Communication system capable of providing user with picture meeting characteristics of user and terminal equipment and information providing device used for the same

A terminal connected to the World Wide Web through an information provider for receiving a first image provided on the World Wide Web and a second image provided on the information provider, comprising:

• a means for establishing a communication line to the information provider;
• a means for activating a browser for displaying the first image;
• a means for establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• a means for receiving the first image through the first TCP/IP link and displaying the first image within a browser window opened by the browser;
• a means for activating a viewer for displaying the second image;
• a means for establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• a means for receiving the second image through the TCP/IP link and displaying the second image within a viewer window opened by the viewer.

An information provider connected to a communications network for transferring a first image provided in the communications network, to a terminal, comprising:

• a means for establishing a communication line to the terminal;
• a connection manager for establishing a first logical link having a first link identification on the communication line;
• a means for transferring the first image from the communications network to the terminal using the first logical link, based on a request sent from a user of the terminal for display of the first image in a browser window on the terminal;
• a message distribution system for storing identification information of second images and transmittal conditions for the second images, and for selecting a one of the second images for receipt by the terminal;
• a means for establishing a second logical link having a second link identification on the communication line;
• a message manager, operating outside of the user's control, for causing one of the second images to be transmitted to the terminal using the second logical link for display in a viewer window of the terminal, the second images selected by the message distribution system based on user information stored in association with the user.

A communications system comprising an information provider for providing a connection to the World Wide Web, and a terminal which accesses the World Wide Web through the information provider, wherein,

• the terminal has:
• means for establishing a communication line to a gateway of the information provider;
• means for transmitting user information about a user of the terminal to the information provider;
• means for activating a browser for displaying a browser window and a first image stored within the World Wide Web;
• means for establishing a first TCP/IP link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• means for receiving the first image from the information provider using the first TCP/IP link and displaying the first image within the browser window;
• and
• means for establishing a second TCP/IP link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• the information provider has:
• a message distribution system for storing identification information of second images and transmittal conditions for the second images, and for selecting a one of the second images for transmission to the terminal;
• and
• means for transmitting location information of second images to the terminal;
• and
• the terminal further has;
• means for activating a viewer for displaying a viewer window and the second image;
• and
• means for receiving the location information of the second images;
• means for receiving a one of the selected second images through the second TCP/IP link and displaying the one second image within the viewer window.

A terminal connected to the World Wide Web by an information provider, the terminal for receiving a first image provided on the World Wide Web and a second image selected by the information provider, comprising:

• means for establishing a communication line to a gateway of the information provider;
• means for transmitting user information about a user of the terminal to the information provider;
• means for activating a browser for displaying the first image;
• means for establishing a first logical link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• means for receiving the first image through the first logical link and displaying the first image within a browser window opened by the browser;
• means for establishing a second logical link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• means for receiving the second image selected by the information provider through the second logical link and displaying the second image within a viewer window opened by the viewer.

A method of operating a terminal connected to the World Wide Web by an information provider, the method for displaying on the terminal a first image provided on the World Wide Web and a second image selected by the information provider, the method comprising the steps of:

• activating a viewer;
• establishing a communication line to a gateway of the information provider;
• activating a browser for displaying the first image;
• establishing a first logical link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• receiving the first image through the first logical link and displaying the first image within a browser window opened by the browser;
• establishing a second logical link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• receiving the second image selected by the information provider through the second logical link;
• and
• displaying the second image within a viewer window opened by the viewer.

A method of providing a connection to the World Wide Web to a user of a terminal by an information provider, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing the terminal with a viewer, the viewer comprising a program for operating the terminal to:
• establish a communication line to a gateway of the information provider;
• transmit user information about the user of the terminal to the information provider;
• activate a browser for displaying a browser window and a first image stored within the World Wide Web;
• establish a first logical link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• receive the first image from the World Wide Web through the first logical link and displaying the first image within the browser window;
• and
• establish a second logical link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• request the second image;
• receive the second image through the second logical link;
• and
• display the second image within the viewer window;
• (b) providing a message distribution system for:
• storing identification information and location information of second images and transmittal conditions for the second images;
• selecting a one of the second images for transmission to the terminal;
• and
• transmitting location information of the selected second image to the terminal.

A method of transferring a first image provided in a communications network to a terminal, the method comprising:

• the terminal establishing a communication line to a gateway of an information provider;
• establishing a first logical link with a first link identification on the communication line;
• transferring the first image from the communications network to the terminal using the first logical link, based on a request sent from a user of the terminal for display of the first image in a browser window on the terminal;
• the information provider storing identification information of second images and transmittal conditions for the second images,
• the information provider selecting a one of the second images for transmission to the terminal;
• establishing a second logical link on the communication line with a second link identification, the second link identification being different from the first link identification;
• the terminal receiving on the second logical link one of the second images;
• the terminal displaying the received second image in a viewer window of the terminal.