Information distribution device, information distribution system, system, medium, information aggregate, and program

• US 20020194322A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shinichiro Nagata, Shinji Wakura, Wataru Michizeki
• Original Assignee: Shinichiro Nagata, Shinji Wakura, Wataru Michizeki
• Inventors: Michizeki, Wataru, Nagata, Shinichiro, Wakura, Shinji
• Application Number:
  US10/070,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4555 Directories for electronic mail or instant messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Finding the URL of a Web page providing desired information is laborious and takes time. Further, when the URL of a Web page providing desired information is not known, the desired information cannot be obtained from the Internet Web pages via a portable telephone terminal.

The invention comprises: a portable telephone terminal 2 capable of being connected to the Internet 6; and a guidance apparatus 1 for distributing guidance information of an information providing site 3 to the portable telephone terminal 2. When the portable telephone terminal 2 makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, the guidance apparatus 1 replies guidance information describing the address of the information providing site 3 to the portable telephone terminal 2 by e-mail. The replied e-mail is used by the portable telephone terminal 2 in order to access the information providing site 3.

Claims

1. An information distribution method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said user has terminated said telephone call before the elapse of said predetermined time duration, searching said data base on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

5. An information distribution method According to any of claims 1-4 wherein:

when there are a plurality of telephone destinations, and when e-mail information is transmitted depending on the telephone numbers of said telephone destinations, at each time when any one of said telephone destinations receives a telephone call from said user, the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call and the telephone number of the telephone destination having received said telephone call are stored in a form corresponded to each other in a second database for a predetermined time duration; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, and when said e-mail address has been already notified according to said predetermined method on the basis of said guidance, said telephone number of said telephone destination corresponding to the telephone number corresponding to said notified e-mail address is identified by searching said second database, whereby e-mail information depending on said telephone number of said telephone destination is transmitted to said notified e-mail address.

37. A computer-processable medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 1, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said user has terminated said telephone call before the elapse of said predetermined time duration, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

41. A program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 1, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said user has terminated said telephone call before the elapse of said predetermined time duration, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

2. An information distribution method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, regardless of whether said registration change guidance has not yet begun, has already begun, or has already completed, when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

38. A computer-processable medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 2, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, regardless of whether said registration change guidance has not yet begun, has already begun, or has already completed, when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

42. A program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 2, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, regardless of whether said registration change guidance has not yet begun, has already begun, or has already completed, when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

3. An information distribution method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is not yet notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said data base on the basis of said telephone number of said caller and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, in contrast, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

39. A computer-processable medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 3, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is not yet notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, in contrast, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

43. A program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 3, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is not yet notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, in contrast, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

4. An information distribution method comprising the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, without any predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

40. A computer-processable medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 4, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, without any predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

44. A program for causing a computer to execute, in the information distribution method according to claim 4, all or part of the steps of:

generating a database for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, in advance;

on receiving a telephone call from a user, searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, without any predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

46. A system according to claim 45 comprising e-mail address generating means of generating said e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal from said info-communication terminal according to said predetermined rule.

47. A system according to claim 45 or 46 comprising receiving means of receiving said telephone call from said info-communication terminal to said predetermined telephone number.

77. A system according to claim 47, 50, 52, or 53 wherein:

said receiving means acquires the telephone number of said info-communication terminal on the basis of said telephone call from said info-communication terminal according to number notifying service; and

an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal is generated from said acquired telephone number.

78. A system according to claim 77, wherein when a predetermined time duration has been elapsed after a telephone call from said info-communication terminal is received, said receiving means replies to said telephone call, and after that, terminates the voice communication.

6. An information distribution system comprising:

a first apparatus for storing a database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other;

a second apparatus, on receiving a telephone call from a user, for searching said database of said first apparatus on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered; and

a third apparatus, when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, for carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change, and further

when said user has terminated said telephone call before the elapse of said predetermined time duration, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

10. An information distribution method According to any of claims 6-9 comprising a fourth apparatus in which when there are a plurality of telephone destinations, and when e-mail information is transmitted depending on the telephone numbers of said telephone destinations, at each time when any one of said telephone destinations receives a telephone call from said user, the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call and the telephone number of the telephone destination having received said telephone call are stored in a form corresponded to each other in a second database for a predetermined time duration;

wherein

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, and when said e-mail address has been already notified according to said predetermined method on the basis of said guidance, said third apparatus identifies said telephone number of said telephone destination corresponding to the telephone number corresponding to said notified e-mail address by searching said second database, and thereby transmits e-mail information depending on said telephone number of said telephone destination said notified e-mail address.

7. An information distribution system comprising:

a first apparatus for storing a database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other;

a second apparatus, on receiving a telephone call from a user, for searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered; and

a third apparatus, when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, for carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an email address, further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change, and further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, regardless of whether said registration change guidance has not yet begun, has already begun, or has already completed, when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

8. An information distribution system comprising:

a first apparatus for storing a database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other;

a second apparatus, on receiving a telephone call from a user, for searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered; and

a third apparatus, when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, for carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change, and further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is not yet notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, in contrast, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

9. An information distribution system comprising:

a first apparatus for storing a database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other;

a second apparatus, on receiving a telephone call from a user, for searching said database on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered; and

a third apparatus, when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, for carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, without any predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change, further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, and further

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

11. A third apparatus comprising guidance means of:

on receiving a telephone call from a user, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, when the telephone number of the caller is determined as unregistered by a second apparatus for searching a database of a first apparatus storing said database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said user has terminated said telephone call before the elapse of said predetermined time duration, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

15. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said guidance means:

in said initial registration guidance, when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule, carries out guidance for termination of voice communication in order to notify the timing of termination of the voice communication of said telephone call; and

in contrast, when said e-mail address to be notified from said user cannot be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, carries out guidance for e-mail address input in order to cause said user to notify said e-mail address by a predetermined method.

16. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said guidance means:

in said registration change guidance, when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule, carries out guidance for termination of voice communication in order to notify the timing of termination of the voice communication of said telephone call; and

in contrast, when said e-mail address to be notified from said user cannot be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, carries out guidance for e-mail address input in order to cause said user to notify said e-mail address by a predetermined method.

17. A third apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, said guidance means transmits a confirmation e-mail to said e-mail address depending on the information on said timing.

18. A third apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, said guidance means does not transmit any confirmation e-mail, but generates said e-mail address from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, and thereby registers said telephone number of said caller and said generated e-mail address into said database.

19. A third apparatus according to claim 18, wherein when registering into said database, said guidance means further transmits said e-mail information to said e-mail address.

20. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said initial registration guidance is carried out in order to inform that when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule, said e-mail address is not necessary to be notified.

21. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said registration change guidance is carried out in order to inform that when said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule, said e-mail address is not necessary to be notified.

22. A third apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, wherein regardless of whether said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule or not, said guidance means generates an e-mail address from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, and thereby transmits a confirmation e-mail to the generated e-mail address.

23. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said initial registration guidance is carried out in order to cause said user to notify said e-mail address according to a predetermined method, regardless of whether said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule or not.

24. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein said registration change guidance is carried out in order to cause said user to notify said e-mail address according to a predetermined method, regardless of whether said e-mail address to be notified from said user can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule or not.

25. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-14, wherein when receiving said e-mail address notified according to said guidance, said guidance means transmits said e-mail information to the notified e-mail address.

26. A third apparatus according to claim 17 or 22, wherein in said transmission of said confirmation e-mail, when a plurality of e-mail addresses can be generated from said telephone number of said caller according to said predetermined rule, said guidance means transmits said confirmation e-mail to said plurality of e-mail addresses.

27. A third apparatus according to claim 17, 22, or 26, wherein in said transmission of said confirmation e-mail, said guidance means transmits said confirmation e-mail, and further transmits said e-mail information before or after the completion of the confirmation based on said confirmation e-mail.

28. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-27, wherein said guidance is carried out using at least one or more of a voice message, an e-mail, and a Web page.

29. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-24, wherein said predetermined method is the method of receiving said e-mail address by voice recognition of a voice message from said user.

30. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-24, wherein said predetermined method is the method of receiving said e-mail address by e-mail and/or Web page.

31. A third apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said predetermined method is the method in which:

a first e-mail address is notified to said user; and

then, when said user has transmitted a first e-mail having blank contents or arbitrary contents to said first e-mail address, a second e-mail is transmitted to the e-mail address of the sender added in the received first e-mail.

32. A third apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said second e-mail contains, as an attachment, the address of a predetermined Web page corresponding to said e-mail address of said sender of said first e-mail, and wherein

said predetermined method is the method in which:

after said transmission of said second e-mail, when said user having received said second e-mail inputs a telephone number by accessing said predetermined Web page according to said address of said predetermined Web page, said e-mail address of said sender is identified on the basis of said address of said predetermined Web page contained in the access request issued for said access; and

then

said input telephone number and said e-mail address of said sender are registered into said database.

33. A third apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said predetermined method is the method in which after said transmission of said second e-mail, when said user having received said second e-mail replies an e-mail to which a telephone number is attached, said telephone number attached to said replied e-mail and the e-mail address of the sender added in said replied e-mail are registered in a form corresponded to each other into said database.

34. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-24, wherein in said transmission of said confirmation e-mail, said guidance means:

transmits said confirmation e-mail with attaching the address of a predetermined Web page corresponding to said telephone number of said caller; and

then

when said user having received said confirmation e-mail issues an access request to said predetermined Web page, identifies said telephone number of said caller on the basis of said address of said predetermined Web page contained in said access request, and then registers said identified telephone number of said caller and an e-mail address generated from said telephone number of said caller according to a predetermined rule in a form corresponded to each other into said database.

35. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-24, wherein after said transmission of said confirmation e-mail, when said user having received said confirmation e-mail transmits a reply e-mail in response to said confirmation e-mail, said guidance means identifies said telephone number of said caller from the e-mail address of the sender added in said reply e-mail, according to said predetermined rule, and then

registers said identified telephone number and said e-mail address of said sender into said database.

36. A third apparatus according to any one of claims 11-35 comprising a fourth apparatus in which when there are a plurality of telephone destinations, and when e-mail information is transmitted depending on the telephone numbers of said telephone destinations, at each time when any one of said telephone destinations receives a telephone call from said user, the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call and the telephone number of the telephone destination having received said telephone call are stored in a form corresponded to each other in a second database for a predetermined time duration;

wherein

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as unregistered, and when said e-mail address has been already notified according to said predetermined method on the basis of said guidance, said guidance means identifies said telephone number of said telephone destination corresponding to the telephone number corresponding to said notified e-mail address by searching said second database, and thereby transmits e-mail information depending on said telephone number of said telephone destination said notified e-mail address.

12. A third apparatus comprising guidance means of:

on receiving a telephone call from a user, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, when the telephone number of the caller is determined as unregistered by a second apparatus for searching a database of a first apparatus storing said database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, regardless of whether said registration change guidance has not yet begun, has already begun, or has already completed, when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address.

13. A third apparatus comprising guidance means of:

on receiving a telephone call from a user, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, when the telephone number of the caller is determined as unregistered by a second apparatus for searching a database of a first apparatus storing said database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, after a predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is not yet notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address, in contrast, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

14. A third apparatus comprising guidance means of:

on receiving a telephone call from a user, carrying out initial registration guidance for causing said user to notify an e-mail address, when the telephone number of the caller is determined as unregistered by a second apparatus for searching a database of a first apparatus storing said database generated in advance for corresponding telephone numbers and e-mail addresses to each other, on the basis of the telephone number of the caller of said telephone call, and thereby determining whether said telephone number of said caller is registered or unregistered;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, without any predetermined time duration for causing said user to terminate said telephone call, carrying out registration change guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change;

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said user has terminated said telephone call, searching said database on the basis of said telephone number of said caller, and thereby transmitting e-mail information to the obtained e-mail address; and

when said telephone number of said caller is determined as registered, and when said registration change guidance is guidance for causing said user to notify a new e-mail address for registration change during the voice communication of said telephone call, if said new e-mail address for registration change is already notified at the time when said user has terminated said telephone call, not transmitting said e-mail information to the e-mail address older than said notified e-mail address.

45. A system comprising:

an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network; and

information distributing means of distributing first information to an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal;

wherein

when said info-communication terminal makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number,

said information distributing means distributes said first information by e-mail to said e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule.

56. A system according to any one of claims 45-55 wherein:

a plurality of e-mail addresses are generated corresponding to said info-communication terminal; and

said first information is distributed to said plurality of e-mail addresses.

57. A system according to any one of claims 45-56, wherein the amount and/or the contents of said first information are changed depending on the telephone number of said info-communication terminal, said predetermined rule, or said e-mail address.

58. A system according to any one of claims 45-57, wherein said e-mail address of said info-communication terminal is determined using also a first table for corresponding the telephone number and the e-mail address of said info-communication terminal to each other.

63. A system according to any one of claims 58-62 wherein:

said e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal is acquired by searching said first table or said second table, and then said first information is distributed to said acquired e-mail address; and

when said distribution of said first information to said e-mail address was unsuccessful, said e-mail address is deleted from said first table or said second table.

64. A system according to any one of claims 58-63, wherein when said distribution of said first information to said e-mail address generated according to said predetermined rule was successful, and when said e-mail address is thereby registered into said first table and/or said second table, and further when an e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal is already registered in said first table and/or said second table, said e-mail address presently registered is updated into said e-mail address to which said distribution of said first information was successful.

65. A system according to any one of claims 45-64 wherein:

there are a plurality of said predetermined telephone numbers; and

said info-communication terminal selects desired said first information by selecting a telephone number to which a telephone call is made among said plurality of telephone numbers.

66. A system according to claim 65, wherein said plurality of telephone numbers can be specified by selection numbers.

67. A system according to any one of claims 45-66 wherein:

said info-communication terminal can be connected to the Internet; and

said first information describes the browse address used for accessing said Internet information providing site which provides information on a predetermined item.

68. A system according to claim 67, wherein

said first information is in a hierarchical form, and wherein

when there are a plurality of predetermined telephone numbers:

each of said plurality of predetermined telephone numbers is corresponded to each of said hierarchical first information items;

a portion of said first information describes said predetermined telephone number used for obtaining said first information in the lower hierarchy; and

the other portion of said first information describes the browse address used for accessing said Internet information providing site.

69. A system according to any one of claims 45-66, wherein said first information describes information on a predetermined item.

70. A system according to any one of claim 65 or 66, wherein all or part of said first information describes all or part of said plurality of telephone numbers.

71. A system according to claim 70 wherein:

said first information is in a hierarchical form;

each of said plurality of predetermined telephone numbers is corresponded to each of said hierarchical first information items;

a portion of said first information describes said predetermined telephone number used for obtaining said first information in the lower hierarchy; and

the other portion of said first information describes information on a predetermined item.

72. A system according to any one of claims 45-66 wherein:

said info-communication terminal can be connected to the Internet;

said first information describes the browse address used for accessing an information distribution server which provides, as second information to said info-communication terminal via the Internet, the browse address of said Internet information providing site which provides information on a predetermined item;

said info-communication terminal access said information distribution server on the basis of said first information; and

said second information is provided from said information distribution server to said info-communication terminal.

73. A system according to claim 72, wherein said second information is provided to said info-communication terminal by e-mail.

74. A system according to claim 72, wherein said second information is provided to said info-communication terminal by Web page.

75. A system according to any one of claims 72-74, wherein said first information and/or said second information are in a hierarchical form.

76. A system according to any one of claims 45-67, 69, and 72-75 comprising voice guidance means of sending a voice guidance message when said info-communication terminal makes a telephone call to said predetermined telephone number, wherein

said info-communication terminal selects desired first information according to said voice guidance message.

79. A computer-processable medium carrying a program and/or data for causing a computer to execute all or part of the function of all or part of said means and said info-communication terminal of said system according to any one of claims 45-78.

80. An information set composed of a program and/or data for causing a computer to execute all or part of the function of all or part of said means and said info-communication terminal of said system according to any one of claims 45-78.

48. A system comprising information distributing means of, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, distributing first information to an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule.

49. A system comprising e-mail address generating means of, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, generating an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule, wherein

first information is distributed to said generated e-mail address.

50. A system comprising receiving means of receiving a telephone call, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes said telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, wherein:

an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal is generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule; and

first information is distributed to said generated e-mail address.

51. A system comprising:

e-mail address generating means of, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, generating an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule; and

information distributing means for distributing first information to said generated e-mail address.

52. A system comprising:

receiving means of receiving a telephone call, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes said telephone call to a predetermined telephone number; and

e-mail address generating means of generating an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule;

wherein

first information is distributed to said generated e-mail address.

53. A system comprising:

receiving means of receiving a telephone call, when an info-communication terminal for carrying out info-communications through a telephone network makes said telephone call to a predetermined telephone number; and

information distributing means of distributing first information to an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule.

54. A system of an info-communication terminal comprising:

telephone calling means of making a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number; and

e-mail acquiring means of acquiring first information;

wherein

when said telephone calling means makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number,

said first information is distributed by e-mail to an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule.

55. A system comprising information providing means of providing the browse address of an Internet information providing site which provides information on a predetermined item, as second information to an info-communication terminal via said Internet, wherein:

when said info-communication terminal makes a telephone call to a predetermined telephone number, an e-mail address corresponding to said info-communication terminal is generated from the telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule, and then first information is distributed to said generated e-mail address;

said distributed first information describes a browse address used for accessing said system; and

said info-communication terminal accesses an information distribution server on the basis of said first information.

59. A system according to claim 58, wherein when said distribution of said first information was successful, generated is a second table for corresponding said e-mail address and the telephone number of said info-communication terminal corresponding to said e-mail address to each other.

60. A system according to claim 59 wherein:

said e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal is acquired by searching said first table and/or said second table, and then said first information is distributed to said acquired e-mail address; and

when said e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal cannot be acquired by searching said first table and/or said second table, the e-mail address of said info-communication terminal is generated from said telephone number of said info-communication terminal according to a predetermined rule, and then said first information is distributed to said generated e-mail address.

61. A system according to claim 59, wherein after said first information is distributed to said e-mail address generated according to said predetermined rule, said e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal is acquired by searching said first table and/or said second table, and then said first information is distributed also to said acquired e-mail address.

62. A system according to claim 59 wherein:

said e-mail address corresponding to said telephone number of said info-communication terminal is acquired by searching said first table and/or said second table; and

said first information is distributed to said acquired e-mail address and said e-mail address generated according to said predetermined rule.