Communication control device, communication system and communication method

A communication system comprising:

• at least one communication device;
• and
• a communication control device,
• wherein the communication control device comprises:
• a device connection unit configured to establish one or more connections to a plurality of communication devices, the device connection unit comprising a single physical device;
• a line connection unit comprising a physical wired phone line connector and configured to be physically attached to a phone line and to establish a wired phone connection to a telephone network through the phone line;
• a controller configured to control communication between the plurality of communication devices, which is connected to the communication control device by the device connection unit, and a counterpart device connected via the line connection unit through the phone line and the telephone network;
• a memory for storing protection-target information including at least information on history of communication between the communication devices connected by the device connection unit and the counterpart device,
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• register at least one communication device connectable by the device connection unit;
• determine whether the communication control device is connected to the counterpart device via the line connection unit through the phone line, the counterpart device being different from the registered at least one communication device;
• determine whether the line connection unit is connected to the telephone network by determining whether the detachable phone line is physically attached to the wired phone line connector, wherein determining whether the detachable phone line is physically attached to the wired phone line connector includes detecting a voltage supplied from the phone line;
• determine whether the registered at least one communication device is connected to the communication control device via the device connection unit;
• when both (a) the communication control device is determined to be connected to the counterpart device via the line connection unit through the phone line, and (b) the at least one registered communication device is determined to be connected to the communication control device via the device connection unit are satisfied:
• permit, without requiring user input, an output of predefined protection-target information for one or more of the connected at least one communication device, the predefined protection-target information corresponding to information received from the counterpart device through the phone line;
• and
• transmit the predefined protection-target information to the one or more of the connected at least one communication device;
• and
• when the line connection unit is determined to not to be connected to the phone line, or when the at least one registered communication device is determined to not be connected to the communication control device via the device connection unit even when the line connection unit is determined to be connected to the phone line, inhibit output of the protection-target information to the one or more of the connected at least one communication device.

A method for controlling output of protected information by a communication control device, the method comprising:

• registering at least one communication device connectable by a device connection unit of the communication control device;
• determining, based on detection by the communication control device, whether the communication control device is connected to a counterpart device via a line connection unit of the communication control device through a phone line, the counterpart device being different from the registered at least one communication device, the line connection unit comprising a wired phone line connector configured to be physically attached to a detachable phone line and to establish a wired phone connection with the counterpart device through a telephone network and via the phone line;
• determining whether the line connection unit is connected to the telephone network by determining whether the detachable phone line is physically attached to the wired phone line connector, wherein determining whether the detachable phone line is physically attached to the wired phone line connector includes detecting a voltage supplied from the phone line;
• determining that the registered at least one communication device is connected to the communication control device by the device connection unit;
• when both of (a) the communication control device is determined to be connected to the counterpart device via the line connection unit through the phone line, and (b) the at least one registered communication device is determined to be connected to the communication control device via the device connection unit are satisfied:
• permitting, without requiring user input, an output of predefined protection-target information for one or more of the connected at least one communication device, the predefined protection-target information corresponding to information received from the counterpart device through the phone line and including at least information on history of communication between communication devices connected by the device connection unit and the counterpart device;
• and
• transmitting the predefined protection-target information to the one or more of the connected at least one communication device;
• and
• when the line connection unit is determined to not to be connected to the phone line, or when the at least one registered communication device is determined to not be connected to the communication control device via the device connection unit even when the line connection unit is determined to be connected to the phone line, inhibit output of the protection-target information to the one or more of the connected at least one communication device.