Communications control system, communications control method, service control station, and communications control station

• US 20030129972A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kishimoto, Takeshi, Sugiyama, Takeshi, Tosaki, Takashi, Kaiyama, Akira, Kawaguchi, Fumiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,907,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

A communications control system controls communications conducted between a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving the data. The system includes a store for storing a plurality of communications methods specified by a second user as a user of the second communications apparatus in association with presence information showing the current status of the second user; a selector for selecting a given communications method desired by a first user as a user of the first communications apparatus from among the plurality of communications methods associated with the presence information; and a communications method executor for executing the given communications method for communications between the first communications apparatus and the second communications apparatus, according to a notification that execution is possible for the given communications method selected by the selector.

Claims

1. A communications control system for controlling communications conducted between a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data;

said communications control system comprising;

a storage for storing a plurality of communications methods specified by a second user which is a user of said second communications apparatus in association with presence information showing the current status of said second user;

a selector provided at said first communications apparatus for selecting a given communications method desired by a first user which is a user of said first communications apparatus from among said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information; and

a communications method executor for executing said given communications method for communications between said first communications apparatus and said second communications apparatus, according to a notification that execution is possible for said given communications method selected by said selector.

2. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction generator for generating said executable instruction for said given communications method;

wherein said communications method executor executes said given communications method for communications between said first communications apparatus and said second communications apparatus, according to said executable instruction generated by said instruction generator.

3. A communications control system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a generation request for said executable instruction to a given device at which said instruction generator is provided;

wherein said instruction generator provided at said given device generates said executable instruction based on said generation request transmitted from said transmitter.

4. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a provider for providing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information to said first communications apparatus;

wherein said selector selects a given communications method desired by said first user from among said plurality of communications methods provided by said provider.

5. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a first input provided at said first communications apparatus for said first user to input a request for said communications methods associated with said presence information; and

a provider for providing said first communications apparatus with said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information based on said request inputted through said first input;

wherein said selector selects a given communications method desired by said first user from among said plurality of communications methods provided by said provider.

6. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a second input provided at said second communications apparatus for said second user to input a request for storing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information in said storage and said plurality of communications methods;

wherein said storage stores said plurality of communications methods inputted through said second input.

7. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting a request for transmitting said communications methods associated with said presence information, to said second communications apparatus;

a second input for said second user to input said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information; and

an obtainer for obtaining said plurality of communications methods inputted through said second input from said second communications apparatus;

wherein said storage stores said plurality of communications methods obtained by said obtainer.

8. A communications control system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a provider for providing said first communications apparatus of a specified user which is said first user specified by said second user, with said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information;

wherein said selector selects a given communications method desired by said specified user from among said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information.

9. A communications control method for controlling communications conducted between a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said communication control method comprising the steps of:

storing, in a storage, a plurality of communications methods specified by a second user which is a user of said second communications apparatus, in association with presence information showing the current status of said second user;

having said first communications apparatus select a given communications method desired by a first user which is a user of said first communications apparatus, from among said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information; and

executing said given communications method for communications between said first communications apparatus and said second communications apparatus, according to a notification that execution is possible for said selected given communications method.

10. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

generating said executable instruction for said given communications method; and

executing said given communications method for communications between said first communications apparatus and said second communications apparatus, according to said executable instruction generated by the generating step.

11. A communications control method as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a generation request for said executable instruction to a given device generating said executable instruction for said given communications method; and

having said given device generate said executable instruction based on said generation request transmitted by the transmitting step.

12. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information to said first communications apparatus; and

having said first communications apparatus select said given communications method desired by said first user from among said plurality of communications methods provided by the providing step.

13. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

having said first user input a request for said communications methods associated with said presence information;

providing said first communications apparatus with said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information based on said inputted request; and

having said first communications apparatus select a given communications method desired by said first user from among said plurality of communications methods provided by the providing step.

14. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

having said second user input a request for storing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information in said storage and said plurality of communications methods; and

storing said plurality of communications methods inputted in said storage.

15. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting a request for transmitting said communications methods associated with said presence information, to said second communications apparatus;

having said second user input said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information;

obtaining said plurality of communications methods inputted; and

storing said plurality of communications methods obtained in said storage.

16. A communications control method as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

providing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information, to said first communications apparatus of a specified user which is said first user specified by said second user; and

having said first communications apparatus select a given communications method desired by said specified user from among said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information.

17. A service control station for conducting communications with a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said service control station comprising:

a storage for storing a plurality of communications methods specified by a user of said second communications apparatus, in association with presence information showing the current status of said user;

a receiver for receiving a request for said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information, from said first communications apparatus; and

a first transmitter for transmitting said plurality of communications methods to said first communications apparatus.

19. A service control station as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

a second transmitter for transmitting a request for transmitting said communications methods associated with said presence information, to said second communications apparatus;

in the case that said receiver receives said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information transmitted from said second communications apparatus, wherein said storage stores said plurality of communications methods received by said receiver.

20. A service control station as set forth in claim 17, wherein:

said receiver receives a request for generating a notification that execution is possible for a given communications method desired by a user of said first communications apparatus; and

said first transmitter transmits a generation request for said executable instruction, to a communications control station generating said executable instruction.

21. A service control station as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

an instruction generator for generating a notification that execution is possible for a given communications method desired by a user of said first communications apparatus;

in the case that said receiver receives a generation request for said executable instruction, wherein said first transmitter transmits said executable instruction generated by said instruction generator, to an information transfer apparatus executing said given communications method.

18. A service control station for conducting communications with a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said service control station comprising:

a storage for storing a plurality of communications methods specified by a user of said second communications apparatus in association with presence information showing the current status of said user; and

a provider for providing said first communications apparatus with said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information.

22. A service control station for conducting communications with a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said service control station comprising:

a storage for storing a plurality of communications methods specified by a user of said second communications apparatus, in association with presence information showing the current status of said user; and

a provider for providing said plurality of communications methods associated with said presence information, to said first communications apparatus of a user specified by said user of said second communications apparatus.

23. A communications control station for conducting communications with a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said communications control station comprising:

an instruction generator for generating a notification that execution is possible for a given communications methods associated with presence information showing the current status of a user of said second communications apparatus;

a receiver for receiving a generation request for said executable instruction; and

a transmitter for transmitting said executable instruction generated by said instruction generator to an information transfer apparatus executing said given communications method when said receiver receives said generation request for said executable instruction.

24. A communications control station for conducting communications with a first communications apparatus for transmitting data and a second communications apparatus for receiving said data, said communications control station comprising:

a receiver for receiving a request for generating a notification that execution is possible for a given communications method associated with presence information showing the current status of a user of said second communications apparatus; and

a transmitter for transmitting a generation request for said executable instruction to a service control station generating said executable instruction when said receiver receives said request.