Data transmission-reception system and data transmission-reception method

• US 20020132612A1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Miruka
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Disclosed are data transmission-reception system and data transmission method, in which a communication system includes: a first communication device for transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data; a second communication device for receiving the outgoing data and for transmitting content data identified by the content identification data to a receiving party identified by the receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to the date and time data; and a third communication device for receiving and reproducing the content data transmitted from the second communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device for transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data;

a second communication device for receiving said outgoing data and for transmitting content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data; and

a third communication device for receiving and reproducing said content data transmitted from said second communication device.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication device transmits said content data as said content identification data to said second communication device.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication device has:

inputting means for outputting as output data at least said content identification data, said receiving party identification data, and said date and time data which have been input by a user; and

first communicating means for transmitting said outgoing data including said output data supplemented by said transmitting party identification data identifying said user;

wherein said second communication device has;

second communicating means for receiving said outgoing data;

storing means for storing the received outgoing data; and

controlling means for exercising control to verify whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing means;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing means if said date and time data are found to coincide with said current date and time; and

to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

wherein said third communication device has;

third communicating means for receiving said content data from said second communication device; and

reproducing means for reproducing the received content data.

4. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said inputting means outputs the content identification data selected by an operation of said user.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein said storing means in said second communication device stores a plurality of content data items, and page information including a plurality of content identification data items for identifying said plurality of content data items;

wherein said first communication device comprises displaying means for displaying said page information transmitted from said second communicating means;

wherein said inputting means outputs the content identification data item selected by an operation of said user selecting any one of said content identification data items displayed on said displaying means; and

wherein said controlling means in said second communication device exercises control to search said storing means for the content data based on said content identification data transmitted from said first communicating means, and to transmit the retrieved content data to said receiving party.

6. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said third communicating means transmits reception-complete data to said second communicating means when said content data have all been received, and wherein said second communicating means transmits the received reception-complete data to said first communication device.

7. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising another communication device for transmitting advertisement data and sponsor identification data identifying a sponsor of said advertisement data to said second communication device;

wherein said second communication device transmits said advertisement data along with said content data to said third communication device.

8. A communication system according to claim 7, wherein said first communication device has:

inputting means for outputting as output data at least said content identification data, said receiving party identification data, and said date and time data which have been input by a user; and

first communicating means for transmitting outgoing data including said output data supplemented by said transmitting party identification data identifying said user;

wherein said another communication device has transmitting means for transmitting advertisement information constituted by said advertisement data and said sponsor identification data;

wherein said second communication device has;

second communicating means for receiving said outgoing data and said advertisement information;

storing means for storing the received outgoing data and advertisement information; and

controlling means for exercising control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing means;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing means if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time;

to transmit, along with said advertisement data, said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

to transmit charge data corresponding to said sponsor identification data to a charge server; and

wherein said third communication device has;

third communicating means for receiving said content data and said advertisement data from said second communication device; and

reproducing means for reproducing the received content data and advertisement data.

9. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein said third communicating means transmits reception-complete data to said second communicating means when said advertisement data have all been received;

wherein said second communicating means transmits the received reception-complete data to said another communication device; and

wherein said controlling means in said second communication device comprises;

counting means for counting the number of time said reception-complete data have been received;

counted result storage controlling means for storing a count made by said counting means into said storing means in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each of different sponsors; and

charge data generating means for generating charge data at predetermined intervals in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each different sponsor in keeping with the counts stored in said storing means regarding said different sponsors.

10. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein said third communication device is a mobile phone, and wherein said controlling means in said second communication device transmits to a management device discount data representing a discount corresponding to said advertisement data along with user identification data identifying a user of said mobile phone managed by said management device.

11. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces audio data transmitted from said second communication device.

12. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces voice data transmitted from said second communication device.

13. A communication system according to claim 11, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces music data transmitted from said second communication device.

14. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces advertisement data transmitted from said second communication device.

15. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data transmitted from said second communication device.

17. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controlling means exercises control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing means;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing means if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time; and

to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record.

18. A communication device according to claim 17, wherein said storing means stores a plurality of content data items, and page information including a plurality of content identification data items for identifying said plurality of content data items;

and

wherein said controlling means exercises control to search said storing means for the content data based on said content identification data transmitted from said first communicating means based on said page information, and to transmit the retrieved content data to said receiving party.

19. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said receiving means receives reception-complete data from said second communication device indicating that said content data have all been received;

and

wherein said transmitting means transmits the received reception-complete data to said first communication device.

20. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said receiving means receives from another communication device advertisement information including advertisement data and sponsor identification data identifying a sponsor of said advertisement data;

and

wherein said transmitting means transmits said advertisement information along with said content data to said second communication device.

21. A communication device according to claim 20, wherein said receiving means receives said outgoing data and said advertisement information;

wherein said storing means stores the received outgoing data and advertisement information; and

wherein said controlling means exercises control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing means;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing means if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time;

to transmit, along with said advertisement data, said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

to transmit charge data corresponding to said sponsor identification data to a charge server.

22. A communication device according to claim 21, wherein said receiving means receives reception-complete data from said second communication device indicating that said advertisement data have all been received;

wherein said transmitting means transmits the received reception-complete data to said another communication device; and

wherein said controlling means comprises;

counting means for counting the number of time said reception-complete data have been received;

counted result storage controlling means for storing a count made by said counting means into said storing means in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each of different sponsors; and

charge data generating means for generating charge data at predetermined intervals in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each different sponsor in keeping with the counts stored in said storing means regarding said different sponsors.

23. A communication device according to claim 21, wherein said second communication device is a mobile phone, and wherein said controlling means transmits to a management device discount data representing a discount corresponding to said advertisement data along with user identification data identifying a user of said mobile phone managed by said management device.

24. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit audio data.

25. A communication device according to claim 24, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit voice data.

26. A communication device according to claim 24, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit music data.

27. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit advertisement data.

28. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data.

30. A communication device according to claim 29, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit content data as said content identification data to said another communication device.

31. A communication device according to claim 29, further comprising inputting means for outputting as output data at least said content identification data, said receiving party identification data, and said date and time data which have been input by said user;

wherein said transmitting means transmits said outgoing data including said output data supplemented by said transmitting party identification data identifying said user.

32. A communication device according to claim 31, wherein said inputting means outputs the content identification data selected by an operation of said user.

33. A communication device according to claim 32, further comprising displaying means for displaying page information including a plurality of content identification data items transmitted from said another communication device;

wherein said inputting means outputs the content identification data item selected by an operation of said user selecting any one of said content identification data items displayed on said displaying means.

34. A communication device according to claim 31, wherein said receiving means receives reception-complete data from said another communication device indicating that said content data identified by said content identification data have all been received by said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data.

35. A communication device according to claim 29, wherein said controlling means causes said transmitting means to transmit an agreement signal indicating agreement to attaching an advertisement in response to advertisement request information transmitted from said another communication device.

36. A communication device according to claim 29, wherein said transmitting means transmits the content identification data identifying audio data.

37. A communication device according to claim 36, wherein said transmitting means transmits the content identification data identifying voice data.

38. A communication device according to claim 36, wherein said transmitting means transmits the content identification data identifying music data.

39. A communication device according to claim 29, wherein said transmitting means transmits the content identification data identifying advertisement data.

40. A communication device according to claim 29, wherein said transmitting means transmits content identification data identifying at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data.

16. A communication device comprising:

receiving means for receiving outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device;

storing means for storing said outgoing data;

transmitting means for transmitting content data identified by the stored content identification data to a second communication device; and

controlling means for exercising control to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data in the stored outgoing data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data.

29. A communication device comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data to another communication device; and

controlling means for causing said transmitting means to transmit said outgoing data to said another communication device in response to an operation of a user.

41. A mobile phone comprising:

receiving means for receiving greeting mail and advertisement data;

reproducing means for reproducing the received greeting mail;

transmitting means for transmitting to a server device reception-complete data indicating that said greeting mail and said advertisement data have all been received; and

controlling means for causing said transmitting means to transmit said reception-complete data to said server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data have all been received.

42. A mobile phone according to claim 41, wherein said reproducing means reproduces audio data included in said greeting mail received by said receiving means.

43. A mobile phone according to claim 42, wherein said reproducing means reproduces voice data included in said greeting mail received by said receiving means.

44. A mobile phone according to claim 42, wherein said reproducing means reproduces music data included in said greeting mail received by said receiving means.

45. A mobile phone according to claim 41, wherein said reproducing means reproduces at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data received by said receiving means, said voice data and said music data being included in said greeting mail received by said receiving means.

46. A communication method comprising the steps of:

causing a first communication device to transmit outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data;

causing a second communication device to receive said outgoing data and to transmit content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data; and

causing a third communication device to receive and reproduce said content data transmitted from said second communication device.

47. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device; and

exercising control to transmit content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data.

48. A communication method comprising the steps of:

transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data to another communication device; and

exercising control to transmit said outgoing data to said another communication device in response to an operation of a user.

49. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving greeting mail and advertisement data;

reproducing the received greeting mail; and

transmitting reception-complete data to a server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data have all been received.

50. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

causing a first communication device to transmit outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data;

causing a second communication device to receive said outgoing data and to transmit content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data; and

causing a third communication device to receive and reproduce said content data transmitted from said second communication device.

51. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device; and

exercising control to transmit content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data of said outgoing data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data.

52. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data to another communication device; and

exercising control to transmit said outgoing data to said another communication device in response to an operation of a user.

53. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving greeting mail and advertisement data;

reproducing the received greeting mail; and

exercising control to transmit reception-complete data to a server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data have all been received.