Data terminal, data distribution system, and internet telephone system

• US 6,769,020 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Imamura, Toru, Takeda, Yutaka, Ogata, Keisuke, Miyazaki, Tomiya, Tanaka, Masafumi, Yahiro, Kazuo, Aritaka, Akitoshi, Tsujigawa, Takuji
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/742,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20010023428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/238, 709/250, 719/328, 719/329, 379/114.01, 379/900, 379/902, 379/903
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0184 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions, volume discounts, cell discounts, group billing, frequent calling destination(s) or user history list
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A data terminal, a data distributing system, and an Internet telephoning system are provided where desired data such as advertisements can selectively be determined and used for enjoying its relevant services. The data terminal receives a summary of service data from a data provider apparatus over the Internet, and if desired, demands the data provider apparatus to provide the service data over the Internet. The service data from the data provider apparatus may selectively be received in at least one of an audio form, a text form, and a video form at the data terminal. The service data may be advertisement data, commercial product data, and entertainment data such as music, movies, and games. The entertainment data may selectively be presented as at least one of the title, the artist name, the cost, and a trial sample piece of the content.

Claims

1. A service data communication system comprising:

a line exchange network;

data terminals each comprising a network interface for coupling to the line exchange network;

a public telephone terminal;

a data communication network;

an inter-network link apparatus for connecting between the line exchange network and the data communication network;

a service data provider apparatus for storing and providing service data which is one of advertisement data and chargeable data; and

an exchange controller comprising;

identifying means for identifying a user allowed to connect with the data communication network;

communication means for connecting at least one of;

(1) between any two of the data terminals; and

(2) between one of the data terminal and the public telephone terminal; and

service data controlling means for controlling the service data provider apparatus,

wherein the service data controlling means, when a data terminal of the data terminals calls to start or calls to be in communication, makes the service data provider apparatus transmit a relevant service data to the data terminal which has called over the data communication network and the line exchange network;

wherein the exchange controller further comprises charging means for administrating the service data as chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is a chargeable data for the user, charges the user for the service data, and

wherein the charging means, when the service data is an advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data.

2. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the exchange controller comprises charging means for administrating the service data as chargeable data.

3. A service data communication system according to claim 1 further comprising charging means provided on the data communication network for administrating the service data as chargeable data.

4. A service data communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a data-terminal-dedicated-inter-network-link apparatus for allowing the data terminals to call and communicate with each other over the line exchange network and the data communication network.

5. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises an analog network interface and connects with only an analog form of the line exchange network, and

wherein a communication over the data communication network is based on a digital communication protocol, and

wherein the inter-network link apparatus is operable to connect to the analog form of the line exchange network.

6. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises a digital network interface and connects with only a digital form of the line exchange network,

wherein a communication over the data communication network is based on a digital communication protocol, and

wherein the inter-network link apparatus is operable to connect to the digital form of the line exchange network.

7. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network.

8. A service data communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

public data terminals having a function as a public telephone; and

a public-data-terminal-dedicated-inter-network-link apparatus for allowing the public data terminals to call and communicate over the line exchange network and the data communication network.

9. A service data communication system according to claim 8,

wherein the inter-network link apparatus comprises a modulator for transmitting the service data in a digital form in an analog audio band, and

wherein at least one of the public data terminals comprises a demodulator for demodulating an output of the modulator.

10. A service data communication system according to claim 7, wherein the inter-network link apparatus comprises means for transmitting the service

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises means for detecting the DTMF signal.

11. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the service data transmitted from the inter-network link apparatus to the digital communication protocol data terminals includes digital data in an Internet Protocol at least one of an audio data, a text data, and a video data.

12. A service data communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a service data storage apparatus coupled to the inter-network link apparatus.

13. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the exchange controller further comprises terminal type identifying means for identifying types of the data terminals and selectively determining a type of the service data.

14. A service data communication system according to claim 1, further comprising terminal type identifying means provided on the data communication network for identifying a type of the data terminals and selectively determining a type of the service data.

15. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals is capable of utilizing an Internet protocol, having an Internet Protocol Address for a global communication, and directly connecting to the data communication network over the line exchange network not via the inter-network link apparatus.

16. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals is capable of utilizing an Internet protocol, having an Internet Protocol Address for a global communication, and directly connecting to the data communication network not via the line exchange network and the inter-network link apparatus.

17. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the public data terminal is capable of transmitting and receiving a call as a public telephone.

18. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein the data terminals are digital communication protocol data terminals operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein at least one of the digital communication protocol data terminals capable of transmitting and receiving a call as a public telephone.

20. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing a telephone number corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the telephone number at the same time; and

means for accessing the telephone number to call a provider of the service data.

21. A service data communication system according to claim 20, wherein the means for displaying the notice of storing the telephone number is displays the notice in one of a reverse monochrome and a color.

22. A service data communication system according to claim 20, wherein the means for displaying the notice of storing the telephone number is an array of light emitting diodes.

23. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing an E-mail address corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the E-mail address at the same time; and

means for accessing the E-mail address to send an E-mail to a provider of the service data,

wherein at least one of the data terminals is a digital communication protocol data terminal operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the digital communication protocol data terminal is capable to utilize an Internet protocol.

24. A service data communication system according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises:

means for receiving and storing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to the service data;

means for displaying the service data and a notice of storing the URL; and

means for accessing the URL to obtain and display a home page of a provider of the service data,

wherein at least one of the data terminals is a digital communication protocol data terminal operable to connect in a digital communication protocol to the inter-network link apparatus over the line exchange network, and

wherein the digital communication protocol data terminal is operable to utilize an Internet protocol.

25. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the data terminals comprises means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus.

26. A service data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus displays at least one of in a reverse monochrome or in a color mode.

27. A service data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus emits sounds.

28. A service data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus produces a vibration.

29. A service data communication system according to claim 25, wherein the means for indicating that the service data is received via the inter-network link apparatus is a light emitting diode.

30. A service data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the exchange controller further comprises receiver-side-advertisement-data-display-recognizing means for recognizing that an advertisement data is displayed when the data terminals are called.

19. A service data communication system comprising:

a line exchange network;

data terminals each comprising a network interface for coupling to the line exchange network;

a public telephone terminal;

a data communication network;

an inter-network link apparatus for connecting between the line exchange network and the data communication network;

a service data provider apparatus for storing and providing service data which is one of advertisement data and chargeable data; and

an exchange controller comprising;

identifying means for identifying a user allowed to connect with the data communication network;

communication means for connecting at least one of;

(1) between any two of the data terminals; and

(2) between one of the data terminal and the public telephone terminal;

service data controlling means for controlling the service data provider apparatus, wherein the service data controlling means, when a data terminal of the data terminals calls to start or calls to be in communication, makes the service data provider apparatus transmit a relevant service data to the data terminal which has called over the data communication network and the line exchange network, and

charging means provided on the data communication network for administrating the service data as chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is a chargeable data for the user, charges the user for the service data, and

wherein the charging means, when the service data is an advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data.

31. A service data communication system comprising:

a line exchange network;

data terminals each comprising a network interface for coupling to the line exchange network;

a public telephone terminal;

a data communication network;

an inter-network link apparatus for connecting between the line exchange network and the data communication network;

a service data provider apparatus for storing and providing service data which is one of advertisement data and chargeable data; and

an exchange controller comprising;

identifying means for identifying a user allowed to connect with the data communication network;

communication means for connecting at least one of;

(1) between any two of the data terminals; and

(2between one of the data terminal and the public telephone terminal; and

service data controlling means for controlling the service data provider apparatus, wherein the service data controlling means, when a data terminal of the data terminals calls to start or calls to be in communication, makes the service data provider apparatus transmit a relevant service data to the data terminal which has called over the data communication network and the line exchange network,

wherein the exchange controller further comprises charging means for administrating the service data chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is the advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data, and charges the advertiser for at least a part of a cost for the communication by the data terminal which has called.

32. A service data communication system comprising:

a line exchange network;

data terminals each comprising a network interface for coupling to the line exchange network;

a public telephone terminal;

a data communication network;

an inter-network link apparatus for connecting between the line exchange network and the data communication network;

a service data provider apparatus for storing and providing service data which is one of advertisement data and chargeable data; and

an exchange controller comprising

identifying means for identifying a user allowed to connect with the data communication network;

communication means for connecting at least one of;

(1) between any two of the data terminals; and

(2) between one of the data terminal and the public telephone terminal; and

service data controlling means for controlling the service data provider apparatus, wherein the service data controlling means, when a data terminal of the data terminals calls to start or calls to be in communication, makes the service data provider apparatus transmit a relevant service data to the data terminal which has called over the data communication network and the line exchange network, and

charging means provided on the data communication network for administrating the service data as chargeable data,

wherein the charging means, when the service data is the advertisement data, charges an advertiser for the advertisement data, and charges the advertiser for at least a part of a cost for the communication by the data terminal which has called.