any troublesome operation as long as the user carries the portable information terminal. It is considered desirable. However, in the current system, an operation required by a user to acquire information on a network is not always easy. For example, if a telephone line or the like is used as a means for inputting information to the portable information terminal, it is necessary to use a modular code or the like to connect the portable information terminal to the telephone line, which is troublesome. There's a problem.

[0004] The same applies to the transmission of information. When it is desired to transmit information to another portable information terminal,
There is a problem that a troublesome operation is required as much as obtaining information on the network.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information relay apparatus and a communication system that can easily obtain information on a network and transmit information via the network without bothering the user.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an information storage server for storing information including characters, voices, images, videos, computer programs, and the like is provided via a communication line. Connected
An information relay device that can communicate via electromagnetic waves with a plurality of portable information terminals capable of displaying or reproducing the information, and relays transmission and reception of information between the information storage server and the portable information terminal, Detecting means for detecting that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range; and detecting that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range by the detecting means. Connection control means for connecting the information relay device to the portable information terminal via an electromagnetic wave so as to receive information from the information storage server via an electromagnetic wave and controlling the connection to the information storage server via a communication line. That is the gist.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, upon detecting that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information relay device is connected to the portable information terminal via an electromagnetic wave, and is connected via the communication line. The portable information terminal is connected to the information storage server, and the information portable terminal receives information from the information storage server via the information relay device.

[0008] The present invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
In the invention described in the above, when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information is relayed so as to receive information from the portable information terminal and transmit the information to an information storage server. The gist of the present invention is to have second connection control means for controlling the apparatus to connect to the information portable terminal via electromagnetic waves and to connect to the information storage server via a communication line.

According to the present invention, when it is detected that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information relay device receives the information from the portable information terminal and stores the information. Send to server.

[0010] Further, the present invention according to claim 3 provides the invention according to claim 1.
In the described invention, an information storage means for storing information;
A storage control means for connecting to an information storage server via a communication line, receiving information from the information storage server, and controlling the information to be stored in the information storage means; And third connection control means for controlling connection to the portable information terminal via an electromagnetic wave so as to transmit the information stored in the information storage means to the portable information terminal when it is detected. Is the gist.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, information is received from the information storage server via the communication line and stored in the information storage means, and it is detected that the information portable terminal has entered the communicable range. Then, the information stored in the information storage means is transmitted to the portable information terminal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, information is received from the portable information terminal when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range. And information transmitting means for transmitting the information stored in the information receiving and storing means to the information storing server at a predetermined time or at an opportunity to receive information from the information storing server at the next time. It is the gist to have.

According to the present invention, when it is detected that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the portable information terminal receives and accumulates information from the portable information terminal, and at a predetermined time or at the next time. And transmitting the stored information to the information storage server at an opportunity to receive the information from the information storage server.

The present invention according to claim 5 provides the present invention according to claim 3.
In the invention described in the above, when the information stored in the information storage means is received by the information portable terminal, the information storage via the communication line is performed to notify the information storage server of the type information including the type and the identification number of the information. The gist of the present invention is to include a fourth connection control means for controlling connection to a server.

According to the present invention, when the stored information is received by the portable information terminal, the information storage server notifies the information storage server of the type information including the type and identification number of the information.

Further, the present invention according to claim 6 provides the invention according to claim 5.
In the invention described in the description, when receiving a command to delete the information specified by the type information including the type and the identification number from the information storage server, there is provided an erasing unit that deletes the specified information from the information storage unit. Make a summary.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when a command to delete information specified by the type information is received from the information storage server, the specified information is deleted from the information storage means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information storage server, an information relay device connected to the information storage server via a communication line, and an information portable terminal capable of communicating with the information relay device. A communication system for transmitting and receiving information between portable information terminals, wherein the information storage server comprises:
The information relay device includes an information storage unit that receives and stores information transmitted from the information relay device, and a transmission unit that transmits information stored in the information storage unit to the information relay device. Information storage means for receiving and storing information transmitted from the information storage server, detection means for detecting that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range of the information relay device, When it is detected that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, when information addressed to the portable information terminal is stored,
Transmitting means for transmitting the information to the portable information terminal; and when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the portable information terminal should transmit to another portable information terminal. And information transmitting means for receiving the information and transmitting the information to the information storage server, wherein the information portable terminal receives information from the information relay device and relays the information. The gist is to have an information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting information to the device.

According to the present invention, the information storage server receives and accumulates information transmitted from the information relay device, and transmits the stored information to the information relay device. Receives and stores the information transmitted from the information storage server, and detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range of the information relay device. When transmitting the information to the portable information terminal and detecting that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, if the portable information terminal holds information to be transmitted to another portable information terminal, The information portable terminal receives the information and transmits the information to the information storage server, and the portable information terminal receives information from the information relay device and transmits information to the information relay device.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a communication system having an information relay device according to one embodiment of the present invention. The communication system shown in the figure is a communication network 1 such as a telephone line.
And an information storage server 3 for storing information including characters, sounds, images, video, computer programs, etc., and a plurality of information relay devices 5P, 5Q, 5R connected to the information storage server 3 via the communication network 1. And a plurality of portable information terminals 71, 72, 73 connected to the plurality of information relay devices via electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays.

In this embodiment, the information relay device 5
P, 5Q, 5R and three portable information terminals 71, 72, 73 are shown, respectively, and the operation of these three devices will be described. However, the number of these devices is not limited to this. In addition, it is assumed that there are three types of information handled in this embodiment, X, Y, and Z. Information X and Y are assumed to be obtained and viewed by a user of information held by the information storage server 3, and information Z is assumed to be transmitted from one information portable terminal to another information portable terminal. is there.

Each of the portable information terminals 71, 72, and 73 specifies, for each type of information, an information relay device capable of transmitting and receiving the information. The information portable terminal 71 has two types of information X and Y
Can be received, but it is specified that both can be received only from the information relay device 5P. Similarly, the portable information terminal 72 has 2
Information X and Z can be received, but information X can be received from information relay devices 5P and 5R, and information Z can be received from information relay device 5Q.
And 5R. The portable information terminal 73 can receive the information Y and transmit the information Z.
This can be done from P and 5Q.

The information relay devices 5P and 5Q include an information transmission / reception unit 61 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the information storage server 3 and the portable information terminals 71, 72, 73, an information storage unit 63 for storing information, and an information storage unit 63 for storing the information. The information relay device 5R includes an information reading / writing / erasing unit 62 for reading / writing / erasing information from / to the unit 63.
Having only Note that the information transmitting / receiving means 61 may also include the information reading / writing / erasing means 62 and the information storing means 63.

Further, each of the information relay devices 5P, 5Q, 5R
Has a communicable range, and includes detection means for detecting that the portable information terminals 71, 72, and 73 have entered the communicable range. Upon detection of the entry, the portable information terminal can communicate with the information portable terminal via electromagnetic waves, and the information relay device can communicate with the information storage server 3 via the communication network 1. 5P can receive information from the information storage server 3 via the communication network 1 at any time regardless of the approach of the portable information terminal, that is, even if the portable information terminal does not enter the communicable range. In addition,
The detection that the portable information terminal has approached the information relay device is as follows.
For example, a different ID number is assigned to each portable information terminal, and the portable information terminal constantly emits information including this ID number by radio waves, and this can be realized by a method of detecting this by the information relay device.

When an information portable terminal that satisfies the conditions for transmitting and receiving information approaches, the information relay devices 5Q and 5R connect to the information portable terminal via electromagnetic waves and connect to the information storage server 3 via the communication network 1. Thereby, the transmission and reception of information between the portable information terminal and the information storage server 3 are relayed.

It is assumed that information X and Y are stored in the information storage server 3 in an initial state. Here, it is assumed that the information relay devices 5P, 5Q, 5R and the information storage server 3 hold information relating to correspondence of the portable information terminals that can transmit and receive the information X, Y.

Next, the procedure for transmitting and receiving information will be described in detail.

First, the portable information terminal 71 is connected to the information relay device 5.
When approaching P, the information relay device 5P detects this, transmits the information X and Y stored in the information storage means 63 to the information portable terminal 71, and transmits the fact to the information storage server 3. .

Further, the portable information terminal 72 is connected to the information relay device 5.
Q, the information relay device 5Q receives the information X from the information storage server 3 via the communication network 1, and
Is stored in the information storage means 63, the information X is transmitted to the information portable terminal 72, and the fact is transmitted to the information storage server 3.

At this point, the information storage server 3 stores the information X
Knows that the information has arrived at both the portable information terminals 71 and 72 that need the information, and issues an instruction to delete the information X to the information relay devices 5P and 5Q, and
P and 5Q delete the information X stored in the information storage means 63.

As described above, the information stored in the information storage server 3 can be transferred to the information portable terminal held by the user who wants to use the information without any trouble of the user.

Next, a procedure for transmitting information from one portable information terminal to another portable information terminal will be described.

If the portable information terminal 73 approaches the information relay device 5P, the information relay device 5P transmits the information Y stored in the information storage means 63 of the information relay device 5P to the portable information terminal 73, The information Z is received from the portable information terminal 73, the information Z is stored in the information storage means 63, and the fact that the portable information terminal 73 has received the information Y and the information Z
Is transmitted to the information storage server 3. Note that information Z describes information about a user who needs the information.

At this point, the information storage server 3 knows that the information Y has arrived at both the portable information terminals 71 and 73 that need the information, and thus instructs the information relay device 5P to delete the information Y. Is issued, and the information relay device 5P deletes the stored information Y.

Finally, assuming that the portable information terminal 72 approaches the information relay device 5R, the information relay device 5R
, And transmits the information Z to the information portable terminal 72, and transmits the fact to the information storage server 3.

Since the information storage server 3 knows that the information Z has reached the portable information terminal 72 that needs the information,
A command to delete the information Z is issued to the information relay device 5P, and the information relay device 5P deletes the stored information Z.

In the above example, the information X, Y, and Z are still stored in the information storage server 3, but they are stored for backup or other reasons. The information is deleted from the information storage server 3.

As described above, the wired communication network 1 composed of a communication line such as a telephone line is used in combination with radio electromagnetic waves such as radio waves and infrared rays, and the information relay devices 5P, 5Q, 5R is provided so that when the portable information terminal approaches the information relay device, it is automatically connected to the information storage server 3 so that the economics of a communication line such as a telephone and the convenience of a wireless function are combined. You can enjoy.

Further, by installing the information relay device on a communication line such as an arbitrary telephone line desired by the user, the user can select information desired by the user among the information stored in the information storage server. It can be received from an information relay device installed at an arbitrary location and displayed on an information portable terminal.

Further, information created by the information portable terminal via the ubiquitous information relay device, or item selection, settlement judgment, current position of the terminal, and other information are transmitted to the information storage server, and other information is transmitted. Information transmission to the mobile terminal can also be performed automatically.

Further, by providing a storage function in the information relay device, the NT can be used when the telephone line, which is the communication network 1, is idle.
By collectively receiving information in advance by off-talk communication of T or other methods and providing the stored information when the information portable terminal approaches the information relay device, it is possible to further reduce the cost.

Furthermore, the information relay device can reduce useless storage by the information storage server 3 or the information relay device by notifying the information storage server of the type of information received by the portable information terminal.

For example, assuming that there is information X that only Mr. A needs, once the information portable terminal owned by Mr. A receives this information X, the information X need not be managed by the information storage server 3 thereafter. Consider the situation. This information X
Are stored in the three information relay devices 5P, 5Q, and 5R, and if the portable information terminal owned by Mr. A receives the information X from the information relay device 5P, not only the information relay device 5P but also Also, the information X stored in the information storage server 3 and the remaining information relay devices 5Q and 5R becomes unnecessary. Here, the information relay device 5P notifies the information storage server 3 that Mr. A's information portable terminal has received the information X, so that the information storage server 3 relays the information storage server 3 and the three information relays. It is possible to determine that the information X stored in the devices 5P, 5Q, 5R is no longer needed, and to delete them.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When it is detected that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information relay device is connected to the portable information terminal via electromagnetic waves and to the information storage server via a communication line. Since the information is received from the information storage server via the information storage device, for example, by connecting a large number of information relay devices to telephone lines at home, work, school, etc., the information portable terminal can be used without any troublesome operation for communication. In addition to being able to receive information, by using a telephone line or the like for communication, it is possible to enjoy the service more economically than using other wireless services.

According to the present invention, when it is detected that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information relay device receives the information from the portable information terminal and transmits the information to the information storage server. Therefore, the information portable terminal can transmit information without requiring a troublesome operation for communication.

Further, according to the present invention, when the stored information is received by the portable information terminal, the information storage server notifies the information storage server of the type information including the type of the information and the identification number. By issuing an erasing instruction for the specified information and deleting the specified information from the information storage means, useless storage can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a communication system having an information relay device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication network 3 Information storage server 5P, 5Q, 5R Information relay device 61 Information transmitting / receiving means 62 Information reading / writing / erasing means 63 Information storage means 71, 72, 73 Information portable terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04M 11/00 302

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of portable information terminals that are connected via a communication line to an information storage server that stores information including characters, sounds, images, videos, computer programs, and the like, and that can display or reproduce the information. An information relay device capable of communicating via an electromagnetic wave and relaying transmission and reception of information between the information storage server and the information portable terminal, wherein the information relay device detects that the information portable terminal has entered a communicable range. Detecting means, and, when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, relays the information so that the portable information terminal can receive information from the information storage server via the information relay device. First connection control means for controlling the apparatus to connect to the information portable terminal via electromagnetic waves and to connect to the information storage server via a communication line. Information relay device. 2. When the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the information is relayed so as to receive information from the portable information terminal and transmit the information to an information storage server. 2. The information relay device according to claim 1, further comprising second connection control means for controlling the device to connect to the information portable terminal via electromagnetic waves and to connect to the information storage server via a communication line. 3. An information storage means for storing information, a storage control means for connecting to an information storage server via a communication line, receiving information from the information storage server, and controlling the information to be stored in the information storage means. When the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, it connects to the portable information terminal via an electromagnetic wave so as to transmit the information stored in the information storage means to the portable information terminal. 3. The information relay apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising third connection control means for performing control as described above. 4. An information receiving and storing means for receiving and storing information from the portable information terminal when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, at a predetermined time or 2. The information relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the information stored in the information receiving and storing unit to the information storing server when the information is received from the information storing server. 5. When information stored in said information storage means is received by an information portable terminal, information is stored via a communication line to notify the information storage server of type information including the type and identification number of said information. 4th control to connect to server
4. The information relay apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a connection control unit. 6. An erasing means for erasing the specified information from the information storage means when receiving an erasure command of information specified by the type information including the type and the identification number from the information storage server. The information relay device according to claim 5, wherein 7. An information storage server, comprising: an information relay device connected to the information storage server via a communication line; and an information portable terminal capable of communicating with the information relay device. A communication system for transmitting and receiving, wherein the information storage server receives and stores information transmitted from the information relay device, and stores the information stored in the information storage device in the information relay device. Transmitting means for transmitting information to the information relay device, the information relay device receiving and storing information transmitted from the information storage server, and the information portable terminal having a communication range of the information relay device. Detecting means for detecting that the information portable terminal has entered the communicable range when the detecting means detects that the information portable terminal has entered the communicable range. The,
Transmitting means for transmitting the information to the portable information terminal; and when the detecting means detects that the portable information terminal has entered the communicable range, the portable information terminal should transmit to another portable information terminal. Information holding means for receiving the information and transmitting the information to the information storage server, wherein the portable information terminal receives information from the information relay device and relays the information. A communication system comprising information transmitting / receiving means for transmitting information to a device.