U.S. patent application number 10/721576 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for portable terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITACHI, LTD.. Invention is credited to Kawasaki, Shinichiro, Maeoka, Jun, Morimoto, Yoshiaki.
Application Number | 20050030708 10/721576 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34113712 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050030708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kawasaki, Shinichiro ; et
al. |
February 10, 2005 |
Portable terminal
Abstract
A portable terminal displays on a selection screen not only
contents stored in the portable terminal but also contents stored
in a contents server communicatable via a network with the portable
terminal. The selection screen displays information regarding the
size and location of each of the contents, as well as estimated
time and cost required to obtain each of the corresponding contents
based on information regarding communication speed and
communication path such as communicatable areas. The portable
terminal is also equipped with a function to search another
communication path that becomes available when moving the portable
terminal to another location, and a function to suggest to obtain
the contents using such a communication path if the new
communication path provides faster and/or more inexpensive
connection.
Inventors: |
Kawasaki, Shinichiro;
(Kawasaki, JP) ; Morimoto, Yoshiaki; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; Maeoka, Jun; (Kawasaki, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.
500 S. GRAND AVENUE
SUITE 1900
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071-2611
US
|
Assignee: |
HITACHI, LTD.
|
Family ID: |
34113712 |
Appl. No.: |
10/721576 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.26 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 69/329 20130101;
H04L 61/157 20130101; H04L 67/36 20130101; H04L 29/06 20130101;
H04L 29/1216 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/683 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 7, 2003 |
JP |
2003-206388 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable terminal that performs a plurality of functions to
reproduce and execute digital contents, the portable terminal
comprising: a module that provides a list of contents including
locations of the contents, estimated communication costs to obtain
the respective contents and estimated communication times required
to obtain the respective contents; and a module that displays the
list of contents.
2. A portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a
module that calculates the estimated communication costs and the
estimated communication times of the contents in the list based on
the locations of the contents and a current position of the
portable terminal.
3. A portable terminal according to claim 2, further comprising a
module that estimates a new communication path to a new location of
the content which becomes available when moving the portable
terminal by a specified distance, a communication time to obtain
the content through the new communication path, and a communication
cost to obtain the content through the new communication path.
4. A portable terminal according to claim 3, further comprising a
module that judges if the new communication path provides at least
one of a shorter communication time and a lower communication cost
than communication paths from the current location of the portable
terminal to the locations of the contents.
5. A portable terminal according to claim 4, further comprising a
module that proposes to move the portable terminal to the new
location when a positive judgment is made.
6. A portable terminal according to claim 5, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides both a shorter communication time and a lower
communication cost than any of the other communication paths.
7. A portable terminal according to claim 5, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides a shorter communication time than any of the other
communication paths.
8. A portable terminal according to claim 5, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides a lower communication cost than any of the other
communication paths.
9. A portable terminal according to claim 3, further comprising a
display device that displays the locations of the contents as
selectable items, and a selection module that selects one of the
locations of the contents displayed on the display device.
10. A portable terminal according to claim 9, wherein the display
device also displays the new communication path as a selectable
item together with the locations of the contents.
11. A portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the digital
contents include at least music data, picture data and program
data.
12. An information equipment comprising: a storage that records
digital contents including music data, picture data and program
data; and a module that distribute the digital contents to a
portable terminal, wherein the portable terminal comprises a module
that performs a plurality of functions to reproduce and execute
digital contents, and a module that provides a list of contents
including locations of the contents, estimated communication costs
to obtain the respective contents and estimated communication times
required to obtain the respective contents.
13. An information equipment according to claim 12, wherein the
portable terminal further comprises a module that calculates the
estimated communication costs and the estimated communication times
of the contents in the list based on the locations of the contents
and a current position of the portable terminal.
14. An information equipment according to claim 13, wherein the
portable terminal further comprises a module that estimates a new
communication path to a new location of the content which becomes
available when moving the portable terminal by a specified
distance, a communication time to obtain the content through the
new communication path, and a communication cost to obtain the
content through the new communication path.
15. An information equipment according to claim 13, further
comprising a module that judges if the new communication path
provides at least one of a shorter communication time and a lower
communication cost than communication paths from the current
location of the portable terminal to the locations of the
contents.
16. An information equipment according to claim 15, further
comprising, further comprising a module that proposes to move the
portable terminal to the new location when a positive judgment is
made.
17. An information equipment according to claim 16, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides both a shorter communication time and a lower
communication cost than any of the other communication paths.
18. An information equipment according to claim 16, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides a shorter communication time than any of the other
communication paths.
19. An information equipment according to claim 16, wherein the new
communication path is proposed when the new communication path
provides a lower communication cost than any of the other
communication paths.
20. A method for providing digital contents on a portable terminal,
the method comprising the steps of: providing a list of contents
including locations of the contents, estimated communication costs
to obtain the respective contents and estimated communication times
required to obtain the respective contents; and displaying the list
of contents on a display device.
21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of
calculating the estimated communication costs and the estimated
communication times of the contents in the list based on the
locations of the contents and a current position of the portable
terminal.
22. A method according to claim 21, further comprising the step of
estimating a new communication path to a new location of the
content which becomes available when moving the portable terminal
by a specified distance, a communication time to obtain the content
through the new communication path, and a communication cost to
obtain the content through the new communication path.
23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of
judging if the new communication path provides at least one of a
shorter communication time and a lower communication cost than
communication paths from the current location of the portable
terminal to the locations of the contents.
24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of
proposing to move the portable terminal to the new location when a
positive judgment is made.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the new communication
path is proposed when the new communication path provides both a
shorter communication time and a lower communication cost than any
of the other communication paths.
26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the new communication
path is proposed when the new communication path provides a shorter
communication time than any of the other communication paths.
27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the new communication
path is proposed when the new communication path provides a lower
communication cost than any of the other communication paths.
28. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the steps of
displaying the locations of the contents as selectable items, and
selecting one of the locations of the contents displayed on the
display device.
29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of
displaying the new communication path as a selectable item together
with the locations of the contents.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable terminal that
can obtain contents such as music, pictures and programs through a
plurality of communication paths, and more particularly to a method
for selecting contents that a user wishes to reproduce or execute
and a method for selecting a communication path to obtain
contents.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] Portable terminals as represented by portable telephones and
PDAs are widely used and have evolved into information terminals
with numerous additional functions, such as voice communication,
e-mail, Web access, photographing, reproducing music, reproducing
pictures and executing programs. Keeping pace with the increase in
functionality of portable terminals, the size of contents that can
be used on such portable terminals is growing larger. When such
large contents are downloaded to portable terminals, the following
problems have been occurring: (1) it takes too much time to obtain
contents, (2) the cost for communications is expensive and unclear.
As new communication methods such as wireless LAN, Bluetooth and
infrared are adopted for use on portable terminals, communication
costs are likely to become even more incomprehensible to users.
[0005] Some methods have been conceived to cope with such problems.
For example, one of the methods suggests a so-called via-charger
communications method, in which inexpensive broadband wire
communications that are currently being installed in homes in
increasing numbers are utilized to download contents from a
contents source to a contents server installed at home. When a user
of a portable terminal comes home, and starts charging the portable
terminal at home, the time spent on charging the portable terminal
is used to transfer the contents from the contents server to the
portable terminal. Through this, the amount of time required to
obtain contents from the contents source can be shortened, and
therefore communication costs can be reduced.
[0006] In another method (second method), a moving picture
distribution server is provided with a function to select an
optimal communication path from among a plurality of communication
paths to thereby realize a reduction in communication costs and a
guarantee of bandwidth. Furthermore, whether to give priority to
either communication costs or communication speed is registered for
each subscriber, so that, based on the subscriber's preference,
which of the communication cost reduction and the bandwidth
guarantee should be given priority can be designated when selecting
the communication path.
[0007] In order to cope with the problem (2) described above, still
another method (third method) suggests a method for downloading
updated fee charge information corresponding to changes in fee
charge status of communication costs from an external source to the
portable terminal and using the information to display an accurate
communication cost. This method especially elaborates on a method
for accurately calculating communication costs when a discount is
applicable during certain communication hours.
[0008] Since current portable terminals are multifunctional and
have a plurality of communication paths, an appropriate
communication path must be selected for each situation. Some
communication paths are usable only in a specific area, such as
wireless LAN that is usable only in a business establishment,
office or a home, while some communication paths are usable only at
home, such as the via-charger communications method, as in the
first method described above.
[0009] However, since data in the home contents server cannot be
obtained while the user is out according to the first method
described above, there is a limit to contents that are available
for use from the portable terminal.
[0010] A method to access the home contents server via a public
telephone line while the user is out and thereby access data is
conceivable. However, the user in this instance has no way of
knowing how much the communication would cost and how long the
communication time would be, which makes it difficult for the user
to determine if he or she should elect to obtain contents via the
public telephone line or elect to obtain contents via charger upon
arriving home.
[0011] Furthermore, the first and second methods described above do
not take into consideration locally usable communication paths and
therefore do not offer opportunities for a user to use inexpensive
and/or high-speed communication paths by moving to another location
with his or her portable terminal.
[0012] In addition, the user himself or herself cannot decide which
communication path to use when he or she obtains contents according
to these methods. In the second method described above, the path
that matches the user's preference according to individual priority
registered in the subscriber database is selected, but adapting to
changes in user's preference is difficult and communication costs
are difficult for the user to understand when he or she uses
contents with this method.
[0013] Although the user is accurately notified of communication
costs according to the third method described above, this method
displays the accurate communication cost only after communication
has taken place and does not display estimated communication cost
before communication takes place. Consequently, this method entails
the problem of the user's not being able to select the
communication path before the communication actually takes
place.
[0014] The problems described above can be summarized in the
following two points:
[0015] 1. For users of portable terminals with a plurality of
communication paths, the amount of time and costs required to
obtain contents are unclear.
[0016] 2. For users of portable terminals with a plurality of
communication paths, it is difficult to select a communication path
though which contents can be obtained more advantageously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In order to solve the problems described above, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a portable
terminal is equipped with a function for viewing and hearing or
executing contents and a plurality of communications functions such
as wireless and/or wired communications. The portable terminal is
provided with a contents selection method for presenting to a
contents user a list that includes locations of contents that may
be selected by the user, and estimated communication cost and
estimated communication time required to obtain contents from the
current position of the portable terminal.
[0018] Furthermore, when the user can use a communication path with
shorter communication time or lower communication cost by moving to
another location with the portable terminal, the portable terminal
has a function to suggest such a move to the user.
[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate, by way
of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system configuration in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a contents selection
screen according to the first embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram of details of a contents database
110.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a diagram of details of a contents list 135
according to the first embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a diagram of details of a communication path
information list 136.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a diagram of an overall processing procedure in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a diagram of details of a contents selection
procedure 601.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a diagram of details of a contents obtaining
procedure 602.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system configuration in accordance
with a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a contents selection screen
according to the second embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a diagram of contents of a contents list 135
according to the second embodiment.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a diagram of another example of a contents
selection screen according to the first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8 and 12, a first embodiment of
the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows the overall
configuration of a system in accordance with the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0033] The system of the present embodiment is generally formed
from a contents server 101 and a portable terminal 121, which are
connected via a plurality of networks, such as, for example, the
Internet, a wide area wireless network, a local wireless network,
and a local wire network. The contents server 101 and the portable
terminal 121 do not have to be connected at all times and may be
instead connected using one of the communication paths depending on
the position of the portable terminal 121 and when communication is
required.
[0034] An example of wide area wireless network is a wireless
communications network that is currently used for portable
telephones and PHSs. An example of local wireless network is
wireless LAN that is installed in individual homes and business
establishments. Local wireless networks in general can communicate
at higher speed than wide area wireless networks, but are limited
in the area in which communication can take place. An example of
local wireless network may involve the via-charger communication
system of the first method described in the related art section
above. According to this method, the trouble of connecting to a
wire network is eliminated by setting a portable terminal in a
charger for charging purposes and at the same time connecting to a
communications line. Another example of local wire network may
involve a method in which a user manually connects an Ethernet.RTM.
cable to a portable terminal for a wire communication. Such wire
communications require cable connections for communication, but
generally have higher communication speed than wireless
communication.
[0035] The contents server 101 is an apparatus that stores numerous
contents, such as music data and moving picture data, that are
supplied to the user. An example of the present embodiment will be
described with reference to a system in which a contents server
owned by an individual is installed in the individual's home.
[0036] The contents server 101 includes a central processing unit
102, a primary storage device 103, a secondary storage device 104,
a wire communications device 105, a local wireless communications
device 106, and a local wire communications device 107.
[0037] The contents server 101 communicates with an external
contents server 141 or the portable terminal 121 via networks by
using such communications devices as the wire communications device
105, the local wireless communications device 106 and the local
wire communications device 107.
[0038] The central processing unit 102 runs programs installed in
the primary storage device 103 to realize such processing as
collecting contents from an external source and sending contents to
the portable terminal 121.
[0039] A contents collection program 108 and a contents
transmission program 109 are installed in the primary storage
device 103. The contents collection program 108 is connected to the
external contents server 141 via the wire communications device 105
and obtains contents that are indicated in advance by a user or
contents that match the user's preferences. In the secondary
storage device 104 is installed a relatively large capacity
contents database 110, where contents collected are stored. The
details of the contents database 110 are described below using FIG.
3.
[0040] The contents transmission program 109 receives requests for
contents from the portable terminal 121, retrieves the contents
from the contents database 110, and sends the contents to the
portable terminal 121.
[0041] The portable terminal 121 includes a wide area wireless
communications device 122, a local wireless communications device
123, a local wire communications device 124, a primary storage
device 125, a secondary storage device 126, a screen display device
127, an input device 128, a position measuring device 129, and a
central processing unit 130.
[0042] The wide area wireless communications device 122, the local
wireless communications device 123 and the local wire
communications device 124 are devices for communicating via the
networks described earlier. The present invention is applicable to
portable terminals with two or more communications devices. The
present embodiment example concerns a portable terminal with the
three communications devices described above.
[0043] A contents selection program 131, a communication path
selection program 132, and a contents acquisition program 133 are
installed in the primary storage device 125. The contents to be
obtained are determined using these programs, and the contents are
obtained from the contents server 101.
[0044] The secondary storage device 126 stores such data as a
contents file 134, a contents list 135 and a communication path
information list 136. The contents file 134 is a data region for
storing the substance of contents obtained by the portable terminal
121, such as music data, moving picture data and program binary
data. Regions of secondary storage devices mounted on portable
terminals are generally smaller in capacity than contents servers
that are not portable. Consequently, the contents file 134 cannot
store as much contents as the contents database 110.
[0045] The contents list 135 and the communication path information
list 136 are used to obtain contents according to the present
invention. The contents list 135 is not the substance of contents,
but rather data of information regarding contents that the contents
server 101 or the portable terminal 121 has, and the data is
updated when the portable terminal 121 establishes wire connection
with the contents server 101 or obtains contents. The details
regarding the contents list 135 will be described below using FIG.
4. The communication path information list 136 contains information
regarding communication paths that utilize communications devices
of the portable terminal 121. The details of the communication path
information list 136 will be described below using FIG. 5.
[0046] The screen display device 127 and the input device 128 are
used to reproduce contents such as moving pictures, in addition to
being used by a user to make selections and decisions regarding
contents obtained.
[0047] The position measuring device 129 is a device that
recognizes the current position of the portable terminal 121.
Examples of the position measuring device 129 include an apparatus
that obtains latitude and longitude of the portable terminal 121
using a GPS, an apparatus that detects the position of the portable
terminal 121 based on base station ID, and an apparatus that
detects whether the portable terminal 121 is connected to a
charger.
[0048] The central processing unit 130 drives various programs
131-133 stored in the primary storage device 125 and obtains
contents using the various devices. Additionally, the central
processing unit 130 may be used to realize other functions of the
portable terminal 121, such as a voice communication function and a
contents reproduction function.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows an example of a contents selection screen
according to the present embodiment. The screen display device 127
displays a table shown in FIG. 2, and the user of the portable
terminal 121 reviews this table to select contents that he or she
wishes to view and/or hear or execute. The contents selection
screen 127 displays names and types of contents, as well as
locations of the contents. In FIG. 2, locations of contents stored
in the portable terminal 121 are indicated as "mobile," while
locations of contents stored in the contents server 101 are
indicated as "home." Furthermore, the estimated time and estimated
communication cost required to obtain each content are also
displayed. The time and communication costs required to obtain
contents already stored in the portable terminal 121 are indicated
as zero, while time and communication costs of certain values are
indicated for contents stored in the contents server 101. Due to
the fact that the usable communication path changes with the
position of the portable terminal 121, the values displayed for the
time and communication costs also vary depending on the position of
the portable terminal 121.
[0050] By selecting contents that the user wants from the table,
the user can easily select contents that are not stored in the
portable terminal 121 and obtain the contents with an understanding
beforehand regarding the time and communication costs required to
obtain such contents.
[0051] Although the information is displayed in a table format
according to the present embodiment example, the information may be
displayed in other formats, such as a tree display, as long as the
same information is made available to the user.
[0052] FIG. 3 shows the details of the contents database 110, which
is stored in the contents server 101. Information such as data
format, size, actual data and the number of times the content has
been reproduced is stored for each content. The contents
transmission program 109 searches the contents database 110 for a
content requested by the portable terminal 121 and sends the
content found.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows the details of the contents list 135, which is
stored in the portable terminal 121. The contents list 135 has a
data structure similar to that of the contents database 110, but
the contents list 135 differs from the contents database 110 in
that the contents list 135 does not contain actual data of contents
and instead contains the locations of the contents. In addition to
information regarding actual data stored in the contents file 134
of the portable terminal 121, the contents list 135 also contains
information regarding contents stored in the contents database 110
of the contents server 101. A content "AAA" in FIG. 4 is data
stored in both the portable terminal 121 and the contents server
101, while contents "BBB" and "YYY" are not stored in the portable
terminal 121 but in the contents server 101. In contrast, a content
"ZZZ" is not stored in the contents server 101 but is stored in the
portable terminal 121.
[0054] When a new content is written to the contents file 134,
which has a small capacity, the capacity is sometimes insufficient.
The information regarding the number of times the content has been
reproduced, which is stored in the contents database 110 and
contents list 135, is used to selectively delete contents that
appear to be unnecessary in order to gain storage regions.
Furthermore, contents such as "ZZZ" that are not stored in the
contents server 101 can be copied on the contents server 101 using
one of the communication paths before they are deleted; this makes
the contents file 134 available for use without losing the contents
"ZZZ."
[0055] FIG. 5 shows the details of the communication path
information list 136, which is stored in the portable terminal 121.
The communication path information list 136 stores information
regarding communication paths that correspond to the communications
devices 122, 123 and 124 that the portable terminal 121 has. Item
No. 1 indicates information regarding a communication path using
the wide area wireless communications device 122. This designates a
communication method that is based on numerous base stations and
that is used for portable telephones; there are basically no limits
on communicatable positions and ranges, and the fee charge method
is fixed. Items No. 2 through No. 10 indicate information regarding
communication paths using the local wireless communications device
123. Since communication takes place in proximity of base stations
placed locally, the applicable base station changes depending on
the position of the portable terminal 122, which results in changes
in fee charge methods. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a
communication path offered for a fee is indicated in No. 2, while a
communication path offered for free that is installed at home is
indicated in No. 10. No. 11 shows information regarding a
communication path that uses the local wire communications device
124. In this case, a wire communication path via a charger is
designated. Compared to other communication paths, the
communication speed of No. 11 is faster and communication is free,
but communication through this communication path can take place
only when the portable terminal 121 is connected to the
charger.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows an overall flow of a processing according to
the present embodiment example.
[0057] Step 601:
[0058] The user of the portable terminal 121 activates the contents
selection program 131 and selects a content. The contents selection
program 131 displays a contents list shown in FIG. 2 and the user
selects a content from this list. The details of this processing
procedure will be described later using FIG. 7.
[0059] Step 602:
[0060] The portable terminal 121 obtains the content selected in
step 601 in order to reproduce or execute the content. If the
content selected is not in the contents file 134, the portable
terminal 121 obtains the content from the contents server 101. The
details of this processing procedure will be described later using
FIG. 8.
[0061] Step 603:
[0062] The portable terminal 121 reproduces or executes the content
obtained.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows the detailed procedure for the content
selection step 601.
[0064] Step 701:
[0065] The portable terminal 121 uses the position measuring device
129 to obtain the current position of the portable terminal
121.
[0066] Step 702:
[0067] Information of one content that is the subject of the
processing is obtained from the contents list 135.
[0068] Step 703:
[0069] The current position of the portable terminal 121 that was
obtained in step 701 and positional information of the content
obtained in step 702 are provided to the communication path
selection program 132 for the selection of a communication path.
First, communication paths that are currently usable are selected
from the communication path information list 136. If there is a
plurality of usable communication paths, the path with the most
inexpensive communication cost and fastest communication speed is
selected. If there is a plurality of communication paths in which
either the communication cost or communication speed is more
advantageous than the other, information regarding a path to be
given priority for use, i.e., whether the communication cost or the
communication speed is given priority for use, that was inputted by
the user in advance is used to decide on a communication path.
[0070] Step 704:
[0071] The time required to obtain the content is estimated based
on the communication speed of the path selected and the size of the
content selected. For example, one method for doing this is to
divide the content size by the communication speed to obtain the
communication time. Additionally, the communication cost required
to obtain the content is estimated based on the fee charge method
of the path selected and the size of the content selected. For
example, one method for doing this is to divide the content size by
the communication cost per information volume to obtain the
communication cost.
[0072] Step 705:
[0073] Information such as the content name and location included
in the contents list 135, as well as the estimated time and
estimated cost to obtain the content from step 704, is displayed on
the screen and presented to the user.
[0074] Step 706:
[0075] If the processing is completed for all content items
included in the contents list 135, the processing proceeds to step
707. If there are contents that have yet to be processed, the
processing returns to step 702.
[0076] Step 707:
[0077] The processing enters a state of waiting for the user to
input a content selection, and the processing is terminated. Based
on the selection made by the user, step 602 in FIG. 6 is begun.
[0078] Based on the processing described above, data shown in FIG.
2 can be presented to the user. Since the details of contents that
are stored not only in the portable terminal 121 but also in the
contents server 101 are displayed, the user has a wider selection
of contents to choose from. Furthermore, since contents can be
selected based on information displayed in step 705, the user can
make decisions without worrying about time or communication costs
required to obtain contents.
[0079] FIG. 8 shows the detailed procedure for the content
obtaining step 602.
[0080] Step 801:
[0081] The portable terminal 121 receives the information inputted
by the user at the end of the content selection step 601 and
identifies the content selected by the user.
[0082] Step 802:
[0083] Using the communication path information list 136 and the
position measuring device 129, the communication path selection
program 132 is executed to search communication paths with a
communication range in proximity of the current position of the
portable terminal 121, within a 50 m radius for example.
[0084] Step 803:
[0085] If a communication path that provides faster and/or more
inexpensive connection than the communication path selected in step
703 is found in step 802, the processing proceeds to step 806. If
not, the processing proceeds to step 804.
[0086] Step 804:
[0087] The contents server 101 is accessed by using the
communication path selected in step 703, and the actual data of the
content selected is obtained and stored in the contents file 134.
At the same time, the details of the contents list 135 are changed.
If there is insufficient capacity to store the content, data with a
low number of times the content has been reproduced is deleted from
the contents file 134. If data that is not stored in the contents
server 101 is to be deleted, the data may be deleted after sending
the data to the contents server 101 to create a backup.
[0088] Step 805:
[0089] The content obtained in step 804 is reproduced or
executed.
[0090] Step 806:
[0091] The fact that a communication area that is faster and/or
more inexpensive is available nearby is presented to the user, and
moving to the area with the portable terminal 121 is suggested to
the user. For example, a message "There is a high-speed access
point at a distance of three minutes on foot from here (cost for
obtaining content: 20 yen; time for obtaining content: 10 seconds).
Do you want to move?" can be displayed with YES and NO buttons. The
user selects whether to accept the suggestion by pressing a
relevant one of the buttons.
[0092] Step 807:
[0093] If the user elects to accept the suggestion to move that was
presented in step 806, the processing is terminated without
obtaining the content. The present embodiment example assumes that
the user would re-select the content after moving to the new
location. Alternatively, the portable terminal 121 can detect that
the move has ended and obtain the content using the communication
path found in step 802. If the user does not accept the suggestion
to move as presented, the processing proceeds to step 804.
[0094] As described earlier, if there is an area close to the
current location where the user can communicate more
advantageously, a processing to present this information to the
user is realized according to the present embodiment example. For
example, if the user is close to a business establishment that
offers a local wireless communications service, the portable
terminal 121 according to the present embodiment example can
suggest the user to stop at the business establishment or suggest a
wire communication upon going home if the user is close to home. As
a result, the user can use a more advantageous communication path
that utilizes communication functions of the portable terminal
121.
[0095] Although the portable terminal 121 may suggest moving to
another location nearby after the user selects a content as
described above, the portable terminal 121 can alternatively
present in advance communication paths that involve moving to
another location nearby, as well as other communication paths. FIG.
12 shows an example of a screen presenting such communication
paths. A content "BBB" can be obtained via three paths: telephone
communication, wireless LAN and charger. The time and communication
cost required to obtain the content is indicated for each, as well
as the amount of time required to move if a move is required. The
user can take into consideration the amount of time and cost
required to obtain the content, as well as the amount of time
required for a move, when selecting a content and a path to obtain
the content from the list at the same time.
[0096] The first embodiment example of the present invention has
shown that a user can select more contents and do so without
worrying about time and communication costs required to obtain the
contents, and select more advantageous communication paths using
the positional information of the portable terminal.
[0097] A second embodiment of the present invention is described
below with reference to FIGS. 6 through 11. In the second
embodiment example, a contents server 101 is installed in a
contents distribution company.
[0098] FIG. 9 shows, as in the first embodiment example, the
overall configuration of a system according to the second
embodiment example. Although the configuration of the system is
generally the same as the system shown in FIG. 1, the mode of
networks that connect the contents server 101 with a portable
terminal 121 is different. It is noted however that the second
embodiment example is the same as the first embodiment example in
that the portable terminal 121 communicates with the contents
server 101 via a plurality of communications devices.
[0099] Unlike the first embodiment example, the contents server 101
has a client database 901 inside a secondary storage device.
Preferences of a user of the portable terminal 121 are registered
in the client database 901 in advance. Based on the client database
901 and a contents database 110, a contents list 135 customized for
each user is created and sent to the portable terminal 121.
[0100] FIG. 10 shows a content selection screen according to the
present embodiment example. As in the first embodiment example, the
user can select contents not stored in the portable terminal 121
but in the contents server 101; the user can decide whether to
obtain contents upon reviewing the content names and content types,
as well as locations of the contents, the amount of time required
to obtain the contents, and the communication costs required to
obtain the contents. However, in the present embodiment example,
information regarding content fee and whether or not there are
advertisements (Ad) in the contents is also provided. Based on this
information, the user can determine the total cost required to
obtain each content as a sum of communication cost and content fee.
Furthermore, the user can elect to obtain contents with lower costs
by selecting contents with advertisements. In this way, the user
can decide whether to purchase contents by taking into
consideration not only the communication cost, but also more
detailed costs required to obtain contents.
[0101] FIG. 11 shows the details of the contents list 135 according
to the second embodiment example. As in the first embodiment
example, not only contents in the portable terminal 121 but also
contents in the contents server 101 are included in the contents
list 135 according to the second embodiment example. However,
instead of showing on the contents list 135 all contents in the
contents server 101, the contents shown are limited to data that
match the client's preferences based on the client database 901;
this results in restricting the amount of data in the contents list
135, while at the same time satisfying the user's needs.
Furthermore, the contents list 135 also includes information
regarding content fee and whether there are advertisements in the
contents in order to display information shown in FIG. 10.
[0102] The processing flow to select, obtain, and reproduce or
execute contents according to the system of the second embodiment
is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8, as in the first embodiment
example.
[0103] As described above, by applying the present invention to a
system in which contents are obtained from the contents server 101
installed in the contents distribution company, the present
embodiment example shows that a user can select more contents
without being concerned about time and communication costs required
to obtain the contents, and select more advantageous communication
paths using the positional information of the portable terminal,
according to the present invention.
[0104] As described above, the following effects can be obtained
through the portable terminal and the contents distribution method
according to the present invention:
[0105] (1) When obtaining contents using a portable terminal with a
plurality of communication functions such as wireless and wired
communications, the amount of time and costs required to obtain
contents can be presented clearly, so that a user can make
decisions regarding selection of contents without any concern.
[0106] (2) By utilizing positional information of the portable
terminal, more advantageous communication paths can be easily
selected.
[0107] Through the effects described above, the user can more
freely select contents and view and/or hear or execute
contents.
[0108] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such
modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the
present invention.
[0109] The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims,
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come
within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are
therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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