Data transmission-reception system and data transmission-reception method

• US 7,224,961 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Miruka
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/995,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20020132612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.4, 455418-419, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/550.1, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/100.04, 379/100.08, 379/100.09, 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/87
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Disclosed are data transmission-reception system and data transmission method, in which a communication system includes: a first communication device for transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data; a second communication device for receiving the outgoing data and for transmitting content data identified by the content identification data to a receiving party identified by the receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to the date and time data; and a third communication device for receiving and reproducing the content data transmitted from the second communication device.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a first communication device configured to transmit outgoing data including content identification data, transmit party identification data, and receive party identification data, and date and time data;

a second communication device configured to receive said outgoing data and configured to transmit digital audio content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data, said digital audio content data being compressed; and

a third wireless communication device configured to receive and store said digital audio content data transmitted from said second communication device without pushing an off-hook button and configured to decode said digital audio content data.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication device transmits said content data as said content identification data to said second communication device.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said first communication device has:

an inputting device configured to output as output data at least said content identification data, said receiving party identification data, and said date and time data which has been input by a user; and

a first communicating device configured to transmit said outgoing data including said output data supplemented by said transmitting party identification data identifying said user;

wherein said second communication device has;

a second communicating device configured to receive said outgoing data;

a storing device configured to store the received outgoing data; and

a controlling device configured to exercise control to verify whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing device;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing device if said date and time data are found to coincide with said current date and time; and

to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

wherein said third communication device has;

a third communicating device configured to receive said content data from said second communication device; and

a reproducing device configured to reproduce the received content data.

4. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said inputting device outputs the content identification data selected by an operation of said user.

5. A communication system according to claim 4, wherein said storing device in said second communication device stores a plurality of content data items, and page information including a plurality of content identification data items for identifying said plurality of content data items;

wherein said first communication device comprises a displaying device configured to display said page information transmitted from said second communicating device;

wherein said inputting device outputs the content identification data item selected by an operation of said user selecting any one of said content identification data items displayed on said displaying device; and

wherein said controlling device in said second communication device exercises control to search said storing device for the content data based on said content identification data transmitted from said first communicating device, and to transmit the retrieved content data to said receiving party.

6. A communication system according to claim 3, wherein said third communicating device transmits reception-complete data to said second communicating device when said content data has all been received, and wherein said second communicating device transmits the received reception-complete data to said first communication device.

7. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising another communication device configured to transmit advertisement data and sponsor identification data identifying a sponsor of said advertisement data to said second communication device;

wherein said second communication device transmits said advertisement data along with said content data to said third communication device.

8. A communication system according to claim 7, wherein said first communication device has:

an inputting device configured to output as output data at least said content identification data, said receiving party identification data, and said date and time data which has been input by a user; and

a first communicating device configured to transmit outgoing data including said output data supplemented by said transmitting party identification data identifying said user;

wherein said another communication device has a transmitting device for transmitting advertisement information constituted by said advertisement data and said sponsor identification data;

wherein said second communication device has;

a second communicating device configured to receive said outgoing data and said advertisement information;

a storing device configured to store the received outgoing data and advertisement information; and

a controlling device configured to exercise control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing device;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing device if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time;

to transmit, along with said advertisement data, said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

to transmit charge data corresponding to said sponsor identification data to a charge server; and

wherein said third communication device has;

a third communicating device configured to receive said content data and said advertisement data from said second communication device; and

a reproducing device configured to reproduce the received content data and advertisement data.

9. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein said third communicating device transmits reception-complete data to said second communicating device when said advertisement data has all been received;

wherein said second communicating device transmits the received reception-complete data to said another communication device; and

wherein said controlling device in said second communication device comprises;

a counting device configured to count the number of times said reception-complete data has been received;

a counted result storage controlling device configured to store a count made by said counting device into said storing means in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each of different sponsors; and

a charge data generating device configured to generate charge data at predetermined intervals in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each different sponsor in keeping with the counts stored in said storing device regarding said different sponsors.

10. A communication system according to claim 8, wherein said third communication device is a mobile phone, and wherein said controlling device in said second communication device transmits, to a management device, discount data representing a discount corresponding to said advertisement data along with user identification data identifying a user of said mobile phone managed by said management device.

11. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces voice data transmitted from said second communication device.

12. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces music data transmitted from said second communication device.

13. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces advertisement data transmitted from said second communication device.

14. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein said third communication device receives and reproduces at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data transmitted from said second communication device.

15. A communication device comprising:

a receiving device configured to receive outgoing data including content identification data, transmit party identification data, and receive party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device;

a storing device configured to store said outgoing data;

a transmitting device configured to transmit digital audio content data identified by the stored content identification data to a second communication device, said digital audio content being compressed; and

a controlling device configured to exercise control to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data in the stored outgoing data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with the receiving party receives and stores said digital audio content data transmitted by said transmitting device without pushing an off-hook button and decodes said digital audio content data.

16. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said controlling device exercises control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing device;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing device if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time; and

to transmit said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record.

17. A communication device according to claim 16, wherein said storing device stores a plurality of content data items, and page information including a plurality of content identification data items for identifying said plurality of content data items;

and

wherein said controlling device exercises control to search said storing device for the content data based on said content identification data transmitted from said first communicating device based on said page information, and to transmit the retrieved content data to said receiving party.

18. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said receiving device receives reception-complete data from said second communication device indicating that said content data has all been received;

and

wherein said transmitting device transmits the received reception-complete data to said first communication device.

19. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said receiving device receives from another communication device advertisement information including advertisement data and sponsor identification data identifying a sponsor of said advertisement data;

and

wherein said transmitting device transmits said advertisement information along with said content data to said second communication device.

20. A communication device according to claim 19, wherein said receiving device receives said outgoing data and said advertisement information;

wherein said storing device stores the received outgoing data and advertisement information; and

wherein said controlling device exercises control to check whether the current date and time coincide with said date and time data stored in said storing device;

to retrieve a record including said date and time data from said storing device if said date and time data are found to coincide with the current date and time;

to transmit, along with said advertisement data, said content data identified by said content identification data to said receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data within said record; and

to transmit charge data corresponding to said sponsor identification data to a charge server.

21. A communication device according to claim 20, wherein said receiving device receives reception-complete data from said second communication device indicating that said advertisement data has all been received;

wherein said transmitting device transmits the received reception-complete data to said another communication device; and

wherein said controlling device comprises;

a counting device configured to count the number of time said reception-complete data has been received;

a counted result storage controlling device configured to store a count made by said counting device into said storing device in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each of different sponsors; and

a charge data generating device configured to generate charge data at predetermined intervals in association with said sponsor identification data identifying each different sponsor in keeping with the counts stored in said storing device regarding said different sponsors.

22. A communication device according to claim 20, wherein said second communication device is a mobile phone, and wherein said controlling device transmits to a management device discount data representing a discount corresponding to said advertisement data along with user identification data identifying a user of said mobile phone managed by said management device.

23. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said controlling device causes said transmitting device to transmit voice data.

24. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said controlling device causes said transmitting device to transmit music data.

25. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said controlling device causes said transmitting device to transmit advertisement data.

26. A communication device according to claim 15, wherein said controlling device causes said transmitting device to transmit at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data.

27. A mobile phone comprising:

a receiving device configured to receive greeting mail and advertisement data without pushing an off-hook button;

a storing device configured to store greeting mail and advertisement data without pushing an off-hook button;

a reproducing device configured to reproduce digital audio data included in the received greeting mail, said digital audio content data being compressed;

a transmitting device configured to transmit to a server device reception-complete data indicating that said greeting mail and said advertisement data has all been received; and

a controlling device configured to cause said transmitting device to transmit said reception-complete data to said server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data has all been received.

28. A mobile phone according to claim 27, wherein said reproducing device reproduces voice data included in said greeting mail received by said receiving device.

29. A mobile phone according to claim 27, wherein said reproducing device reproduces music data included in said greeting mail received by said receiving device.

30. A mobile phone according to claim 27, wherein said reproducing device reproduces at least two out of three kinds of data consisting of voice data, music data, and advertisement data received by said receiving device, said voice data and said music data being included in said greeting mail received by said receiving device.

31. A communication method comprising the steps of:

causing a first communication device to transmit outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data;

causing a second communication device to receive said outgoing data and to transmit digital audio content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data, said digital audio data being compressed; and

causing a third wireless communication device to receive and store said digital audio content data transmitted from said second communication device without pushing an off-hook button and to decode said digital audio content data.

32. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device; and

exercising control to transmit digital audio content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said receiving party receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.

33. A communication method comprising the steps of:

transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data to another communication device; and

exercising control to transmit said outgoing data, including digital audio content data, to said another communication device in response to an operation of a user, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said another communication device receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.

34. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving greeting mail and advertisement data;

reproducing the received greeting mail;

transmitting reception-complete data to a server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data has all been received; and

transmitting the reception-complete data as digital audio content data to a receiving party, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said receiving party receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.

35. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

causing a first communication device to transmit outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data;

causing a second communication device to receive said outgoing data and to transmit digital audio content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data, said digital audio data being compressed; and

causing a third wireless communication device to receive, store, and decode said digital audio content data transmitted from said second communication device without pushing an off-hook button and to reproduce said digital audio content data.

36. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data from a first communication device; and

exercising control to transmit digital audio content data identified by said content identification data to a receiving party identified by said receiving party identification data of said outgoing data at a date and time corresponding to said date and time data, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said receiving party receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.

37. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

transmitting outgoing data including content identification data, transmitting party identification data, receiving party identification data, and date and time data to another communication device; and

exercising control to transmit said outgoing data, including digital audio content data, to said another communication device in response to an operation of a user, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said another communication device receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.

38. A storage medium for storing a communication method program, said program comprising the steps of:

receiving greeting mail and advertisement data;

reproducing the received greeting mail;

exercising control to transmit reception-complete data to a server device when said greeting mail and said advertisement data has all been received; and

transmitting the reception-complete data as digital audio content data to a receiving party, said digital audio data being compressed,

wherein a wireless apparatus associated with said receiving party receives, stores, and decodes said digital audio content data without pushing an off-hook button.