Multimedia information communication system

A multimedia information communication system comprising:

• first and second communication terminal apparatuses for exchanging information data using a common first communication protocol or first and second communication protocols which are different from each other;
• a first communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols;
• first and second communication interface apparatuses for respectively connecting said first and second communication terminal apparatuses to said first communication network;
• and
• a third communication interface apparatus for connecting said first communication network to a second communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a fourth communication protocol different from the third communication protocol,
• wherein each of said first and second interface apparatuses comprises;
• inquiry means for, when a communication terminal apparatus served by the own apparatus generates a call originating request addressed to a communication terminal apparatus served by another communication interface apparatus, multi-address transmitting an inquiry signal containing first identification information assigned to the terminating communication terminal apparatus to all communication interface apparatuses connected to said first communication network;
• determination means for, when an inquiry signal reaches via said first communication network, determining if a communication terminal apparatus corresponding to the first identification information contained in the inquiry signal is served by the own apparatus;
• response signal transmission means for, when said determination means determines that the communication terminal apparatus of interest is served by the own apparatus, sending back a response signal containing second identification information assigned to the own apparatus on said first communication network to an originating communication interface apparatus via said first communication network;
• and
• first communication link formation means for, when the response signal is sent back, performing processing for forming a communication link between the own apparatus and the terminating communication interface apparatus on said first communication network on the basis of the second identification information contained in the response signal.

A multimedia information communication system comprising

• first and second communication terminal apparatuses for exchanging information data using a common first communication protocol or first and second communication protocols which are different from each other;
• a first communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols;
• first and second communication interface apparatuses for respectively connecting said first and second communication terminal apparatuses to said first communication network;
• and
• a third communication interface apparatus for connecting said first communication network to a second communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a fourth communication protocol different from the third communication protocol,
• wherein each of said first and second interface apparatuses comprises:
• inquiry signal transmission means for, when a communication terminal apparatus served by the own apparatus generates a call originating request addressed to a communication terminal apparatus served by another communication interface apparatus, transmitting an inquiry signal containing identification information corresponding to the terminating communication terminal apparatus onto said first communication network, and
• said third communication interface apparatus comprises:
• terminating apparatus determination means for receiving the inquiry signal, and determining based on the identification information contained in the inquiry signal if the terminating communication terminal apparatus is a communication terminal apparatus which is served by said first or second communication interface apparatus inside said system, or a communication terminal apparatus which is connected to said second communication network outside said system;
• and
• communication link formation means for selectively performing first control for forming a communication link for connecting between said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves an originating communication terminal apparatus and said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the terminating communication terminal apparatus, and second control for forming a communication link between said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the originating communication terminal apparatus and the terminating communication terminal apparatus connected to said second communication network, in accordance with a determination result of said terminating apparatus determination means.

A multimedia information communication system comprising:

• first and second communication terminal apparatuses for exchanging information data using a common first communication protocol or first and second communication protocols which are different from each other;
• a first communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols;
• first and second communication interface apparatuses for respectively connecting said first and second communication terminal apparatuses to said first communication network;
• a third communication interface apparatus for connecting said first communication network to a second communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a fourth communication protocol different from the third communication protocol;
• and
• a server apparatus connected to said first communication network,
• wherein each of said first and second communication interface apparatuses comprises:
• inquiry signal transmission means for, when a communication terminal apparatus served by the own apparatus generates a call originating request addressed to a communication terminal apparatus served by another communication interface apparatus, transmitting an inquiry signal containing identification information corresponding to the terminating communication terminal apparatus onto said first communication network, and
• said server apparatus comprises:
• terminating apparatus determination means for receiving the inquiry signal, and determining based on the identification information contained in the inquiry signal if the terminating communication terminal apparatus is a communication terminal apparatus which is served by said first or second communication interface apparatus inside said system, or a communication terminal apparatus which is connected to said second communication network outside said system;
• and
• communication link formation means for selectively performing first control for forming a communication link for connecting between said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves an originating communication terminal apparatus and said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the terminating communication terminal apparatus, and second control for forming a communication link between said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the originating communication terminal apparatus and the terminating communication terminal apparatus connected to said second communication network, in accordance with a determination result of said terminating apparatus determination means.

A multimedia information communication system comprising:

• first and second communication terminal apparatuses for exchanging information data using a common first communication protocol or first and second communication protocols which are different from each other;
• a first communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols;
• first and second communication interface apparatuses for respectively connecting said first and second communication terminal apparatuses to said first communication network;
• and
• a third communication interface apparatus for connecting said first communication network to a second communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a fourth communication protocol different from the third communication protocol,
• wherein each of said first and second communication interface apparatuses comprises:
• terminating apparatus determination means for, when a communication terminal apparatus served by the own apparatus generates a call originating request addressed to another communication terminal apparatus, determining if the terminating communication terminal apparatus is a communication terminal apparatus which is served by said first or second interface apparatus inside said system, or a communication terminal apparatus which is connected to said second communication network outside said system, wherein said terminating apparatus determination means comprises inquiry means for, when a communication terminal apparatus served by the own communication interface apparatus generates a call originating request addressed to another communication terminal apparatus, multi-address transmitting an inquiry signal containing identification information corresponding to the terminating communication terminal apparatus to all communication interface apparatuses connected to said first communication network;
• and
• communication link formation means for selectively performing first control for forming a communication link for connecting between the own communication interface apparatus and a communication interface apparatus that serves the terminating communication terminal apparatus, and second control for forming a communication link for connecting between the own communication interface apparatus and the terminating communication terminal apparatus connected to said second communication network, in accordance with a determination result of said terminating apparatus determination means.

A multimedia information communication system comprising:

• first and second communication terminal apparatuses for exchanging information data using a common first communication protocol or first and second communication protocols which are different from each other;
• a first communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a third communication protocol different from the first and second communication protocols;
• first and second communication interface apparatuses for respectively connecting said first and second communication terminal apparatuses to said first communication network;
• and
• a third communication interface apparatus for connecting said first communication network to a second communication network for transmitting information data in accordance with a fourth communication protocol different from the third communication protocol,
• wherein said third communication interface apparatus comprises:
• first identification information acquisition means for, when an incoming call signal reaches from an external communication terminal apparatus via said second communication network, acquiring first identification information corresponding to a terminating communication terminal apparatus served by said first or second communication interface apparatus on the basis of information representing a terminating apparatus contained in the incoming call signal;
• second identification information acquisition means for acquiring second identification information assigned to said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the terminating communication terminal apparatus on the basis of the first identification information acquired by said first identification information acquisition means;
• and
• communication link formation means for forming a communication link that connects between said third communication interface apparatus and said first or second communication interface apparatus that serves the terminating communication terminal apparatus on said first communication network on the basis of the second identification information acquired by said second identification information acquisition means.

A multimedia communication system comprising:a

• plurality of interface apparatuses, each of which is connected to a communication terminal, and has protocol conversion means for converting a first communication protocol unique to the communication terminal into a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol, and vice versa;
• a network for connecting said interface apparatuses to each other and transmitting a signal in accordance with the second communication protocol;
• and
• a communication connection controller for controlling a communication between the terminal devices connected to the plurality of interface apparatuses, wherein said communication connection controller is provided to at least one of said interface apparatuses, and
• each of said interface apparatuses transmits, to one communication connection controller, originating side information that pertains to the interface apparatus which is to initiate a communication, terminating side information that pertains to the interface apparatus which is to communicate with, and communication condition information that pertains to communication means for performing a communication, at the beginning of the communication.

A multimedia communication system comprising:

• a plurality of interface apparatuses, each of which is connected to a communication terminal, and has protocol conversion means for converting a first communication protocol unique to the communication terminal into a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol, and vice versa;
• a network for connecting said interface apparatuses to each other and transmitting a signal in accordance with the second communication protocol;
• a communication connection controller for controlling a communication between the terminal devices connected to the plurality of interface apparatuses;
• and
• means for changing the communication connection controller in correspondence with a request from an originating or terminating side interface apparatus or a change in status of said network even after the beginning of the communication between the interface apparatuses,
• wherein said communication connection controller is provided to at least one of said interface apparatuses.