Message transmission controller capable of confirming viability of message and method of transmitting message by the same

• US 20070294347A1
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Shinnishi, Makoto
• Application Number:
  US11/812,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A message transmission controller with location information and time information. Location and time information are used to control delivery to receivers.

Claims

1. A message transmission controller for controlling message transmission between a first terminal apparatus and a second terminal apparatus, comprising:

a storing device configured to store a message-related information, the message-related information including addressee information for identifying the second terminal apparatus, location designating information for designating a given location for the second terminal apparatus, and an action-requesting message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus, the action-requesting message including a message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus from the first terminal apparatus;

a receiving unit configured to receive location information indicating a location of the second terminal apparatus from the second terminal apparatus having the addressee information, stored in the storing device; and

a controlling unit configured to control a message transmission between the first and second terminal apparatus, wherein

the controlling unit determines whether to transmit the action-requesting message, stored in the storing device, to the second terminal apparatus by comparing the location designating information, stored in the storing device, and the location information received from the second terminal apparatus, and

the controlling unit transmits the action-requesting message, stored in the storing device, to the second terminal apparatus when the controlling unit determines to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus, which has transmitted the location information to the receiving unit.

2. The message transmission controller according to claim 1, wherein the message-related information further includes designated-time information including a given time, wherein

the controlling unit further determines whether to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus by comparing a clock time information, indicating a time of receiving the location information of the second terminal apparatus, and the designated-time information, and

the controlling unit transmits the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus based on the location information and the clock time information of the second terminal apparatus.

3. The message transmission controller according to claim 2, wherein the clock time information indicates a time when the second terminal apparatus receives the location information or when the message transmission controller receives the location information of the second terminal apparatus.

4. The message transmission controller according to claim 1, wherein the message-related information further includes transmission limiting information to limit the number of times the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus is transmitted, wherein

the controlling unit further receives response information for the action-requesting message from the second terminal apparatus,

the controlling unit examines the response information received from the second terminal apparatus to determine whether to update the transmission limiting information;

and

the controlling unit updates the transmission limiting information based on the response information.

5. The message transmission controller according to claim 4, wherein the message-related information further includes a response flag, which indicates that the response information was received from the second terminal apparatus, wherein

the controlling unit determines validity of the action-requesting message based on the response flag and the updated transmission limiting information.

6. The message transmission controller according to claim 5, wherein the controlling unit transmits result information of the action-requesting message to the first terminal apparatus based on the validity of the action-requesting message.

7. A method of controlling a message transmission between a first terminal apparatus and a second terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

storing message-related information including addressee information for identifying the second terminal apparatus, location designating information for designating a given location for the second terminal apparatus, and an action-requesting message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus, the action-requesting message including a message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus from the first terminal apparatus;

receiving location information indicating a location of the second terminal apparatus from the second terminal apparatus having the addressee information;

determining whether to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus by comparing the location designating information and the location information received from the second terminal apparatus; and

transmitting the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus, which has transmitted the location information, based on the location designating information and the location information.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the message-related information further includes designated-time information including a given time, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining whether to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus by comparing a clock time information, indicating a time of receiving the location information of the second terminal apparatus, and the designated-time information; and

transmitting the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus based on the location information and the clock time information of the second terminal apparatus.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the clock time information indicates a time when the second terminal apparatus receives the location information or when the location information of the second terminal apparatus is received by a controller for controlling the message transmission.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the message-related information further includes transmission limiting information to limit the number of times the action-requesting message is transmitted to the second terminal apparatus, the method further comprising the steps of:

receiving response information for the action-requesting message from the second terminal apparatus;

examining the response information received from the second terminal apparatus to determine whether to update the transmission limiting information; and

updating the transmission limiting information based on the response information.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the message-related information further includes a response flag, which indicates that the response information was received from the second terminal apparatus, the method further comprising the step of:

determining validity of the action-requesting message based on the response flag and the updated transmission limiting information.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of:

transmitting result information of the action-requesting message to the first terminal apparatus based on the validity of the action-requesting message.

13. A computer readable medium storing a program product for controlling a message transmission between a first terminal apparatus and a second terminal apparatus, comprising the steps of:

storing message-related information including addressee information for identifying the second terminal apparatus, location designating information for designating a given location for the second terminal apparatus, and an action-requesting message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus, the action-requesting message including a message to be transmitted to the second terminal apparatus from the first terminal apparatus;

receiving location information indicating a location of the second terminal apparatus from the second terminal apparatus having the addressee information;

determining whether to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus by comparing the location designating information and the location information received from the second terminal apparatus; and

transmitting the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus, which has transmitted the location information, based on the location designating information and the location information.

14. The computer readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the message-related information further includes designated-time information including a given time, said program product further comprising the steps of:

determining whether to transmit the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus by comparing clock time information, indicating a time of receiving the location information of the second terminal apparatus, and the designated-time information; and

transmitting the action-requesting message to the second terminal apparatus based on the location information and the clock time information of the second terminal apparatus.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein the message-related information further includes transmission limiting information to limit the number of times the action-requesting message is transmitted to the second terminal apparatus, said program product further comprising the steps of:

receiving response information for the action-requesting message from the second terminal apparatus;

examining the response information received from the second terminal apparatus to determine whether to update the transmission limiting information; and

updating the transmission limiting information based on the response information.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, wherein the message-related information further includes a response flag, which indicates that the response information was received from the second terminal apparatus, said program product further comprising the step of:

determining the validity of the action-requesting message based on the response flag and the updated transmission limiting information.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 16, wherein said program product further comprising the step of:

transmitting result information of the action-requesting message to the first terminal apparatus based on the validity of the action-requesting message.