Information communication system information communication device and information communication method and computer program

• US 20050114646A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Rekimoto, Junichi, Kohno, Michimune
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An information communication system includes a first telephone operated by a first user, first proximity communication means operated when a first device comes into its vicinity so as to connect the both, a second telephone operated by a second user, and second proximity communication means operated when a second device comes into its vicinity so as to connect the both. The first telephone reads an IP address of the first device via the first proximity communication means, transmits it to the second telephone via a telephone network, and notifies it to the second device via the second proximity communication means. By link operation between a telephone and an electronic device in its vicinity, it is possible to share information and exchange information with a conversation partner via the telephone.

Claims

1. An information communication system for performing information exchange among a plurality of users, characterized by comprising:

a first telephone and a first device operated by a first user;

first proximity communication means activated by said first telephone brought closer to said first device to connect the both;

a second telephone and a second device operated by a second user;

second proximity communication means activated by said second telephone brought closer to said second device to connect the both;

a wide area transmission path connecting said first device with said second device;

first cooperating means for transmitting an access method to said first device on the wide area transmission path read from said first device by said first telephone to said second telephone through a telephone network;

second cooperating means for notifying said second device from said second telephone through said second proximity communication means of the access method to said first device on the wide area transmission path; and

third cooperating means for establishing connection with said first device by said second device in accordance with the access method to the first device on a wide area network.

2. The information communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first cooperating means also transmits an encryption key for use in information communication through the wide area network.

3. The information communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that said first or second proximity communication means is formed in any one system of an infrared communication, an electromagnetic induction coupling, an electrostatic coupling, or an RF-ID.

4. The information communication system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for sharing user interaction performed on said first and second devices between them through a transmission path established as the connection by said third cooperating means.

5. The information communication system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for transferring a file from one of said first and second devices to the other through a transmission path established as the connection by said third cooperating means.

6. The information communication system according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising means for transferring an access method to contents provided on said wide area network from one of said first and second devices to the other through a transmission path established as the connection by said cooperating associating means.

7. The information communication system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transferring contents acquired in one of said first and second devices to the other through a transmission path established as the connection by said third cooperating means.

8. An information communication apparatus for performing information sharing and information exchange with a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through an associated operation of the apparatus and an electronic device in proximity thereto, characterized by comprising:

telephone communication means for performing communication through a telephone network;

proximity communication means for making connection with said electronic device in proximity;

access method acquiring means for acquiring an access method to said electronic device in proximity on a wide area network through said proximity communication means; and

access method transmitting means for transmitting the access method to said electronic device in proximity on the wide area network to another telephone through the telephone network.

9. The information communication apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by further comprising encryption producing means for producing an encryption key for use in information communication through the wide area network, and characterized in that said access method transmitting means also transmits the produced encryption key.

10. The information communication apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by further comprising:

access method receiving means for receiving an access method to a device in proximity to another telephone on the wide area network from the other telephone; and

access method notifying means for notifying said device in proximity of the access method to the device in proximity to the other telephone on the wide area network.

11. The information communication apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said proximity communication means is formed in any one system of an infrared communication, an electromagnetic induction coupling, an electrostatic coupling, or an RF-ID.

12. An information communication method for performing information sharing and information exchange with a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through a cooperating operation of the apparatus and an electronic device in proximity thereto, characterized by comprising the steps of:

a proximity communication step of making connection with said electronic device in proximity;

an access method acquiring step of acquiring an access method to said electronic device in proximity on a wide area network through said proximity communication means; and

an access method transmitting step of transmitting the access method to said electronic device in proximity on the wide area network to another telephone through a telephone network.

13. The information communication method according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising an encryption producing step of producing an encryption key for use in information communication through the wide area network, and characterized in that the produced encryption key is also transmitted in said access method transmitting step.

14. The information communication method according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising:

an access method receiving step of receiving an access method to a device in proximity to another telephone on the wide area network from the other telephone; and

an access method notifying step of notifying said device in proximity of the access method to the device in proximity to the other telephone on the wide area network.

15. The information communication method according to claim 12, characterized in that any one system of an infrared communication, an electromagnetic induction coupling, an electrostatic coupling, or an RF-ID is employed in said proximity communication step.

16. An information communication apparatus for performing information sharing and information exchange with a device used by a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through a cooperating operation of the apparatus and a telephone in proximity thereto, characterized by comprising:

proximity communication means for making connection with said telephone in proximity;

access method notifying means for notifying said telephone of an access method to said apparatus on a wide area network through said proximity communication means;

access method receiving means for receiving an access method to the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held over said telephone on the wide area network from said telephone through said proximity communication means; and

connection establishing means for establishing connection with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through the wide area network.

17. The information communication apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that said apparatus receives from said telephone in proximity an encryption key for use in information communication through the wide area network and uses the key in encryption of information communication on a transmission path established by said connection establishing means.

18. The information communication apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising means for sharing user interaction performed on the apparatus and the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

19. The information communication apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising means for transferring a file to and from the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

20. The information communication apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising means for exchanging an access method to contents provided on said wide area network with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

21. The information communication apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by further comprising means for exchanging contents acquired by the apparatus or the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

22. An information communication method for performing information sharing and information exchange with a device used by a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through an associated operation with a telephone in proximity, characterized by comprising:

a proximity communication step of making connection with said telephone in proximity;

access method notifying means for notifying said telephone of an access method to the apparatus on a wide area network through said proximity communication step;

an access method receiving step of receiving an access method to the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held over said telephone on the wide area network from said telephone through said proximity communication step; and

a connection establishing step of establishing connection with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through the wide area network.

23. The information communication method according to claim 22, wherein an encryption key for use in information communication through the wide area network is received from said telephone in proximity and used in encryption of information communication on a transmission path established by said connection establishing step.

24. The information communication method according to claim 22, characterized by further comprising a step of sharing user interaction with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

25. The information communication method according to claim 22, characterized by further comprising a step of transferring a file to and from the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

26. The information communication method according to claim 22, characterized by further comprising a step of exchanging an access method to contents provided on said wide area network with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

27. The information communication method according to claim 22, characterized by further comprising a step of exchanging contents with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through a transmission path established as the connection by said connection establishing means.

28. A computer program described in a computer readable form to execute, on a computer system, processing for performing information sharing and information exchange with a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through a cooperating operation with an electronic device in proximity, comprising the steps of:

a proximity communication step of making connection with said electronic device in proximity;

an access method acquiring step of acquiring an access method to said electronic device in proximity on a wide area network through said proximity communication means; and

an access method transmitting step of transmitting the access method to said electronic device in proximity on the wide area network to another telephone through the telephone network.

29. A computer program described in a computer readable form to execute, on a computer system, processing for performing information sharing and information exchange with a device used by a person with whom a conversation is being held by telephone through a cooperating operation with a telephone in proximity, characterized by comprising:

a proximity communication step of making connection with said telephone in proximity;

access method notifying means for notifying said telephone of an access method to the apparatus on a wide area network through said proximity communication step;

an access method receiving step of receiving an access method to the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held over said telephone on the wide area network from said telephone through said proximity communication step; and

a connection establishing step of establishing connection with the device used by the person with whom a conversation is being held on said telephone through the wide area network.