KR20040078789A - Avatar internet phone service and system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An Internet phone service system using an avatar and a system thereof are provided to enable a member who receives an avatar telephone to click the avatar telephone if the member wants to call other member, thereby enabling a PC to phone call and a PC to PC call while receiving a UMS(Unified Messaging System) service. CONSTITUTION: A member register receives member registration information including wired/portable phone numbers, and registers as a member. An avatar telephone generation module(131) suggests a self avatar image to the member, and generates more than one avatar telephone. A display displays the self avatar image, so that other member set by the member can see and click an image of the avatar telephone. A speech channel connection module receives an avatar telephone identifier and an authentication code, compares the code with the member registration information, extracts information indicated by the avatar telephone, sets a speech channel, and transceives voice data with a terminal of the other member. A VoIP conversion module(143) converts the voice data into a tone signal, converts the tone signal into the voice data, and transmits the voice data to a speech channel setup module(140).

Description

Method and system for internet phone service using avatar {Avatar internet phone service and system}

The present invention relates to a method and a system for an internet phone service using an avatar. More particularly, the present invention relates to an avatar phone image icon in which a member who has subscribed to a site providing an avatar service and has an avatar account requests an internet phone call to the avatar phone. The present invention relates to a service method and system for creating and connecting a call to another mobile phone and a mobile phone with other members of the site by clicking on the generated avatar phone icon.

Avatar means an alter ego or incarnation, and is an animated character that takes the place of a user in cyberspace. As the Internet age opens, it points to graphic icons that represent oneself in 3D, virtual reality games, or chatting on the web.

Currently, avatars are used in cyber shopping malls, virtual education, and virtual offices in addition to chatting and online games. Recently, the most prominent field is the online chat service, and chat services using avatars such as icon chat and 3D graphic chat have been introduced.

As the telecommunications market changes rapidly, communication service users have a desire to integrate and process various types of information provided to them. UMS (Unified Messaging) is a system that satisfies these user requirements as well as cost. System: Unified Messaging System).

On the Internet, chatting using avatars is a simple text-based chat service or a short message transmission situation, and according to the advancement of current Internet voice communication technology, it is necessary to introduce a voice service through grafting VoIP service.

VoIP technology used for Avatar Phone service replaces existing telephone network and exchange with some Internet, instead of establishing communication channel that covers all network, so that long distance and international telephone service can be provided with only local and internet charges. There is an advantage.

In view of this reality, the linkage between the UMS service system and the Internet phone service system is expected to provide a technical method for providing more efficient services.

For example, a telephone including an avatar internet phone and a UMS transmission means in the currently operated avatar service site can be directly provided with an internet phone service by clicking icons of various types of avatar phones. Through this, a convenient service can be provided to a service user who wants a direct voice call through a PC to phone or a PC to PC with another member in the avatar service site.

The present invention was created in order to meet the above requirements, and generates an avatar phone image icon for a member having an avatar account and requesting an internet phone call to an avatar phone by joining a site providing an avatar service. It is to provide a service method and system for connecting a call to a wired or mobile phone with other members of the site by clicking on the avatar phone icon.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a method and system for Internet telephone service using an avatar.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an avatar phone generation step in an internet phone service method and system using an avatar.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of connecting to an avatar telephone in the method and system for Internet telephone service using an avatar.

In order to achieve the above object, the Internet phone service method and system using the avatar receives member registration information including a mobile phone number and a personal phone number from the person accessing the avatar service site through the Internet to register as a member Membership management module; An avatar phone generation module for providing an avatar phone in various phone types to a member, and generating at least one avatar phone by embedding a URL, an avatar phone identifier, and an authentication code in the avatar phone icon selected by the member; The avatar site member clicks on the avatar phone of the avatar accounter in the site to which the user wants to make a call, and receives the URL, the avatar phone identifier and the authentication code from the terminal of the intended recipient, and registers the transmitted authentication code in the member registration means. Authentication is made by comparing with the member registration information, extracting the corresponding information indicated by the avatar phone identifier transmitted from the member registration information, establishing a communication channel between the receiver's terminal and the member's phone, and establishing the receiver's terminal and voice in the avatar service site. Call channel setting module for sending and receiving data; And converts the voice data transmitted from the communication channel setting means into a call tone signal and transmits it to the member's telephone through the wired and mobile telephone networks, and converts the call tone signal transmitted from the telephone through the telephone network into voice data and transmits it to the communication channel setting means. It includes a VoIP conversion module.

In order to achieve the above object, the Internet phone service method and system using the avatar according to the present invention (I) receives member registration information including a wired and mobile phone number from a person connected to the avatar service site through the Internet Registering and building a member database; (II) synthesizing and presenting graphic images of various avatar phones and avatar images of the current member to members, and generating at least one avatar phone by embedding a URL, avatar phone identifier, and authentication code in the avatar phone module selected by the member. ; (III) synthesizing the generated avatar phone with the avatar image of the member and displaying it on the avatar information screen of the member; (VI) A member who wants to talk with the member of the corresponding avatar by viewing the displayed screen, clicks the avatar telephone icon of the avatar telephone subscriber who wants to call, receives a request for communication channel setting from the receiver's terminal, and sends the authentication code and member registration. Comparing the authentication code in the information to authenticate the request signal by the avatar phone icon provided by the member, establishing a communication channel through the avatar phone identifier, and processing and communicating data transmitted in real time; And (V) receiving the call connection time information from the communication channel setting means and calculating a system fee charged with the phone network fee.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the Internet telephone service method and system 100 using the avatar according to the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a first embodiment of the method and system 100 for an Internet phone service using an avatar according to the present invention.

1, the first embodiment of the method and system 100 for Internet phone service using the avatar according to the present invention includes a member management module 130, an avatar phone generation module 131, an avatar phone directory module 132, Client program providing module 133, call channel setting module 140, VoIP conversion module 143, member database 120, billing database 121.

The internet interface 190 is connected to the member's terminal 170 and the other member's terminal 171 through the Internet 150 to process digital data communication and provide web document information to realize a web interface function.

Here, the member refers to a service user who has registered as a member in the avatar telephone service providing system 100. The telephone network 160 includes a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a mobile communication network. The member has a general telephone (160, 170) connected to a public telephone network or a mobile communication telephone (160, 170) connected to a mobile communication network and a terminal (160, 170) connected to the Internet 150. Terminals 160 and 170 provided by members and member customers should be equipped with a sound card, a speaker and a microphone capable of two-way communication.

The member management module 130 displays the member registration information input screen on the terminal of the person connected through the Internet 150 and receives member registration information including a landline telephone number and a mobile telephone number information. The member management module 130 stores the transmitted data in the member database 120 and registers the visitor as a member. Membership information includes avatar icon image, phone number (office phone number, home phone number and personal mobile phone number), fax number, email address, homepage address, company and residence address, name, social security number, password, ID, gender, date of registration. , Avatar phone disclosure or not.

In the member registration information, the avatar omits the avatar registration procedure if the user already has avatar image data in his terminal.

The 'public status' of the avatar phone input during membership registration is an item for selecting whether to allow the display of the avatar phone on the site through the avatar phone directory list to be described later. The member inputs the avatar information collected from other members into the avatar directory list through a separate registration form and stores it in the avatar telephone directory or searches the directory and directory of the avatar telephone directory database of the avatar telephone service providing system 100 according to the present invention. This feature allows you to collect avatar phones and store them in your avatar phone directory management page.

Member registration data, avatar phone directory management page, and avatar phone data to be described later may be preferably simultaneously established in the member database 120 with respective display connection information.

The avatar phone generation module 131 generates an avatar phone using information of the corresponding member stored in the member database 120. The avatar phone generation module 131 displays various phone image icons on a web page to a member terminal. When the member selects the desired image icon of the avatar phone, the avatar phone generation module 131 stores the selected avatar phone image icons in the avatar phone icon storage space allocated for each member in the member database 120. In managing the avatar phone image icon of the member, the member uses a management page provided by the avatar phone generation module 131. In other words, the icon management page provides an icon storage folder so that members can easily manage their own image icons.

Before storing the avatar image icon synthesized with the avatar phone selected by the member, the avatar phone generation module 131 provides service selection information to the avatar phone image icon so as to determine the type of UMS service to which each image icon is clicked. That is, the image icon (program) functions as a call connection means by embedding a URL, an authentication code, and an avatar telephone identifier.

The URL is information for connecting to the Internet phone service providing system 100 through the Internet by clicking on the avatar phone icon of the member who wants to make a call through the terminal 170 of another member in the avatar phone service.

The avatar phone identifier is transmitted to the call channel setting module 140, which will be described later, by storing a storage code of information corresponding to the communication service set on the avatar phone icon among avatar phone directory information and various program connection information built in the member database 120. The call channel setting module 140 selects necessary information and sets the communication channel of the communication service to be provided by the avatar phone. The identifier of the avatar phone icon is a call channel setting module 140 that stores the member's phone number information (phone number data and identification data for recognizing that a communication channel to be set is a communication channel). To pass on. The avatar phone icon identifier is linked to a row of respective information recorded in the member database 120. The internet phone request signal from the avatar phone image icon linked with the member database 120 receives necessary information and executes respective programs for calculating and processing the information. For example, when the Internet phone avatar phone icon is clicked among the aforementioned icons, the call channel setting module 140 receives the Internet phone request signal transmitted from the terminal 170 of the member customer and receives a phone number from the member database 120. It receives the information and program connection information and establishes a communication channel to the member's phone via the VoIP conversion module 143.

The authentication code is for confirming the integrity of the information transmitted from the terminal of the member customer in the process of accessing the data of the member database 120 by the avatar phone identifier, and the member database in which information corresponding to the avatar phone identifier is stored ( Information for confirming that the data is error-free by simultaneously comparing other member-specific information on the member 120 with the avatar phone identifier. That is, a signal transmitted from the terminal of the member customer through the avatar phone image icon includes an authentication code and an avatar phone identifier, which are simultaneously compared with the authentication code and the database storage code stored in the member database 120. It verifies that there is no error in indicating the information by confirming that it exists in the storage area. Other information unique to the member that can be used as the authentication code, for example, the password set by the member at the time of membership registration may be used, or may be a separate authentication code automatically assigned by the avatar phone generation module 131 while creating an icon. have.

The avatar phone generation module 131 combines the generated avatar phone image icon with the personal information stored in the member database 120 to produce an avatar phone of the member.

In addition to the Internet phone connection function, the avatar phone has an email and homepage connection function. The avatar phone includes the member's e-mail address and homepage address among the member information, and the e-mail address or homepage address area of the avatar phone displayed on the web page is clicked to link with the web browser provided by the terminal transmitting the click information. do.

In the case of an e-mail address, it is linked to a mail editor / sender that is connected to a web browser. In the case of a homepage address, a web browser that receives the address information is executed to access the member's homepage. The member's customer can send the mail to the member 180 through the mail editor / sender provided in his terminal 170 by clicking the email address area or the corresponding icon.

When the avatar phone icon is clicked, the call channel setting module 140 receives the avatar phone identifier, the authentication code, and the URL, and compares the transmitted authentication code with the authentication code stored in the member database 120. If the comparison results match, a communication channel is established between the terminal of the person who attempts the telephone call and the telephone of the other party, and voice data is exchanged with the terminal having a voice data processing program. The call channel setting module 140 uses the VoIP conversion module 143 to establish a communication channel between the member terminal 170 and the member customer's phone or the member customer terminal 170 and the member's phone 170. It is connected to the telephone network 160 through.

If the avatar phone icon is designated to set up an Internet phone communication channel of either the toll free Internet phone or the caller free internet phone, the avatar phone icon includes an avatar phone identifier indicating the phone number information of the member database 120 as described above. have.

The call channel setting module 140 includes, in the communication channel, a caller toll service service system connected to the VoIP conversion module 143 and the telephone network 160 when the caller establishes an Internet phone call connection. The toll free telephone service providing system is a system provided by a telephone company.

The call channel setting module 140 receives a time information by providing a web page to a member to input time information capable of connecting a communication channel. When the member customer 170 attempts to access the call channel setting module 140 by clicking the avatar phone icon, the call channel setting module 140 compares the time at the time of connection with the time received from the member 170. If the comparison result does not match, the call channel setting module 140 does not set a communication channel, but provides time information that is available for a call with another member 180 to the terminal 170 of the member customer.

The client program providing module 133 digitizes the voice signal of the person who requested the Internet phone call, the member 170 or the other member 180 in the service site through the Internet 150, and transmits the digital signal. A voice data processing program that converts and outputs voice data into a voice signal is downloaded and provided to a terminal of the person requesting an internet phone call. The voice data processing program is executed in the terminal of the person requesting the Internet phone call when the communication channel setting means detects the communication start signal transmitted by setting the communication channel.

The voice data processing program is downloaded within the avatar phone service subscription procedure, and the voice data processing program thereafter is stored in the terminal of the call requester of the Internet phone, and is automatically executed whenever the communication channel setting module 140 transmits the communication channel setting signal. .

In addition, the client program providing module 133 is a member customer terminal remotely connected to the voice data processing program programmed to be executed through the virtual execution software of the web browser installed on the terminal customer terminal 170 (Internet) ( 170 may be provided remotely. That is, the voice data processing program is managed by the client program providing module 133 but is executed by the central processing unit of the terminal 170 of the call member customer connected through the Internet 150.

The VoIP conversion module 143 exchanges voice data with the call channel setting module 140, is connected through the telephone and the telephone network 160, and the call tone signal and the call channel setting module 140 are transmitted through the telephone network 160. The voice data transmitted from the PC is converted into data according to the voice transmission protocol for data communication.

The VoIP conversion module 143 transmits and processes data using H.323. H.323 is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard for transmitting multimedia videoconferencing data over a packet-switched network such as Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP). This includes the LAN standard for high quality video and the Internet standard for transmitting video in the low frequency band over slow lines as high as 28.8 Kbps.

Since H.323 supports multiple multimedia data transmission, if the VoIP conversion module 143 is equipped with a Voice on Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway server to facilitate communication processing in hardware, group calls to a large number of users may be possible. will be.

The VoIP conversion module 143 may be separated from the Internet phone service providing system 100 and installed in a plurality of locations so as to be connected to telephone networks 160 around the world, thus providing an international call as a local call rate. The plurality of VoIP conversion modules 143 are connected via the call channel setting module 140 and the Internet 150 to receive voice data.

The member database 120 records the member registration information data including the business card information processed and instructed by the member management module 130 in the storage medium as described above, and is generated in association with the avatar phone image icon data and avatar. Store phone data, icon management page data, and avatar phone directory list data and control input / output of stored data.

The avatar phone directory module 132 creates an avatar phone directory list by classifying the avatar phones of the plurality of members based on the registered member IDs. The Avatar Phone Directory List is a cyberspace on the Internet that can display avatar phones. The member 170 registers his avatar phone on the avatar phone directory list is determined according to whether or not the avatar phone selected when the member registration information is input. As described above, the configuration data of the avatar phone management page simultaneously constructed in the member database 120 is also used with the same access information in the process of generating the avatar phone directory list.

The avatar phone directory list also includes an avatar phone store icon. When member 170 looks up the avatar phone directory list and clicks the avatar phone store icon attached to the list, the selected avatar phone is placed in member 170's icon management page (eg, the avatar phone folder in the icon management page). The connection information is described in the member database 120 to be displayed.

FIG. 5 is a screen illustrating an avatar phone directory list web page provided by an avatar phone directory module of an internet phone service method and system using an avatar to a member terminal.

The avatar phone directory module 132 includes a search engine that receives an ID search word from the member 170 and searches and provides an avatar phone corresponding to the search word from the avatar phone directory database. Therefore, the member 170 may use a search engine when the desired information is not found on the directory list, and the search engine has a function of searching for information and displaying the corresponding member ID directory list.

The avatar phone includes a fax number in the member registration information, and when the fax number area (fax image icon) of the avatar phone displayed on the web page is clicked, the member customer's terminal indicates the fax number information through the Internet 150. Send an integrated message service request signal including an avatar phone identifier, a URL, and an authentication code.

The PC to FAX connection module 141 provides a text input web page to the terminal 180 of the person who clicked the fax image icon in the avatar phone image, receives the text data, converts the text data into fax data, and sets the call channel. ) Transmits the converted fax data to the member's fax machine as the toll free call or the caller set up call connection.

The avatar telephone includes the residence address of the business card provider in the avatar telephone directory information, and the terminal address of the avatar customer's terminal displayed on the web page is clicked so that the terminal of the member customer can access the residence address via the Internet 150. A GIS service request signal including an avatar telephone identifier indicating the information, a URL, and an authentication code is transmitted.

The GIS information module 142 receives a transmission signal and provides it on a web page to a terminal of a person who clicks geographic information corresponding to a residence address obtained by using a GIS.

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer application system that collects, stores, analyzes, and outputs geographic data. The GIS information module 142 is preferably constructed as a separate GIS server. The GIS information module 142 is a GIS application software having a data processing structure of a vector format, which provides a phenomenological data structure, a compressed data structure, phase interconnection, and correction and generalization of shapes and non-shape data. It has a geographic database. The geographic information database contains geographic information collected through satellites, and the GIS application software maps them using automatic drawing technology.

Internet telephone service method and system using the avatar according to the present invention records the communication channel setting information and voice data processed by the call channel setting means to the storage medium, and the charging database 121 for controlling the input / output of the stored data; It may be further provided.

The internet phone service method and system using the avatar may further include payment processing means in addition to the aforementioned various components. The payment processing unit receives the call connection time information and the caller / caller burden communication channel setting information stored in the billing database 121 to calculate and pay the system fee added in addition to the basic call charge using the telephone network 160. The payment processing means is connected to the telephone company online so that the telephone bill can be confirmed.

Hereinafter, a method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a flowchart illustrating an avatar phone registration and display method in an internet phone service method and system using an avatar according to the present invention.

First, a member accessing the avatar service site receives and registers member registration information including a wired telephone number, a mobile telephone number, and the like through a member registration unit, and establishes a member database 120.

The avatar phone generation module 131 presents a plurality of image icons to a member's terminal, and embeds a URL, an avatar phone identifier, and an authentication code in the avatar phone image icon selected by the member (204). Generate 206. At this time, the avatar phone directory module 132 generates an avatar phone directory list in which an avatar phone connection icon is inserted, and classifies avatar phone information to generate an avatar phone directory list to build an avatar phone database. Thereafter, the member sets whether the avatar phone is disclosed (207). The visibility setting includes whether or not to disclose to only certain members.

The generated avatar phone is displayed along with the avatar of the member on the avatar display screen in the site (208).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of connecting a call to an avatar telephone subscriber member displayed in an internet telephone service method and system using an avatar according to the present invention.

When the member connected to the avatar service site (301) requests a call connection by clicking (302) an active avatar phone of another member who wants to make a call or fax transmission, the call channel setting means (140) is a member who wants to call the avatar phone. Receives a communication channel setting request signal from the terminal of the terminal and compares the authentication code transmitted from the member registration information. As a result of the comparison, when it is authenticated that the request signal is provided by the avatar phone provided by the member, the call channel setting unit 140 establishes a communication channel through the avatar phone identifier 303 and processes the data transmitted in real time to process the terminal of the member customer. Communicate with (304).

Finally, the payment processing means calculates the system usage fee added with the telephone network 160 fee based on the call connection time information and the caller / caller communication communication channel setting information stored in the billing database 121 to process the payment.

Hereinafter, the step of authenticating the access information with the authentication code, setting the communication channel through the icon identifier and processing the transmitted data to communicate in more detail.

First, if the avatar phone connection icon is a phone number icon, the call channel setting means 140 confirms the integrity of the phone number information transmitted from the terminal of the member customer by the authentication code, and the caller burdens the Internet by the avatar phone identifier. The member database 120 accesses telephone number information designated to establish an Internet phone communication channel of either the phone or the caller-free Internet phone. Next, the call channel setting means 140 compares the access time to the call channel setting means 140 and the callable time input by the member 170 to determine whether the communication channel can be set.

The call channel setting means 140 establishes a communication channel of any one of a caller paying Internet phone and a caller paying Internet phone, and finally, the voice signal processing means 250 converts the call sound signal and the voice data to perform data communication.

On the other hand, if the avatar telephone connection icon is a fax icon, the call channel setting means 140 confirms the integrity of the fax information transmitted from the terminal of the member customer by the authentication code.

Next, the call channel setting means 140 accesses, from the member database 120, the fax number information designated to set the fax communication channel of either the toll free fax or the caller free fax by the avatar telephone identifier, and accessor's terminal. Provide text input screen to receive text data.

The PC to FAX connection module converts the text data into fax data and transmits the text data to the fax terminal of the member 170.

Finally, if the avatar phone connection icon is a residence address icon, the call channel setting means 140 confirms the integrity of the address information transmitted from the terminal of the member customer by the authentication code, and the residence address information by the avatar phone identifier. Is accessed from the member database 120.

The GIS information module 142 obtains map information corresponding to the residence address information using the GIS, and displays the map information acquired by the terminal of the member customer on the web page.

The present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, which are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains do not depart from the essential characteristics of the present invention. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are not possible that are not illustrated above. For example, each component shown in detail in the embodiment of the present invention may be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, an avatar site service provider can receive a UMS service including an internet phone through an internet phone service method and system using an avatar, and thus can increase profits through service diversification.

In addition, the service subscriber may be provided with a voice service through a direct call connection other than a simple text chat through the avatar.

Claims (5)

An internet telephone service method and system using an avatar, comprising: member registration means for receiving member registration information including a landline and a mobile phone number from a person who accesses an avatar service site through the Internet and registering as a member; An avatar phone generation module for presenting the avatar images synthesized with the various avatar phones to the member and generating at least one avatar phone by embedding a URL, an avatar phone identifier, and an authentication code in the avatar phone selected by the member; Display means for allowing the member to display his / her avatar image including the avatar telephone in a service site and allow only other members set by him / her to view and click the avatar telephone image; The avatar phone image icon is clicked to receive the URL, the avatar phone identifier, and the authentication code from a terminal of another member set by the member, and compare the transmitted authentication code with member registration information registered and processed by the member registration means. And extract the corresponding information indicated by the avatar phone from the member registration information, establish a communication channel between the terminal of another member who clicked the avatar phone and the member's phone or terminal, and click the other member. Call channel connection module for exchanging voice data with the terminal of the; And converting the voice data transmitted from the communication channel setting means into a call tone signal and transmitting the call tone signal to the member's telephone through the telephone network, and converting the call tone signal transmitted from the telephone through the telephone network into voice data and transmitting the voice data to the communication channel setting means. Internet telephone service method and system using an avatar comprising a VoIP conversion module. The avatar phone generating unit of claim 1, wherein the avatar phone generating unit generates an avatar phone by combining personal information including the member's wired and mobile phone numbers and the avatar image synthesized with the generated avatar phone. Internet telephone service method and system using. The method of claim 2, Register avatar phones from multiple members in the avatar service site, create an avatar phone directory list, display them on the screen, and store the avatar phone of another member selected by the member in the avatar phone directory assigned to each member. The avatar telephone directory service and a search engine for receiving a search term corresponding to the avatar ID of another member from the member and searching for the avatar phone corresponding to the search term in the avatar phone directory list are provided. Internet telephone service method and system using. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon generation module If the avatar phone image icon containing the avatar phone, URL and authentication code indicating the fax number information is generated among the member registration information, and the fax image icon is clicked, the terminal of the avatar phone receiver sends a fax communication service request signal. And receiving the transmission signal, providing a text input window to the terminal of the avatar telephone receiver, receiving the text data, converting the received fax data into fax data, and transmitting the converted fax data to the fax machine corresponding to the fax number. Internet telephone service method and system using an avatar characterized in that it further comprises means. The method of claim 1, The icon generating means generates an avatar address image icon incorporating an avatar phone identifier, a URL, and an authentication code indicating address information among member registration information, When the terminal of the avatar phone receiver transmits a GIS service request signal by clicking on the address image icon, the transmission signal is received to obtain map information corresponding to the address information by using a GIS, and the avatar phone receiver receives the map information. Internet telephone service method and system using an avatar characterized in that it further comprises a GIS information providing means for transmitting map information.