 |
Claims  |
|
|
What is claimed is:
1. A multimedia communication system comprising:
terminals;
a multimedia server for sending to each of said terminals, when called up
thereby, multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and
images regarding merchandise; and
a public network for connecting said terminals to said multimedia server;
said multimedia server comprising:
information storage means for storing multimedia information on each of
merchandise items;
communication control means for controlling the transmission of information
between said multimedia server and said terminals via said public network;
bulletin board service means for transmitting said merchandise items from
said information storage means to said communication control means upon
request for a merchandise information look-up by one of said terminals,
said bulletin board service means further transmitting multimedia
information from said information storage means to said communication
control means in response to a detailed merchandise information request
entered by a user through one of said terminals;
ordering service means for receiving via said communication control means
quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered by a user through one
of said terminals and for entering what is ordered into a received order
master file while transcribing the received quantities and delivery times
of merchandise from said received order master file onto a slip, said
ordering service means further entering said slip into a received order
file after adding to said slip an address, name and user code number of
said user who placed the order; and
mail service means for transmitting slips held in said received order file
to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center via said communication
control means;
wherein:
a plurality of units of said multimedia server are installed at a plurality
of information providers dispersed at remote locations;
the multimedia server of a principal information provider integrating the
other information providers has means for transmitting to one of said
terminals said merchandise items of multimedia information supplemented
with the telephone number of one of the remotely located information
providers and the information request number corresponding to each
merchandise item, the remotely located information provider being a
provider capable of offering the multimedia information corresponding to
the merchandise information look-up request sent from the terminal in
question; and
each of said terminals has means for automatically dialing the telephone
number of the remotely located information provider corresponding to said
information request number.
2. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the
automatic dialing by one of said terminals takes place when the multimedia
server of said principal information provider is off-line.
3. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the
automatic dialing by one of said terminals takes place when the multimedia
server of said principal information provider is on-line.
4. A multimedia communication system comprising:
terminals;
a multimedia server for sending to each of said terminals, when called up
thereby, multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and
images regarding merchandise; and
a public network for connecting said terminals to said multimedia server;
said multimedia server comprising:
information storage means for storing multimedia information on each of
merchandise items;
communication control means for controlling the transmission of information
between said multimedia server and said terminals via said public network;
bulletin board service means for transmitting said merchandise items from
said information storage means to said communication control means upon
request for a merchandise information look-up by one of said terminals,
said bulletin board service means further transmitting multimedia
information from said information storage means to said communication
control means in response to a detailed merchandise information request
entered by a user through one of said terminals;
ordering service means for receiving via said communication control means
quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered by a user through one
of said terminals and for entering what is ordered into a received order
master file while transcribing the received quantities and delivery times
of merchandise from said received order master file onto a slip, said
ordering service means further entering said slip into a received order
file after adding to said slip an address, name and user code number of
said user who placed the order; and
mail service means for transmitting slips held in said ordering service
means to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center via said
communication control means,
wherein a plurality of units of said multimedia server are installed at a
plurality of information providers dispersed at remote locations; and
wherein the multimedia server of a principal information provider
integrating the other information providers and linking up with a
telephone exchange of said public network includes:
means for receiving a merchandise-specific information request number sent
from one of said terminals;
means for dialing in response to the telephone number of the multimedia
server at the information provider capable of providing multimedia
information to the terminal having sent the information request number;
means for transmitting to the connected multimedia server the telephone
number of said terminal and said information request number; and
means for transmitting to said terminal the merchandise items of multimedia
information supplemented with the telephone number of the multimedia
server at said principal information provider;
wherein each of said terminals has means for automatically dialing a
telephone number of said principal information provider; and
wherein each of the multimedia servers installed at the remotely located
information providers has means for transmitting multimedia information to
one of said terminals in accordance with the telephone number of the
terminal in question and with said information request number, the two
numbers having being sent from the multimedia server of said principal
information provider.
5. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein the
multimedia server of said principal information provider has a function
for automatically transmitting to said terminals, at a predetermined time,
said merchandise items of multimedia information supplemented with the
telephone number of one of the remotely located information providers and
the information request number corresponding to each merchandise item, the
remotely located information provider being a provider capable of offering
said multimedia information.
6. A multimedia communication system according to claim 5, wherein each of
said terminals has a function for altering said predetermined time for the
automatic transmission as desired.
7. A multimedia communication system according to claim 1, wherein each of
said terminals has a function for storing the telephone number being
dialed and the transmission timing regarding said telephone number, and
for transmitting the stored telephone number using said transmission
timing when said telephone number is redialed. |
|
 |
|
 |
Claims |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multimedia communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The multimedia communication system of this invention involves connecting a
multimedia server in a host computer to terminals such as personal
computers via a public network. On the public network, the multimedia
server supplies any of the terminals with multimedia information such as
photographs, text, voice and images when so ordered.
When ordering merchandise by telephone or by facsimile terminal (called the
fax terminal hereunder), users of conventional multimedia communication
systems typically look up previously mailed pamphlets and like material,
call up a center where the relevant multimedia server is installed, and
place the order using push-button signals or an OMR sheet in response to
voice instructions from a center operator. Alternatively, the user at a
display-telephone terminal linked up with the center refers to a displayed
merchandise item list in menu format, and enters an order menu of the
desired merchandise together with necessary quantities thereof.
With the above type of conventional systems, when any terminal links up
with the center for ordering through on-line search, the time for
maintaining connection with the center tends to be prolonged and result in
high communication fees. On the center's side, to provide users with
ordering information requires that pamphlets, sales promotion videotapes
and other marketing material be mailed to them in advance. The mailing
procedures take time and money while keeping the users from obtaining the
latest information in real time.
In addition, when a user with a push-phone terminal wants to utilize the
same service regularly, the same operations need to be carried out
repeatedly on the terminal which, at present, has yet to offer concurrent
and advance command input ranging from a telephone number to a service
code. The input operations impose time-consuming chores on the user. In
another case, a user's fax terminal with a redialing function calling up
the center may link up not with one of its fax terminals but with a
telephone terminal. With the connection established, the user's fax
terminal recognizes the other party's inability to communicate therewith
and disconnects the line. The redial-and-disconnect operation is repeated
until a predetermined redial count on the fax terminal expires. The
unnecessary attempts to link up are a waste of time and communication
fees.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia
communication system allowing users at their terminals to order
merchandise efficiently and permitting merchandise providers to deliver
the ordered merchandise efficiently.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
multimedia communication system comprising: terminals; a multimedia server
for sending to each of the terminals, when called up thereby, multimedia
information including photographs, text, voice and images regarding
merchandise; and a public network for connecting the terminals to the
multimedia server. The multimedia server includes: information storage
means for storing multimedia information on each of merchandise items;
communication control means for controlling the transmission of
information between the multimedia server and the terminals via the public
network; bulletin board service means for transmitting the merchandise
items from the information storage means to the communication control
means upon request for a merchandise information look-up by any of the
terminals, the bulletin board service means further transmitting
multimedia information from the information storage means to the
communication control means in response to a detailed merchandise
information request entered by a user through any of the terminals;
ordering service means for receiving via the communication control means
the quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered by a user through
any of the terminals and for entering what is ordered into a received
order master file while transcribing the received quantities and delivery
times of merchandise from the received order master file onto a slip, the
ordering service means further entering the slip into a received order
file after adding to the slip the address, name and user code number of
the user who placed the order; and mail service means for transmitting
slips held in the ordering service means to the terminal of a merchandise
delivery center via the communication control means.
The multimedia communication system of the above constitution connects
users at their terminals to the multimedia server via the public network.
The system allows the users to obtain in real time photographs, text,
voice and images regarding merchandise for ordering purposes, thereby
eliminating the need for the multimedia server to mail the merchandise
information such as pamphlets to the users. An information provider having
a multimedia server installed at its site can provide information in
response to specific orders without mailing beforehand to would-be buyers
merchandise information such as sales promotion videotapes. All this
amounts to appreciable savings of the time and fees associated with
mailing.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and
the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following
description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings
showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the operating principle of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the constitution of the inventive
multimedia communication system;
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a multimedia communication system
practiced as a first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram explaining how the first embodiment
operates;
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a multimedia communication system
practiced as a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is an operation sequence diagram explaining how the second
embodiment operates;
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a multimedia communication system
practiced as a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is an operation sequence diagram explaining how the third embodiment
operates;
FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a multimedia terminal applicable to
the first through the third embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 10 is an operation sequence diagram explaining how the terminal of
FIG. 9 operates.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the operating principle of this
invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 represents a terminal used by a
user for placing orders. The terminal may be any one of a fax terminal, a
video display terminal and a telephone set, or any combination of these
machines. Reference numeral 6 denotes a multimedia server installed at the
site of a merchandise information provider connected to the terminal 1 via
a public network 3. The multimedia server 6 provides any of the terminals
1 with multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and
images about the merchandise ordered by the user at that terminal 1.
What characterizes this invention is the following constitution of the
multimedia server 6: In the multimedia server 6, information storage means
14 stores multimedia information on each of available merchandise items.
Communication control means 7 controls the transmission of information
between the multimedia server 6 and the terminal 1 via the public network.
Bulletin board service means 8 transfers the merchandise items from the
information storage means 14 to the communication control means 7 in
response to a merchandise information look-up request from the terminal 1.
Furthermore, the bulletin board service means 8 sends multimedia
information from the information storage means 14 to the communication
control means 7 in response to a detailed merchandise information request
by a user having looked up the merchandise items from the terminal 1.
Ordering service means 9 receives via the communication control means 7 the
quantities and delivery times of merchandise ordered via the terminal 1,
enters what is ordered into a received order master file 15, transcribes
the quantities and delivery times of merchandise from the master file 15
onto a slip, and enters the slip into a received order file 16 after
adding to the slip the address, name and user code number of the user who
placed the order. Mail service means 10 transmits slips held in the
ordering service means 9 to the terminal of a merchandise delivery center
via the communication control means 7.
When a user of this inventive system wishes to look up information about
desired merchandise, the user first enters a merchandise information
look-up request through the terminal 1 to get the request transmitted to
the multimedia server 6. The merchandise information look-up request is
received by the bulletin board service means 8 via the communication
control means 7. In response, the bulletin board service means 8 reads the
merchandise items from the information storage means 14 and sends them to
the terminal 1 via the communication control means 7. Examining the
merchandise items thus transmitted, the user issues a detailed merchandise
information request on the desired merchandise via the terminal 1. The
request is sent to the multimedia server 6. Upon receipt of the detailed
information request on specific merchandise, the bulletin board service
means 8 accordingly retrieves the relevant multimedia information from the
information storage means 14. The retrieved multimedia information is sent
to the terminal 1 via the communication control means 7.
The multimedia information including photographs, text, voice and images
regarding the merchandise in question appears on a display of the terminal
1. At this point, the user places an order for the merchandise with the
center, the order being composed of the quantities and delivery times of
the merchandise. Concurrently the user enters his or her address, name and
user code number. The ordering service means 9 receives the ordered
quantities and delivery times of merchandise via the communication control
means 7, stores what is received into the received order master file 15,
transcribes the stored quantities and delivery times from the master file
15 onto a slip, and enters the slip into the received order file 16 after
adding to the slip the address, name and user code number of the user who
placed the order. The slip is retrieved from the received order file 16 by
the mail service means 10 and transmitted to the terminal of the
merchandise delivery center via the communication control means 7.
By accessing the multimedia server 6 from the terminal 1 via the public
network 3, the user acquires information about desired merchandise
including photographs, text, voice and images in real time and may place
an order with the server if desired. There is no need for the multimedia
server 6 to mail merchandise information such as pamphlets to the user. An
information provider having a multimedia server 6 installed at its site
provides information in response to specific orders without mailing
beforehand to users merchandise information such as sales promotion
videotapes. These features combine to eliminate the time and fees
traditionally associated with mailing.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view outlining the constitution of a multimedia
communication system practiced as the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a multimedia server made up of a
host computer of the multimedia communication system in FIG. 2. Of the
parts in FIGS. 2 and 3, those already shown in FIG. 1 are designated by
like reference numerals. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 represents a
multimedia terminal such as a fax terminal, a video display terminal or a
telephone set, or any combination of these machines. Reference numeral 2
denotes a host computer installed at the site of a multimedia
communication center acting as a merchandise provider. Reference numeral 3
is a public network that connects the multimedia terminal 1 to the host
computer 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the host computer 2 comprises a multimedia
console 5 and a multimedia server 6. The multimedia server 6 includes: a
multimedia communication control unit 7; a bulletin board service unit 8;
an ordering service unit 9; a mail service unit 10; a merchandise
information unit 14 accommodating text information 11, image information
12 and voice information 13; a received order master file 15; and received
order file (mail box) 16.
The multimedia communication control unit 7 controls the transmission of
information between the multimedia terminal 1 and the multimedia server 6,
and allows media to be switched on the same call during communication. The
bulletin board service unit 8 has two functions. One function accesses
merchandise information in the merchandise information unit 14 and sends
the retrieved information to the multimedia communication control unit 7
so that a user may look up the merchandise information through the
multimedia terminal 1. The other function of the bulletin board service
unit 8 transmits merchandise information from the multimedia console 5 to
the merchandise information unit 14.
The ordering service unit 9 also has two functions. One function writes to
the received order master file 15 the order data entered through the
multimedia terminal 1. The other function of the ordering service unit 9
transcribes the order data onto a slip (in horizontal writing format) and
enters the slip into the received order file 16. The received order master
file 15 stores the order data. The mail service unit 10 transfers files
(i.e., slips) from the received order file 16 to a merchandise delivery
center, not shown. The received order file 16 stores the slips. The
multimedia console 5 is a terminal located on the side of the center and
allows merchandise information to be entered into the server of the
center.
Described below with reference to FIG. 4 is how the first embodiment
operates to permit execution of merchandise ordering and delivering
services. First, as indicated by reference numeral 18 in FIG. 4, a user
calls the center from the multimedia terminal 1 to log in. Then as
indicated by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 4, the multimedia terminal 1
outputs a look-up request for merchandise list information. With the
merchandise information look-up request received by the multimedia
communication control unit 7, the bulletin board service unit 8 sends text
information 11 from the merchandise information unit 14 to the multimedia
terminal 1 as indicated by reference numeral 22 in FIG. 4.
Then as indicated by reference numeral 24 in FIG. 4, the user enters a
detailed information request into the multimedia terminal 1. The
information request is sent to the multimedia communication control unit 7
as indicated by reference numeral 25 in FIG. 3. In response, the bulletin
board service unit 8 retrieves multimedia information including text
information 11, image information 12 and voice information 13 from the
merchandise information unit 14, and transmits the retrieved information
to the multimedia terminal 1, as indicated by reference numeral 26.
At this point, the user recognizes the multimedia information and places an
order as indicated by reference numeral 28 in FIGS. 3 and 4. The order
includes the quantities and delivery times of desired merchandise. Given
the order, the ordering service unit 9 stores the ordered merchandise into
the received order master file 15. The stored information on the ordered
merchandise is transcribed onto a ruled slip by the ordering service unit
9. The slip is then stored in the received order file 16. The address,
name and user code number of the user who placed the order, all recognized
upon entry of the ordered merchandise into the received order master file
15, are stored along with the slip into the received order file 16. The
slip thus held in the received order file 16 is transferred to the
merchandise delivery center via the mail service unit 10 as indicated by
reference numeral 30.
In short, with the above multimedia communication system practiced as the
first embodiment, the multimedia server 6 in the multimedia communication
center keeps overall control on multimedia information edited into menu
format for display on the user's multimedia terminal 1 for efficient
selection of information. The selected item or items in the menu are
supplemented by the telephone number of the ordering terminal (i.e.,
multimedia terminal 1), the selection number or numbers, and a time stamp
and a timing in effect when the service is utilized. With the multimedia
terminal 1 connected to the multimedia communication center via a
telephone line, the user can acquire in real time multimedia information
on merchandise including photographs, text, voice and images through the
terminal that may be a fax machine, a video display terminal or a
telephone set, or any combination of these machines. There is no need for
the user to receive mailed merchandise information such as pamphlets from
the center.
A multimedia communication system practiced as the second embodiment of the
invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 5. The multimedia
communication system of FIG. 5 permits execution of merchandise ordering
and delivering services in a setup involving a plurality of multimedia
information providers dispersed at remote locations.
In FIG. 5, reference numerals 33, 34 and 35 denote small-scale retailers
each having a multimedia terminal 1 installed at the site thereof
(terminal 1 was discussed in connection with the first embodiment).
Reference numeral 36 represents a public network. A plurality of
multimedia information providers 37 and 38 are dispersed at remote
locations. A multimedia communication center 39 doubles as a multimedia
information provider and is established at the site of a business office
40. The multimedia information providers 37 and 38 are each furnished with
a multimedia server 6 (discussed in conjunction with the first
embodiment). A host computer 2 including the multimedia server 6 is
installed at the multimedia communication center 39.
The host computer 2 of the multimedia communication center 39 has a
function which receives a request for a new merchandise information
service from the multimedia terminal 1 of any one of the small-scale
retailers 33 through 35, and which in turn sends back to the terminal 1
new merchandise information items supplemented with two numbers: the
telephone number of the multimedia server 6 at the multimedia information
provider 37 or 38 capable of providing the new merchandise information
service, and an information request number corresponding to the new
merchandise. At the multimedia information provider 37 or 38, the
multimedia terminal 1 has a function which, given an entry of the
designated information request number corresponding to the new
merchandise, automatically dials the telephone number of the multimedia
information provider 37 or 38 corresponding to the designated number.
Described below with reference to FIG. 6 is how the second embodiment
operates to permit execution of merchandise ordering and delivering
services. Initially, as indicated by reference numeral 42, a user calls up
the center 39 from the multimedia terminal 1 to log in. Then as indicated
by reference numeral 43, the user sends an information service request
from the multimedia terminal 1 to the center 39. In response, the center
39 sends back to the multimedia terminal 1, as indicated by reference
numeral 44, new merchandise information items supplemented with two
numbers: the telephone number of the multimedia server 6 of the multimedia
information provider 37 or 38 capable of providing the new merchandise
information service corresponding to the received request, and an
information request number corresponding to the new merchandise. The
multimedia terminal 1 downloads the returned information.
Following the downloading, the user requests the multimedia terminal 1 to
cut off the line connection for the moment, as indicated by reference
numeral 45. Given the request from the terminal 1, the center 39 cuts off
the connection as indicated by reference numeral 46. With the line
disconnected, the user looks up the merchandise list in the downloaded
information and makes a detailed information request, as indicated by
reference numeral 47. The detailed information request is issued by
selecting and designating the information request number corresponding to
the new merchandise. With the information request number designated, the
telephone number corresponding to that request number is automatically
dialed. The call connects the terminal 1 to the multimedia information
provider 37 or 38 to put the detailed information request through to the
provider, as indicated by reference numeral 48. Specifically, a detailed
information request number is transferred by the request to the
information provider.
Upon receipt of the detailed information request number, the multimedia
information provider 37 or 38 accordingly searches through its database
(i.e., merchandise information unit 14), retrieves the detailed
merchandise information requested, and transmits the retrieved information
to the multimedia terminal 1 that issued the request, as indicated by
reference numeral 49. The user at the multimedia terminal 1 then places an
order of the merchandise on the basis of the detailed information by
following the same steps as those of the first embodiment described with
reference to FIG. 4.
The above-described series of steps for automatically reestablishing the
connection following the cut-off, for issuing the detailed information
request to the multimedia information provider 37 or 38, and for getting
the information provider to return the relevant detailed information may
be taken over by a media switching system proposed in Japanese Patent
Application No. H04-111091. The proposed media switching system allows the
above series of steps to be carried out without disconnecting the call
halfway, and the communication fees resulting from these steps are all
charged to the user's account.
The media switching system is a system that allows different media to be
switched without terminating the current call. Briefly, the system works
as follows: A first modem between a user's terminal and a telephone
exchange switches a personal computer, a fax terminal or a telephone set
of the user to the telephone exchange; and a second modem of a host
computer switches a data communication control unit or a fax/voice
communication control unit in the computer to the telephone exchange. The
switching operation of the second modem is controlled by a media switching
control unit. A personal computer communication control unit starts up the
media switching control unit at the start of data communication. A command
for switching from data communication to image communication causes the
fax terminal and the fax/voice communication control unit to be selected
to effect voice communication. A command for switching to the fax
communication protocol causes the personal computer and the data
communication control unit to be selected to effect data communication.
The above-described multimedia communication system practiced as the second
embodiment integrates a plurality of information providers dispersed at
remote locations as well as the multimedia communication center. A
multimedia terminal 1 downloads menu information from the center, searches
through the downloaded information on an off-line basis, and subsequently
places an order for necessary information. This reduces the communication
fees on the part of the terminal for connection to the center.
Alternatively, the terminal 1 may place an order on-line. Following the
search through the downloaded information, the user may select the item of
a multimedia information transmission request. This causes the relevant
multimedia information provider to be automatically called up, whereby the
dialing procedure is simplified.
Another multimedia communication system practiced as the third embodiment
of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Of
the parts in FIG. 7, those already shown in FIG. 5 in connection with the
second embodiment are represented by like reference numerals. Whereas the
second embodiment in FIG. 5 has the multimedia communication center
located at a business office, the third embodiment in FIG. 7 has a
multimedia communication center 39 located close to a telephone exchange
52 of a Tokyo central office 51. The telephone exchange 52 operates in
conjunction with the multimedia server 6 of the multimedia communication
center 39. A multimedia information provider 37 is located in Fukuoka, and
another multimedia information provider 38 in Osaka.
Although the same information as that discussed in connection with the
second embodiment is stored in the multimedia server 6 of the multimedia
communication center 39 in FIG. 7, steps are different for requesting from
the multimedia terminal 1 the downloading of an information providing
service. initially, a user at a terminal 1 accesses the center 39 to log
in, as indicated by reference numeral 55 in FIG. 8. With the call put
through, the user issues an information service request to the center 39
as indicated by reference numeral 56. At this point, information called a
"download request/detailed information transmission request" is
transmitted after being set for "download requested."
The multimedia communication center 39 identifies the transmitted
information, and sends a new merchandise information list of the
information providing service to the terminal 1, as indicated by reference
numeral 57. In this case, as opposed to the second embodiment, new
merchandise items are not supplemented by the telephone number of the
multimedia server 6 of any information provider. The telephone number
information consists of the telephone number of the multimedia
communication center 39 alone. This means that compared with the second
embodiment, the third embodiment entails a reduced amount of telephone
number data about the multimedia servers 6 of information providers with
respect to new merchandise items. The reduced data quantity translates
into a shortened download time resulting in lowered communication fees.
Then as indicated by reference numeral 58 in FIG. 8, the user requests the
cut-off of the connection between the multimedia terminal 1 and the
multimedia communication center 39. In response, the connection between
the terminal 1 and the center 39 is cut off as indicated by reference
numeral 59. As with the second | | |
