U.S. patent application number 10/649717 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for mobile telephone apparatus with remote access function for external network and remote access method for mobile communication system.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tamura, Noriko.
Application Number | 20040048602 10/649717 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29244329 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040048602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tamura, Noriko |
March 11, 2004 |
Mobile telephone apparatus with remote access function for external
network and remote access method for mobile communication
system
Abstract
In a mobile telephone apparatus, an information storing section
stores information, and a control section receives a remote access
request signal from an external network to access the information
storing section.
Inventors: |
Tamura, Noriko; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE, MION, ZINN, MACPEAK & SEAS
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
29244329 |
Appl. No.: |
10/649717 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/412.1 ;
455/459; 455/466 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 8/20 20130101; H04L
63/20 20130101; H04M 1/72403 20210101; H04M 1/72451 20210101; H04M
1/7243 20210101; H04M 1/72445 20210101; H04M 1/2757 20200101; H04M
2250/64 20130101; H04L 51/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/412.1 ;
455/459; 455/466 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2002 |
JP |
2002-258361 |
Claims
1. A mobile telephone apparatus comprising: an information storing
section for storing information; a control section for receiving a
remote access request signal from an external network to access
said information storing section.
2. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said external network comprises an Internet.
3. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein
said information storing section comprises a person information
storing section for storing a telephone directory, mail information
and schedule information.
4. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein
said control section reads one of said telephone directory, said
mail information and said schedule information and transmits it to
the Internet, after said remote access request is received.
5. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein
said information storing section comprises: an audio information
storing section for storing answering messages in an answering
mode; and an access information database section for storing a
relationship table between telephone numbers of originators and
said answering messages.
6. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein
said control section renews said answering messages and said
relationship, after said remote access request is received.
7. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said external network comprises a public switched telephone
network, said control section capable of simultaneously carrying
out a line switching call for said public switched telephone
network and a packet switching call for the Internet.
8. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein
said control section obtains an Internet content from the Internet
by said packet switching call and stores it in said audio
information storing section, and transmits said Internet content
from said audio information section to said public switched
telephone network by said line switching call, after said remote
access request is received.
9. A mobile telephone apparatus comprising: an information storing
section for storing information; and a control section for
receiving a first mail from an Internet, determining whether or not
a subject item of said first mail includes a remote access request,
determining whether or not a password item of said first mail
includes a remote access mode password, and accessing said
information section after it is determined that the subject item of
said first mail includes said remote access request and the
password item of said first mail includes said remote access
mode.
10. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein
the accessing of said control section includes referring to the
information stored in said information storing section and
transmitting a second mail including the information stored in said
information storing section to the Internet.
11. The mobile telephone apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein
the accessing of said control section includes renewing the
information stored in said information storing section and
transmitting a second mail including a renewed result of the
information stored in said information storing section to the
Internet.
12. A mobile telephone apparatus comprising: an audio information
storing section; an access information database section for storing
a relationship table between action numbers and operations; a
control section for receiving a connection request signal including
an action number from a public switched telephone network,
determining whether or not a predetermined ringing time has passed,
retrieving an operation from said access information database
section using the action number of said connection request signal,
transmitting a download request signal corresponding to said
retrieved operation to an Internet only after said predetermined
ringing time has passed, receiving an Internet content from said
Internet, storing said Internet content in said audio information
storing section, and transmitting said Internet control from said
audio information storing section to said public switched telephone
network.
13. A mobile telephone apparatus comprising: an audio information
storing section for storing Internet contents; an access
information database section for storing a relationship table
between action numbers and operations; a control section for
receiving a connection request signal including an action number
from a public switched telephone network, determining whether or
not a predetermined ringing time has passed, retrieving an
operation from said access information database section using the
action number of said connection request signal, and transmitting
one of said Internet controls corresponding said retrieved
operation from said audio information storing section to said
public switched telephone network only after said predetermined
ringing time has passed.
14. A remote access method for a mobile communication system
comprising at least one mobile telephone apparatus, a mobile
telephone network capable of communicating with said mobile
telephone apparatus, an Internet connected via a gateway to said
mobile telephone network, an access control server connected to
said Internet, and at least one access request client connected to
said Internet, comprising the steps of: transmitting a remote
access request signal from said access request client via said
Internet to said access control server; transmitting a first mail
including said remote access signal from said access control server
via said Internet, said gateway and said mobile telephone network
to said mobile telephone apparatus; generating a second mail by
said mobile telephone apparatus in accordance with said first mail;
transmitting said second mail firm said mobile telephone apparatus
via said mobile telephone network, said gateway and said Internet
to said access control server; and transmitting a third mail
including said second mail from said access control server to said
access request client.
15. The remote access method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said
second mail includes personal information of said mobile telephone
apparatus.
16. The remote access method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said
personal information includes at least one of a telephone
directory, mail information and schedule information.
17. The remote access method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said
second mail includes a renewed result of answering messages in an
answering mode.
18. The remote access method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said
second mail includes an access refusal mail.
19. A remote access method for a mobile communication system
comprising at least one mobile telephone apparatus, a mobile
telephone network capable of communicating with said mobile
telephone apparatus, an Internet connected via a gateway to said
mobile telephone network, an access control server connected to
said Internet, a public switched telephone network connected to
said mobile telephone network, and at least one fixed telephone
apparatus connected to said public switched telephone network,
comprising the steps of: transmitting a connection request signal
including an action number from said fixed telephone apparatus via
said public switched telephone network and said mobile telephone
network to said mobile telephone appartus; determining whether or
not a predetermined ringing time has passed; transmitting a
download request signal corresponding to said action number from
said mobile telephone apparatus via said mobile telephone network,
said gateway and said Internet to said access control server only
after said predetermined ringing time has passed; transmitting an
Internet content from said access control server via said Internet,
said gateway and said mobile telephone network to said mobile
telephone apparatus, after said access control server has received
said download request signal; and transmitting said Internet
content from said mobile telephone apparatus via said mobile
telephone network and said public switched telephone network to
said fixed telephone apparatus.
20. The remote access method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said
Internet content is formed by one of audio data and picture data.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile telephone
apparatus with a remote access function and a remote access method
for a mobile communication system.
[0003] 2. Description of the related Art
[0004] Generally, personal information such as telephone directory,
mail information or schedule information is loaded in a mobile
telephone apparatus, not in a personal pocket book. As a result, if
there is a need to call, the owner can rapidly respond thereto by
using the personal information loaded in the mobile telephone
apparatus.
[0005] On the other hand, since the mobile telephone apparatus
needs to be charged, the owner may forget to bring the mobile
telephone apparatus. In this case, since the owner usually does not
have a personal pocket book, it is impossible to obtain his or her
personal information.
[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the prior
art, a remote access method from another mobile telephone apparatus
has been suggested (see: JP-A-2000-125025 &
JP-A-2000-216858).
[0007] In the above-described prior art remote access method,
however, since a remote access is not carried out from an external
network such as the Internet, the security is not protected. Also,
renewal of answering messages in an answering mode by a remote
access method is not suggested. Further, obtaining of Internet
contents through a mobile telephone apparatus by a remote access
method is not suggested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile
telephone apparatus capable of further protecting security,
renewing answering messages in an answering mode and obtaining
Internet contents.
[0009] Another object is to provide a remote access method for a
mobile communication system including the above-mentioned mobile
telephone apparatus.
[0010] According to the present invention, in a mobile telephone
apparatus, an information storing section stores information, and a
control section receives a remote access request signal from an
external network to access the information storing section.
[0011] Also, in a remote access method for a mobile communication
system comprising at least one mobile telephone apparatus, a mobile
telephone network capable of communicating with the mobile
telephone apparatus, an Internet connected via a gateway to the
mobile telephone network, an access control server connected to the
Internet, and at least one access request client connected to the
Internet, a remote access request signal is transmitted from the
access request client via the Internet to the access control
server, and a first mail including the remote access signal is
transmitted from the access control server via the Internet, the
gateway and the telephone network to the mobile telephone
apparatus. Then, a second mail is generated by the mobile telephone
appartus in accordance with the first mail, and the second mail is
transmitted from the mobile telephone apparatus via the mobile
telephone network, the gateway and the Internet to the access
control server. Then, a third mail including the second mail is
transmitted from the access control server to the access request
client.
[0012] Further, in a remote access method for a mobile
communication system comprising at least one mobile telephone
apparatus, a mobile telephone network capable of communicating with
the mobile telephone apparatus, an Internet connected via a gateway
to the mobile telephone network, an access control server connected
to the Internet, a public switched telephone network connected to
the mobile telephone network, and at least one fixed telephone
apparatus connected to the public switched telephone network, a
connection request signal including an action number is transmitted
from the fixed telephone apparatus via the public switched
telephone network and the mobile telephone network to the mobile
telephone apparatus. Then, it is determined whether or not a
predetermined ringing time has passed. As a result, only after the
predetermined ringing time has passed, is a download request signal
corresponding to the action number transmitted from the mobile
telephone apparatus via the mobile telephone network, the gateway
and the Internet to the access control server. Then, an Internet
content is transmitted from the access control server via the
Internet, the gateway and the mobile telephone network to the
mobile telephone apparatus, after the access control server has
received the download request signal. Then, the Internet content is
transmitted from the mobile telephone apparatus via the mobile
telephone network and the public switched telephone network to the
fixed telephone apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention will be more clearly understood from
the description set forth below, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the mobile
communication system according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the mobile telephone unit of
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a detailed block circuit diagram of an internal
circuit of the mobile telephone unit of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a first operation of
the mobile communication system of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIGS. 5A, 5B 5C and 6 are diagrams showing examples of the
mail generated by the access control server of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart for explaining the operation
of the mobile telephone appartus of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing a second operation of
the mobile communication system of FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating a modification of
the sequence diagram of FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] In FIG. 1, which illustrates an embodiment of the mobile
communication system according to the present invention, reference
numeral 1 designates a mobile telephone apparatus, and 2 designates
a base station which is connected to a mobile telephone network
3.
[0023] The mobile telephone network 3 is connected via a gateway 4
to the Internet 5. Also, an access control server 6 for performing
a remote access control upon the mobile telephone apparatus 1 and
an access request client 7 for accessing the mobile telephone
apparatus 1 are connected to the Internet 5. For example, the
access request client 7 is a personal computer, a personal digital
assistant (PDA), or an information terminal installed at a store or
a public institution.
[0024] Further, a public switches telephone network (PSTN) 8
connected to a fixed telephone apparatus 9 is connected to the
mobile telephone network 3.
[0025] A connection between the mobile telephone apparatus 1 and
the access control server 5 is carried out by a line switching call
and/or a packet switching call. On the other hand, a connection
between the mobile telephone apparatus 1 and the fixed telephone
apparatus 9 is carried out by a line switching call.
[0026] In FIG. 2, which is a schematic view of the mobile telephone
apparatus of FIG. 1, the mobile telephone apparatus 1 is
constructed by a housing 11, an antenna 12, a liquid crystal
display (LCD) unit 13 and a key operation unit 14.
[0027] In FIG. 3, which is a block circuit diagram of an internal
circuit of the housing 11 of FIG. 2, a control section 111 is
provided. The control section 111 is connected via a radio
transceiver section 112 to the antenna 12, and is also connected to
the LCD unit 13 and the key operation unit 14.
[0028] Also, the control section 111 is connected to a personal
information storing section 113, an audio information storing
section 114 and an access information database section 115. The
personal information storing section 113 stores personal
information such as a telephone directory, mail information and
schedule information. The audio information storing section 114
stores one or more answering messages in an answering mode, stores
responding messages from originators in an answering mode, and
Internet contents. The access information database section 115
stores a mode bit for indication of whether or not the mobile
telephone apparatus is in an answering mode, a relationship table
between telephone numbers of originators and answering messages, a
password used in a remote access mode, and a relationship table
between action numbers and operations.
[0029] The personal information storing section 113, the audio
information storing section 114 and the access information database
section 115 are constructed by a nonvolatile memory such as an
electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM).
[0030] Further, the control section 111 analyses received data. As
a result, if the received data indicates a control command, the
control section 111 processes this control command. Also, the
control section 111 generates response data using the contents of
the personal information storing section 113, the audio information
storing section 114 and the access information database section
115.
[0031] The control section 111 is constructed by a microcomputer
which can be operated in accordance with programs stored in a
read-only memory 116 which can be constructed by an EEPROM. Also,
the control section 111 may have a multi-call function for
simultaneously carrying out a line switching call and a packet
switching call.
[0032] A first operation of the mobile communication system of FIG.
1 is explained next with reference to FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 6 and 7.
Here, FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram, FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 6 are
diagrams showing examples of mails generated by the access control
server 6 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart for
explaining the operation of the mobile telephone apparatus in FIG.
4.
[0033] First, the access request client 7 transmits a connection
request signal Si via the Internet 5 to the homepage of the access
control server 6. As a result, the access control server 6
transmits an authentication request signal S2 to the access request
client 7, in order to protect security.
[0034] Next, the access request client 7 transmits a password
signal S3 to the access control server 6. As a result, only when
the password signal S3 is satisfactory, does the access control
server 6 transmit a connection permission signal S4 to the access
request client 7, so that the access request client 7 can access
the homepage of the access control server 6.
[0035] Next, the access request client 7 transmits a request signal
S5 to the access control server 6 with reference to the homepage
thereof. As a result, the access control server 6 generates a mail
addressed to the mobile telephone apparatus 1 in accordance with
the request signal S5. For example, if the request signal S5
indicates a reference request for the telephone directory, the mail
is as shown in FIG. 5A. Also, if the request signal S5 indicates a
reference request for the mail information, the mail is as shown in
FIG. 5B. Further, if the request signal S5 indicates a reference
request for the schedule, the mail is as shown in FIG. 5C.
Additionally, if the request signal S5 indicates a renewal request
for answering messages, the mail is as shown in FIG. 6.
[0036] Next, the access control server 6 transmits the mail as
shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C or 6 to the mobile telephone apparatus 1.
Note that this mail can be transmitted by using a short message
service which includes a telephone number of the access request
client 7, in order to further protect security.
[0037] Next, upon receipt of the mail from the access control
server 6, the mobile telephone appartus 1, i.e., the control
section 111 carries out an operation as shown in FIG. 7 which will
be explained below.
[0038] The flowchart of FIG. 7 is started when the radio
transceiver section 112 has received a mail.
[0039] At step 701, the mail is transmitted from the antenna 12 via
the radio transceiver section 112 to the control section 111 which
determines whether or not the mail is directed to a remote access
request in accordance with the content of "Subject" of the mail. As
a result, only when the mail is directed to a remote access request
such as "reference request" or "renewal request", does the control
proceed to step 702. Otherwise, the control proceeds to step 705 in
which the control section 111 carries out a usual mail
processing.
[0040] At step 702, the control section 111 determines whether or
not the password coincides with the remote access mode password
stored in the access information database section 115. As a result,
only when the password of the mail coincides with the remote access
mode password, does the control proceed to step 703. Otherwise, the
control proceeds to step 706 which generates an access refusal
mail.
[0041] At step 703, the control section 111 determines whether the
mail is directed to a reference request or a renewal request in
accordance with the content of "Subject " of the mail. As a result,
when the mail is directed to a reference request, the control
proceeds to step 704. On the other hand, when the mail is directed
to a renewal request, the control proceeds to 707.
[0042] At step 704, the control section 111 reads information from
the personal information storing section 113 in accordance with the
"object" and the like of the mail. For example, if the mail is as
shown in FIG. 5A, the control section 111 reads name information of
the telephone directory having initial "a" from the personal
information storing section 113. If the mail is as shown in FIG.
5B, the control section 111 reads mail information having the data
"today" from the personal information storing section 113. If the
mail is as shown in FIG. 5C, the control section 111 reads the
schedule information having the data "today" from the personal
information storing section 113. As a result, the control 111
generates a mail including the name information, the mail
information or the schedule information.
[0043] At step 707, the control section 111 renews the
corresponding answering messages stored in the audio information
storing section 114. Also, the control section 111 renews the
relationship between telephone numbers of originators and answering
messages stored in the access information database section 116. For
example, one renewed answering message is "I left this telephone
apparatus at home, so I cannot use it all day long".
[0044] Next, at step 708 the control section 111 generates a mail
on renewal result.
[0045] The control at steps 704, 706 and 708 returns to FIG. 4.
[0046] The control section 111 transmits a signal S7 including the
mail generated at step 704, 706 or 708 of FIG. 7 to the access
control server 6.
[0047] Finally, the access control server 6 transmits a signal S8
including the mail generated at step 704, 706 or 708 of FIG. 7 to
the access request client 7.
[0048] Thus, according to the above-described first operation, the
access request client 7 can access personal information such as the
telephone directory, the mail and the schedule stored in the
personal information storing section 113. Also, the access request
client 7 can renew answering messages stored in the audio
information storing section 114.
[0049] A second operation of the mobile communication system of
FIG. 1 is explained next with reference to FIG. 8.
[0050] First, the fixed telephone apparatus 9 transmits a
connection request signal S11 including an action number
"01234567890" to the mobile telephone apparatus 1.
[0051] Next, at step 801, in the mobile telephone apparatus 1, the
control section 111 retrieves an operation in the access
information database section 115 using the action number
"01234567890". In this case, the operation is to regenerate
Internet contents such as audio data, stationary or moving picture
data from the Internet 5.
[0052] Next, at step 802, the control section 111 determines
whether or not a ringing time has passed. If the mobile telephone
apparatus 1 is responded to before the ringing time has passed, the
control proceeds to step 803 which carries out a usual speech
processing. On the other hand, if the ringing time has passed, the
control proceeds to step 804 which carries out an answering
operation.
[0053] Next, the mobile telephone apparatus 1 transmits a download
request signal S12 for downloading the Internet content,
corresponding to the operation retrieved at step 801, to the access
control server 6. In this case, the mobile telephone apparatus 1
uses the multi-call function to access the access control server 6
by a packet switching call.
[0054] Next, the access control server 6 generates a download
signal S13, so that the above-mentioned Internet content is
downloaded from the access control server 6 to the mobile telephone
apparatus 1 where the control section 111 stores the Internet
content in the audio information storing section 114.
[0055] Next, the control section 111 transmits an Internet content
signal S14 in the audio information storing section 114 to the
fixed telephone apparatus 9.
[0056] Next, the control section 111 transmits a message request
signal S15 to the fixed telephone apparatus 1. As a result, the
fixed telephone apparatus 9 transmits a message signal S16 to the
control section 111, so that the message signal S16 is stored in
the audio information storing section 114.
[0057] Finally, the fixed telephone apparatus 9 transmits a
disconnection request signal S17 to the control section 111, so
that the control section 111 stops the storing operation of the
audio information storing section 114.
[0058] Thus, according to the above-described second operation, the
fixed telephone apparatus 9 can access Internet contents.
[0059] In FIG. 9, which illustrates a modification of FIG. 8, if
the Internet content retrieved at step 801 is already stored in the
audio information storing section 114, the transmission of the
download request signal S12 and the transmission of the Internet
content signal S14 of FIG. 8 are omitted.
[0060] As explained hereinabove, according to the present
invention, since information stored in a mobile telephone apparatus
is remotely accessed through an external network such as the
Internet, the information can be referred to and renewed while
protecting security. Also, contents of an external network such as
the Internet can be obtained through a mobile telephone
apparatus.
* * * * *