Information communication system

• US 5,890,157 A
• Filed: 05/09/1996
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kawamoto, Youji
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALLACE, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/647,046
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 395/610, 395/615, 455/56.1, 707/10, 707/104, 707/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An information communication system having cell stations 1, 2, 3, . . . provided in plural divided possible communication regions, a mobile switcher 7 controlling the cell stations and a personal station 8 as communication means for having communication with the cell stations. The information communication system further includes databases 4, 5, 6, . . . for storing the multimedia information for the regions where the cell stations exist, a data update unit for updating the information stored in the database and a communication function unit for communication of data of the database. A user in possession of the personal terminal 8 may have access to the nearest cell station for the region where he or she is present in order to acquire the multimedia information he or she desires in the region from the database owned by the cell station. With the information communication system, the database communication traffic control need not be changed even if the number of the personal stations receiving the information purveying services is increased and the same information may be received from any source at the same charges.

Claims

1. An information communication system having cell stations provided at different communication ranges, a mobile switcher for controlling communications between said cell stations, and a personal station in remote communication with a nearest cell station, said system comprising:

database means resident to respective cell stations for storing respective multimedia information including information relevant to the region where respective cell stations are present;

data update means for updating the multimedia information stored in said database means;

a communication function unit for establishing communications between said personal station and said nearest cell station; and

wherein, in response to a request from said personal station for multimedia information relevant to the region of a cell station located in a region other than said nearest cell station, said data update means updates the database means resident to said nearest cell station with the requested multimedia information from the other cell station such that the personal station accesses said requested multimedia information directly from said nearest cell station.

2. The information communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said data update means updates the contents of said database means with the requested multimedia information retrieved via a communication satellite.

3. The information communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cell stations include communication means for accessing the database means resident to other cell stations.

4. The information communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said database means of a respective cell station stores multimedia information relevant to the region including restaurant information, motion picture information, concert information and railroad information.

5. The information communication system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data update means updates said database means comprehensively for each type of multimedia information.

6. The information communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said communication function closes communications between said personal station and said nearest cell station while said data update means updates said multimedia information stored in said database means.

7. An information communication system comprising:

mobile switcher means including a communication function for exchanging multimedia information between cell stations;

database means resident to respective cell stations for storing the multimedia information;

data update means for updating the multimedia information of said database means;

a personal station including a communication function for establishing communication with the database means;

radio link means for establishing a radio link between said personal computer and a nearest one of the cell stations; and

wherein, responsive to a request from said personal station for multimedia information resident to said database means of another cell station, the data update means updates said database means of the nearest cell station with the requested multimedia information retrieved by said mobile switcher means from said database means of said another cell station such that the personal station accesses, directly from the nearest cell station, said requested multimedia information.

8. The information communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said data update means updates the contents in said database means retrieved via a communication satellite.

9. The information communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said database means of a respective cell station stores multimedia information relevant to the region where said respective cell station is present including restaurant information, motion picture information, concert information and railroad information.

10. The information communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said data update means updates said database means comprehensively for each type of multimedia information.

11. The information communication system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said communication function closes communications between said personal station and said nearest cell station while said data update means updates said multimedia information stored in said database means.

12. A cell station having cable communication means with a mobile switcher having a control function and radio communication means with a personal station for which the possible communication range has been set, comprising:

database means for storing the multimedia information including information relevant to the region where a respective cell station is present; and

data update means for updating the multimedia information stored in said database means with requested multimedia information retrieved by said mobile switcher resident to another cell station such that said personal station accesses said requested multimedia information directly from said respective cell station.

13. The cell station as claimed in claim 12, wherein said data update means updates said database means with data sent via a communication satellite.

14. The information communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said database means of a respective cell station stores multimedia information relevant to the region including restaurant information, motion picture information, concert information and railroad information.

15. The information communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said data update means updates said database means comprehensively for each type of multimedia information.

16. The information communication system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said radio communication means closes communications between said personal station and said respective cell station when said data update means updates said multimedia information stored in said database means.