Data Terminal, data distribution system, and internet telephone system

• US 20010023428A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Imamura, Toru, Takeda, Yutaka, Ogata, Keisuke, Miyazaki, Tomiya, Tanaka, Masafumi, Yahiro, Kazuo, Aritaka, Akitoshi, Tsujigawa, Takuji
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A data terminal, a data distributing system, and an Internet telephoning system are provided where desired data such as advertisements can selectively be determined and used for enjoying its relevant services. The data terminal receives a summary of service data from a data provider apparatus over the Internet, and if desired, demands the data provider apparatus to provide the service data over the Internet. The service data from the data provider apparatus may selectively be received in at least one of an audio form, a text form, and a video form at the data terminal. The service data may be advertisement data, commercial product data, and entertainment data such as music, movies, and games. The entertainment data may selectively be presented as at least one of the title, the artist name, the cost, and a trial sample piece of the content.

Claims

1. A data distributing system comprising:

a data provider apparatus for distributing a service data;

a communication network; and

a data terminal for at least one of recording and reproducing the service data received over the communication network.

2. A data distributing system according to

claim 1

, wherein the data terminal comprises means for transmitting to the data provider apparatus in a response to the service data.

3. A data distributing system according to

claim 1

, wherein the service data includes at least one of audio data, text data, and video data.

4. A data distributing system according to

claim 1

, wherein the service data is a data of an advertisement.

5. A data distributing system according to

claim 1

, wherein the service data is a data of a product.

6. A data distributing system according to

claim 5

, where the product is delivered upon receiving a demand from the data terminal.

7. A data distributing system according to

claim 1

, wherein the service data is an entertainment data including at least one of a title, an artist name, a cost, and a portion of an audio data of the entertainment data.

8. A data terminal for receiving a service data from a data provider apparatus over a communication network, comprising:

readout means for reading the service data in a digital form;

displaying means for, when the service data read by the readout means is a video data, displaying the video data;

sound-reproducing means for, when the service data read by the readout means is an audio data, reproducing the audio data;

retrieving means for, upon receiving a retrieving data, retrieving information from the service data corresponding to the retrieving data; and

reproducing means for outputting the information retrieved by the retrieving means to at least one of the displaying means and the sound-reproducing means.

9. A data terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein the displaying means and the sound-reproducing means are assembled integrally.

10. A data terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein the reproducing means outputs the visual data and the audio data in synchronization with each other.

11. A data terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein the retrieving means displays an index indicating a summary of the information and selects the index to pick up a desired information.

12. A data terminal according to

claim 8

, wherein the sound-reproducing means and the displaying means are coupled in wireless to the readout means, the retrieving means, and the reproducing means.

13. A data terminal linked to a communication network comprising:

an input device for inputting a data; and

an interface for delivering the data over the communication network.

14. A data terminal according to

claim 13

further comprising a controller for controlling the input device.

15. A data terminal according to

claim 14

, wherein the controller has a focusing function for zooming in at least one of upward, downward, leftward, and rightward directions.

16. A data terminal according to

claim 14

,

wherein the controller has a first key,

wherein the interface receives a second key from the communication network, and

wherein the interface delivers the data when the first key is identical to the second key.

17. A data terminal according to

claim 13

further comprising abnormal-event-detecting means for detecting a change of the data, wherein the data is delivered again when the abnormal-event-detecting means detects the change of the data.

18. A data terminal according to

claim 17

, wherein the abnormal-event-detecting means releases an alarm data when the abnormal-event-detecting means detects the change of the data.

19. A data terminal according to

claim 18

, wherein the alarm data is at least one of a display, a printout, and an alarm sound.

20. A data terminal according to

claim 13

further comprising charge-data-monitoring means for receiving the data.

21. A service data communication system comprising:

a line exchange network;

data terminals comprising a network interface for coupling to the line exchange network;

a public telephone terminal;

a data communication network;

an inter-network link apparatus for connecting between the line exchange network and the data communication network;

a service data provider apparatus for storing and providing service data; and

an exchange controller comprising;

identifying means for identifying a user allowed to connect with the data communication network;

communication means for connecting at least one of;

(1) between any two of the data terminals; and

(2) between one of the data terminal and the public telephone terminal; and

service data controlling means for controlling the service data provider apparatus,

wherein the service data controlling means, when the data terminals start or are in communication, makes the service data provider apparatus to transmit a relevant service data to the data terminals over the data communication network and the line exchange network.

22. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein the exchange controller comprises charging means for administrating the service data as chargeable data.

23. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

further comprising charging means provided on the data communication network for administrating the service data as chargeable data.

24. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

further comprising a data-terminal-dedicated-inter-network-link apparatus for allowing the data terminals to call and communicate with each other over the line exchange network and the data communication network.

25. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises an analog network interface and connects with only an analog form of the line exchange network, and

wherein a communication over the data communication network is based on a digital communication protocol, and

wherein the inter-network link apparatus is operable to connect to the analog form of the line exchange network.

26. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises a digital network interface and connects with only a digital form of the line exchange network,

wherein a communication over the data communication network is based on a digital communication protocol, and

wherein the inter-network link apparatus is operable to connect to the digital form of the line exchange network.

27. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network.

28. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, further comprising:

public data terminals having a function as a public telephone; and

a public-data-terminal-dedicated-inter-network-link apparatus for allowing the public data terminals to call and communicate over the line exchange network and the data communication network.

29. A service data communication system according to

claim 28

,

wherein the inter-network link apparatus comprises a modulator for transmitting the service data in a digital form in an analog audio band, and

wherein at least one of the public data terminals comprises a demodulator for demodulating an output of the modulator.

30. A service data communication system according to

claim 27

,

wherein the inter-network link apparatus comprises means for transmitting the service data in a digital form in a Digital Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) signal to the data terminals, and

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal.

31. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the service data transmitted from the inter-network link apparatus to the digital communication protocol data terminals includes digital data in an Internet Protocol at least one of an audio data, a text data, and a video data.

32. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

further comprising a service data storage apparatus coupled to the inter-network link apparatus.

33. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein the exchange controller further comprises terminal type identifying means for identifying types of the data terminals and selectively determining a type of the service data.

34. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, further comprising terminal type identifying means provided on the data communication network for identifying a type of the data terminals and selectively determining a type of the service data.

35. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals is capable of utilizing an Internet protocol, having an Internet Protocol Address for a global communication, and directly connecting to the data communication network over the line exchange network not via the inter-network link apparatus.

36. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals is capable of utilizing an Internet protocol, having an Internet Protocol Address for a global communication, and directly connecting to the data communication network not via the line exchange network and the inter-network link apparatus.

37. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein the public data terminal is capable of transmitting and receiving a call as a public telephone.

38. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals capable of transmitting and receiving a call as a public telephone.

39. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein the exchange controller further comprises charging means for administrating the service data as chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is a chargeable data for the user, charges the user for the service data, and

wherein the charging means, when the service data is an advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data.

40. A service data communication system according to claim 21 further comprising charging means provided on the data communication network for administrating the service data as chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is a chargeable data for the user, charges the user for the service data, and

wherein the charging means, when the service data is an advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data.

41. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing a telephone number corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the telephone number at the same time; and

means for accessing the telephone number to call a provider of the service data.

42. A service data communication system according to

claim 41

, wherein the means for displaying the notice of storing the telephone number is displays the notice in one of a reverse monochrome and a color.

43. A service data communication system according to

claim 41

, wherein the means for displaying the notice of storing the telephone number is an array of light emitting diodes.

44. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing an E-mail address corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the E-mail address at the same time; and

means for accessing the E-mail address to send an E-mail to a provider of the service data,

wherein at least one of the data terminals is a digital communication protocol data terminal operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the digital communication protocol data terminal is capable to utilize an Internet protocol.

45. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the URL; and

means for accessing the URL to obtain and display a home page of a provider of the service data,

wherein at least one of the data terminals is a digital communication protocol data terminal operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the digital communication protocol data terminal is operable to utilize an Internet protocol.

46. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus.

47. A service data communication system according to

claim 46

, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus displays at least one of in a reverse monochrome or in a color mode.

48. A service data communication system according to

claim 46

, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus emits sounds.

49. A service data communication system according to

claim 46

, wherein the means for indicating that the service data Is received via the inter-network link apparatus produces a vibration.

50. A service data communication system according to

claim 46

, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus is a light emitting diode.

51. A service data communication system according to

claim 21

, wherein the exchange controller further comprises receiver-side-advertisement-data-display-recognizing means for recognizing that an advertisement data is displayed when the data terminals are called.

52. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system comprising:

an Internet-accessible telephone; and

an Internet telephone registration center inquiring information for registering the Internet-accessible telephone in responsive to a call from the Internet-accessible telephone, wherein the Internet-accessible telephone comprises;

Internet-accessible-telephone-registration-starting means for automatically calling the Internet telephone registration center for registration; and

a memory receiving and storing a user identification number, a password number, and a telephone number of an optimum gateway to the user from the Internet telephone registration center when the information has been input.

53. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

, wherein the Internet telephone registration center transmits the user identification number, the password number, and the telephone number of the optimum gateway in one of a Digital Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal and a modem signal to the Internet-accessible telephone.

54. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the memory stores the identification number for the Internet-accessible telephone;

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone transmits an identification number of the Internet-accessible telephone to the Internet telephone registration center for registration, and

wherein the Internet telephone registration center provides the user of the Internet-accessible telephone with a service.

55. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 54

, wherein the service is to exempt the user from a communication charge for a specific period.

56. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a display and a key for setting the information, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone is operable to encrypt and transmitting the information in one of a Dial Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signal form and a modem signal form to the Internet telephone registration center for registration.

57. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone , when a receiver telephone number is input, calls the gateway

wherein the gateway sends an input-inquiry signal to the Internet-accessible telephone, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone automatically transmits the user identification number, the password number, and the receiver telephone number to the gateway in response to the input-inquiry signal.

58. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 57

, wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises an Internet-telephone-dedicated-button switch for connecting to the gateway.

59. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 57

, wherein the Internet-accessible telephone automatically calls the gateway in a case that the telephone number of the gateway is stored in the memory.

60. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system 25 according to

claim 52

,

wherein the gateway transmits a data of a call-rate to the Internet-accessible telephone every specified period of time in a no-sound period during being connected with the Internet-accessible telephone, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a display for displaying the data of the call-rate.

61. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the gateway transmits a data of a call-rate to the Internet-accessible telephone in a no-sound period when the call-rate is changed during being connected with the Internet-accessible telephone, and

the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a display for displaying the data of the call-rate.

62. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a busy-tone detector for detecting that the gateway is busy, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone disconnects the gateway and automatically connects to a public telephone network when the gateway is busy.

63. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a busy-tone detector for detecting that the gateway is busy, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone disconnects the gateway and automatically connects to an alternative gateway when the gateway is busy.

64. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

,

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone further comprises a busy-tone detector for detecting that a receiver is busy, and

wherein the Internet-accessible telephone automatically calls the receiver over a public telephone network in a case that the receiver is the same as a last receiver and has been busy before a specific period of time.

65. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

, wherein the Internet-accessible telephone receives and stores at least one of the telephone number of the gateway and the service data in the memory every specific period of time from the Internet telephone registration center.

66. An Internet-accessible telephone registering system according to

claim 52

, wherein the Internet-accessible telephone receives a telephone number of an alternative gateway from the Internet telephone registration center in a case that a communication charge per unit time for connecting the gateway based on the telephone number stored in the memory is greater than a predicted charge.