Communication system, a communication method, and a cellular phone

• US 20010046851A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tomohisa
• Granted Patent: US 6,980,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

This invention provides a communication system for controlling a device through a network by using a mobile terminal for saving a space and a cost of a whole system. This invention provides contents from a cellular phone. This communication system comprises a cellular phone connected to a controller, and a terminal connected to a network. A Web browser requests to control a device, and a communication controller in a client side sends the request to the cellular phone. A Web server sends the request received at a communication controller in a server side to an extended module, and controls the controller.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a cellular phone connected to a controller; and

a terminal connected to the cellular phone through a network,

wherein the terminal includes a browser for outputting a request to the controller, and a communication controller in a client side for sending the request to the cellular phone through the network, and wherein the cellular phone includes a communication controller in a server side for receiving the request, and a server for operating the controller according to the request.

2. The communication system of

claim 1

, wherein the request is to obtain data from the controller, wherein the server obtains the data from the controller, wherein the communication controller in the server side sends the obtained data to the terminal through the network, wherein the communication controller in the client side receives the data, and wherein the browser displays based on the received data.

3. The communication system of

claim 2

, wherein the controller is an apparatus for controlling a device connected to the controller, and wherein the data are data concerning a condition of the device.

4. The communication system of

claim 1

, wherein the controller is an apparatus for controlling a device connected to the controller, wherein the request is to control the device.

5. The communication system of

claim 1

, wherein the browser is a Web browser, wherein the server includes a Web server.

6. A communication method of a communication system having a cellular phone connected to a controller and a terminal connected to the cellular phone through a network, the method comprising:

sending a request for the controller from the terminal to the cellular phone through the network;

receiving the request by the cellular phone; and

operating the controller by the cellular phone according to the request.

7. A cellular phone, connected to a controller and further connected to a terminal through a network, comprising:

a communication controller in a server side for receiving a request for the controller from the terminal through the network; and

a server for operating the controller according to the request.

8. A communication system comprising:

a cellular phone including a controller; and

a terminal connected to the cellular phone through a network,

wherein the terminal includes a browser for outputting a request to the controller, and a communication controller in a client side for sending the request to the cellular phone through the network, and wherein the cellular phone includes a communication controller in a server side for receiving the request, and a server for operating the controller according to the request.

9. The communication system of

claim 8

, wherein the request is to obtain data from the controller, wherein the server obtains the data from the controller, wherein the communication controller in the server side sends the obtained data to the terminal through the network, wherein the communication controller in the client side receives the data, and wherein the browser displays based on the received data.

10. The communication system of

claim 9

, wherein the server further comprises a device controlled by the controller, and wherein the data are data concerning a condition of the device.

11. The communication system of

claim 8

, wherein the server further includes a device controlled by the controller, and wherein the request is to control the device.

12. The communication system of

claim 8

, wherein the browser is a Web browser, and wherein the server includes a Web server.

13. A communication method of a communication system having a cellular phone including a controller and a terminal connected to the cellular phone through a network, the method comprising:

sending a request for the controller from the terminal to the cellular phone through the network;

receiving the request by the cellular phone; and

operating the controller by the cellular phone according to the request.

14. A cellular phone including a controller, and connected to a terminal through a network, comprising:

a communication controller in a server side for receiving a request for the controller from the terminal through the network; and

a server for operating the controller according to the request.

15. A cellular phone connected to a server through a network, comprising:

a browser for the cellular phone for outputting a first request;

a communication controller for transmitting the first request; and

a server for the cellular phone operating according to the transmitted first request,

wherein the browser for the cellular phone further outputs a second request, and wherein the communication controller further sends the second request to the server through the network.

16. The cellular phone of

claim 15

, wherein the cellular phone connects to a controller for controlling a device, and wherein the first request is to control the device.

17. The cellular phone of

claim 15

, wherein the cellular phone connects to a controller for controlling a device, and wherein the first request is to obtain data concerning the device.

18. The cellular phone of

claim 15

comprising a controller for controlling a device, wherein the first request is to control the device.

19. The cellular phone of

claim 15

comprising a controller for controlling a device, wherein the request is to obtain data concerning the device.

20. A communication method of a cellular phone connected to a server through a network having a browser for the cellular phone, a server for the cellular phone and a communication controller, the method comprising:

outputting a first request by the browser for the cellular phone;

transmitting the first request by the communication controller;

operating according to the transmitted first request by the server for the cellular phone;

outputting a second request by the browser for the cellular phone; and

sending the second request to the server through the network by the communication controller.

21. A communication system, wherein an electronic mail function is incorporated into a cellular phone, and further the cellular phone is incorporated into or connected to a device for using the cellular phone as a mechanism for communicating between the device and a terminal for managing the device, wherein an electronic mail describing contents of an event is sent to the terminal in case that the event occurs in the device.

22. A communication system, wherein a cellular phone is incorporated into or connected to a device for using the cellular phone as a mechanism for communicating between the device and a terminal for managing the device, wherein the terminal extracts a location of the device by a function of obtaining location data in a cellular phone system.

23. A communication system, wherein a cellular phone is incorporated into or connected to a device for using the cellular phone as a mechanism for communicating between the device and a terminal for controlling the device, wherein contents of an event are informed by a telephone function of a cellular phone system in case that the event occurs in the device.