Information distributing method, information distributing system, information distributing server, mobile communication network system and communication service providing method

• US 7,346,042 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Katsumi, Ishigaki, Shoichiro, Shigiya, Nobuhiko, Hongo, Sadayuki, Uehara, Hiroshi, Horiguchi, Shoichi, Sumiya, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam; Phirin
• Application Number:
  US09/790,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,582 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/353, 370/354, 370/395.52, 370/432, 370/465, 370/466, 370/345, 370/351, 370/392, 370/396, 370/493, 370/494, 370/495, 370/498, 370/310, 370/352, 370/356, 370/386, 370/400, 370/401, 709/201, 709/202, 709/218, 709/223, 709/219, 709/227, 709/229
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• 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: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

An information distributing method etc. are provided. An information providing server comprises a first transmission device for transmitting image data to a communication terminal, a first conversion device for converting attached information attached to the image data into converted information of a format suitable for aural read-out, a second conversion device for converting the converted information into voice information, a second transmission device for transmitting the voice information and/or the converted information to the communication terminal, and a third transmission device for transmitting synchronizing information for synchronizing image data with the voice information on a screen of the communication terminal.

Claims

1. An information distributing method for distributing provided information including image data and/or attached information attached to the image data, from an information providing server to a communication terminal via a network, the information distributing method comprising:

at said information providing server, an attached information conversion step of converting said attached information to converted information that has been converted to have a desired format suitable for aural read-out;

at said information providing server, a voice conversion step of converting said converted information to voice signal;

at said information providing server, a transmission step of transmitting said image data and/or said converted information and said voice signal to said communication terminal;

a screen display step of displaying said image data and/or said converted information on a screen at said communication terminal;

at said communication terminal, a voice output step of aurally outputting said converted information; and

at said communication terminal, a synchronizing step of synchronizing said screen display by said screen display step with said voice output by said voice output step.

2. The information distributing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said transmission step transmits said provided information based on a distribution request command from said communication terminal.

3. The information distributing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said transmission step transmits said provided information to said communication terminals belonging to a particular group or all said communication terminals.

4. The information distributing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said transmission step transmits said provided information to said communication terminal of a particular subscriber who has contracted for distribution of said provided information.

5. An information distributing system for distributing provided information including image data from an information providing server to a communication terminal via a network,

said information providing server comprising:

first transmission means for transmitting the image data to said communication terminal;

first conversion means for converting attached information attached to said image data into converted information of a format suitable for aural read-out;

second conversion means for converting the converted information into voice information;

second transmission means for transmitting said voice information and/or said converted information to said communication terminal; and

third transmission means for transmitting synchronizing information for synchronizing said image data with said voice information on a screen of said communication terminal, and

said communication terminal comprising;

means for displaying said image data and/or said converted information on the screen based on said synchronizing information; and

means for aurally outputting said voice information based on said synchronizing information.

6. The information distributing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein

said first transmission means further comprises means for transmitting said image information to said communication terminal through a first channel,

said second transmission means farther comprises means for transmitting said voice information and/or said converted information to said communication terminal through a second channel that is different from said first channel, and

said third transmission means further comprises means for transmitting said synchronizing information to said communication terminal through said first channel.

7. The information distributing system as claimed in claim 6, wherein

said first channel is a packet channel and said second channel is a voice channel.

8. An information distributing system comprising a providing device for providing a markup language file distributed to a communication terminal via a network and a processing device for processing said markup language file,

said processing device comprising:

generation means for analyzing tags in said markup language file to generate read-out data, displayed data containing anchor information with its links set in another markup language file, and synchronization control information for synchronizing said read-out data with said displayed data; and

control means for providing such control that said read-out data and said displayed data are synchronously transmitted to said communication terminal based on said synchronization control information, and

said communication terminal comprising;

reception means for receiving said read-out data and said displayed data;

voice output means for converting said read-out data into voice data for aural output;

screen display means for displaying said displayed data on a screen; and

selection means for selecting said anchor information displayed on the screen.

9. An information distributing system comprising a providing device for providing a markup language file distributed to a communication terminal via a network and a processing device for processing said markup language file,

said processing device comprising:

generation means for analyzing tags in said markup language file to generate read-out data, displayed data containing anchor information with its links set in another markup language file, and synchronization control information for synchronizing said read-out data with said displayed data;

voice converting means for converting said read-out data into voice data;

packet converting means for converting said displayed data into packet data; and

control means for providing such control that said voice data and said packet data are synchronously transmitted to said communication terminal based on said synchronization control information, and

said communication terminal comprising;

reception means for receiving said voice data and said packet data;

voice output means for aurally outputting said voice data;

screen display means for converting said packet data into said displayed data to display said displayed data on a screen; and

selection means for selecting said anchor information displayed on the screen.

10. An information distributing method for an information distributing system comprising a providing device for providing a markup language file distributed to a communication terminal via a network and a processing device for processing said markup language file, the information distributing method comprising:

at said processing device, a generation step of analyzing tags in said markup language file to generate read-out data, displayed data containing anchor information with its links set in another markup language file, and synchronization control information for synchronizing said read-out data with said displayed data;

at said processing device, a control step of providing such control that said read-out data and said displayed data are synchronously transmitted to said communication terminal based on said synchronization control information;

at said communication terminal, a voice output step of converting said read-out data into voice data for aural output;

at said communication terminal, a screen display step of displaying said displayed data on a screen; and

at said communication terminal, a selection step of selecting said anchor information displayed on the screen.

11. An information distributing method for an information distributing system comprising a providing device for providing a markup language file distributed to a communication terminal via a network and a processing device for processing said markup language file, the information distributing method comprising:

at said processing device, a generation step of analyzing tags in said markup language file to generate read-out data, displayed data containing anchor information with its links set in another markup language file, and synchronization control information for synchronizing said read-out data with said displayed data;

at said processing device, a voice converting step of converting said read-out data into voice data;

at said processing device, a packet converting step of converting said displayed data into packet data;

at said processing device, a control step of providing such control that said voice data and said packet data are synchronously transmitted to said communication terminal based on said synchronization control information;

at said communication terminal, a voice output step of aurally outputting said voice data;

at said communication terminal, a screen display step of converting said packet data into said displayed data to display said displayed data on a screen; and

at said communication terminal, a selection step of selecting said anchor information displayed on the screen.

12. An information distributing server for transmitting a content received from a content server for providing a content to a portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing server comprising:

means for dividing said content received from said content server into divided data of each page and divided voices corresponding to the divided data;

means for creating index information for said divided data; and

means for transmitting said divided voices, and said divided data and said index information to said portable terminal via separate communication channels.

13. An information distributing method using a portable terminal, a content server for providing a content, and an information distributing server for transmitting said content to said portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing method comprising:

at said information distributing server, a step of dividing said content received from said content server into divided data of each page and divided voices corresponding to the divided data;

at said information distributing server, a step of creating index information for said divided data; and

a step of transmitting said divided voices, and said divided data and said index information from said information distributing server to said portable terminal via separate communication channels.

14. An information distributing system comprising a portable terminal, a content server for providing a content, and an information distributing server for transmitting said content to said portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing system comprising:

at said information distributing server, means for dividing said content received from said content server into divided data of each page and divided voices corresponding to the divided data;

at said information distributing server, means for creating index information for said divided data; and

means for transmitting said divided voices, and said divided data and said index information from said information distributing server to said portable terminal via separate communication channels.

15. An information distributing server for transmitting a content received from a content server for providing a content to a portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing server comprising:

means for separating said content received from said content server into voices and data;

means for calculating the amount of time required to transmit said voices via a first communication channels and the amount of time required to transmit said data via a second communication channels; and

means for transmitting said voices and said data to said mobile terminal via said first and second communication channels respectively in accordance with the maximum amount of transmission time.

16. An information distributing method using a portable terminal, a content server for providing a content, and an information distributing server for transmitting said content to said portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing method comprising:

at said information distributing server, a step of separating said content received from said content server into voices and data;

at said information distributing server, a step of calculating the amount of time required to transmit said voices via a first communication channels and the amount of time required to transmit said data via a second communication channels; and

at said information distributing server, a step of transmitting said voices and said data to said mobile terminal via said first and second communication channels respectively in accordance with the maximum amount of transmission time.

17. An information distributing system comprising a portable terminal, a content server for providing a content, and an information distributing server for transmitting said content to said portable terminal using a plurality of communication channels, the information distributing system comprising:

at said information distributing server, means for separating said content received from said content server into voices and data;

at said information distributing server, means for calculating the amount of time required to transmit said voices via a first communication channels and the amount of time required to transmit said data via a second communication channels; and

at said information distributing server, means for transmitting said voices and said data to said mobile terminal via said first and second communication channels respectively in accordance with the maximum amount of transmission time.

18. A mobile communication network system comprising a source terminal, a destination terminal, and an identification device for identifying communication channels, for providing a single communication service from said source terminal to said destination terminal concurrently using a plurality of communication channels, the mobile communication network system comprising:

means for connecting said source terminal to said destination terminal using a first communication channel;

means for registering said first communication channel in said identification device;

means for connecting said source terminal to said destination terminal using a second communication channel that is concurrently used with said first communication channel;

means for registering said second communication channel in said identification device in such a manner as to correspond to said first communication channel; and

means for communicating a correspondence between said first and second communication channels from said identification device to said destination terminal.

19. A communication service providing method that operates in a mobile communication network system comprising a source terminal, a destination terminal, and an identification device for identifying communication channels, to provide a single communication service from said source terminal to said destination terminal concurrently using a plurality of communication channels, the communication service providing method comprising:

a step of connecting said source terminal to said destination terminal using a first communication channel;

a step of registering said first communication channel in said identification device;

a step of connecting said source terminal to said destination terminal using a second communication channel that is concurrently used with said first communication channel;

a step of registering said second communication channel in said identification device in such a manner as to correspond to said first communication channel; and

a step of communicating a correspondence between said first and second communication channels from said identification device to said destination terminal.