JP2010147909A - Information providing apparatus, information providing system, information providing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing apparatus which enables a communication service with another called terminal having an non-public address even when a called terminal having a public address is in a busy state. <P>SOLUTION: The information providing apparatus includes: an authentication information providing section for providing authentication information to a public terminal 20p, to which a calling terminal 20u having made a request to start a communication session, when the public terminal is in a busy state; an authentication information acquiring section which acquires authentication information from the calling terminal by transmitting a request to acquire the authentication information when the calling terminal accesses a destination to acquire a designation list, on which a non-public terminal 20n can be designated, using the authentication information in accordance with a busy response, transmitted from the public terminal to the calling terminal, containing the acquisition destination of the designation list and the authentication information; a designation list providing section for providing the designation list to the calling terminal when the calling terminal is authenticated; and a non-public address providing section for providing a non-public address of the designated non-public terminal to the calling terminal when designation information designating the non-public terminal is received from the calling terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing system, an information providing method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a videophone system, a video distribution system, and the like using media communication on an IP (Internet Protocol) network are known. In this type of system, the user uses the originating side device to request the desired terminating side device to start a communication session, and when the terminating side device responds to the start of the communication session, the originating side device and the terminating side A session is established between the devices. When the session is established, the user can use a desired communication service such as videophone or video distribution with a desired receiver apparatus.

  Here, first, a case is assumed in which a desired receiving device has a public address and is directly accessible from the calling device. In this case, if the receiving device is busy, the user cannot use a desired communication service with the receiving device until a session is established with the receiving device.

  For this reason, the user uses a presence function for disclosing the state of the receiving side device, or uses a free state notification function for notifying the communicable state when the busy state of the receiving side device is resolved. In addition, when the receiving apparatus is busy, the receiving apparatus transfers the communication to another preset receiving apparatus or makes a proxy response.

  Next, a case is assumed in which a desired receiving side device does not have a public address and is accessible only indirectly from a calling side device via a receiving side device (transfer device) having a public address. In this case, if the transfer device is in a busy state, the user cannot use a desired communication service with the desired terminating device until a session is established with the transfer device.

  For this reason, the user uses the presence function or the empty state notification function for the transfer device, as in the case where the user can directly access the desired receiving device. In addition, the transfer device forwards communication to another receiving side device or makes a proxy response.

  However, even when the user uses the presence function or the availability notification function, the user cannot use the desired communication service until a session is established with the desired receiving device or transfer device. In addition, even when a communication transfer or proxy response is performed, the user can use a communication service only with a receiving side device or another receiving side device set in advance by the transfer device, and a desired communication service can be used. In many cases, it cannot be used.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an information providing apparatus and an information providing system that make it possible to use a communication service with another receiving-side device having a private address even when the receiving-side device having a public address is busy. An information providing method and program are intended to be provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the authentication information provision for providing authentication information to the receiving side device when the calling side device having requested the start of the communication session and the receiving side device having the public address is busy Specified by the calling side device according to the busy response including the acquisition destination and the authentication information of the specified list that can specify the other receiving side device having a private address transmitted from the receiving side device to the calling side device. When the list acquisition destination is accessed using authentication information, an authentication information acquisition request for transmitting an authentication information acquisition request to the transmission side device and acquiring the authentication information from the transmission side device, and the transmission side device based on the authentication information When authenticated, a designated list providing unit for providing a designated list to the calling side device and designation information for specifying the other called side device are received from the calling side device. Private Comprises a private address providing unit for providing an address to the originating device, the information providing apparatus is provided.

  According to this configuration, when the receiving side device having the public address is busy, the receiving side device can acquire the authentication information from the information providing device and can specify another receiving side device having the private address. A busy response including the acquisition destination of the specified list and the authentication information is transmitted to the originating device. The transmission side apparatus accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list using the authentication information, and the information providing apparatus provides the designation list to the transmission side apparatus when the authentication of the transmission side apparatus is obtained. Then, when the information providing apparatus receives the designation information for designating the other receiving side apparatus from the originating side apparatus, the information providing apparatus provides the designated address of the other terminating side apparatus to the originating side apparatus.

  This allows the user to specify a desired other terminating device with a private address, even if the terminating device with the public address is busy, and with the other designated recipient device, A desired communication service can be used. Further, if the authentication of the calling side device is not obtained, the secret address of the other receiving side device is not provided to the calling side device, so that the abuse of the secret address can be prevented.

  Further, the secret address providing unit may provide the calling party device with the secret address of the other receiver device not disclosed. Thereby, compared with the case where a secret address is provided in the disclosed state, abuse of a secret address can be suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing system including an information providing apparatus, a transmitting side apparatus, and two or more receiving side apparatuses according to the first aspect.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the receiving side device having the public address requested to start the communication session is busy, the authentication information is provided to the receiving side device. In response to the busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list and the authentication information that can be used to designate the other called party device having the secret address transmitted from the called side device to the calling side device, the calling side device When accessing the acquisition destination using authentication information, the authentication information acquisition request is transmitted to the originating device, the authentication information is acquired from the originating device, and the originating device is authenticated based on the authentication information. Providing a designated list to the calling side device, and when the designation information specifying the other called side device is received from the calling side device, the private address of the designated other called side device is transmitted. It comprises providing apparatus, the information providing method is provided.

  This allows the user to specify a desired other terminating device with a private address, even if the terminating device with the public address is busy, and with the other designated recipient device, A desired communication service can be used. Further, if the authentication of the calling side device is not obtained, the secret address of the other receiving side device is not provided to the calling side device, so that the abuse of the secret address can be prevented.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the information providing method according to the third aspect.

  According to the present invention, an information providing apparatus and an information providing system that make it possible to use a communication service with another receiving-side apparatus having a private address even when the receiving-side apparatus having a public address is busy. , An information providing method, and a program can be provided.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[1. Configuration of Information Providing System 1]
First, an information providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system 1 includes a communication network 2, a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) server 4, an information providing server 10 (information providing apparatus), an originating communication terminal 20 u (originating apparatus), and an incoming call side. Communication terminals 20p and 20n (incoming side devices). The information providing system 1 is applied to, for example, a videophone system and a video distribution system using media communication on an IP network. Hereinafter, the communication terminal 20u on the transmission side and the communication terminals 20p and 20n on the reception side are also referred to as the transmission terminal 20u and the reception terminals 20p and 20n, respectively.

  The communication network 2 is a wired and / or wireless communication line network that connects the SIP server 4, the information providing server 10, the transmitting terminal 20u, and the receiving terminals 20p and 20n so that bidirectional or unidirectional communication is possible. The SIP server 4 is a server that performs call control such as start and end of a communication session in accordance with SIP during media communication between the calling terminal 20u and the receiving terminals 20p and 20n.

  The transmitting terminal 20u and the receiving terminals 20p and 20n may be personal computers, such as television receivers, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), home-use game machines, portable video / audio players, etc., information having network communication functions. It may be a home appliance. The receiving terminals 20p and 20n are classified into a public terminal 20p having a public address and a private terminal 20n having a private address instead of the public address. Here, the public address means an address disclosed to a general service user, and the non-public address means an address not disclosed to a general service user.

  The information providing server 10 provides authentication information to the public terminal 20p when the public terminal 20p requested by the calling terminal 20u to start a session is busy. In response to a busy response transmitted from the public terminal 20p to the transmitting terminal 20u, the information providing server 10 authenticates when the transmitting terminal 20u accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list existing on the information providing server 10 using the authentication information. An information acquisition request is transmitted to the transmitting terminal 20u, and authentication information is acquired from the transmitting terminal 20u. Here, the busy response includes the acquisition destination of the specified list that can specify the private terminal 20n and the authentication information. When the transmitting terminal 20u is authenticated based on the authentication information, the information providing server 10 provides the specified list to the transmitting terminal 20u and is specified when receiving the specifying information specifying the private terminal 20n from the transmitting terminal 20u. The private address of the private terminal 20n is provided to the transmitting terminal 20u.

  In FIG. 1, a single information providing server 10 and a single transmitting terminal 20u are connected to the communication network 2, but a plurality of information providing servers 10 and / or a plurality of transmitting terminals 20u are connected. Good. Similarly, in FIG. 1, two public terminals 20p and two private terminals 20n are connected to the communication network 2, but one or three or more public terminals 20p and / or one or three or more private terminals are connected. 20n may be connected.

  Here, a basic operation of the information providing system 1 will be described. The user of the transmission terminal 20u uses the transmission terminal 20u to request the public terminal 20p to start a communication session based on the public address when using the communication service. Here, the public terminal 20p acquires the authentication information from the information providing server 10 when the terminal itself is busy. When the authentication information is acquired, the public terminal 20p transmits a busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can specify the private terminal 20n and the authentication information to the transmission terminal 20u.

  Then, the transmitting terminal 20u accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list existing on the information providing server 10 using the authentication information. The information providing server 10 performs an authentication process of the transmission terminal 20u based on the authentication information received from the transmission terminal 20u, and provides the designated list to the transmission terminal 20u when the transmission terminal 20u is authenticated. When the user designates the desired private terminal 20n based on the designation list, the transmitting terminal 20u transmits designation information indicating the designated private terminal 20n to the information providing server 10, and the information providing server 10 is designated. The private address of the private terminal 20n is provided to the transmitting terminal 20u.

  When acquiring the private address of the private terminal 20n, the transmission terminal 20u requests the private terminal 20n to start a session based on the obtained private address. When the private terminal 20n responds to the start of the session, the transmitting terminal 20u establishes a session with the private terminal 20n and transmits / receives data for media communication with the private terminal 20n.

  Thereby, even when the public terminal 20p having a public address is in a busy state, the user designates a desired private terminal 20n having a private address and makes a desired communication with the designated private terminal 20n. Communication service can be used. Further, if the authentication of the calling terminal 20u is not obtained, the secret address of the secret terminal 20n is not provided to the calling terminal 20u, so that the abuse of the secret address can be prevented.

[2. Configuration of Information Providing Server 10]
The information providing server 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the information providing server 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the information providing server 10 includes a terminal information storage unit 11, an authentication information storage unit 12, a terminal information processing unit 13, an authentication information processing unit 14, a communication processing unit 15, and a control unit 16. The

  The terminal information storage unit 11 stores the identification information and public address of the public terminal 20p, and the identification information and private address of the private terminal 20n as terminal information. Here, the identification information is ID information, image information, or the like that can identify the communication terminal 20 or the user of the communication terminal 20, and the address is used when communication is performed between the communication terminals 20 via the communication network 2. This is information for designating the communication terminal 20.

  The authentication information storage unit 12 stores authentication information generated by the authentication information processing unit 14 described later in association with the terminal information (identification information and / or address) of the transmission terminal 20u corresponding to the authentication information.

  Based on the terminal information stored in the terminal information storage unit 11, the terminal information processing unit 13 creates a designation list for allowing the user to designate the communication terminal 20 that performs communication connection, and provides it to the transmission terminal 20u. The designation list is created as visual information such as character information, image information, video information, audio information, and / or auditory information (audio guidance, etc.). The designation list includes a first designation list L1 for designating the public terminal 20p and a second designation list L2 for designating the private terminal 20n.

  The authentication information processing unit 14 performs authentication information generation / management and authentication processing of the transmitting terminal 20u based on the authentication information. Here, the authentication information is information for the information providing server 10 to confirm the transmitting terminal 20u when the transmitting terminal 20u accesses the second designated list L2 existing on the information providing server 10.

  The communication processing unit 15 transmits / receives various data to / from the communication terminal 20 via the communication network 2 in accordance with a communication protocol such as HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), or the like. The communication processing unit 15 transmits terminal information, authentication information, a specification list, and the like to the communication terminal 20 and receives a terminal information acquisition request, an authentication information acquisition request, specification information, and the like from the communication terminal 20.

  The control unit 16 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU reads out an information providing program from the ROM and the like, expands and executes the information providing program on the RAM, and performs processing necessary for the operation of the information providing server 10. Control each part connected through the bus. The control unit 16 performs processing necessary for realizing the information providing method according to the present embodiment with the communication terminal 20 such as provision / acquisition of authentication information, provision of a specified list, provision of a secret address, and the like. Thus, each part is controlled.

  Here, the terminal information processing unit 13 functions as a designated list providing unit and a private address providing unit in cooperation with the communication processing unit 15 and the control unit 16. The authentication information processing unit 14 functions as an authentication information providing unit and an authentication information acquiring unit in cooperation with the communication processing unit 15 and the control unit 16.

[3. Configuration of communication terminal 20]
A communication terminal 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of the communication terminal 20.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 20 includes an operation unit 21, a display unit 22, a voice output unit 23, a terminal information processing unit 24, an authentication information processing unit 25, a communication processing unit 26, a media data processing unit 27, and a control unit. 28 is comprised.

  The operation unit 21 includes an operation button, a pointing device, a touch panel, and the like, and allows a user to select or input media communication service provision start / end instructions, terminal information, authentication information, designation information, and the like.

  The display unit 22 includes a liquid crystal panel, a monitor, and the like, a designation list (character information, image information, video information, etc.) provided by the information providing server 10, and reproduction data (character information, image information) reproduced by the media data processing unit 27. Information, video information, etc.). In FIG. 3, the display unit 22 is provided integrally with the communication terminal 20, but the display unit 22 may be provided separately from the communication terminal 20 as a display device.

  The audio output unit 23 includes a speaker or the like, and outputs a designation list (audio information) provided by the information providing server 10 and reproduction data (audio information or the like) reproduced by the media data processing unit 27. In FIG. 3, the audio output unit 23 is provided integrally with the communication terminal 20, but the audio output unit 23 may be provided separately from the communication terminal 20 as an audio output device.

  The terminal information processing unit 24 performs processing for acquiring a specified list provided by the information providing server 10 and providing it to the user, and processing for acquiring terminal information provided by the information providing server 10. The terminal information processing unit 24 may acquire terminal information from the information providing server 10, create a specified list, and provide it to the user.

  The authentication information processing unit 25 performs processing for obtaining authentication information provided by the information providing server 10 and performing authentication processing with the information providing server 10.

  The communication processing unit 26 performs session processing with the SIP server 4 via the communication network 2 and performs data transfer processing with the information providing server 10 and other communication terminals 20 via the communication network 2. The communication processing unit 26 transmits / receives terminal information, authentication information, a specified list, and the like to / from the information providing server 10 in accordance with a data transfer protocol such as HTTP or FTP.

  Further, when performing media communication with another communication terminal 20, the communication processing unit 26 first communicates with another communication terminal 20 via the SIP server 4 in accordance with a call control protocol such as SIP. Establish a session with. Then, the communication processing unit 26 of the communication terminal 20 on the transmission side packetizes the data and transmits the data to the communication terminal 20 on the reception side in accordance with a data transfer protocol such as RTP (Realtime Transfer Protocol). The 20 communication processing units 26 receive and restore the packetized data.

  The media data processing unit 27 generates media data such as image information, video information, and audio information that is transferred between the communication terminals 20. The media data processing unit 27 reproduces media data transferred between the communication terminals 20 and outputs the media data to the display unit 22 and / or the audio output unit 23.

  The control unit 28 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU reads a program from the ROM and the like, expands and executes the program on the RAM, and performs processing necessary for the operation of the communication terminal 20 and through the bus. Controls each connected unit. The control unit 28 performs processing necessary for realizing the information providing method according to the present embodiment with the information providing server 10 such as acquisition of authentication information, acquisition of a specified list, acquisition of a secret address, communication processing, and the like. Control each part to be done.

  Here, the terminal information processing unit 24 functions as a designated list acquisition unit and a secret address acquisition unit in cooperation with the communication processing unit 26 and the control unit 28. The authentication information processing unit 25 functions as an authentication information acquisition unit in cooperation with the communication processing unit 26 and the control unit 28. The communication processing unit 26 also functions as a first communication processing unit and a second communication processing unit.

[4. Information provision method]
An information providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, a case where a videophone service is provided by the videophone system will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the flow of the information providing method. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation method of the information providing server 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first designation list (public terminal designation menu) L1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the busy response message Msg. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the second designation list (private terminal designation menu) L2. Hereinafter, the flow of the information providing method will be described with reference to FIG. 4, and the operation method of the information providing server 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The user Uu of the transmitting terminal 20u accesses the information providing server 10 using the transmitting terminal 20u when using the communication service. The information providing server 10 provides the first designation list L1 to the calling terminal 20u in accordance with a data transfer protocol such as HTTP or FTP (Steps S10; S50). The transmitting terminal 20u acquires the first designation list L1 from the information providing server 10 and displays it.

  The first designation list L1 includes identification information and public addresses of one or more public terminals 20p as terminal information, and the user Uu can designate a desired public terminal 20p. Here, the public address of the public terminal 20p may or may not be disclosed to the user Uu on the first designation list L1.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the first designation list L1 includes the identification information “Terminal A (user Ua)” of the public terminal A, the public address (UA@terminal.ex.com), the identification information “ Terminal B (user Ub) "and public address (UB@terminal.ex.com) are displayed. In the first designation list L1, image information of the users Ua and Ub and a cursor C are displayed. The user Uu can designate the user Ua or Ub by operating the cursor C on the first designation list L1.

  When the user Uu of the transmission terminal 20u specifies the user Ua or Ub (in the case of “Yes” in S52), the transmission terminal 20u is connected to the public terminal 20p (for example, public terminal) belonging to the designated user (for example, Ua or Ub). The designation information indicating A or B) is transmitted to the information providing server 10 (S12). The information providing server 10 provides the terminal information (identification information and public address) of the designated public terminal 20p to the transmission terminal 20u (S14; S54).

  When the terminal information of the public terminal 20p is acquired, the transmission terminal 20u transmits a session start request to the public terminal 20p via the SIP server 4 in accordance with SIP based on the terminal information of the public terminal 20p (S16, S17). Attempts to establish a session with the public terminal 20p. The transmitting terminal 20u transmits its terminal information (identification information and / or address) to the public terminal 20p together with the session start request.

  When the public terminal 20p receives the session start request from the transmission terminal 20u, the public terminal 20p determines whether the session can be started. The public terminal 20p determines that the session can be started when the terminal itself is not busy, and transmits a session start response to the calling terminal 20u via the SIP server 4. A session is established after a predetermined confirmation response is made between the transmitting terminal 20u and the public terminal 20p.

  Thereby, when the user Uu desires to use the communication service with the public terminal 20p, the user Uu can use the desired communication service through the session. Further, when the user Uu desires to use a communication service with a private terminal 20n other than the public terminal 20p, the user Uu can request the public terminal 20p to transfer the communication to the private terminal 20n through the session.

  On the other hand, when the own terminal is busy, the public terminal 20p determines that the session cannot be started, and sends the authentication information acquisition request together with the terminal information (identification information and / or address) of the transmitting terminal 20u. It transmits to the providing server 10 (S18).

  Upon receiving the authentication information acquisition request (S56), the information providing server 10 generates authentication information using a random number, a pseudo-random number, etc., and stores it in association with the terminal information (identification information and / or address) of the transmitting terminal 20u. (S58). Then, the information providing server 10 transmits the acquisition destination and authentication information of the second designated list L2 existing on the information providing server 10 to the public terminal 20p (S20; S60).

  When the public terminal 20p receives the acquisition destination and authentication information of the second designation list L2, the public terminal 20p creates a busy response message Msg including the acquisition destination of the second designation list L2 and the authentication information. When creating the busy response message Msg, the public terminal 20p transmits the busy response message Msg to the calling terminal 20u via the SIP server 4 (S22, S23). The public terminal 20p may hold the acquisition destination of the second designation list L2 in advance. In this case, the public terminal 20p receives the authentication information from the information providing server 10, and creates a busy response message Msg including the acquisition destination of the second designation list L2 held in advance and the authentication information.

  The busy response message Msg includes a status line and a header. The status line includes the SIP protocol version, the status code “486” of the busy response, and the reason phrase “Busy Here”. The header includes a Via header, a From header, a To header, a Call-ID header, a Cseq header, an Error-info header, and a Content_length header.

  Here, the Via header is a header indicating a path that has been followed by the request message and a path to which the response message should be transferred. The From header is a header indicating the creator of the request message. The To header is a header indicating a logical recipient of the response message. The Call-ID header is a header indicating a call identifier, the Cseq header is a header indicating a sequence number, and the Error-info header is a header indicating additional information regarding an error status.

  In the busy response message Msg illustrated in FIG. 6, the request message generation source “UA@terminal.ex.com” is indicated as the address of the public terminal 20 p in the From header. The To header indicates the request message destination “U@terminal.ex.com” as the address of the transmitting terminal 20u. In the Error-Info header, “URL = https: www.info.ex.com” is indicated as the acquisition destination of the second specified list L2 existing on the information providing server 10, and “pwd = abcdefg ".

  When receiving a busy response from the public terminal 20p, the transmission terminal 20u transmits a session end request to the public terminal 20p via the SIP server 4. Thereby, the session between the transmission terminal 20u and the public terminal 20p is completed. Here, when receiving the busy response, the transmitting terminal 20u stores the acquisition destination and authentication information of the second designation list L2 included in the busy response message Msg in a memory or the like.

  The transmitting terminal 20u transmits an access request to the information providing server 10 based on the acquisition destination of the second designated list L2 (S24). When receiving the access request from the transmission terminal 20u (S62), the information providing server 10 transmits an authentication information acquisition request to the transmission terminal 20u (S26; S64). When receiving the acquisition request from the information providing server 10, the transmitting terminal 20u provides the terminal information (identification information and / or address) and authentication information of the terminal itself to the information providing server 10 (S28).

  When the information providing server 10 receives the terminal information and authentication information of the transmitting terminal 20u (in the case of “Yes” in S66), the information providing server 10 collates with the terminal information and authentication information stored therein (S68). When the collation is obtained (“Yes” in S70), the information providing server 10 provides the second designated list L2 to the transmitting terminal 20u (S30; S72). The transmission terminal 20u acquires and displays the second designated list L2 from the information providing server 10 in accordance with a data transfer protocol such as HTTP or FTP.

  In addition, when collation is not obtained, the information provision server 10 notifies generation | occurrence | production of an authentication error to the transmission terminal 20u. Further, when the authentication process is completed, the information providing server 10 rejects or invalidates the terminal information and authentication information of the transmission terminal 20u.

  The second designation list L2 includes identification information and private addresses of one or more private terminals 20n as terminal information, and the user Uu of the transmission terminal 20u can designate a desired private terminal 20n. Here, it is preferable that the private address of the private terminal 20n is not disclosed to the user Uu of the transmission terminal 20u on the second designation list L2. Thereby, compared with the case where a secret address is provided in the disclosed state, abuse of a secret address can be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the identification information “terminal C (user Uc)” of the private terminal C and the identification information “terminal D (user Ud)” of the public terminal D are displayed in the second designation list L2. Yes. Here, the secret addresses of the secret terminals C and D are displayed as “*******” in a state where they are not disclosed to the user Uu. The second designation list L2 displays images of the users Uc and Ud and a cursor C. The user Uu of the transmitting terminal 20u can specify the desired user Uc or Ud by operating the cursor C on the second designation list L2.

  When the user Uu of the transmission terminal 20u specifies the user Uc or Ud, the transmission terminal 20u indicates the private terminal 20n (for example, the private terminal C or D) belonging to the specified user (for example, the user Uc or Ud). The designated information is transmitted to the information providing server 10 (S32). When the information providing server 10 receives the designation information indicating the private terminal 20n (in the case of “Yes” in S74), the information providing server 10 sends the terminal information (identification information and private address) of the designated private terminal 20n to the transmission terminal 20u. Provided (S34; S76).

  When the terminal information of the private terminal 20n is acquired, the transmitting terminal 20u transmits a session start request to the private terminal 20n via the SIP server 4 in accordance with the SIP based on the terminal information of the private terminal 20n. To establish a session with the private terminal 20n (S36, S37).

  When the private terminal 20n receives the session start request from the calling terminal 20u, it determines whether the session can be started. The private terminal 20n determines that the session can be started when the terminal itself is not busy, and transmits a session start response to the calling terminal 20u via the SIP server 4 (S38). Then, after a predetermined confirmation response is made between the transmitting terminal 20u and the private terminal 20n, a session is established (S40).

  When a session is established between the transmitting terminal 20u and the private terminal 20n, the user Uu of the transmitting terminal 20u performs media communication with the desired private terminal 20n according to a communication protocol such as RTP. This can be done (S42). Further, when the media communication with the private terminal 20n is completed, the transmission terminal 20u transmits a session end request to the private terminal 20n via the SIP server 4. Thereby, the session between the transmission terminal 20u and the private terminal 20n is completed.

  As described above, according to the information providing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the public terminal 20p is in a busy state, the public terminal 20p acquires the authentication information from the information provision server 10, and the other information A busy response including the acquisition destination of the specified list that can specify the public terminal 20n and the authentication information is transmitted to the transmitting terminal 20u. The transmission terminal 20u accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list using authentication information, and the information providing server 10 provides the designation list to the transmission terminal 20u when the authentication of the transmission terminal 20u is obtained. And the information provision server 10 will provide the transmission terminal 20u with the private address of the other designated private terminal 20n, if the designation information which designates the other private terminal 20n is received from the transmission terminal 20u.

  Thereby, even when the public terminal 20p is busy, the user Uu designates another desired private terminal 20n and uses a desired communication service with the other designated private terminal 20n. can do. Further, if the authentication of the calling terminal 20u is not obtained, the secret address of the other secret terminal 20n is not provided to the calling terminal 20u, so that the abuse of the secret address can be prevented.

[5. Application example of information provision method]
The information providing method according to the present embodiment can be applied to the following first and second cases, for example. Note that the following application examples merely show application examples of the information providing method, and do not limit the application range of the information providing method according to the present embodiment.

[5-1. First application example]
The first application example is an example in which the information providing method according to the present embodiment is applied to a video distribution system. Here, it is assumed that the receiving side device desired by the user is a receiving side device having a public address and is directly accessible from the calling side device.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in a video distribution system that provides two or more real-time videos captured by two or more cameras to the media player U of the user Uu, the address of the video server A that provides the main video is set as a public address. ing. In FIG. 9, the display of the SIP server 4 and the information providing server 10 is omitted. Here, the user Uu of the media player U desires to confirm the main video through the use of the video distribution service.

  In this case, the user Uu requests the video server A to start a communication session based on the public address of the video server A using the media player U at the start of using the communication service. Here, the video server A acquires the authentication information from the information providing server 10 when the device itself is in a busy state. The video server A transmits to the media player U a busy response including the acquisition destination of the designation list that can designate the video server that provides the sub video and the authentication information.

  Then, the media player U accesses the acquisition destination of the specified list existing on the information providing server 10 using the authentication information. The information providing server 10 performs authentication processing of the media player U based on the authentication information received from the media player U, and provides the specified list to the media player U when the media player U is authenticated. Here, it is assumed that the video server B that provides the sub video can be specified in the specification list. When the media player U desires to distribute the sub video provided by the video server B instead of the main video provided by the video server A and designates the video server B based on the designation list, the media player U A private address is provided to the media player U.

  When the media player U acquires the private address of the video server B, the media player U requests the video server B to start a session based on the acquired private address. When the video server B responds to the start of the session, the media player U establishes a session with the video server B and transmits / receives data for video distribution service to / from the video server B.

  Thereby, even when the video server A having the public address is busy, the user Uu designates the video server B having the private address and confirms the sub video provided by the video server B through the video distribution service. be able to. If the media player U is not authenticated, the private address of the video server B is not provided to the media player U, so that the administrator of the video distribution system may abuse the private address of the video server B. Can be prevented.

[5-2. Second application example]
The second application example is an example in which the information providing method according to the present embodiment is applied to a videophone system. Here, it is assumed that the receiving device desired by the user is a receiving device that does not have a public address, and can only be indirectly accessed from the calling device via a receiving device (transfer device) having a public address. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the videophone system, the public address of the public terminal A is set as the representative address of company X. In FIG. 10, the displays of the SIP server 4 and the information providing server 10 are omitted. Here, the user Uu of the transmission terminal U desires to use the videophone service with the user Ub of the private terminal B belonging to the company X.

  In this case, the user Uu requests the public terminal A to start a communication session based on the representative address of the company X using the calling terminal U at the start of use of the communication service. Here, the public terminal A acquires the authentication information from the information providing server 10 when the own terminal is in a busy state. The public terminal A transmits a busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can designate the private terminal and the authentication information to the transmission terminal U.

  Then, the calling terminal U accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list existing on the information providing server 10 using the authentication information. The information providing server 10 performs an authentication process for the calling terminal U based on the authentication information received from the calling terminal U, and provides the specified list to the calling terminal U when the calling terminal U is authenticated. Here, it is assumed that the private terminal B of the user Ub can be designated in the designation list. When the user Uu designates the private terminal B based on the designation list, the transmission terminal U provides the private address of the private terminal B to the transmission terminal U.

  When the transmitting terminal U acquires the private address of the private terminal B, the transmitting terminal U requests the private terminal B to start a session based on the acquired private address. When the private terminal B responds to the start of the session, the calling terminal U establishes a session with the private terminal B and transmits / receives data for videophone service with the private terminal B.

  Thereby, even when the public terminal A having the public address is in a busy state, the user U designates the private terminal B having the private address, and between the user Ub of the designated private terminal B, A desired videophone service can be used. Further, if the authentication of the calling terminal U is not obtained, the secret address of the secret terminal B is not provided to the calling terminal U, so that the user Ub may abuse the secret address of his / her secret terminal B. Can be prevented.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, this invention is not limited to the example which concerns. It is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that it belongs to.

  For example, in the description of the above embodiment, the case where the information providing server 10 processes the authentication information and the terminal information in the information providing system 1 has been described. However, in the information providing system, the information providing server may process the authentication information, and another device may process the terminal information. In this case, after performing the authentication process with the information providing server, the transmitting terminal accesses the acquisition destination of the specified list existing on the other device, and the private address of the private terminal desired from the other device To get.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the information provision system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the main function structures of an information provision server. It is a block diagram which shows the main function structures of a communication terminal. It is a sequence diagram which shows the flow of the information provision method. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement method of an information provision server. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st designation | designated list. It is a figure which shows an example of a busy response message. It is a figure which shows an example of the 2nd designation | designated list. It is a figure which shows the 1st application example of the information provision method. It is a figure which shows the 2nd application example of the information provision method.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information provision system 2 Communication network 4 SIP server 10 Information provision server 20u Transmission terminal 20p Public terminal 20n Private terminal

Claims (5)

An authentication information providing unit that provides authentication information to the called side device when the called side device having a public address requested the start of the communication session and is in a busy state;
In response to the busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can designate another receiving-side device having a private address and transmitted from the receiving-side device to the calling-side device and the authentication information, the calling-side device When accessing the acquisition destination of the specified list using the authentication information, an authentication information acquisition unit that transmits the authentication information acquisition request to the transmission side device and acquires the authentication information from the transmission side device;
A designation list providing unit for providing the designation list to the origination device when the origination device is authenticated based on the authentication information;
A non-public address providing unit that provides the non-public address of the designated other call-side device to the call-side device when the designation information designating the other call-side device is received from the call-side device; ,
An information providing apparatus comprising:   The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the secret address providing unit provides the secret address to the calling apparatus without disclosing the secret address of the other receiver apparatus. An information providing system including an information providing device, a transmitting device, and two or more receiving devices,
The information providing apparatus includes:
An authentication information providing unit for providing authentication information to the receiving side device when the calling side device having a public address requested to start a communication session and the receiving side device is in a busy state;
In response to the busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can designate another receiving-side device having a private address and transmitted from the receiving-side device to the calling-side device and the authentication information, the calling-side device When accessing the acquisition destination of the specified list using the authentication information, an authentication information acquisition unit that transmits the authentication information acquisition request to the transmission side device and acquires the authentication information from the transmission side device;
A designation list providing unit for providing the designation list to the origination device when the origination device is authenticated based on the authentication information;
A non-public address providing unit that provides the non-public address of the designated other call-side device to the call-side device when the designation information designating the other call-side device is received from the call-side device; ,
With
The originating device is
When the receiving side device is in a busy state, it receives a busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list and the authentication information from the receiving side device, and accesses the acquisition destination of the designated list using the authentication information. A communication processing unit;
A specified list acquisition unit that acquires the specified list from the information providing device when the device is authenticated by the information providing device based on the authentication information;
A secret address acquisition unit that acquires the secret address of the other called device specified based on the specification list from the information providing device;
With
The called device is:
An authentication information acquisition unit that acquires the authentication information from the information providing device when the device is in a busy state;
A communication processing unit that transmits a busy response including the acquisition destination of the specified list and the authentication information to the transmission side device;
An information providing system. Providing authentication information to the terminating device when the originating device requested the start of a communication session and the terminating device having a public address is busy;
In response to the busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can designate another receiving-side device having a private address and transmitted from the receiving-side device to the calling-side device and the authentication information, the calling-side device When accessing the acquisition destination of the designated list using the authentication information, the authentication information acquisition request is transmitted to the calling side device, and the authentication information is acquired from the calling side device;
Providing the specified list to the originating device when the originating device is authenticated based on the authentication information;
Providing designation information for designating the other called side device to the calling side device when the designated information specifying the other called side device is received from the calling side device;
An information providing method. Providing authentication information to the terminating device when the originating device requested the start of a communication session and the terminating device having a public address is busy;
In response to the busy response including the acquisition destination of the designated list that can designate another receiving-side device having a private address and transmitted from the receiving-side device to the calling-side device and the authentication information, the calling-side device When accessing the acquisition destination of the designated list using the authentication information, the authentication information acquisition request is transmitted to the calling side device, and the authentication information is acquired from the calling side device;
Providing the specified list to the originating device when the originating device is authenticated based on the authentication information;
Providing designation information for designating the other called side device to the calling side device when the designated information specifying the other called side device is received from the calling side device;
A program for causing a computer to execute an information providing method including:

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