1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus and an information displaying method for a communication apparatus that perform communication based on user information stored in advance.
2. Description of Related Art
IP telephones have been widely used these days. An IP telephone service provider may have a new subscriber register user information of the subscriber on a server. The user information includes a user name, a user ID of the user, a date of birth of the user, an address of the user, a telephone number of the user other than the IP telephone number, and the like.
The user of such IP telephone service can obtain from the server, user information of another user stored on the server. The user can not only access an IP telephone of the another user, based on a user ID of the another user included in the obtained user information; but can also access a telephone terminal that the another user uses, based on a telephone number of the another user included in the user information (refer to Publication 1, for example).
However, the conventional technology has a problem described below.
Since the user information is controlled on the Internet server, any user of the system can obtain the user information. Thus, a user who registers information to the IP telephone may not include a telephone number and the like, in order to keep the personal information from a number of unspecified users. In this case, another user, who obtains the information from the server to communicate with the user, cannot know the telephone number other than the IP telephone, such as a landline telephone or a mobile telephone, even when the another user wants to access such telephone terminal.
An object of the present invention is to provide a communication apparatus and a communication method that allow a user to have an easy access to various terminals that another user uses, while keeping personal information from a number of unspecified users.
To address the problem above, the communication apparatus according to the present invention, including an interface that obtains user information from a server on a network, the user information being related to a user and including a user ID of the user; an operation unit that inputs telephone book information, the telephone book information including the user ID and telephone number information of the user; a memory that stores the user information and the telephone book information, the user information being associated with the telephone book information; a display that displays the user information and telephone book information; and a controller that displays the telephone book information associated with the user information on the display, when the user information of the user is displayed and display of further information related to the user is instructed.
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
The embodiment of the present invention is explained in the following, with reference to the above-described drawings.
A communication system shown in
Provided below are descriptions on mobile terminal M1 with reference to
On mobile terminal M1, controller 123 controls components of the mobile terminal. Memory 125 stores a variety of information, a computer program, and the like used by controller 123. Communicator 124 controls communication complying with a predetermined communication protocol. Display 121 displays data and the like so that a user can view the data. Contact list database 126 stores a contact list shown in
Described below is a wireless communication terminal, which can be used as an example of mobile terminal M1.
As shown in
Then, communication controller 703 performs frame synchronization and frame format. A receiver of communication controller 703 retrieves data for one frame at a predetermined timing from the data supplied from the modulator/demodulator of transmitter/receiver 702; descrambles the data; and transmits the upper-layer data to controller 706, which will be described hereinafter. Controller 706 then transmits the following data to data processor 704: multimedia data, such as a VoIP audio signal of an RTP payload, a video signal in MPEG, and the like; and IM text data. A transmitter of communication controller 703 adds a header to the data supplied from data processor 704; scrambles the IP-packetized data; and then transmits each frame to the modulator/demodulator of transmitter/receiver 702 at a predetermined timing.
Then, a receiver of data processor 704 decodes the multimedia data and the like supplied from controller 706 for decompression; performs D/A conversion into an analog audio and video signal and IM text data; and outputs the converted signal and data to speaker 709 and display 708 (hereinafter described). A display according to the present invention includes speaker 709 and display 708, which display audio, video, and text contents. A transmitter of data processor 704 performs A/D conversion into a data signal, of an analog audio signal input from microphone 710, a video signal from a camera and the like (not shown in the drawing), and a key input signal from key input section 707; decodes the data signal for compression; and transfers the compressed signal to controller 706 and transmits the signal to communication controller 703 as an IP packet.
Further shown are memory 705 that stores a contact list, telephone book information, a computer program, and the like; and key input section 707 used for setting a contact list, a telephone book, and the like, and for dialing and the like. The contact list or telephone book data input from key input section 707 are transferred to controller 706 and then stored in memory 705. When display of the contact list or telephone book is requested via key input, data input from key input section 707 are transferred to controller 706. Then, controller 706 obtains from memory 705 contact list or telephone book data required for display, generates data for display, and displays the data on a screen of display 708.
The contact list is user information that users 1 to 4, excluding user X, store on server S1 using terminals T1 to T4 and that is imported by user X to contact list database 126 of mobile terminal M1. As shown in
The telephone book, which will be described hereinafter, is information that user X stores in telephone book database 127 of mobile terminal M1. The telephone book includes association, a user name, a user ID, priority, a work telephone number of the user, a mobile telephone number of the user, a home telephone number of the user, other information related to the user, and the like. The association herein means association with the contact list. The details thereof will be described hereinafter. The user ID links the contact list stored in contact list database 126 shown in
Described below is an overview of server S1 with reference to
On server S1, controller 111 controls components of the server. Memory 113 stores a variety of information, a computer program, and the like used by controller 111. Communicator 112 controls communication complying with a predetermined communication protocol. User database 114 stores the user information input on terminals T1 to T4, PC P1 and mobile terminal M1 by users 1 to 4 and X respectively. As shown in
User database 114 in
As shown in
Described below is a case where the user information is displayed on display 121, with reference to
Described below is a process where the user stores the user information on server S1 using terminal T1, with reference to
User 1 first enters the user's user ID on terminal T1. Terminal T1 then transmits to server S1 a request for user ID generation (S601). Server S1 adds the user ID of user 1 in user database 114 and contact list database 115, and transmits to terminal 1 a notice of user ID generation (S602).
Communicator 103 of terminal T1 receives the notice of user ID generation. User 1 then enters the user information on terminal T1, and communicator 103 transmits to server S1 a request for user information registration (S603). Communicator 112 of server S1 receives the request, and controller 111 stores the received user information in an area of user 1 in user database 114. When completing storage, communicator 112 transmits a notice of registration completion (S604). Communicator 103 of terminal T1 receives the notice, thus completing storage.
Similar to the above-described process, user IDs of users 2 to 4 are generated and the user information is stored on server S1. As a result, user database 114 of server S1 stores the information of users 1 to 4 as shown in
Described below is a process where user X stores the user information as the telephone book in telephone book database 127 of mobile terminal M1, with reference to
The contact list of user X herein has already stored the information of users 2 and 3. When user X starts storing the information of user 1 in the telephone book on mobile terminal M1, mobile terminal M1 displays a telephone book menu (S201) and then a new registration screen (S202). Then, user X enters the information of user 1 in each item on the new registration screen. More specifically, user X sets a name (S203), a user ID (S204), priority (S205), a work telephone number (S206), a mobile telephone number (S207), a home telephone number (S208), and a memo (S209). After setting the items, new registration is complete (S210).
Described below is telephone book user ID setting in step S204 with reference to
User ID setting for user 1 is described first. The user first selects a storing method of the user ID of user 1 (S221). Since user 1 is not stored on the contact list, the user ID is input manually (S222). Selecting manual input displays a user ID input screen (S223). When the user ID of user 1 is input (S224), search of the contact list starts (S225). Since the user ID of user 1 is not on the contact list, user ID setting is complete (S226).
User ID setting for user 2 is described next. The user first selects the storing method of the user ID of user 2 (S221). Since user 2 is already stored on the contact list, the user ID is stored from the contact list (S222). Selecting an option of storing from the contact list displays the contact list (S228). The user ID of user 2 is then selected (S229). Then, a contact list number of user 2 is input in the association column of user 2 in the telephone book (S227), thus completing user ID setting. In case of the telephone book in
Lastly, user ID setting for user 3 is described. The user first selects the storing method of the user ID of user 3 (S221). Although user 3 is already stored on the contact list, manual input of the user ID is selected (S222). Selecting manual input displays the user ID input screen (S223). When the user ID of user 3 is input (S224), search of the contact list starts (S225). Since the user ID of user 3 is on the contact list, a contact list number of user 3 is input to the association column of user 3 (S227), thus completing user ID setting. In case of the telephone book in
Described below is a process where user X obtains from server S1 the user information of user 1, with reference to
User X first enters the user ID of user 1 on mobile terminal M1 (S302) and starts searching. Mobile terminal M1 transmits to server S1 a search request of user 1 (S303 and S701). Communicator 112 of server S1 receives the search request. Controller 111 then refers to user database 114; retrieves user names that includes a string of the user name of user 1 as search results; and transmits all the search results to mobile terminal M1 (S702).
Mobile terminal M1 receives and displays the search results on display 121 (S304). User X selects user 1 from the search results and stores user 1 in contact list database 126 (S305). Communicator 124 transmits to server S1 a notice of contact list registration (S703). Server S1 receives the notice of contact list registration, and then controller 111 adds user 1 to an area of user X in stored contact list database 115 (
Then, a process is performed for associating user 1 stored on the contact list with the telephone book. Controller 123 searches telephone book database 127 (
In the above-described example of association, the association item is provided in the telephone book. However, the item may be included on the contact list. Further, a separate association list may exist, independent from the contact list or the telephone book.
Further in the above-described example of association, the associated contact list number is input in the association column in the telephone book when the user information is stored in the telephone book or the contact list. Instead of inputting the number in advance, however, the number may be associated as required by searching for the user in the telephone book from the contact list, or the user on the contact list from the telephone book.
Described below are operations for placing a call to a telephone number other than the user ID of the IP telephone stored on the contact list or the telephone book, with reference to
First, a case is explained where user X places a call to Charlie's mobile telephone number, from a detailed user information screen of the contact list. User X first performs an operation for displaying the contact list, and then display 121 displays a list of users in the contact list database (S501). In
In
Next, a case is explained where user X places a call to Charlie's work telephone number, from the detailed user information screen of the telephone book. Since Charlie's work telephone number does not appear on the detailed information screen of
As described above, even when no work telephone number of another user, Charlie, is included on the displayed contact list of the another user obtained from server S1, the telephone book information of the another user is displayed as secondary information, based on the user ID included in the user information of the another user. Thereby, the telephone number of the another user can be easily searched for, while the personal information is not released to a number of unspecified users.
Described below are operations for priority display of a specified user on the contact list using the telephone book, with reference to
As shown in
User X performs operations for displaying the contact list. The user information of user A is first retrieved from contact list database 126 (S402), and telephone book database 127 is referred to (S403). User A, who is stored in the telephone book and whose priority is set to Off, is categorized into a normal group through processes in S404 and S405 (S407). Similarly, the user information of user B is retrieved (S402), and telephone book database 127 is referred to (S403). User B, who is stored in the telephone book and whose priority in the telephone book is set to On, is categorized into a priority group through the processes in S404 and S405 (S406). Similarly, the user information of user C is retrieved (S402), and telephone book database 127 is referred to (S403). User C, who is not stored in the telephone book, is categorized into the normal group (S407). The above-described operations are performed for all the users, and then the categorization is complete (S408).
Next, data for contact list display are generated from the categorized groups (S409). The display data includes the data of the priority group followed by the data of the normal group. Display 121 displays the data (S410).
In the descriptions above, there are two setting options, On and Off, for the priority. However, the priority setting may have three or more values.
As described above, the priority information can be included in the telephone book information, and the display order of the user information list is changed according to the priority information included in the telephone book information. Thus, even when a large number of users are stored, the user information of the frequently contacted users can be identified quickly.
The present embodiment describes the case where mobile terminal M1 has the telephone book therein. However, the telephone book may be included in a device connected to mobile terminal M1 via the Internet, such as server S1 and another terminal.
It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular structures, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiments, and various variations and modifications may be possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.
This application is based on the Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-350372 filed on Dec. 5, 2005, entire content of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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P.2005-350372 | Dec 2005 | JP | national |