U.S. patent application number 16/750919 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-21 for communication method and apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Cororation. The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Masamichi Asukai, Makoto Inoue, Masafumi Matsuda, Takatoshi Nakamura, Yuichi Sakai, Yoichiro Sako, Toru Sasaki, Katsuya Shirai, Motoyuki Takai, Mitsuru Takehara, Toshiro Terauchi.
Application Number | 20200162415 16/750919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37668119 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200162415 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sako; Yoichiro ; et
al. |
May 21, 2020 |
COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS
Abstract
A communication method includes the steps of transmitting, by
means of a first communication apparatus, personal information to a
second communication apparatus; receiving, by means of the second
communication apparatus, the personal information and searching, by
means of the second communication apparatus, whether or not
personal information having the same content as the received
personal information exists in the second communication apparatus;
and notifying, by means of the second communication apparatus, the
first communication apparatus of a search result.
Inventors: |
Sako; Yoichiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Takehara; Mitsuru; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Terauchi; Toshiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Inoue; Makoto;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Takai; Motoyuki; (Tokyo, JP)
; Asukai; Masamichi; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Shirai;
Katsuya; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Nakamura; Takatoshi;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Sasaki; Toru; (Tokyo, JP)
; Sakai; Yuichi; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Matsuda;
Masafumi; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sony Cororation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
37668119 |
Appl. No.: |
16/750919 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16379455 |
Apr 9, 2019 |
10587567 |
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16750919 |
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15293400 |
Oct 14, 2016 |
10291577 |
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16379455 |
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15094935 |
Apr 8, 2016 |
9596581 |
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15293400 |
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14572678 |
Dec 16, 2014 |
9326130 |
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15094935 |
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11540696 |
Sep 29, 2006 |
9338644 |
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14572678 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/21 20180201; H04M
1/7253 20130101; H04W 4/12 20130101; H04M 1/72552 20130101; H04W
8/24 20130101; H04L 51/32 20130101; H04M 1/72569 20130101; H04L
67/306 20130101; H04L 51/38 20130101; H04M 1/2745 20130101; H04M
1/2757 20200101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/58 20060101
H04L012/58; H04W 4/12 20060101 H04W004/12; H04W 8/24 20060101
H04W008/24; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; H04W 4/21 20060101
H04W004/21; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725; H04M 1/2757 20060101
H04M001/2757 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2005 |
JP |
JP2005-301720 |
Claims
1. A server comprising: at least one memory configured to store a
personal information database and instructions, wherein the
personal information database stores at least first personal
information regarding a first user and second personal information
regarding a second user; and at least one processor configured to
execute the instructions to: determine whether to notify a first
device of the first user of a name of the second user based upon a
similarity between the first personal information and the second
personal information; receive an instruction from the first device
regarding a communication between at least two devices; and
establish or terminate the communication.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first personal information
includes a name of a company to which the first user previously
belonged or currently belongs, and the second personal information
includes a name of a company to which the second user previously
belonged or currently belongs.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first personal information
includes a name of music liked by the first user, and the second
personal information includes a name of music liked by the second
user.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the name of music liked by the
first user comprises a name of a singer liked by the first user,
and the name of music liked by the second user comprises a name of
a singer liked by the second user.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication includes an
exchange of text messaging between the first device of the first
user and a second device of the second user.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication includes a
voice conversation between the first device of the first user and a
second device of the second user.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication includes same
content data shared between the first device of the first user and
a second device of the second user.
8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored
thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a
method comprising: determining whether to notify a first device of
a first user of a name of a second user based upon a similarity
between first personal information regarding the first user and
second personal information regarding a second user; receiving,
from the first device, an instruction regarding a communication
between at least two devices; and establish or terminate the
communication.
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8,
wherein the first personal information includes a name of a company
to which the first user previously belonged or currently belongs,
and the second personal information includes a name of a company to
which the second user previously belonged or currently belongs.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8,
wherein the first personal information includes a name of music
liked by the first user, and the second personal information
includes a name of music liked by the second user.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim
10, wherein the name of music liked by the first user comprises a
name of a singer liked by the first user, and the name of music
liked by the second user comprises a name of a singer liked by the
second user.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8,
wherein the communication includes an exchange of text messaging
between the first device of the first user and a second device of
the second user.
13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8,
wherein the communication includes a voice conversation between the
first device of the first user and a second device of the second
user.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8,
wherein the communication includes same content data shared between
the first device of the first user and a second device of the
second user.
15. A method comprising: determining whether to notify a first
device of a first user of a name of a second user based upon a
similarity between first personal information regarding the first
user and second personal information regarding a second user;
receiving, from the first device, an instruction regarding a
communication between at least two devices; and establish or
terminate the communication.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first personal information
includes a name of a company to which the first user previously
belonged or currently belongs, and the second personal information
includes a name of a company to which the second user previously
belonged or currently belongs.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first personal information
includes a name of music liked by the first user, and the second
personal information includes a name of music liked by the second
user.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the name of music liked by the
first user comprises a name of a singer liked by the first user,
and the name of music liked by the second user comprises a name of
a singer liked by the second user.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication includes an
exchange of text messaging between, a voice conversation between,
and/or same content data shared between the first device of the
first user and a second device of the second user.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the instruction includes a text
message.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit as a continuation
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
16/379,455, filed on Apr. 4, 2019 and entitled "COMMUNICATION
METHOD AND APPARATUS," which claims the benefit as a continuation
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
15/293,400, filed on Oct. 14, 2016 and entitled "COMMUNICATION
METHOD AND APPARATUS," now U.S. Pat. No. 10,291,577, which claims
the benefit as a continuation under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 15/094,935, filed on Apr. 8, 2016 and
entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS," now U.S. Pat. No.
9,596,581, which claims the benefit as a continuation under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/572,678,
filed on Dec. 16, 2014 and entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND
APPARATUS," now U.S. Pat. No. 9,326,130, which claims the benefit
as a divisional under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/540,696, filed on Sep. 29, 2006 and
entitled "COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS," now U.S. Pat. No.
9,338,644, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to
Japanese Patent Application JP 2005-301720, filed in the Japanese
Patent Office on Oct. 17, 2005, each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to communication apparatuses,
such as wireless terminals or cellular phone terminals, and to
communication methods performed between communication
apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] In social network services (SNS), such as Mixi or Gree,
communities constituted by so-called acquaintances of acquaintances
(friends of friends) are formed.
[0004] Concerning acquaintances of acquaintances, as a matching
information retrieval method, a method is described in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-169918. In this
method, in order to retrieve information that matches conditions
requested by a user from among various types of information stored
in a computer system and to provide the retrieved information to
the user, a server system retrieves information owned by an
acquaintance of the user or owned by an acquaintance of an
acquaintance of the user and provides the retrieved information to
the user.
[0005] However, in the method described in Japanese Unexamined
Patent Application Publication No. 2002-169918, although a user is
able to acquire information owned by an acquaintance of an
acquaintance of the user, the user is not able to directly
communicate with the acquaintance of the acquaintance of the user
(that is, a person who knows an acquaintance of the user).
[0006] For certain purposes, many users want to communicate with
other people who are not immediate acquaintances. For example, when
people who are not immediately acquainted with each other pass by
each other or get close to each other outside home or at travel
destinations, if they are able to directly communicate with each
other, new encounters and experiences can be realized.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is desirable to provide a simple method and apparatus
allowing people who are not immediately acquainted with each other
to directly and easily communicate with each other.
[0008] A communication method according to an embodiment of the
present invention includes the steps of transmitting, by means of a
first communication apparatus, personal information to a second
communication apparatus; receiving, by means of the second
communication apparatus, the personal information and searching, by
means of the second communication apparatus, whether or not
personal information having the same content as the received
personal information exists in the second communication apparatus;
and notifying, by means of the second communication apparatus, the
first communication apparatus of a search result.
[0009] According to the communication method configured as
described above, for example, when the name or address of an
acquaintance of a first user (a user of a first communication
apparatus) exists as personal information in the first
communication apparatus and the name or address of an acquaintance
of a second user (a user of a second communication apparatus)
exists as personal information in the second communication
apparatus, a result of search of whether or not a mutual (common)
acquaintance between the first and second users exists is acquired
by the second communication apparatus. When there is a mutual
acquaintance between the first and second users, the first and
second users are able to directly perform the subsequent
communication with each other by requesting the subsequent
communication from one of the first and second communication
apparatuses to the other one of the first and second communication
apparatuses.
[0010] In addition, for example, when the name of a company to
which the first user belongs or a school to which the first user
belonged exists as personal information in the first communication
apparatus and a company to which the second user belongs or a
school to which the second user belonged exists as personal
information in the second communication apparatus, a search result
of whether or not the first and second users belong to the same
company or whether or not the first and second users belonged to
the same school is acquired by the second communication apparatus.
When the first and second users belong to the same company or
belonged to the same school, the first and second users are able to
directly perform the subsequent communication with each other by
requesting the subsequent communication from one of the first and
second communication apparatuses to the other one of the first and
second communication apparatuses.
[0011] As described above, users who are not immediately acquainted
with each other are able to directly and easily communicate with
each other using a simple method and apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows an example of a wireless terminal according to
the embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows part of an example of a communication process
according to a first method;
[0015] FIG. 4 shows part of the example of the communication
process according to the first method;
[0016] FIGS. 5A and 5B show part of the example of the
communication process according to the first method;
[0017] FIG. 6 shows an example of setting of disclosure or
nondisclosure;
[0018] FIG. 7 shows an example of a case where the degree of
similarity of personal information is detected; and
[0019] FIG. 8 shows an example of a system when communication is
performed via a network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] A first embodiment of the present invention (a case where
short-distance wireless communication is performed) will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
[0021] The outline of a communication apparatus and a communication
method will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of a communication system according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] Wireless terminals 1a, 1b, and 1c are capable of directly
transferring information between each other within a predetermined
distance from each other via wireless communication, such as Ad-hoc
communication.
[0024] Thus, each of the wireless terminals 1a, 1b, and 1c may
serve as a requesting terminal or a responding terminal. In the
following descriptions, however, a case where the wireless terminal
1a used by a user A serves as a requesting terminal, wireless
terminals 1b and 1c used by users B and C serve as responding
terminals, and the wireless terminal 1a requests the wireless
terminals 1b and 1c to perform communication will be described.
[0025] The wireless terminal 1a holds, as personal information, the
names or addresses of acquaintances of the user A in an internal or
external storage device. The wireless terminal 1b also holds, as
personal information, the names or addresses of acquaintances of
the user B in a similar storage device. The wireless terminal 1c
also holds, as personal information, the names or addresses of
acquaintances of the user C in a similar storage device.
[0026] An "acquaintance" represents a friend, a family member, a
relative, or a so-called someone who a person knows. A "name"
serving as personal information may include a surname and forename,
such as "Yamashita Ichiro", may be only a surname, such as
"Yamashita", or only a forename, such as "Ichiro". Alternatively, a
"name" may be a common name or a nickname. An address serving as
personal information is information other than the name, such as a
mail address or a telephone number, which identifies a person.
[0027] For example, the wireless terminal 1a holds, as the names of
acquaintances of the user A, "Yamashita", "Yamada", "Yamaguchi",
and "Yamamoto". The wireless terminal 1b holds, as the names of
acquaintances of the user B, "Kishita", "Kida", "Minakuchi", and
"Mizukami". The wireless terminal 1c holds, as the names of
acquaintances of the user C, "Ueda", "Ueki", "Shimoyama", and
"Yamashita".
[0028] In the system shown in FIG. 1, when the wireless terminal 1a
(the user A) enters an area 2b within a predetermined distance from
the wireless terminal 1b (the user B), the wireless terminal 1a is
capable of transmitting to the wireless terminal 1b the names of
the acquaintances of the user A held in the wireless terminal 1a
with the recognition of the existence of the wireless terminal 1b.
When the wireless terminal 1a (the user A) enters an area 2c within
a predetermined distance from the wireless terminal 1c (the user
C), the wireless terminal 1a is capable of transmitting to the
wireless terminal 1c the names of the acquaintances of the user A
held in the wireless terminal 1a with the recognition of the
existence of the wireless terminal 1c.
[0029] The wireless terminals 1b and 1c each receive the names of
the acquaintances of the user A from the wireless terminal 1a, and
search whether or not the names exist in the wireless terminals 1b
and 1c. Then, the wireless terminals 1b and 1c notify the wireless
terminal 1a of results.
[0030] In the example shown in FIG. 1, none of the names
transmitted from the wireless terminal 1a exists in the wireless
terminal 1b. Thus, the wireless terminal 1b transmits to the
wireless terminal 1a a message, such as "No mutual acquaintance
exists." In contrast, the name "Yamashita", which is transmitted
from the wireless terminal 1a, exists in the wireless terminal 1c.
Thus, the wireless terminal 1c transmits to the wireless terminal
1a a message, such as "I know Mr./Ms. Yamashita."
[0031] The wireless terminal 1a receives the messages from the
wireless terminals 1b and 1c, and presents to the user A the
details of the messages, that is, search results acquired by the
wireless terminals 1b and 1c. Thus, the user A of the wireless
terminal 1a is able to know that the user A and the user B of the
wireless terminal 1b do not have a mutual acquaintance and that the
user A and the user C of the wireless terminal 1c have (or may
have) a mutual acquaintance. In accordance with the search results,
the user A is able to request the user C to perform communication
between the wireless terminals 1a and 1c.
[0032] As a specific communication method between the wireless
terminal 1a and each of the wireless terminals 1b and 1c, the
method described below can be adopted.
[0033] An example of a wireless terminal will be described with
reference to FIG. 2.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows an example of each of the wireless terminals
1a, 1b, and 1c. The wireless terminals 1a, 1b, and 1c may have the
same configuration. In the example shown in FIG. 2, each of the
wireless terminals 1a, 1b, and 1c is capable of playing back
music.
[0035] More specifically, a wireless terminal used in the
above-mentioned system, such as each of the wireless terminals 1a,
1b, and 1c, includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11. A
read-only memory (ROM) 13 in which a program or data is written and
a random-access memory (RAM) 14 to which a program or data is
loaded are connected to a bus 12.
[0036] In addition, a recording medium 16 is connected to the bus
12 via an interface 15, and an operation input unit 19 is connected
to the bus 12 via an interface 18. The recording medium 16 is a
hard disk, a flash memory, or the like. An apparatus ID
(identifier) that identifies the terminal, a program executable by
the CPU 11, music data, other types of data, the above-mentioned
personal information, and the like are recorded on the recording
medium 16. The operation input unit 19 is provided for a user to
perform an operation and input to the terminal.
[0037] In addition, an audio output unit 22 including a speaker and
a headphone is connected to the bus 12 via an audio processor 21. A
display unit 24, such as a liquid crystal display, is connected to
the bus 12 via a display controller 23. Playback music and voice
announcement is output from the audio output unit 22. A screen used
for an operation input or setting, a search result of personal
information, a response (permission) to a communication request,
and the like are indicated on the display unit 24.
[0038] In addition, an antenna 27 is connected to the bus 12 via a
wireless communication unit 26, and an external interface 29 for
connecting to a network 7, such as the Internet, is connected to
the bus 12. The wireless communication unit 26 and the antenna 27
perform the above-mentioned short-distance wireless communication
(direct wireless communication within a predetermined
distance).
[0039] A content distribution server 31 is connected to the network
7. A content database 32 is connected to the content distribution
server 31. In response to a request received from the terminal via
the network 7, the content distribution server 31 transmits music
data stored in the content database 32 to the terminal via the
network 7. The transmitted music data is downloaded to the
recording medium 16 of the terminal.
[0040] A personal information management server 33 is connected to
the network 7. A personal information database 34 is connected to
the personal information management server 33. In response to a
request received from the terminal via the network 7, the personal
information management server 33 transmits to the terminal via the
network 7 personal information belonging to the user of the
terminal and stored in the personal information database 34. The
transmitted personal information is recorded on the recording
medium 16 or the RAM 14 of the terminal.
[0041] That is, in this example, each wireless terminal does not
necessarily hold the above-mentioned personal information. When a
user intends to communicate with another user via the
above-mentioned short-distance wireless communication, the terminal
is connected to the personal information management server 33.
Thus, the terminal is capable of receiving from the personal
information management server 33 personal information deposited in
the personal information management server 33 and holding the
received personal information in the terminal.
[0042] In addition, each wireless terminal used in this example may
also have a function of a cellular phone terminal. In this case,
personal information is stored in a server of a cellular phone
service company or a management service company. Thus, the system
may be configured such that, in response to a request received from
a terminal via a cellular phone communication network, the server
is capable of transmitting via the cellular phone communication
network to the terminal personal information belonging to the user
of the terminal.
[0043] Examples of communication methods will be described with
reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5A, and 5B.
[0044] As a communication method or procedure, a method can be
adopted in which a requesting terminal transmits to a responding
terminal personal information stored in the requesting terminal and
queries the responding terminal as to whether or not the same
personal information as the personal information transmitted from
the requesting terminal exists in the responding terminal and in
which, in response to the query, the responding terminal searches
whether or not the same personal information as the personal
information transmitted from the requesting terminal exists in the
responding terminal and notifies the requesting terminal of a
search result. This method is called a first method.
[0045] Alternatively, another method can be adopted in which a
requesting terminal requests a responding terminal to transmit
personal information existing in the responding terminal and
searches whether or not the same personal information as the
personal information transmitted, in response to the request, from
the responding terminal exists in the requesting terminal. This
method is called a second method.
[0046] According to the first method, when the names of a plurality
of acquaintances of the user of the requesting terminal exist as
personal information in the requesting terminal, the requesting
terminal may sequentially transmit the plurality of names to the
responding terminal until the requesting terminal receives from the
responding terminal a report indicating that the same name as a
name transmitted from the requesting terminal exists in the
responding terminal. However, the requesting terminal may
collectively transmit the plurality of names to the responding
terminal so that the responding terminal can perform searching by a
single operation.
[0047] In addition, according to the second method, when the names
of a plurality of acquaintances of the user of the responding
terminal exist as personal information in the responding terminal,
the responding terminal may sequentially transmit the plurality of
names to the requesting terminal until the responding terminal
receives from the requesting terminal a report indicating that the
same name as a name transmitted from the responding terminal exists
in the requesting terminal. However, the responding terminal may
collectively transmit the plurality of names to the requesting
terminal so that the requesting terminal can perform searching by a
single operation.
[0048] In addition, the system can be configured such that, when
personal information is received from the requesting terminal in
the first method or when a request to transmit personal information
is received from the requesting terminal in the second method, the
responding terminal indicates on the display unit 24 of the
responding terminal a message indicating that the personal
information is received from the requesting terminal or a message
indicating that the request to transmit the personal information is
received from the requesting terminal and presents the message to
the user of the responding terminal and such that, when the user is
not able to accept the subsequent communication or when the user
does not want to accept the subsequent communication, the
responding terminal is capable of inhibiting searching for personal
information or transmission of personal information by
disconnecting the communication with the requesting terminal or by
transmitting a message indicating that the communication with the
requesting terminal is not acceptable in accordance with an
operation of the operation input unit 19 of the responding
terminal.
[0049] Examples of communication processes performed by the
wireless terminal 1a serving as the requesting terminal and the
wireless terminal 1x serving as the responding terminal in
accordance with the first and second methods will be described. The
wireless terminal 1x has the same configuration as the wireless
terminal 1a shown in FIG. 2. A user X represents a user of the
wireless terminal 1x.
[0050] A communication process according to the first method will
be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5A, and 5B.
[0051] FIGS. 3, 4, 5A, and 5B show an example of the communication
process performed by the CPU 11 of each of the wireless terminals
1a and 1x according to the first method.
[0052] In the communication process in this example, in a state
where each of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x is started up, the
wireless terminal 1a determines whether or not a destination
terminal is found in step S41. When the wireless terminal 1a enters
an area within a predetermined distance from the wireless terminal
1x (or the wireless terminal 1x enters an area within a
predetermined distance from the wireless terminal 1a), the wireless
terminal 1a finds the wireless terminal 1x as a destination
terminal. In step S42, the wireless terminal 1a transmits to the
wireless terminal 1x the names of acquaintances of the user A.
[0053] Here, the wireless terminal 1a adds a routine message, such
as "Is there anyone you know?"
[0054] In step S61, the wireless terminal 1x receives the names. In
step S62, the wireless terminal 1x indicates a message, such as
"There is a request from the user A of the wireless terminal 1a
that the user A would like to talk with someone who the user A
knows," which indicates that the names are received.
[0055] In step S63, the wireless terminal 1x searches whether or
not the same name as a name transmitted from the wireless terminal
1a exists in the wireless terminal 1x. In step S64, it is
determined whether or not the same name as a name transmitted from
the wireless terminal 1a exists in the wireless terminal 1x in
accordance with a search result.
[0056] If it is determined in step S64 that the same name does not
exist, the wireless terminal 1x proceeds to step S65. In step S65,
the wireless terminal 1x indicates a message, such as "There is no
mutual acquaintance." In step S66, similarly, the wireless terminal
1x notifies the wireless terminal 1a of a message, such as "There
is no mutual acquaintance,".
[0057] In contrast, if it is determined in step S64 that the same
name as a name transmitted from the wireless terminal 1a exists in
the wireless terminal 1x, the wireless terminal 1x proceeds to step
S67. In step S67, the wireless terminal 1x indicates a message,
such as "I have an acquaintance called Mr./Ms. AAA." In step S68,
similarly, the wireless terminal 1x notifies the wireless terminal
1a of a massage, such as "I have an acquaintance called Mr./Ms.
AAA,".
[0058] After transmitting the names of the acquaintances of the
user A in step S42, the wireless terminal 1a receives the report
from the wireless terminal 1x in step S43. Then, in step S44, the
wireless terminal 1a determines whether or not the report indicates
presence of an acquaintance having the same name as a name
transmitted from the wireless terminal 1a.
[0059] If it is determined in step S44 that the report received
from the wireless terminal 1x indicates presence of an acquaintance
having the same name as a name transmitted from the wireless
terminal 1a, the wireless terminal 1a proceeds to step S45. In step
S45, the wireless terminal 1a requests the wireless terminal 1x to
perform the subsequent communication.
[0060] This request is issued by transmitting a routine message,
such as "I also know Mr./Ms. AAA. Would you like to talk with
me?"
[0061] After transmitting the message, such as "I have an
acquaintance called Mr./Ms. AAA," to the wireless terminal 1a in
step S68, the wireless terminal 1x receives the request from the
wireless terminal 1a in step S71. Then, in step S72, the wireless
terminal 1x indicates that the request has been received.
[0062] The user X instructs the wireless terminal 1x to perform or
not to perform the subsequent communication in accordance with an
operation of the operation input unit 19 of the wireless terminal
1x.
[0063] After indicating the reception of the request in step S72,
the wireless terminal 1x determines whether or not to perform the
subsequent communication in accordance with an instruction from the
user X in step S73. If it is determined in step S73 that the
subsequent communication should not be performed, the wireless
terminal 1x proceeds to step S74. In step S74, the wireless
terminal 1x notifies the wireless terminal 1a that the subsequent
communication should not be performed. If it is determined in step
S73 that the subsequent communication should be performed, the
wireless terminal 1x proceeds to step S75. In step S75, the
wireless terminal 1x notifies the wireless terminal 1a that the
subsequent communication should be performed.
[0064] After requesting the wireless terminal 1x to perform the
subsequent communication in step S45, the wireless terminal 1a
receives the report from the wireless terminal 1x in step S46.
Then, in step S47, the wireless terminal 1a determines whether or
not the report indicates acceptance of the subsequent
communication.
[0065] If it is determined in step S47 that the report received
from the wireless terminal 1x indicates acceptance of the
subsequent communication, the wireless terminal 1a proceeds to step
S48. In step S48, the wireless terminal 1a communicates with the
wireless terminal 1x. Then, in step S49, the wireless terminal 1a
determines whether or not to terminate the communication. If it is
determined in step S49 that the communication should not be
terminated, the wireless terminal 1a returns to step S48 to
continue the communication with the wireless terminal 1x.
[0066] In addition, after transmitting the report indicating the
acceptance of the subsequent communication in step S75, the
wireless terminal 1x proceeds to step S76. In step S76, the
wireless terminal 1x communicates with the wireless terminal 1a.
Then, in step S77, the wireless terminal 1x determines whether or
not to terminate the communication. If it is determined in step S77
that the communication should not be terminated, the wireless
terminal 1x returns to step S76 to continue the communication with
the wireless terminal 1a.
[0067] In the communication between the wireless terminals 1a and
1x in the processing of steps S48 and S76, the users A and X are
capable of performing communication, as described later, such as
exchange of messages and transmission of music data from one of the
wireless terminals 1a and 1x to the other one of the wireless
terminals 1a and 1x so that the users of the wireless terminals 1a
and 1x can listen to the same music together.
[0068] If it is determined in step S49 or step S77 that the
communication should be terminated in accordance with a termination
operation performed by the user A or the user X, the wireless
terminal 1a or 1x performs processing for terminating the
communication with the wireless terminal 1x or 1a and then
terminates the communication in step S51 or step S79.
[0069] When it is determined in step S44 that the report received
from the wireless terminal 1x indicates that there is no
acquaintance having the same name or when it is determined in step
S47 that the report received from the wireless terminal 1x
indicates that the subsequent communication should be rejected, the
wireless terminal 1a proceeds to step S51. In step S51, after
performing processing for terminating the communication with the
wireless terminal 1x, the wireless terminal 1a terminates the
communication with the wireless terminal 1x.
[0070] In addition, after transmitting to the wireless terminal 1a
the report indicating that there is no acquaintance having the same
name in step S66 or after transmitting to the wireless terminal 1a
the report indicating that the subsequent communication should be
rejected, the wireless terminal 1x proceeds to step S79.
[0071] In step S79, after performing processing for terminating the
communication with the wireless terminal 1a, the wireless terminal
1x terminates the communication with the wireless terminal 1a.
[0072] Although an example of the process performed by the wireless
terminals 1a and 1x in accordance with the first method has been
described above, each of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x may be
configured to perform a process that is different from the
above-described process.
[0073] For example, each of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x may be
configured such that, when the user X instructs termination of
communication after the wireless terminal 1x indicates in step S62
that a search request has been received from the wireless terminal
1a, the wireless terminal 1x is capable of terminating the
communication with the wireless terminal 1a after reporting to the
wireless terminal 1a that the wireless terminal 1x does not accept
the request.
[0074] In addition, each of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x may be
configured such that, even in a case where a report indicating that
there is no acquaintance of the same name is received from the
wireless terminal 1x, when the user A instructs a request for the
subsequent communication, the wireless terminal 1a is capable of
requesting the wireless terminal 1x to perform the subsequent
communication.
[0075] A communication process according to the second method will
be described.
[0076] In the second method, a process performed by the wireless
terminals 1a and 1x is basically the same as the process according
to the first method with the exception that, when the wireless
terminal 1a, which is a requesting terminal, requests the wireless
terminal 1x, which is a responding terminal, to transmit the names
of acquaintances of the user X existing in the wireless terminal 1x
and the wireless terminal 1x transmits, in response to the request,
to the wireless terminal 1a the names of the acquaintances of the
user X existing in the wireless terminal 1x, the wireless terminal
1a searches whether or not the same name as a name transmitted from
the wireless terminal 1x exists in the wireless terminal 1a and
notifies the wireless terminal 1x of a search result.
[0077] Communication between users will be described.
[0078] In the first method, communication after a request is
received (that is, the subsequent communication) performed in steps
S48 and S76 in FIGS. 5A and 5B includes exchange of messages,
transmission of music data from one of the wireless terminals 1a
and 1x to the other one of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x so that
users of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x can listen to the same
music together, and the like.
[0079] When each of the wireless terminals 1a and 1x is provided
with a microphone and has a function to transmit voice of a user
picked up by the microphone to a destination terminal via the
above-mentioned short-distance communication, conversation (talk)
can be performed between the users A and X.
[0080] Disclosure/nondisclosure of personal information will be
described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0081] As personal information, apart from the name of an
acquaintance of a user, the address of the acquaintance can be
used.
[0082] Firstly, however, the name and address of an acquaintance of
a user is personal information of the acquaintance of the user
(that is, the person who the user knows). Thus, in terms of
protection of personal information, it is necessary to acquire
permission of the acquaintance for disclosure of the name and
address of the acquaintance (transmission of the name and address
of the acquaintance to another user).
[0083] Thus, a user is able to set disclosure or nondisclosure of
the name and address of an acquaintance of the user.
[0084] FIG. 6 shows an example when a user sets disclosure or
nondisclosure of personal information. In the example shown in FIG.
6, in the requesting wireless terminal 1a, "Yamashita", "Yamada",
"Yamaguchi", and "Yamamoto" exist as disclosable names of
acquaintances of the user A, and "Nakata", "Nakamura", "Ueda", and
"Morita" exist as non-disclosable names of acquaintances of the
user A. In addition, in the responding wireless terminal 1x,
"Ueda", "Ueki", "Shimoyama", and "Shimoda" exist as disclosable
names of acquaintances of the user X, and "Shimomura", "Muzuki",
"Mizumori", and "Yamashita" exist as non-disclosable names of
acquaintances of the user X.
[0085] In this case, only the names of acquaintances that can be
disclosed are transmitted to a destination terminal. More
specifically, in the first method, in step S42 in FIG. 3, the
wireless terminal 1a transmits to the wireless terminal 1x only the
names that can be disclosed (that is, "Yamashita", "Yamada",
"Yamaguchi", and "Yamamoto") as the names of acquaintances of the
user A. In addition, in the second method, in response to a
transmission request from the wireless terminal 1a, the wireless
terminal 1x transmits to the wireless terminal 1a only the names
that can be disclosed (that is, "Ueda", "Ueki", "Shimoyama", and
"Shimoda") as the names of acquaintances of the user X.
[0086] In contrast, personal information that is not disclosable
can also be included in targets for searching performed by a
searching terminal. That is, in the first method, in step S63 in
FIG. 3, search is performed for all the names of acquaintances of
the user X existing in the wireless terminal 1x. In the second
method, search is performed for all the names of acquaintances of
the user A existing in the wireless terminal 1a.
[0087] Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 6, in the first method,
as a name that is equal to one of the names ("Yamashita", "Yamada",
"Yamaguchi", and "Yamamoto") transmitted from the wireless terminal
1a, presence of the name "Yamashita", which is not disclosable, is
detected in the wireless terminal 1x. In the second method, as a
name that is equal to one of the names ("Ueda", "Ueki",
"Shimoyama", and "Shimoda") transmitted from the wireless terminal
1x, presence of the name "Ueda", which is not disclosable, is
detected in the wireless terminal 1a.
[0088] Each wireless terminal may be configured such that, when, in
the first method, presence of a name that is not disclosable is
detected in the wireless terminal 1x, a message indicating
nondisclosure is displayed in step S67 in FIG. 3, and the user X is
able to carry out approximate measures, such as rejection of the
subsequent communication. In addition, each wireless terminal may
be configured such that, when, in the second method, presence of a
name that is not disclosable is detected in the wireless terminal
1a, a user is able to perform similar processing.
[0089] Personal information is not necessarily limited to the name
or address of an acquaintance of a user of a terminal. Information
indicating an item relating to the user of the terminal may be used
as personal information.
[0090] The use of information indicating an item relating to a user
of a terminal is not useful for communication between acquaintances
of acquaintances. However, the use of information indicating an
item relating to a user of a terminal may serve as a trigger of
communication between people who are not immediately acquainted
with each other, thus facilitating communication.
[0091] More specifically, information indicating an item relating
to a user is, for example, (a) the name of a company, a school, a
group, a section, a municipality, or the like that the user belongs
to or belonged to, (b) a hobby or taste of the user, (c) a music
category, a singer, or a song the user likes, or the like.
[0092] Accordingly, for example, in a case where "Taro" exists in
the wireless terminal 1a as the name of a singer the user A likes
and "Taro" exists in the wireless terminal 1x as the name of a
signer the user X likes, when the users A and X enter an area of a
predetermined distance from each other, the fact that both the
users A and X like the singer "Taro" brings an opportunity of
communication between the users A and X. Thus, the users A and X
are capable of communicating with each other.
[0093] The degree of similarity of personal information will be
described with reference to FIG. 7.
[0094] For determination of whether or not personal information
existing in a requesting terminal and personal information existing
in a responding terminal are equal to each other (or common), it is
desirable that, instead of alternatively determining individual
personal information as described above, the degree of similarity
between the entire personal information existing in the requesting
terminal and the entire personal information existing in the
responding terminal be detected as a level (value).
[0095] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, as the names of
acquaintances of the user A, names "Yamashita", "Yamada",
"Yamaguchi", and "Yamamoto" exist in the requesting wireless
terminal 1a. In addition, as the names of acquaintances of the user
X, names "Ueda", "Ueki", "Shimoyama", and "Yamashita" exist in the
responding wireless terminal 1x, as shown by case 1, or names
"Yamada", "Ueki", "Shimoyama", and "Yamashita" exist in the
responding wireless terminal 1x, as shown by case 2. In this case,
all the above-given names are disclosable.
[0096] In case 1, since only the name "Yamashita" exists both in
the wireless terminals 1a and 1x, the degree of similarity is set
to level 1. In case 2, since the names "Yamada" and "Yamashita"
exist both in the wireless terminals 1a and 1x, the degree of
similarity is set to level 2.
[0097] The degree of similarity detected as described above may be
used for selection of whether or not the subsequent communication
should be performed and for determination of a target or a mode of
the subsequent communication.
[0098] For example, each wireless terminal may be configured such
that, in the first method, when the degree of similarity is also
detected in step S64 in FIG. 3 and the same name exists, the degree
of similarity is indicated in step S67 in FIG. 3 or immediately
before step S45 in FIG. 4, and such that selection of whether or
not to request the subsequent communication can be performed in
accordance with the degree of similarity. More specifically, for
example, when the degree of similarity is low, such as level 1, the
user X rejects the subsequent communication. Alternatively, only
when the degree of similarity is high, such as level 2 or more, the
user A requests the subsequent communication, and when the degree
of similarity is low, such as level 1, the user A does not request
the subsequent communication. A similar configuration is applied to
the second method.
[0099] In addition, each wireless terminal may be configured such
that a user instruction is set for the wireless terminal in advance
and such that, in the process of communication, the wireless
terminal is capable of determining whether or not communication
should be continued and whether or not a request is issued in
accordance with settings.
[0100] A target or a mode of the subsequent communication is
changed in accordance with selection or setting performed by a
user. More specifically, when the degree of similarity is smaller
than a threshold value, a target or a mode of communication is
changed, for example, (a) although messages are exchanged,
transmission or reception of music data in order to listen to the
same music together or conversation (talk) is not performed or (b)
although the same music is listened together, only one track is
listened, in accordance with the degree of similarity.
[0101] A second embodiment of the present invention (a case where
communication via a network is performed) will be described with
reference to FIG. 8.
[0102] As a first example, communication using a cellular phone
communication network will be described.
[0103] Although a case where a communication apparatus used by a
user is a wireless terminal and the communication apparatus
communicates with a communication apparatus (wireless terminal)
used by another user via short-distance wireless communication is
described in the first embodiment, the communication apparatus may
be a cellular phone terminal and the communication apparatus may
communicate with another communication apparatus (cellular phone
terminal) via a cellular phone communication network.
[0104] Each of the wireless terminals 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1x shown in
FIG. 2 is capable of having a function of a cellular phone terminal
in the first embodiment. However, in the first embodiment,
communication between users is performed using a short-distance
wireless communication function provided in each wireless
terminal.
[0105] In contrast, in the first example of the second embodiment,
a communication apparatus is a cellular phone terminal that does
not have a short-distance wireless communication function. Thus,
the above-described communication between users is performed using
a cellular phone communication network.
[0106] In this case, even when a user of a requesting cellular
phone terminal does not know a user of a responding cellular phone
terminal, if the user of the requesting cellular phone terminal
knows the address of the responding cellular phone terminal, the
requesting cellular phone terminal is capable of being connected to
the responding cellular phone terminal via a cellular phone
communication network. Thus, the user of the requesting cellular
phone terminal is capable of performing the above-described
communication with the user of the responding cellular phone
terminal.
[0107] As a second example, communication using the Internet will
be described.
[0108] As the second example of communication using a network, a
communication apparatus used by a user may have a function to be
connected to the Internet and the communication apparatus may
communicate with a communication apparatus of another user via the
Internet.
[0109] FIG. 8 shows an example of a system in this case.
Communication apparatuses 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g used by the users D,
E, F, and G are connected to the Internet 9. In addition, the
personal information management server 33 is connected to the
Internet 9. The personal information database 34 is connected to
the personal information management server 33.
[0110] Names "Yamashita", "Yamada", "Yamaguchi", "Yamamoto",
"Miki", "Mita", and "Nakamura" exist as the names of acquaintances
of the user D in the communication apparatus 3d. Names "Mita",
"Nakamura", "Nakamori", "Morita", "Hayashi", and "Moriyama" exist
as the names of acquaintances of the user E in the communication
apparatus 3e. Names "Moriyama", Mizuki", "Mizumori", "Shimoyama",
"Shimoda", "Shimomura", "Uemura", and "Kanda" exist as the names of
acquaintances of the user F in the communication apparatus 3f.
Names "Uemura", "Shinagawa", "Kawada", "Kawaguchi", and "Ota" exist
as the names of acquaintances of the user G in the communication
apparatus 3g.
[0111] These names are not necessarily recorded on a communication
apparatus used by a user. The communication apparatus is capable of
acquiring these names from the personal information management
server 33 when the communication apparatus is connected to another
communication apparatus to transmit names existing in the
communication apparatus to the other communication apparatus, when
the other communication apparatus requests the communication
apparatus to transmit names existing in the communication
apparatus, or when the communication apparatus searches whether or
not the same name as a name transmitted from the other
communication apparatus exists in the communication apparatus.
[0112] In the example shown in FIG. 8, "Mita" and "Nakamura" are
mutual acquaintances between the users D and E, "Moriyama" is a
mutual acquaintance between the users E and F, and "Uemura" is a
mutual acquaintance between the users F and G. However, there is no
mutual acquaintance between the users D and F, between the users D
and G, or between the users E and G.
[0113] In this case, for example, even when the user D does not
know the user E, if the user D knows the address of the
communication apparatus 3e used by the user E, the communication
apparatus 3d is capable of being connected to the communication
apparatus 3e used by the user E. Thus, the user D is able to
perform the above-described communication with the user E.
[0114] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that
various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and
alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other
factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims
or the equivalents thereof.
* * * * *