Patent ID: 6588012
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A combination terminal unit comprising:an inputting device for inputting a retrieval item and an option item, wherein a search is carried out regarding the input retrieval item via a plurality of different media; line connecting means capable of establishing a line connection to at least one medium; a storage device for storing therein a plurality of retrieval information entities; a display device for displaying any of the retrieval information entities; a retrieval controller for, when a retrieval item is inputted by the inputting device, reading out retrieval information entities relevant to the retrieval item from the storage device and displaying the information entities thus read out on the display device; wherein the line connection means includes plural physical interfaces for connection to the plurality of media; the retrieval controller further for, when a particular retrieval entity is selected from the displayed retrieval information entities by the inputting device, actuating the line connecting means to establish a line connection to a location of the particular retrieval information entity through one of the physical interfaces selected based on the selection of any one of the displayed retrieval information entities; a scheduler for preliminarily specifying schedule information for establishing a line connection to a location of a predetermined information entity at a time designated by the inputting device; a rejection period storage memory for storing therein a line connection rejection period; and a line connection rejecting circuit for, when a current time is in the midst of the line connection rejection period immediately before the time specified in the schedule information by the scheduler, rejecting any line connection other than the line connection based on the schedule information specified by the scheduler.