Multimedia communication system with a multimedia server to terminals via a public network

• US 5,727,048 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xylon LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Katsuyama, Ayako, Ohzasa, Kenichi, Kamata, Hajime, Ozawa, Masayuki, Hiroshima, Shuuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALAN, STEPHEN C
• Application Number:
  US08/563,464
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 395/226, 395/227, 379/90, 379/93, 379/96, 379/98, 379/92, 379/91, 379/100, 379/201, 379/209, 379/355, 379/133, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.02, 379/93.12, 379/93.17, 379/93.23 , 379/106.01, 379/100.11, 379/93.25, 386/75
• US Class Current: 379/93.12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A multimedia communication system which allows a user at a terminal to efficiently place an order for merchandise with a merchandise provider includes terminals and a multimedia server connected thereto via a public network. The multimedia server includes an information storage unit for storing multimedia information on each merchandise item, a communication control unit for controlling information transmission between terminals and the server via the public network, and a bulletin board service unit for transmitting merchandise items from the information storage unit to the communication control unit in response to a merchandise information look-up request from any of terminals. The multimedia server further has an ordering service unit and a main service unit. The ordering service unit enters the quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered from a terminal into a received order master file, transcribes what is input in the master file onto a slip, and enters the slip into a received order file after adding to the slip the address, name and user code number of the user who placed the order. The mail service unit transmits slips held in the ordering service unit to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center via the communication control unit.

Claims

1. A multimedia communication system comprising:

terminals;

a multimedia server for sending to each of said terminals, when called up thereby, multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and images regarding merchandise; and

a public network for connecting said terminals to said multimedia server;

said multimedia server comprising;

information storage means for storing multimedia information on each of merchandise items;

communication control means for controlling the transmission of information between said multimedia server and said terminals via said public network;

bulletin board service means for transmitting said merchandise items from said information storage means to said communication control means upon request for a merchandise information look-up by one of said terminals, said bulletin board service means further transmitting multimedia information from said information storage means to said communication control means in response to a detailed merchandise information request entered by a user through one of said terminals;

ordering service means for receiving via said communication control means quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered by a user through one of said terminals and for entering what is ordered into a received order master file while transcribing the received quantities and delivery times of merchandise from said received order master file onto a slip, said ordering service means further entering said slip into a received order file after adding to said slip an address, name and user code number of said user who placed the order; and

mail service means for transmitting slips held in said received order file to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center via said communication control means;

wherein;

a plurality of units of said multimedia server are installed at a plurality of information providers dispersed at remote locations;

the multimedia server of a principal information provider integrating the other information providers has means for transmitting to one of said terminals said merchandise items of multimedia information supplemented with the telephone number of one of the remotely located information providers and the information request number corresponding to each merchandise item, the remotely located information provider being a provider capable of offering the multimedia information corresponding to the merchandise information look-up request sent from the terminal in question; and

each of said terminals has means for automatically dialing the telephone number of the remotely located information provider corresponding to said information request number.

2. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic dialing by one of said terminals takes place when the multimedia server of said principal information provider is off-line.

3. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the automatic dialing by one of said terminals takes place when the multimedia server of said principal information provider is on-line.

5. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia server of said principal information provider has a function for automatically transmitting to said terminals, at a predetermined time, said merchandise items of multimedia information supplemented with the telephone number of one of the remotely located information providers and the information request number corresponding to each merchandise item, the remotely located information provider being a provider capable of offering said multimedia information.

6. A multimedia communication system according to claim 5, wherein each of said terminals has a function for altering said predetermined time for the automatic transmission as desired.

7. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of said terminals has a function for storing the telephone number being dialed and the transmission timing regarding said telephone number, and for transmitting the stored telephone number using said transmission timing when said telephone number is redialed.

4. A multimedia communication system comprising:

terminals;

a multimedia server for sending to each of said terminals, when called up thereby, multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and images regarding merchandise; and

a public network for connecting said terminals to said multimedia server;

said multimedia server comprising;

information storage means for storing multimedia information on each of merchandise items;

communication control means for controlling the transmission of information between said multimedia server and said terminals via said public network;

bulletin board service means for transmitting said merchandise items from said information storage means to said communication control means upon request for a merchandise information look-up by one of said terminals, said bulletin board service means further transmitting multimedia information from said information storage means to said communication control means in response to a detailed merchandise information request entered by a user through one of said terminals;

ordering service means for receiving via said communication control means quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered by a user through one of said terminals and for entering what is ordered into a received order master file while transcribing the received quantities and delivery times of merchandise from said received order master file onto a slip, said ordering service means further entering said slip into a received order file after adding to said slip an address, name and user code number of said user who placed the order; and

mail service means for transmitting slips held in said ordering service means to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center via said communication control means,

wherein a plurality of units of said multimedia server are installed at a plurality of information providers dispersed at remote locations; and

wherein the multimedia server of a principal information provider integrating the other information providers and linking up with a telephone exchange of said public network includes;

means for receiving a merchandise-specific information request number sent from one of said terminals;

means for dialing in response to the telephone number of the multimedia server at the information provider capable of providing multimedia information to the terminal having sent the information request number;

means for transmitting to the connected multimedia server the telephone number of said terminal and said information request number; and

means for transmitting to said terminal the merchandise items of multimedia information supplemented with the telephone number of the multimedia server at said principal information provider;

wherein each of said terminals has means for automatically dialing a telephone number of said principal information provider; and

wherein each of the multimedia servers installed at the remotely located information providers has means for transmitting multimedia information to one of said terminals in accordance with the telephone number of the terminal in question and with said information request number, the two numbers having being sent from the multimedia server of said principal information provider.