Communication device, address search device, address acquisition method, authentication method, communication disconnection method, and address search method

• US 20060089133A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshizawa, Fumio, Shirata, Yasunobu, Kawamoto, Hiroyuki, Ohkawa, Satoshi, Togami, Atsushi, Murakata, Akira, Fukuda, Hiroaki, Miyamoto, Isao, Kimura, Shuji
• Application Number:
  US11/227,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089133A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0091 Digital copier; digital 'photocopier' H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A search device communicates with a first device and a second device through a network. The search device includes a storage unit that stores therein a first telephone number of the first device, a second telephone number of the second device, and a first communication address of the first device in an associated manner; a receiving unit that receives, from the second device, a third telephone number of the first device, a fourth telephone number of the second device, and a second communication address of the second device; an extracting unit that extracts, from the storage unit, a first communication address that corresponds to the third telephone number and the fourth telephone number; and a transmitting unit that transmits extracted first communication address to the second device.

Claims

1. A search device configured to communicate with a first device and a second device through a network, the search device comprising:

a storage unit configured to store therein a first telephone number of the first device, a second telephone number of the second device, and a first communication address of the first device in an associated manner;

a receiving unit configured to receive, from the second device, a third telephone number of the first device, a fourth telephone number of the second device, and a second communication address of the second device;

an extracting unit configured to extract, from the storage unit, a first communication address that corresponds to the third telephone number and the fourth telephone number; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit extracted first communication address to the second device.

2. A communication device comprising:

a number acquiring unit configured to acquire a telephone number of the communication device and a telephone number of a second communication device to which the communication device is to transmit electronic data through a network; and

an address acquiring unit configured to acquire a communication address of the second communication device based on acquired telephone numbers and a communication address of the communication device.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit electronic data to the communication address of the second communication device.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising:

an authentication-information acquiring unit configured to acquire authentication information that is arbitrarily determined by users;

an authentication-information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information transmitted from the second communication device; and

a determining unit configured to determine whether received authentication information corresponds with acquired authentication information, wherein

the transmitting unit is configured to transmit the electronic data to the second communication device when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information corresponds with the acquired authentication information.

5. The communication device according to claim 4, further comprising a disconnecting unit configured to disconnect communication between the communication device and the second communication device after a specific time has elapsed, when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information corresponds with the acquired authentication information.

6. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising a target setting unit configured to set a target communication address, when a plurality of communication addresses are acquired by the address acquiring unit, from among the communication addresses, wherein

the transmitting unit is configured to transmit the electronic data to the target communication address.

7. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a rate setting unit configured to set a charging rate for the communication device and the second communication device when transmission of the electronic data is to be charged; and

a charging unit configured to charge the communication device and the second communication device based on the charging rate.

8. A communication device comprising:

an authentication-information acquiring unit configured to acquire authentication information that is arbitrarily determined by users;

an authentication-information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information transmitted from a second communication device;

a determining unit configured to determine whether received authentication information corresponds with acquired authentication information; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit electronic data to the second communication device when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information corresponds with the acquired authentication information.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting unit is configured not to transmit the electronic data to the second communication device when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information does not correspond with the acquired authentication information.

10. A communication device comprising:

an authentication-information acquiring unit configured to acquire authentication information that is arbitrarily determined by users;

an authentication-information receiving unit configured to receive authentication information transmitted from a second communication device;

a determining unit configured to determine whether received authentication information corresponds with acquired authentication information; and

a disconnecting unit configured to disconnect communication between the communication device and the second communication device after a specific time has elapsed, when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information corresponds with the acquired authentication information.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, further comprising a transmitting unit configured to transmit electronic data to the second communication device when the determining unit determines that the authentication information corresponds with the acquired authentication information.

12. The communication device according to claim 11, the transmitting unit is configured not to transmit the electronic data to the second communication device when the determining unit determines that the received authentication information does not correspond with the acquired authentication information.

13-20. -20. (canceled)