Information communication system

• US 6,332,139 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Megachips Corporation
• Original Assignee: Megachips Corporation
• Inventors: Nishimoto, Masakazu, Kaneko, Toshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): AMSBURY, WAYNE P
• Application Number:
  US09/435,916
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 707/6, 348/19, 382/190
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

In information interchange between a first station and a second station, the second station changes and recognizes the semantic contents of information transmitted from the first station on the basis of information in an information base in response to the first station and determines the optimum response on the basis of the result of the recognition for selecting, manipulating or converting information optimum for each first station with information in the information base and transmitting the same to the first station on the basis of the determination. The quantity of information to be extracted from a user can be reduced by employing the information already present in the information base, for reaching desired information with a sense as if a familiar operator talks with the user. Thus, information service convenient for the user is provided.

Claims

1. An information communication system for making information interchange between a plurality of first stations having communication functions and a prescribed second station having a communication function through a communication path,

having an information base including various types of information arranged on at least one of said second station, said first stations and a third station other than said first and second stations, wherein

said second station comprises:

an information recognition part recognizing the semantic contents of information transmitted from each said first station on the basis of information in said information base,

a response determination part determining the optimum response on the basis of the result of said recognition,

an optimum information preparation part preparing transmission information with information in said information base on the basis of said determination and transmitting said transmission information to each said first station,

wherein said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said optimum information preparation part comprises a compression control part controlling compressibility in a compression processing part so that a signal quantity of information transmitted to said communication path is within a target range.

2. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station has a second station information base as at least part of said information base, and

said second station information base stores information along with an index accompanying said information.

3. The information communication system according to claim 2, wherein

a hierarchical structure is defined for said index to express a conceptual hierarchical structure of said information.

4. The information communication system according to claim 3, wherein

said response determination part retrieves, when any said first station requires provision of information and said required information is absent, information closest to said required information on the basis of said hierarchical index.

5. The information communication system according to claim 3, wherein

said response determination part limits the depth and width of retrieval when retrieving information on the basis of said index for which said hierarchical structure is defined.

6. The information communication system according to claim 2, wherein

said index includes an ambiguous parameter for which correspondence or non-correspondence is not univocally ascertained, and

said response determination part comprises an ambiguous retrieval part retrieving information on the basis of said ambiguous parameter when requirement for provision of information is received from any said first station while determining whether or not said ambiguous parameter corresponds to said requirement.

7. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station has a second station information base as at least part of said information base, and

said second station information base stores user information related to each said first station.

8. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station has a second station information base as at least part of said information base, and

said second station information base stores data defining relation between a plurality of information as sub-storage/hierarchical storage information.

9. The information communication system according to claim 8, wherein

said response determination part retrieves, when any said first station requires provision of information and said required information is absent, related information on the basis of said hierarchical index.

10. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises:

a user interface having a communication medium mediating transfer of information between said first station and an operator of said first station, and

an input/output optimization part adjusting the signal quantity of information to be transmitted in response to the form of said information mediated by said user interface and the state of said communication path.

11. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises:

a priority processing part assigning priority to information to be transmitted and preferentially transmitting information having higher priority to said communication path.

12. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises:

a user interface having a communication medium mediating transfer of information between said first station and an operator of said first station, and

an operation system optimization part setting a plurality of selectable operation modes for said user interface on the basis of operation of said operator of said first station.

13. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises:

a user interface having a plurality of communication media mediating transfer of information between said first station and an operator of said first station, and

a conversion processing part selectively turning off said plurality of communication media.

14. The information communication system according to claim 13, wherein

said conversion processing part further transmits another information in place of information to be essentially transmitted by any of said communication media selectively turned off.

15. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises:

a first station information base as at least part of said information base, and

an information selection part selecting information including previously set specific information from a plurality of information transmitted by said second station and recording said information in said first station information base.

16. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises a communication interface connected to an end of said communication path, and

said communication interface comprises a protocol conversion part superposing information of another form on a blank area of a protocol of visual telephone communication and transmitting said information to said communication path and separating said information of another form superposed on said protocol received through said communication path.

17. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station comprises a communication interface connected to an end of said communication path, and

said communication interface comprises a protocol conversion part superposing information of another form on a blank area of a protocol of visual telephone communication and transmitting said information to said communication path and separating said information of another form superposed on said protocol received through said communication path.

18. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

each said first station comprises a communication interface connected to an end of said communication path, and

said communication interface comprises a composite error correction part detecting an error included in information received through said communication path and selectively executing any of error correction, requirement for retransmission of information, no error correction and manipulation on said received information in response to the form of said received information.

19. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station comprises a communication interface connected to an end of said communication path, and

said communication interface comprises a composite error correction part detecting an error included in information received through said communication path and selectively executing any of error correction, requirement for retransmission of information, no error correction and manipulation on said received information in response to the form of said received information.

20. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said information recognition part comprises:

a plurality of recognition parts extracting features from a plurality of forms of information,

a data classification part distributing information received through said communication path to said plurality of recognition parts in response to the form thereof, and

a demand recognition part recognizing the contents of requirement from each said first station on the basis of features extracted by at least one of said plurality of recognition parts.

21. The information communication system according to claim 20, wherein

said information base stores information related to said first stations, and

at least one of said plurality of recognition parts extracts features with reference to said information related to said first stations.

22. The information communication system according to claim 20, wherein

said information recognition part further comprises:

an evaluation function part making authentication as to whether or not an operator of each said first station is the right person on the basis of said features extracted by at least one of said plurality of recognition parts.

23. The information communication system according to claim 20, wherein

said demand recognition part refers to said information base in addition to recognition of the contents of requirement from said first station thereby inferring further detailed contents of requirement.

24. The information communication system according to claim 20, wherein

at least one of said plurality of recognition parts extracts features by utilizing arithmetic processing by said third station.

25. The information communication system according to claim 20, wherein

at least one of said plurality of recognition parts extracts physical features of an operator of each said first station, and

said response determination part comprises an ambiguous retrieval part retrieving information from said information base in consideration of extracted said physical features.

26. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said information base stores information related to past facts, and

said response determination part comprises an example base part retrieving, when requirement for provision of information is received from any said first station, information responsive to said requirement from said information base with reference to said information related to past facts.

27. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a selection•

sending priority part selecting, when receiving requirement for provision of information from any said first station, only partial information suitable to said requirement from information retrieved in said response determination part and transmitting said partial information to said communication path.

28. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a selection•

sending priority part selecting response by an operator of said second station when receiving requirement from any said first station or said second station cannot automatically respond.

29. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein said optimum information preparation part comprises a selection•

sending priority part preferentially transmitting information having a smaller information quantity to said communication path among information to be transmitted to said communication path.

30. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a manipulation processing part changing, when information read from said information base on the basis of the result of retrieval by said response determination part includes a part mismatching with requirement from any said first station, said mismatching part to match with said requirement.

31. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a conversion processing part translating information read from said information base on the basis of the result of retrieval by said response determination part into a language suitable for an operator of any said first station.

32. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station further comprises a compression processing part compressing information transmitted from said optimum information preparation part to said communication path, and

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a determination•

adjustment part adjusting, when information read from said information base includes image information, a frame number and compressibility in said compression processing part for said image information.

33. The information communication system according to claim 32, wherein said determination•

adjustment part adjusts said frame number and said compressibility in response to the character of said image information.

34. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

a determination•

adjustment part preferentially culling an image of a screen having no motion with respect to motion information to be transmitted to said communication path so that a reproduction time for said motion information and voice information accompanying said motion information is within a target range, preferentially culling a silent part with respect to said voice information, and further performing pitch conversion when a non-silent part must be culled.

35. The information communication system according to claim 34, wherein

each said first information comprises:

a first station information base as at least part of said information base, and

an information selection part selecting information to which a previously set specific index is added from a plurality of information transmitted by said second station and recording said information in said first station information base.

36. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said optimum information preparation part comprises:

an index addition part adding an index to information transmitted to said communication path.

37. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said information transmission part comprises a data final adjustment part establishing priority among said output information in response to the form of said information and transmitting said information to said communication path sequentially from information having higher priority to said communication path.

38. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said information transmission part comprises:

a compression processing part compressing said output information, and

a data final adjustment part controlling compressibility in said compression processing part so that the signal quantity of information transmitted to said communication path is within a target range.

39. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said information transmission part comprises:

a data final adjustment part establishing priority for said output information on the basis of importance thereof and preferentially transmitting information having higher priority to said communication path.

40. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said information base stores sending history information being data related to information sent in the past,

said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said information transmission part comprises:

a sending determination part deleting information having history transmitted to any said first station in the past from said output information on the basis of said sending history information and transmitting said information to said communication path.

41. The information communication system according to claim 1, wherein

said second station further comprises an information transmission part interposed between said optimum information preparation part and said communication path for processing information output from said optimum information preparation part, and

said information transmission part comprises:

an encryption processing part performing encryption selected from a plurality of encryption methods on said output information.

42. An information communication system for making information interchange between a plurality of first stations having communication functions and a second station having a communication function through a communication path, having an information base including various types of information arranged on at least one of said second station, said first stations, and a third station other than said first and second stations, wherein said second station comprises:

means for recognizing semantic contents of information transmitted from each of said first stations on the basis of information in said information base;

means for determining an optimum response on the basis of results from said means for recognizing;

means for preparing transmission information with information in said information base on the basis of results from said means for determining an optimum response and for transmitting said transmission information to each of said first stations,

wherein said means for preparing further comprises means for controlling compressibility in a compression processing part so that a signal quantity of information transmitted to said communication path is within a target range;

means for processing information output from said means for preparing; and

means for transmitting interposed between said means for preparing and said communication path.

43. An information communication system for making telephone calls between a plurality of electronic talking terminals and a host base station, wherein

said host base station at least comprises:

a host microphone apparatus inputting the voice of an operator in said host base station;

a display displaying an image as to prescribed information; and

a host control part transmitting/receiving a signal related to at least the voice of said operator to/from each said electronic talking terminal,

each said electronic talking terminal at least comprises;

a branch microphone apparatus inputting the voice of each terminal user; and

a branch control part connected to a prescribed terminal of a television set receiving public television broadcasting for transmitting/receiving a signal related to at least a voice to/from said host base station,

said host control part has;

a function connected to the Internet for capturing Web information in the Internet and displaying said Web information on at least a part of said display,

a function of transmitting downloaded said Web information to each said electronic talking terminal along with said signal related to the voice of said operator input at least through said host microphone apparatus, and

a function of outputting the voice of said each terminal user through a prescribed speaker on the basis of a signal related to at least the voice of said each terminal user transmitted from each said electronic talking terminal, and

said branch control part has;

a function of transmitting at least said signal related to the voice of said each terminal user input in said branch microphone apparatus to said host base station,

a function of outputting the voice of said operator through said television set on the basis of said signal related to the voice of said operator received from said host base station, and

a function of displaying said Web information received from said host base station on said television set.

44. The information communication system according to claim 43, wherein

said host base station further comprises a host television camera acquiring an image of said operator in said host base station,

said host control part further comprises a function of transmitting a signal related to said image of said operator acquired by said host television camera to each said electronic talking terminal along with said Web information and said signal related to the voice of said operator input through said host microphone apparatus, and

said branch control part further comprises a function of displaying an image transmitted from each said electronic talking terminal on another part of said display simultaneously with said Web information.

45. The information communication system according to claim 44, wherein

each said electronic talking terminal further comprises a branch television camera acquiring an image of said terminal user,

said branch control part further comprises a function of transmitting a signal related to said image of said terminal user acquired by said branch television camera to said host base station along with said signal related to the voice of said terminal user input through said branch microphone apparatus, and

said host control part further comprises a function of displaying said image of said terminal user transmitted from each said electronic talking terminal on another part of said display simultaneously with said Web information.

46. The information communication system according to claim 43, wherein

each said electronic talking terminal further comprises a branch input unit for specifying a hyperlink introduced into said Web information and inserted in linkage to require Web information of another address or for specifying the address of said Web information requiring receiving on said branch control part,

said branch control part further has a function of requiring information of said hyperlink or said address specified by said branch input unit to said host base station by transmission, and

said host control part further comprises a function of downloading Web information related to said hyperlink or said address from said Internet when said information of said hyperlink or said address is transmitted from said branch control part and distributing said Web information to said branch control part.