RECEPTION NOTIFICATION CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20090019125A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Funato, Daichi, Yoshikawa, Kunio, Onishi, Taku, Miyake, Motoharu, Kobayashi, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,963 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1432 Metric aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1485 Tariff-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A reception notification control method is provided in which an information server that stores information addressed to reception terminals and performs reception notification, via a network apparatus, on each of the reception terminals to which the information stored in the information server is addressed. After receiving, via the network apparatus, a predetermined connection request from a reception terminal to which stored information is addressed, the information server performs the reception notification on the reception terminal.

Claims

1. A reception notification control method for making a reception notification, via a network apparatus, to reception terminals from an information server that stores e-mail addressed to each of the reception terminals, the method comprising:

storing, in the e-mail server, information addressed to an arbitrary reception terminal; and

making a reception notification from the information server, via the network apparatus, to the arbitrary reception terminal, the reception notification being triggered by a HTTP connection request transmitted from the arbitrary reception terminal and received via the network apparatus for establishing a HTTP packet link therebetween to receive a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval, the reception notification of the information server being provided via the established HTTP packet link between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus thereby avoiding a further HTTP packet link establishment to the information server for receiving the reception notification;

wherein the reception notification is provided together with the unrelated service.

2. The reception notification control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of making the reception notification includes:

determining, when storing the e-mail addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal in the information server, whether the arbitrary reception terminal, to which the e-mail is addressed, is in communication with the network apparatus via a HTTP packet link, based on intrinsic information of the arbitrary reception terminal included in the e-mail; and

making the reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal from the information server when it is determined that the arbitrary reception terminal is in communication with the network apparatus via the HTTP packet link.

3. The reception notification control method as claimed claim 1, wherein the step of making the reception notification includes:

classifying, in the information server, e-mail to be stored in accordance with identification information attached to the e-mail at distributors of the e-mail;

holding, in the e-mail server, information having predetermined identification information attached thereto among the classified information; and

making the reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal, upon receipt of a predetermined HTTP connection request, via the network apparatus, from the arbitrary reception terminal to which the held e-mail is addressed.

4. The reception notification control method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the predetermined identification information indicates whether the e-mail to be distributed requires instant delivery.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the reception notification identifies email corresponding to the arbitrary reception terminal.

5. A reception notification control method in which an information server that stores e-mail addressed to reception terminals, makes a reception notification to each of the reception terminals via a network apparatus, with a node device interposed between the network apparatus and the information server,

the method comprising:

determining a communication state of an arbitrary reception terminal in accordance with a control signal that is transmitted when a HTTP packet link is established between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus, inquiring the information server whether the information server stores e-mail addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal when it is determined that the arbitrary reception terminal has established a HTTP packet link with the network apparatus to receive a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval; and

making a reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal depending on a result of the inquiry over the established HTTP packet link together with the unrelated service,

each of the steps being carried out by the node device.

6. A reception notification control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of making the reception notification includes:

registering, in the node device, the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal in a call information management table, when it is determined that the arbitrary reception terminal is in communication with the network apparatus;

acquiring, in the node device, the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal from the call information management table, when a call for the arbitrary reception terminal is received from the information server; and

making the reception notification from the node device to the arbitrary reception terminal using a predetermined packet link that is established in advance, when it is determined that the arbitrary reception terminal is in communication with the network apparatus.

7. The reception notification control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the node device is provided with a packet conversion function that enables the node device to make a communication with the arbitrary reception terminal via the network apparatus.

17. The reception notification control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the communication between the network apparatus and the node device is made via a protocol conversion device that has a packet conversion function and enables the node device to make a communication with the arbitrary reception terminal via the network apparatus.

18. The reception notification control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information server and the node device are separate devices.

8. A reception notification system for making a reception notification, via a network apparatus, to reception terminals from an information server that stores e-mail addressed to each of the reception terminals, the system comprising:

a reception notification trigger receiving part configured to receive a HTTP connection request for establishing a packet link, the request being transmitted from an arbitrary reception terminal to which e-mail stored in the information server is addressed and received via the network apparatus; and

a reception notifying part configured to make a reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal, the reception notification being triggered when the reception notification trigger receiving part receives the HTTP connection request,

the reception notification trigger receiving part and the reception notifying part being provided in the information server and the reception notification packet being provided via the HTTP packet link established between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus for delivering a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval, thereby avoiding a further packet link establishment to the information server for receiving the reception notification as the reception notification being provided together with the unrelated service.

9. The reception notification system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a determining part included in the information server and configured to determine, when storing the e-mail addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal in the information server, whether the arbitrary reception terminal, to which the e-mail is addressed, has established the HTTP packet link with the network apparatus, based on intrinsic information of the arbitrary reception terminal included in the e-mail,

wherein the reception notifying makes the reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal when the determining part determines that the arbitrary reception terminal has established an HTTP packet link with the network apparatus.

10. The reception notification system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a classifying storage part included in the information server and configured to classify e-mail to be stored in the information server in accordance with identification information attached to the e-mail at distributors of the e-mail; and

an e-mail holding part included in the information server and configured to hold e-mail having predetermined identification information among the e-mail classified by the classifying storage part,

wherein the reception notification part makes the reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal, upon receipt of a predetermined HTTP connection request, via the network apparatus, from the arbitrary reception terminal to which the e-mail held by the information holding part is addressed.

11. The reception notification system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined identification information indicates whether the e-mail to be distributed requires instant delivery.

12. A reception notification system in which an information server that stores e-mail addressed to reception terminals and makes a reception notification to each of the reception terminals via a network apparatus with a node device interposed between the network apparatus and the information server, the system comprising:

a communication state determining part configured to determine a communication state of an arbitrary reception terminal in accordance with a control signal that is transmitted when a HTTP packet link is established between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus to access a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval;

a stored information inquiring part configured to inquire the information server whether the information server stores e-mail addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal, when the communication state determining part determines that the arbitrary reception terminal has established the HTTP packet link with the network apparatus; and

a reception notifying part configured to make a reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal depending on a result of the inquiry made by the stored information inquiring part and the reception notification being provided via the HTTP packet link between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus thereby avoiding a further packet link establishment to the information server for receiving the reception notification as the reception notification is provided together with the unrelated service;

each of the communication state determining part, the stored information inquiring part, and the reception notifying part being provided in the node device.

13. A reception notification as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a call information managing part, included in the node device, and configured to register the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal in a call information management table, when the communication state determining part determines that the arbitrary reception terminal is in communication with the network apparatus; and

a communication state acquiring part, included in the node device, and configured to acquire the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal from the call information management table, when a call for the arbitrary reception terminal is received from the information server

14. An information server for making a reception notification to reception terminals via a network apparatus, comprising:

a storage part configured to store information e-mail addressed to each of reception terminals;

a reception notification trigger receiving part configured to receive a HTTP connection request that is for establishing a HTTP packet link and is transmitted from an arbitrary reception terminal to which e-mail stored in the storage part is addressed for accessing a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval, via the network apparatus; and

a reception notifying part configured to make a reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal when the reception notification trigger receiving part receives the HTTP connection request and the reception notification being provided via the HTTP packet link between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus thereby avoiding a further packet link establishment to the information server for receiving the reception notification as the reception notification is provided together with the unrelated service.

15. The information server as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a classifying storage part included in the information server and configured to classify e-mail to be stored in the storage part in accordance with identification information attached to the e-mail at distributors of the e-mail; and

an information holding part configured to hold e-mail having predetermined identification information among the e-mail classified by the classifying storage part,

wherein the reception notifying part makes the reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal, upon receipt of a predetermined HTTP connection request, via the network apparatus, from the arbitrary reception terminal to which the e-mail held by the information holding part is addressed.

16. The information server as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predetermined identification information indicates whether the e-mail to be distributed requires instant delivery.

19. A node device for a reception notification system in which an information server that stores e-mail addressed to reception terminals and makes a reception notification to each of the reception terminals via a network apparatus with the node device interposed between the network apparatus and the information server, the node device comprising:

a communication state determining part configured to determine a communication state of an arbitrary reception terminal in accordance with a control signal that is transmitted when a HTTP packet link is established between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus to accessing a service unrelated to e-mail retrieval;

a stored information inquiring part configured to query the information server as to whether the information server stores e-mail addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal, when the communication state determining part determines that the arbitrary reception terminal has established an HTTP packet link with the network apparatus; and

a reception notifying part configured to make a reception notification to the arbitrary reception terminal depending on a result of the inquiry made by the stored information inquiring part and the reception notification being provided via the HTTP packet link between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus thereby avoiding a further packet link establishment to the information server for receiving the reception notification as the reception notification is provided with the unrelated service.

21. A reception control method for making a reception notification, via a network apparatus, to reception terminals from an information server that stores information addressed to each of the reception terminals, said reception control method comprising:

classifying the information addressed to each of the reception terminals, arriving at the information server, into instant delivery information which requires instant delivery and non-instant delivery information which does not require instant delivery, based on identification information which is added to the information addressed to each of the reception terminals at a distribution source of said information, when storing said information in the information server;

receiving, via the network apparatus, a connection request for a packet link from an arbitrary reception terminal which is the distribution source of the information that is stored; and

making a reception notification of the non-instant delivery information addressed to said arbitrary reception terminal via the packet link which is established, using the connection request as a trigger.

22. The reception control method as claimed in claim 21, wherein said reception notification with respect to said arbitrary reception terminal is made via the packet link which is established in advance between said arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus.

23. A reception control method for making a reception notification, via a network apparatus, to reception terminals from an information server that stores information addressed to each of the reception terminals, said reception control method comprising:

classifying the information addressed to each of the reception terminals, arriving at the information server, into instant delivery information which requires instant delivery and non-instant delivery information which does not require instant delivery, based on identification information which is added to the information addressed to each of the reception terminals at a distribution source of said information, when storing said information in the information server;

judging a communication state of each of the reception terminals based on a control signal which is exchanged between each of the reception terminals and the network apparatus when establishing a packet link between each of the reception terminals and the network apparatus, in a node device which is coupled between the network apparatus and the information server;

inquiring existence of stored information addressed to an arbitrary reception terminal with respect to the information server when a result of said judging indicates that said arbitrary reception terminal is busy; and

making a reception notification of the non-instant delivery information addressed to said arbitrary reception terminal via the packet link which is established, in accordance with a result of said inquiring.

24. The reception control method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

registering the communication state of said arbitrary reception terminal in a table by the node device if the result of said judging indicates that said arbitrary reception terminal is busy;

acquiring the communication state of said arbitrary reception terminal by referring to the table when a call with respect to said arbitrary reception terminal is received from the information server; and

making the reception notification with respect to said arbitrary reception terminal via the packet link which is established in advance if the result of said inquiring indicates that said arbitrary reception terminal is busy.

25. A system for managing a reception control and for providing a reception notification, comprising:

an information server for classifying information provided thereto that is addressed to each of a plurality of reception terminals into instant delivery information, and non-instant delivery information which does not require instant delivery, based on identification information which is added to the information addressed to each of the plurality of reception terminals at a distribution source of said information, when storing said information in the information server;

a network apparatus configured to receive a connection request for a packet link from an arbitrary reception terminal of the plurality of reception terminals that is the distribution source of the information that is stored,

wherein, a reception notification of the non-instant delivery information addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal is provided via the packet link established, using the connection request as a trigger.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said reception notification with respect to said arbitrary reception terminal is made via the packet link which is established in advance between the arbitrary reception terminal and the network apparatus.

27. A method of managing reception control and providing a reception notification, comprising:

an information server configured to classify information addressed to each of a plurality of reception terminals arriving at the information server, into instant delivery information and non-instant delivery information which does not require instant delivery, based on identification information added to the information addressed to each of the plurality of reception terminals at a distribution source of the information, when storing the information in the information server;

a network apparatus configured to receive a control signal from a respective one of the plurality of reception terminals to judge a communication state with respect thereto when establishing a packet link between each of the plurality of reception terminals and the network apparatus, in a node device which is coupled between the network apparatus and the information server,

wherein when the communication state is judged as busy with respect to an arbitrary reception terminal,

a determination is made whether or not the stored information addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal exists and a reception notification of the non-instant delivery information addressed to the arbitrary reception terminal is provided via the packet link which is established, in accordance with the result of the determination.

28. The reception control system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a node device configured to register the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal in a table thereof if the result of the judging indicates that the arbitrary reception terminal is busy such that the communication state of the arbitrary reception terminal is acquired by referring to the table, when a call with respect to the arbitrary reception terminal is received from the information server and the reception notification with respect to the arbitrary reception terminal is provided via the packet link established in advance, if the result of the inquiry indicates that the arbitrary reception terminal is busy.