US20100003957A1

US20100003957A1 - Communication device and safety confirmation method

Info

Publication number: US20100003957A1
Application number: US12/557,038
Authority: US
Inventors: Katsuaki Akama
Original assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
Current assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-14
Filing date: 2009-09-10
Publication date: 2010-01-07
Also published as: JPWO2008111132A1; WO2008111132A1; JP4644300B2; US8073957B2; US20090282153A1

Abstract

A device having a first configuration includes an input unit configured to accept an input made by a user, and a transmitting unit configured to add a safety confirmation number accepted by the input unit to a first call control signal and to transmit the first call control signal with the safety confirmation number. A device having a second configuration includes a storing unit configured to store a safety confirmation text and a safety confirmation number by associating the safety confirmation text with the safety confirmation number, and a display unit configured to display the safety confirmation text that is stored in the storing unit correspondingly to the safety confirmation number added to a received first call control signal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International PCT Application No. PCT/JP2007/000225 which was filed on Mar. 19, 2007.

FIELD

The embodiments discussed herein are related to a communication device and a method for making safety confirmation.

BACKGROUND

With conventional safety confirmation methods using a portable terminal such as a cellular phone, a personal handy phone system (PHS), etc., an individual in a disaster-stricken area creates his or her own safety message by using electronic mail, and transmits the safety state with the electronic mail.
Additionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses the configuration for providing a system with a safety confirming apparatus, which transmits a message for making safety confirmation to cellular phones in a disaster-stricken area.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2001-168990

SUMMARY

According to the first aspect of the embodiment, a communication device includes an input unit and a transmitting unit.
The input unit accepts an input made by a user.
The transmitting unit adds a safety confirmation number accepted by the input unit to a first call control signal, and transmits the first call control signal with the safety confirmation number.
According to the second aspect of the embodiment, a communication device includes a storing unit and a display unit.
The storing unit stores a safety confirmation text and a safety confirmation number by associating the safety confirmation text with the safety confirmation number.
The display unit displays the safety confirmation text that is stored in the storing unit correspondingly to the safety confirmation number added to a received first call control signal.
The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a safety confirmation number registration process in an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a safety confirmation text display process in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a process of a response to safety confirmation in the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example where safety confirmation is made for a plurality of receiving terminals;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed when a transmitting terminal registers a safety confirmation number to a receiving terminal;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed when the transmitting terminal transmits a safety confirmation signal to the receiving terminal;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operational processes of a safety confirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process executed from when the receiving terminal receives a call connection request signal until when it displays a safety confirmation text;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a safety confirmation table;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process for returning state information from the receiving terminal to the transmitting terminal in the safety confirmation response process;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the receiving terminal;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a system environment of an information processing device connected to the transmitting terminal and the receiving terminal in the embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating examples of storage media.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

As described previously, a conventional safety confirming apparatus transmits a message for making safety confirmation to cellular phones in a disaster-stricken area. However, with such conventional safety confirmation methods using a portable terminal, many pieces of mail concentrate on a mail server at one time, on which a very heavy load is imposed with high possibility. Accordingly, if pieces of mail exceeding the throughput of the mail server are transmitted at one time, they are accumulated and remain unprocessed within the mail server. This deteriorates the throughput of the mail server, leading to a delay in the safety confirmation. Such a problem may occur in not only a mail server for a portable terminal but also that for any other communication device for making safety confirmation.
Furthermore, in order to transmit mail, a connection at a wireless level, a connection at a call control level, and the establishment of a link at a packet level are required between the portable terminal and a system. Therefore, a load imposed on a relay telephone switching system increases, which causes a concern for a hindrance to a normal communication. Such a problem may occur in not only a system for a portable terminal but also that for any other communication device for making safety confirmation.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to accompanying drawings. Here, a portable terminal such as a cellular phone is assumed to be a communication device, but a communication device in the embodiments is not limited to such a portable terminal. Additionally, the embodiments also cover a safety confirmation method and program executed by a communication device.
In this embodiment, one or more messages are stored in advance in a portable terminal for which safety confirmation is to be made (receiving terminal). A portable terminal that makes safety confirmation (transmitting terminal) transmits to the receiving terminal information (safety confirmation number) for identifying a message stored in the receiving terminal by using a call control signal, and causes the receiving terminal to display the safety confirmation message corresponding to the safety confirmation number.
On the receiving terminal, a user selects a response when viewing the displayed message, and notifies the transmitting terminal of the selected response as a call control signal.
As described above, the portable terminals in this embodiment can only make a connection at a call control level, and can make safety confirmation only by exchanging signal information at the call control level. The amount of information at the call control level is as small as 8 kbps compared with that at a voice level (64 kbps). Therefore, a heavy load does not concentrate on a particular portion of the system such as a switch, etc. even if many users make safety confirmation at the same time.
Details of the safety confirmation process executed by the portable terminals in the embodiment are described below.
In this embodiment, a safety confirmation number registration process is initially executed.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of the safety confirmation number registration process.
In this embodiment, a message text (safety confirmation text) displayed at the time of safety confirmation, and a safety confirmation number are registered to the receiving terminal 3 in advance.
In the safety confirmation number registration process, the safety confirmation message text (safety confirmation text) and the safety confirmation number are transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1 or a safety confirmation system 2 such as a server, etc. of a security company to the receiving terminal 3 as a notification using electronic mail. The receiving terminal 3 that receives the safety confirmation text and the safety confirmation number stores these items of information by making an association between them.
In FIG. 1, a text “Safety confirmation. Press the key to select . . . ” is transmitted as a safety confirmation text to the receiving terminal 3 along with the safety confirmation number as a mail text 4. The receiving terminal 3 associates the safety confirmation text with the safety confirmation number, and registers them to a safety confirmation table to be described later.
With this safety confirmation number registration process, a message displayed on the terminal on the receiving side at the time of safety confirmation can be freely set. With the receiving terminal that stores the safety confirmation text by executing such a safety confirmation number registration process, the safe confirmation of the user of the receiving terminal is made when needed.
This safety confirmation number registration process is not an essential process. The safety confirmation text may be associated with the safety confirmation number and stored in advance in the safety confirmation table of the portable terminal, for example, at factory shipment. In such a case, it is not necessary to provide the receiving terminal 3 with a mail reception function.
A safety confirmation text display process is described next.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the safety confirmation text display process.
When a disaster, etc. occurs, the safety confirmation text display process for displaying a safety confirmation message on an receiving terminal of a person who can possibly be at a disaster site is executed.
With the safety confirmation text display process, a call control signal, for example, a call connection request signal (SETUP signal) 5, to which a safety confirmation number is added, is transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1 to the receiving terminal 3 in a disaster-stricken area.
The receiving terminal 3 that receives the call control signal to which the safety confirmation number is added searches the safety confirmation table for the safety confirmation number added to the SETUP signal, reads the safety confirmation text, which corresponds to the received safety confirmation number, from the safety confirmation table, and displays the read text on the display unit of the receiving terminal 3 itself.
In FIG. 2, the telephone number of the transmitting terminal 1, and a safety confirmation text for causing the user of the receiving terminal 3 to select a response, such as a text of “Safety confirmation. Press the key to select . . . ”, which corresponds to the safety confirmation number added to the received SETUP signal, are displayed on the display unit of the receiving terminal 3.
In this way, the message can be presented to a person in a disaster-stricken area only by receiving a call control signal from the terminal on the transmitting side.
Additionally, the safety confirmation text can be displayed on the receiving terminal 3 by transmitting only the call control signal from the transmitting terminal 1 without connecting a data channel. Accordingly, a high transmission load for transferring the safety confirmation text is not imposed on the system.
A process of a response to the safety confirmation, which is made from the receiving terminal 3, is described next.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the process of the response to the safety confirmation in this embodiment.
A key corresponding to the response is pressed within a predetermined duration (such as 30 seconds) after the safety confirmation text is displayed on the receiving terminal 3 with the safety confirmation text display process of FIG. 2. As a result, the type of the pressed key is added to a disconnection signal (RELEASE signal) 6 as safety state information along with the safety confirmation number received from the transmitting terminal 1, and transmitted to the transmitting terminal 1. For example, if the user of the receiving terminal 3 desires to make a response of “evacuating” when viewing the displayed safety confirmation text in FIG. 3, he or she presses the key of “2”. As a result, the safety state number of “2” corresponding to the key pressed by the user is added to the disconnection signal along with the safety confirmation number #4949, and transmitted to the transmitting terminal 1.
By receiving the safety state number added to the disconnection signal (RELEASE signal) 6, the transmitting terminal 1 can make the safety confirmation of the user using the receiving terminal 3.
If a number key is not pressed within the predetermined duration after the safety confirmation text is displayed on the receiving terminal 3, the disconnection signal 6 is automatically transmitted from the receiving terminal 3 as a safety state unconfirmed.
The transmitting terminal 1 can confirm the safety state of the user of the receiving terminal 3 based on the safety state number added to the disconnection signal 6 upon receipt of the disconnection signal 6 from the receiving terminal 3. For example, if the safety state number is “2”, the transmitting terminal 1 searches for the message corresponding to the safety state number received from the receiving terminal 3 in a memory for storing safety state numbers and messages respectively associating therewith, and displays the obtained message on the display unit of the transmitting terminal 1 itself. In the example of FIG. 3, the message corresponding to the safety state number “2” is “evacuating”. Therefore, the user of the transmitting terminal 1 can confirm that the user of the receiving terminal 3 is evacuating, based on the message displayed on the display unit.
With this configuration, a response to the transmitting side can be made only by transmitting a call control signal.
Procedures for the safety confirmation for a plurality of terminal devices are described next.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of making safety confirmation for the plurality of receiving terminals 3-1, . . . , 3-n. Here, assume that the receiving terminals 3-1 and 3-n have telephone numbers of “090-1111-2222” and “090-1111-3333”, respectively.
In FIG. 4, the safety confirmation of the user of each of the terminal devices can be made in a similar manner as in the above described case of transmitting and receiving terminals making a one-to-one correspondence by transmitting the call connection request signal (SETUP signal), to which a safety confirmation number is added, from the safety confirmation system 2 such as a server, etc. of a security company to each of the plurality of receiving terminals 3-1, 3-n. Then, each of the receiving terminals 3-1, . . . , 3-n can make a response to the safety confirmation system 2 by adding information such as a safety state number, etc. to each of the disconnection signals 6-1, . . . , 6-n.
These processes can be implemented by the same functions and processes as those in the case of transmitting and receiving terminals making a one-to-one correspondence illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Details of the above described processes are described next with reference to the flowcharts.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed when the transmitting terminal 1 registers a safety confirmation number to the receiving terminal 3.
Once the process of FIG. 5 is started, a user operates an input unit such as an input button, etc. of the transmitting terminal 1 to activate a safety confirmation number registration menu of the transmitting terminal 1 in step S1. As a result of this operation, the transmitting terminal 1 displays the safety confirmation number registration menu on the display screen.
Next, when the user inputs the telephone number or the mail address of the receiving terminal 3, to which the safety confirmation number is to be registered with the input unit, the transmitting terminal 1 reads the input number or address in step S2. Then, the user inputs the safety confirmation number desired to be registered to the receiving terminal 3 with the input unit, and the transmitting terminal 1 reads the input number in step S3.
Next, the user inputs a message desired to be registered to the receiving terminal 3, and the transmitting terminal 1 reads the input message to be registered in step S4.
Then, in step S5, electronic mail including the safety confirmation number read in step S3 and the message read in step S4 is created and addressed to the mail address read in step S2. If the telephone number is input in step S2, the electronic mail is addressed to the mail address corresponding to the telephone number.
Upon termination of transmitting the electronic mail, the message read in step S4 is associated with the safety confirmation number read in step S3, and registered to the memory. Here, the process is terminated.
Note that the safety confirmation number is registered to the transmitting terminal 1 by being associated with a message when the user operates the input unit to input the message to the transmitting terminal 1.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational process executed by the transmitting terminal 1 when the transmitting terminal 1 transmits a safety confirmation signal to the receiving terminal 3.
Once the process of FIG. 6 is started, a user operates the input unit such as an input button, etc. of the transmitting terminal 1 to activate a safety confirmation transmission menu. As a result, the activated safety confirmation transmission menu is displayed on the display screen of the transmitting terminal 1.
Next, the user of the transmitting terminal 1 inputs the telephone number of the receiving terminal 3, for which the safety confirmation is to be made, with the input unit, and the transmitting terminal 1 reads the telephone number in step S12. Then, in step S13, the transmitting terminal 1 accepts a safety confirmation number that the user selects and inputs on the safety confirmation transmission menu. In this example, the safety confirmation number is assumed to be #4949.
When the user presses a safety confirmation number transmission button of the transmitting terminal 1 after these processes are executed, the transmitting terminal 1 detects that the user presses the safety confirmation number transmission button. Upon detecting that the user presses the button, the safety confirmation number #4949 accepted in step S13 is set in the SETUP signal as user data in step S15, and the SETUP signal in which the safety confirmation number is set is addressed to the telephone number read in step S12 as a call control signal (step S16). Note that an area to which the user data is added is secured in the SETUP signal by default.
In this way, the safety confirmation number is transmitted to the receiving terminal 3 for which safety confirmation is to be made.
Next, a CALL CONFIRMED signal indicating that the call is being set is transmitted as a call control signal from the receiving terminal 3 as a response to the SETUP signal transmitted in step S16. The transmitting terminal 1 receives this signal (step S17).
Upon receipt of the CALL CONFIRMED signal, the transmitting terminal 1 transmits an ALERTING signal to instruct the receiving terminal 3 to beep in step S18. Upon receipt of the disconnection signal (RELEASE signal) from the receiving terminal 3 as a response to the ALERTING signal (step S19), the corresponding message is searched for in the memory by using safety state information (safety state number) added to the RELEASE signal, and the safety state received from the receiving terminal 3 is displayed on the display unit in step S20.
Then, a RELEASE COMPLETE signal is transmitted as a response to the RELEASE signal to the receiving terminal 3 that transmits the RELEASE signal in step S21. Here, the process is terminated.
Details of the safety confirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal 3 are described next.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the safety confirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal 3.
With the process of FIG. 7, the receiving terminal 3 transmits a call setup response signal (CALL CONFIRMED signal) to the transmitting terminal 1 as a response (step S32) upon receipt of the call control signal (SETUP signal) from the transmitting terminal 1 (step S31).
The ALERTING signal is transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1 to the receiving terminal 3 in order to make the receiving terminal 3 beep. Therefore, the receiving terminal 3 beeps upon receipt of the ALERTING signal.
Next, a safety confirmation number added to the SETUP signal that is received from the transmitting terminal 1 in step S31 is extracted in step S33.
If the safety confirmation number cannot be extracted from the SETUP signal in the safety confirmation number extraction process in step S33, it is determined that the safety confirmation number is not added to the SETUP signal (“not added” in step S34), and a normal call control is performed in step S35.
If the safety confirmation number is added to the SETUP signal in the safety confirmation number extraction process in step S33 (“added” in step S34), the safety confirmation text corresponding to the safety confirmation number extracted in step S34 is displayed on the display unit of the receiving terminal 3 in step S36.
Next, the user who views the safety confirmation text displayed in step S36 presses a key of the input unit as a response on the receiving terminal 3. Upon detection of the press of the key (“pressed” in step S37), the receiving terminal 3 adds information indicating the pressed key as safety state information to the RELEASE signal along with the safety confirmation number received from the transmitting terminal 1, and transmits the signal to the transmitting terminal 1 as a safety state information response release signal in step S38. Upon receipt of the RELEASE COMPLETE signal from the transmitting terminal 1 as a response, the receiving terminal 3 terminates this process.
Additionally, if a key input is not made for 30 seconds (“NO” in step S39) while a key input is being waited for 30 seconds (“not pressed” in step S37 and “YES” in step S39) after the safety confirmation text is displayed on the display unit, the receiving terminal 3 transmits the RELEASE signal as a safety state unconfirmed response release signal without adding a safety state signal in step S40. Upon receipt of the RELEASE COMPLETE signal from the transmitting terminal 1 as a response to the transmitted RELEASE signal, the receiving terminal 3 terminates this process.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process executed from when the receiving terminal 3 receives the call connection request signal (SETUP signal) until when the receiving terminal 3 displays a safety confirmation text.
With this process, the receiving terminal 3 is caused to display the safety confirmation text by using the safety confirmation table that is preregistered by associating a safety confirmation text with a safety confirmation number or registered through the safety confirmation number registration process of FIG. 2.
Upon receipt of the call connection request signal (SETUP signal) transmitted from the transmitting terminal 1, the receiving terminal 3 refers to user data added to the SETUP signal in step S51.
If the user data is not added to the SETUP signal as a result of referring to the user data (“NO” in step S52), a normal call control is performed in step S55. Here, the process is terminated.
If the user data is added to the SETUP signal in step S52 (“YES” in step S52), whether or not the user data added to the SETUP signal is a safety confirmation number is determined. If the user data is not the safety confirmation number (“other than a safety confirmation number” in step S53), the normal call control is performed in step S55. Here, the process is terminated.
If the safety confirmation number is determined to be included in the user data (“safety confirmation number” in step S53), the safety confirmation text corresponding to the safety confirmation number is obtained by searching the safety confirmation table for the safety confirmation number. Thereafter, a process for displaying the safety confirmation text obtained by searching the safety confirmation table, and a process for returning the safety state information to the transmitting terminal 1 are executed as represented by the processes in and after step S36 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the safety confirmation table.
In the safety confirmation table, safety confirmation numbers 11-1, 11-2, . . . , and safety confirmation texts 12-1, 12-2, . . . are associated with each other and registered.
The receiving terminal 3 searches the safety confirmation table for the safety confirmation number 11 added to the SETUP signal, reads from the safety confirmation table the safety confirmation text corresponding to the safety confirmation number, and displays the read text on the display unit.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a process for returning state information to the transmitting terminal 1 in the safety confirmation response process executed by the receiving terminal 3.
When a user presses a key of the input unit of the receiving terminal 3 (step S61) in the state where the safety confirmation text is displayed on the display unit of the receiving terminal 3 after the processes up to step S36 of FIG. 7 are executed, the type of the pressed key (here “1”) is set in the user data portion of the RELEASE signal as safety state information along with the safety confirmation number received from the transmitting terminal 1 in step S62, and the RELEASE signal, to which the user data is added, is transmitted to the transmitting terminal 1 in step S63.
As described above, with the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 according to this embodiment, safety confirmation can be made by using a transmission signal and a disconnection signal at a call control level. As a result, a load imposed on a relay cellular phone switching system can be reduced, which prevents a normal communication from being hindered.
Additionally, since safety confirmation can be made without using electronic mail, a mail server is not used for the safety confirmation. Therefore, a delay does not occur in the safety confirmation.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the receiving terminal 3. FIG. 11 only illustrates components related to the safety confirmation number registration process in the embodiment among the components of the receiving terminal 3. Generally, a portable terminal device includes number keys for inputting a numerical value, etc., and a display unit for displaying various items of information. Also the receiving terminal 3 illustrated in FIG. 11 is assumed to include these components.
The receiving terminal 3 illustrated in FIG. 11 includes a key controlling unit 21, a screen controlling unit 22, a program executing unit 23, a wireless controlling unit 24, a data storing unit 25, an interface controlling unit 26, a program storing unit 27 and a central processing unit (CPU) 28. The program executing unit 23 includes an input/output controlling unit 31, a safety confirmation display unit 32, a safety confirmation text registering unit 33, a call controlling unit 34, a mail transmitting/receiving unit 35, and a safety confirmation number determining unit 36.
The key controlling unit 21 detects a key operation of the input unit not illustrated. The screen controlling unit 22 controls the display screen of the display unit not illustrated. The program executing unit 23 executes various types of control processes of the receiving terminal 3. The wireless controlling unit 24 controls a wireless communication with a base station. The data storing unit 25 is a memory for storing the safety confirmation table, etc. The interface controlling unit 26 controls a connection with an information processing device or a network connected to the receiving terminal 3. The program storing unit 27 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory for storing a program used to control the entire receiving terminal 3. The CPU 28 controls the receiving terminal 3 by executing the program stored in the program storing unit 27.
The input/output controlling unit 31 of the program executing unit 23 is a driver, etc. for controlling an input/output of the receiving terminal 3. The safety confirmation display unit 32 controls the display unit not illustrated to display a safety confirmation text. The safety confirmation text registering unit 33 registers a safety confirmation text and a safety confirmation number by making an association between them in the safety confirmation table. The call controlling unit 34 outputs a call control signal by controlling the wireless controlling unit 24. The mail transmitting/receiving unit 35 transmits/receives electronic mail. The safety confirmation number determining unit 36 notifies the safety confirmation text registering unit 33 of a safety confirmation number and a safety confirmation text within the electronic mail received by the mail transmitting/receiving unit 35.
The input/output controlling unit 31, the safety confirmation display unit 32, the safety confirmation text registering unit 33, the call controlling unit 34, the mail transmitting/receiving unit 35 and the safety confirmation number determining unit 36, which configure the program executing unit 24, may be configured with dedicated hardware, or may be implemented in a software manner in a way such that the CPU 28 executes the program stored in the program storing unit 27.
FIG. 12 illustrates a system environment of the information processing device such as a PC, etc. connected to the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 according to this embodiment.
To the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 according to this embodiment, an information processing device can be connected with an external interface such as a universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth, etc. The program stored in the program storing unit can be rewritten via the information processing device.
The information processing device illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a CPU 41, a main storage device 42 such as a random access memory (RAM), etc., an auxiliary storage device 43 such as a hard disk, etc., an input/output device (I/O) 44 such as a display, a keyboard, a pointing device, etc., a network connecting device 45 such as a modem, etc, an external interface 46 for connecting an external device such as a portable terminal, etc., and a medium reading device 47 for reading stored contents from a portable storage medium such as a disc, a magnetic tape, etc. These components are interconnected by a bus 49, and mutually exchange data via the bus 49.
The CPU 41 implements the processes represented by the above described flowcharts by executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage device 43 or a program installed via the network connecting device 45 with the use of the main storage device 42 as a working memory.
The information processing device illustrated in FIG. 12 reads a program and data stored on the storage medium 48 such as a magnetic tape, a flexible disc, a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), etc. with the medium reading device 47, and loads the read program and data into the portable terminal according to this embodiment via the external interface 46. The portable terminal executes and uses the program and the data, whereby the processes represented by the above described flowcharts are implemented in a software manner.
Additionally, in the information processing device illustrated in FIG. 12, application software is sometimes replaced by using the storage medium 48 such as a flexible disc, etc. Accordingly, the present embodiment is not limited to a telephone, a safety confirmation method and program, and can be configured as the computer-readable storage medium 48 for causing a computer to execute the above described functions according to the embodiment, when used by the computer.
In this case, the storage medium is, for example, a portable storage medium 56 such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (or an MO, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a removable hard disk, etc.), which is insertable/removable in/from a medium driving device 57, a storing unit (database, etc.) 52 within an external device (server, etc.), contents of which are transmitted via a network line 53, or a memory (a RAM, a hard disk, etc.) 55, etc. within the main body 54 of the information processing device 51 as illustrated in FIG. 13. The program stored on the portable storage medium 56 or in the storing unit (database, etc.) 52 is loaded into the memory 55 (the RAM, the hard disk, etc.) within the main body 54 and executed.
Additionally, the embodiment can be also implemented by using various types of future-developed large-capacity storage media, for example, a next-generation optical disk storage medium using a blue laser, such as Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), an advanced optical disc (AOD), etc., HD-DVD 9 using a red laser, Blue Laser DVD using a blue-violet laser, and the like in addition to the above cited examples of the storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, etc.
In the above description, the functions of the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 are separately described for simplicity of explanation. Actually, however, a telephone according to this embodiment may include both of the functions of the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 as a matter of course.
Additionally, in the above description, the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 are assumed to be portable terminals such as a cellular phone, etc. However, the transmitting terminal 1 and the receiving terminal 3 may be configured as a fixed-line phone in this embodiment.
If the fixed-line phone is not provided with an electronic mail function, the safety confirmation number registration process is not executed, and a safety confirmation number and a safety confirmation text are preregistered to the telephone, for example, at factory shipment.
According to the embodiments, only a connection at a call control level is made without using electronic mail, and safety confirmation can be made only by transmitting and receiving a signal at the call control level, whereby a load imposed on a relay cellular phone switching system can be reduced, and a normal communication is not hindered.
Furthermore, since a mail server is not used for safety confirmation, a delay does not occur in the safety confirmation.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

an input unit configured to accept an input made by a user; and

a transmitting unit configured to add, to a first call control signal, a safety confirmation number for identifying a message that is accepted by the input unit and stored on a receiving side, and to transmit the first call control signal with the safety confirmation number.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising

a display unit configured to display information, which indicates a safety state, based on information added to a received second call control signal.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, further comprising

a storing unit configured to store the safety confirmation number and a safety confirmation text by associating the safety confirmation number with the safety confirmation text, wherein:

the information added to the second call control signal includes the safety confirmation number, and information indicating a particular portion of the safety confirmation text; and

the display unit displays information corresponding to the safety confirmation number and the information indicating the particular portion of the safety confirmation text within the storing unit.

4. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein

the second call control signal is a disconnection signal.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, further comprising

an electronic mail transmitting unit configured to transmit electronic mail including the safety confirmation number and the safety confirmation text.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the transmitting unit adds the safety conformation number, which is accepted by the input unit, to the first call control signal, and transmits the first call control signal with the safety conformation number to a plurality of transmission destinations.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein

the first call control signal is a call connection request signal.

8. A communication device, comprising:

a communicating unit configured to communicate with a different device;

a display unit configured to display information;

an input unit configured to accept an input of information;

a storing unit configured to store safety confirmation information displayed on the display unit for safety confirmation, and safety confirmation identification information for identifying the safety confirmation information by associating the safety confirmation information with the safety confirmation identification information;

a determining unit configured to determine whether or not safety confirmation identification information is added to a call control signal received from the different device via the communicating unit; and

a controlling unit configured to read corresponding safety confirmation information from the storing unit based on added safety confirmation identification information if the safety confirmation identification information is added to the call control signal.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein

the controlling unit identifies information that a user inputs with the input unit according to a display of the safety confirmation information, adds the input information to a call control signal, and causes the communicating unit to transmit the call control signal with the input information to the different device.

10. The communication device according to claim 9, wherein

the controlling unit causes the communicating unit to transmit the call control signal to the different device, if information is not input from the input unit within a predetermined duration from reception of the safety confirmation identification information.

11. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein

the controlling unit extracts safety confirmation information received from the different device, and safety conformation identification information corresponding to the safety confirmation information, and registers the safety confirmation information and the safety confirmation identification information in the storing unit by associating the safety confirmation information with the safety confirmation identification information.

12. A safety confirmation method, comprising:

accepting an input made by a user; and

adding a safety confirmation number input by the user to a first call control signal, and transmitting the first call control signal with the safety confirmation number.