Abstract:
In response to a request of an image delivery from a mobile phone  4 , a gateway server  2  sets a user ID corresponding to an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  in the request, and transmits it to an IP server  1 . The IP server  1  receives the request from the gateway server  2 , and checks right and wrong of the image delivery based on the user ID that is being set in the request, and if a result of the check indicates a user to whom the image delivery may be conducted, a requested image data is transmitted to the mobile phone  4 . The mobile phone  4  receives the image data, and holds the received image data in a storage region to which access from a user is restricted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system for an image delivery and a method thereof, and to a system that prepares a plurality of images in a server, an image is down-loaded in a mobile phone from the server, and the down-loaded image is displayed on the mobile phone. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, mobile phones have received much attention. Mobile phones now function like computers, handling not only simple call functions like in a conventional phone, but also capable of being connected to a network such as an internet, and transmitting and receiving data. 
     People have different tastes, and mobile phones also provide a plurality of waiting screens in consideration of a user selecting a favorite screen. 
     However, in the mobile phone, storage capacity is restricted, and the number of images to be held is also restricted. Accordingly, images in accordance with tastes of a user are not necessarily prepared. 
     Further, for an image such as a character and so forth that are used on a waiting screen, copyright license fees may be charged the use thereof. In that case, a company that uses an image such as a character on a waiting screen in a mobile information processing terminal such as a mobile phone has to pay a copyright fee for the character to a copyright holder of the character that is used. 
     If a user does not use an image preliminarily prepared in a mobile phone, a sales company of the mobile phone still has to bear a copyright fee for a character, and the copyright fee is often wasted. As a result, this causes an increase in a cost of the mobile phone. 
     Accordingly, a service for delivering an image that can be used on a waiting screen is proposed. 
     However, this service is only for simply delivering an image, and the delivered image can be delivered to other mobile phones again and can be processed, and potential of copyright infringement occurs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the present invention is to solve the tasks. 
     Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide an image delivering system for promoting protection of a copyright and capable of delivering an image in accordance with a taste of a user, and a method thereof. 
     Moreover, the objective is to provide an image delivering system capable of providing conventional pull type service with push type image delivery service, and a method thereof. 
     The present invention provides an image delivering system having a mobile communication network, a plurality of mobile phones connected to the mobile communication network, a first server connected to the mobile phones via the mobile communication network, a network, and a second server connected to the first server via the network. The mobile phones have display means for displaying an image, and storage means having a region to which access control is applied. The mobile phone further comprises member registration demand means for transmitting a member registration demand for image delivery service, and image delivery demand means for transmitting an image delivery demand. The mobile phone further comprises image selecting means for transmitting image selection information for selecting a desired image data from a plurality of image data stored in the second server, and for down-loading the desired image data. The mobile phone further comprises hold means that store the down-loaded image data in the access controlled region of the storage means, and image controlling means for displaying the down-loaded image on the display means. 
     The first server comprises a user identifier table in which intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones, and user identifiers that correlate to these intrinsic identifiers. The first server further comprises means for retrieving the user identifiers corresponding to the intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones from the user identifier table, converting the intrinsic identifiers into user identifiers, and transmitting a demand from the mobile phones to the second server. 
     The second server comprises storage means in which a image data to be delivered is stored, and a member list table in which user identifiers of members of image delivery service are described. The second server further comprises member registration means for, when receiving a member registration demand from the first server, determining whether a user identifier that is set to this member registration demand is described in the member list table. The second server further comprises image list transmitting means for, when receiving the image delivery demand, determining whether a user identifier that is set to this image delivery demand is described in the member list table, and for transmitting a list of a deliverable image. The second server further comprises image delivering means for reading out image data indicated in the image selection information from the storage means, and for transmitting it to the mobile phones. 
     In accordance with the present invention, since an image data to be delivered is held in an access controlled storage means, the read-out image is held in storage means in which it cannot be delivered to others again or cannot be processed, and protection of a copyright of the delivered image can be promoted. 
     In addition, it is preferable that the image to be delivered is updated every day. 
     In another aspect of the invention, if the mobile phones have means for transmitting information on sorts of their own phones, and the second server has storage means in which an image data for every sort of the mobile phones is held, and image delivering means for reading out an image data corresponding to information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the storage means, and for transmitting it to the mobile phones via the first server, display inconvenience due to a difference of the sorts of the mobile phones can be avoided. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the first server further comprises a table of information on sorts of the phones, in which the intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones and information on sorts of the mobile phones are described in association with each other. The first server further comprises means for, in response to a demand from the mobile phones, retrieving the information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the table of information on the sorts of the phones, based on the intrinsic identifiers added to the demand, for adding this information on the sorts of the phones to the demand, and for transmitting it. 
     The second server further comprises storage means in which an image data for every sort of the mobile phones is held, and image delivering means for reading out an image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the phones, which is added to the demand, from the storage means, and for transmitting it to the mobile phones via the first server. In this way, an advantage same as in the arrangement can be obtained. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the second server further comprises an address table in which electronic mail addresses of members are described, means for concurrently transmitting electronic mails in which a destination to be linked for down-loading a deliverable image data is set to addresses described in the address table, and means for responding to access based on a link from the electronic mails and transmitting the image data to the mobile phones. The mobile phones further comprise have electronic mail transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving an electronic mail, and access means for receiving an electronic mail by means of the electronic mail transmitting and receiving means, and for having access to the destination to be linked, which is set in the electronic mail, image display controlling means for displaying an image down-loaded from the destination to be linked on the display means. The mobile phones further comprise hold means for holding the image down-loaded from the place to be linked in an access-controlled region of the storage means, thereby providing push type service can be provided, and further, it is possible for a user to save time for reading out a menu of an image delivery one by one. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the mobile phones further comprise have member registration demand means for transmitting a member registration demand of mail delivery service, electronic mail transmitting means which is started by means of the second server, and means for setting a mail address of the second server, which is provided from the second server, in a destination to which an electronic mail will be transmitted, when the electronic mail transmitting means is started, for setting a mail address of a user in an origin of transmission, and for setting a mail identifier provided from the second server in an electronic mail and transmitting it to a destination of transmission. 
     The second server further comprises means for, when receiving the member registration demand, generating a mail identifier which has a relationship in pairs with a user identifier of a member who transmitted the member registration demand, and means for starting the electronic mail transmitting and receiving means of the mobile phones and for transmitting the mail address and the mail identifier of the second server to the mobile phones. The second server further comprises means for receiving an electronic mail, specifying a user identifier from the mail identifier that is set in the electronic mail, and describing the specified user identifier and the mail address of a user, which is set in the electronic mail, in the address table in pairs, even in a mail interface, a mail address coincident with a user ID can be exactly obtained. 
     The present invention also provides an image delivering system comprising a mobile communication network, a plurality of mobile phones connected to the mobile communication network, a first server connected to the above-described mobile phones via the mobile communication network, a network, and a second server connected to the first server via the network. 
     The first server comprises means for connecting the mobile phones to the network. 
     The second server comprises storage means for holding an image data, an address table in which electronic mail addresses of members of image delivery service are described, means for concurrently transmitting electronic mails in which a destination to be linked for transmitting a deliverable image data is set to addresses described in the address table, and means for transmitting the image data to the mobile phones based on a link that is set in the electronic mails. 
     The mobile phones comprise display means for displaying an image, electronic mail receiving means for receiving an electronic mail, access means for receiving an electronic mail by means of the electronic mail receiving means, and for having access to a destination to be linked, which is set in the electronic mail, and image display controlling means for displaying an image down-loaded from the destination to be linked on the display means. 
     In accordance with the present invention, push type image delivery service can be provided, which is not in the conventional pull type service. 
     In addition, it is preferable that the image to be delivered from the destination to be linked is an updated image. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the mobile phones further comprise member registration demand means for transmitting a member registration demand of mail delivery service, and electronic mail transmitting means which is started by means of the second server. The mobile phones further comprise means for setting a mail address of the second server, which is provided from the second server, in a destination to which an electronic mail will be transmitted, when the electronic mail transmitting means is started, for setting a mail address of a user in an origin of transmission, and for setting a mail identifier provided from the second server in an electronic mail and transmitting it to a destination of transmission. 
     The second server further comprises means for, when receiving the member registration demand, generating a mail identifier which has a relationship in pairs with a user identifier of a member who transmitted the member registration demand, means for starting the electronic mail transmitting and receiving means of the mobile phones, and for transmitting the mail address and the mail identifier of the second server to the mobile phones. The second server further comprises means for receiving an electronic mail, for specifying a user identifier from the mail identifier that is set in the electronic mail, and for describing the specified user identifier and the mail address of a user, which is set in the electronic mail, in the address table in pairs, even in a mail interface, a mail address coincident with a user ID can be exactly obtained. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the mobile phones have means for transmitting information on sorts of their own phones. 
     The second server further comprises storage means in which an image data for every sort of the mobile phones is held, and image delivering means for reading out an image data corresponding to information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the storage means, and for transmitting it to the mobile phones via the first server. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the first server further comprises a table of information on sorts of the phones, in which intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones and information on sorts of the mobile phones are described in association with each other. The first server further comprises means for, in response to a demand from the mobile phones, retrieving the information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the table of information on the sorts of the phones, based on the intrinsic identifiers added to the demand, and for adding this information on the sorts of the phones to the demand, and transmitting it. 
     The second server further comprises storage means in which an image data for every sort of the mobile phones is held, and image delivering means for reading out an image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the phones, which is added to the demand, from the storage means, and for transmitting it to the mobile phones via the first server. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the mobile phones further comprise storage means having an access-controlled region, and hold means for holding a down-loaded image data in the access-controlled region of the storage means for copyright protection. 
     The present invention also provides an image delivering method in a network system comprising a mobile communication network, a plurality of mobile phones connected to the mobile communication network, a first server connected to the mobile phones via the mobile communication network, a network, and a second server connected to the first server via the network. 
     The method comprises, in response to a request of an image delivery from the mobile phones, the first server sets a user identifier corresponding to an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phones in the request, and transmitting it to the second server. The method further comprises the second server receives the request from the first server, determining if the image delivery is correct based on the user identifier that is set in the request, and transmitting a requested image data to the mobile phones if a result of the check indicates a user to whom an image delivery may be conducted. The method further comprises the mobile phones receiving the image data, and holding the received image data in an access-controlled storage region to which access from a user is restricted. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises holding image data for every sort of the mobile phones in the second server, and, when transmitting a request, the mobile phones adding information on sorts of their own phones thereto and transmitting it. The method further comprises the second server delivering image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the mobile phones to the mobile phones to avoid display inconvenience. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises generating a table of information on sorts of the phones in the first server, in which the intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones and information on sorts of the mobile phones are described in association with each other, and holding an image data for every sort of the mobile phones in the second server. The method further comprises, in response to a request from the mobile phones, the first server retrieving the information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the table of information on the sorts of the phones, based on the intrinsic identifiers added to the request, and adding this information on the sorts of the phones to the demand, and transmitting the information it to the second server. The method further comprises the second server delivering image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the mobile phones to the mobile phones based on the information on the sorts of the phones, which is added to the request. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises providing an address table in the second server, in which electronic mail addresses of members to whom electronic mails are delivered, and concurrently transmitting from the second server electronic mails in which a destination to be linked for down-loading a deliverable image data is set to addresses described in the address table. The method further comprises receiving an electronic mail, having access to the destination to be linked, which is set in the received electronic mail, down-loading an image data, and displaying an image of the down-loaded image data. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the method further comprises the mobile phones transmitting a registration request of an electronic mail address, the first server setting a user identifier in the registration request, and the second server generating a presumptive identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the user identifier that is set in the registration request. The method further comprises transmitting the presumptive identifier and the electronic mail addresses of the second server to the mobile phones, and of starting a function of an electronic mail of the mobile phones, setting an electronic mail address of a user in an origin of transmission of an electronic mail on the mobile phones, setting the electronic mail addresses of the second server in a destination to which the electronic mail is transmitted, and setting the presumptive identifier in the electronic mail. The method further comprises transmitting the electronic mail from the mobile phones, in which the presumptive identifier is set, the second server extracting the presumptive identifier from the received electronic mail, and retrieving a user identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the presumptive identifier, and registering the electronic mail address of a user, which is described in an origin of transmission of the received electronic mail, and the retrieved user identifier in the address table in pairs, even in a mail interface, a mail address coincident with a user ID can be exactly obtained. 
     The present invention also provides an image delivering method in a network system comprising a mobile communication network, a plurality of mobile phones connected to the mobile communication network, a first server connected to the mobile phones via the mobile communication network, a network, and a second server connected to the first server via the network. 
     The method comprises concurrently transmitting electronic mails in which a destination to be linked for down-loading an image to be delivered is set to previously registered electronic mail addresses that are destinations of the transmission, and receiving an electronic mail, and requesting to deliver an image to a destination to be linked, which is set in the electronic mail from the mobile phones, via the first server. The method further comprises, in response to a request of an image delivery from the mobile phones, the first server setting a user identifier corresponding to an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phones in the request, and transmitting it to the second server, and the second server receiving the request from the first server, and determining if an image delivery based on the user identifier that is set in the request is correct. The method further comprises transmitting image data specified by the request to the mobile phones if a result of the check indicates a user to whom an image delivery may be conducted; and the mobile phones receiving the image data, and displaying an image of the received image data. 
     In accordance with the present invention, push type image delivery service can be provided, which is not in the conventional pull type service. Also, the method further comprises holding the received image data in an access-controlled storage region, thereby providing copyright protection. 
     Also, it is preferable that the image to be delivered is updated every day. 
     The method further comprises holding an image data for every sort of the mobile phones in the second server, and, when transmitting a request, the mobile phones adding information on sorts of their own phones thereto and transmitting it. The method further comprises the second server delivering image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the mobile phones to the mobile phones, thereby avoiding display inconvenience. The method further comprises generating a table of information on sorts of the phones in the first server, in which the intrinsic identifiers of the mobile phones and information on sorts of the mobile phones are described in association with each other, and holding an image data for every sort of the mobile phones in the second server. The method further comprises, in response to a request from the mobile phones, the first server retrieving the information on the sorts of the mobile phones from the table of information on the sorts of the phones, based on the intrinsic identifiers added to the request, and adding this information on the sorts of the phones to the demand, and transmitting it to the second server. The method further comprises the second server delivering image data corresponding to the information on the sorts of the mobile phones to the mobile phones based on the information on the sorts of the phones, which is added to the request. The method further comprises the mobile phones transmitting a registration request of an electronic mail address, and the first server setting a user identifier in the registration request. The method further comprises the second server generating a presumptive identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the user identifier that is set in the registration request, and transmitting the presumptive identifier and the electronic mail addresses of the second server to the mobile phones. The method further comprises starting a function of an electronic mail of the mobile phones, setting an electronic mail address of a user in an origin of transmission of an electronic mail on the mobile phones, setting the electronic mail addresses of the second server in a destination to which the electronic mail is transmitted, setting the presumptive identifier in the electronic mail, and transmitting the electronic mail from the mobile phones, in which the presumptive identifier is set. 
     The method further comprises the second server extracting the presumptive identifier from the received electronic mail, and retrieving a user identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the presumptive identifier, and registering the electronic mail address of a user, which is described in an origin of transmission of the received electronic mail, and the retrieved user identifier in pairs, even in a mail interface, a mail address coincident with a user ID can be exactly obtained. 
     The present invention also provides a method of acquiring electronic mail addresses in accordance with terminal identifiers, wherein terminals, and a second server connected to the terminals via a first server are provided, and wherein a first communication method in which the second server discriminates the terminals based on the terminal identifiers of the terminals, which are issued from the first server, and a second communication method in which the second server discriminates the terminals based on electronic mail addresses of the terminals coexist. 
     The method comprises the terminals transmitting a registration demand of an electronic mail address based on the first communication method, the first server setting a terminal identifier in the registration demand, and the second server generating a presumptive identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the terminal identifier that is set in the registration demand. The method further comprises transmitting the presumptive identifier and electronic mail addresses of the second server to the terminals based on the first communication method, starting a function of an electronic mail of the terminals, setting electronic mail addresses of the terminals in an origin of transmission of an electronic mail on the terminals, setting the electronic mail addresses of the second server in a destination to which the electronic mail is transmitted, setting the presumptive identifier in the electronic mail, and transmitting the electronic mail from the terminals based on the second communication method, in which the presumptive identifier is set. The method further comprises the second server extracting the presumptive identifier from the received electronic mail, and retrieves a terminal identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the presumptive identifier, and storing the electronic mail addresses of the terminals, which are described in an origin of transmission of the received electronic mail, and the retrieved terminal identifier in pairs. 
     In addition, the terminal identifiers of the terminals can be also used for the presumptive identifier. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of information provider server, 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing one example of a member list table, 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing one example of an image folder, 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing one example on how an image provided by the present invention is used, 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a gateway server, 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of a user ID list table, 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a mobile phone, 
     FIG. 9 is a conceptual view of a storage section, 
     FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of a member registration in the first embodiment, 
     FIG. 11 is an operation flowchart of down-loading of an image in the first embodiment, 
     FIG. 12 is a view showing one example of an image folder in a second embodiment, 
     FIG. 13 is an operation flowchart of down-loading of an image in the second embodiment, 
     FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart of a member registration in a third embodiment, 
     FIG. 15 is a view showing one example of a mail delivery member list table, and 
     FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart of down-loading of an image in the third embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment. 
     In FIG. 1, an image delivering system comprising an information provider server  1  (IP server) for providing contents, a gateway server  2 , a base station  3 , a plurality of mobile phones  4 , a fixed communication network  5  on a side of the gateway server  2 , a communication network  6  (internet) for connecting the gateway server  2  to the IP server  1 , and a mobile communication network  7  is illustrated. 
     Next, each of the elements will be explained. 
     First, the IP server  1  will be explained in detail. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the IP server  1 . In FIG. 2, a transmission and reception section  21  for conducting transmission and reception of a data, a modulation and demodulation section  22  for modulating and demodulating the transmitted and received data in the transmission and reception section  21 , a hard disk  23  in which a program, a user list, an image data to be delivered, and so forth are stored, and an MPU  24  for conducting a process such as an HTTP request and an HTTP response in accordance with the program stored in the hard disk  23  are illustrated. 
     In the hard disk  23 , a member list table  31  and an image folder  32  in which an image data to be delivered are stored. 
     The member list table  31  is a table in which user ID&#39;s of members of image delivery service, and an admission date when a member registration is made are described. The user ID is an identifier for specifying a user, and is transmitted from the gateway server  2  that will be mentioned later. FIG. 3 is a view showing one example of the member list table  31 , and shows that contents to be provided are from contents A to contents X, and that a user ID of a member and an admission date of the member of each of the contents are described in association with each other. 
     The image folder  32  is a folder in which an image data to be delivered is held, and its directory structure is, as shown in FIG. 4, constructed of an image folder  321  for the day, in which an updated image data is held, and an image folder  322  for a back number, in which an image data of the back number is held. An image held in each folder is an image that is displayed on a display of the mobile phone  4 , and for example, as shown in FIG. 5, it can be used as a waiting screen of the mobile phone  4 . Also, as shown in FIG. 4, an identifier for discriminating images is allocated to each image data. In FIG. 4, it indicates an image (a character) that is held in the image folder  321  and the image folder  322  of the contents A. In addition, since an image data that is delivered in this service is added thereto every day, when an updated image data is held in the image folder  321  for the day, the image data held in the image folder  321  is moved to the image folder  322  for the back number together with the date of the image data. Also, the image data held in the image folder  322  for the back number is automatically erased after a certain period of time has passed. 
     Next, the gateway server  2  will be explained. 
     The gateway server  2  has a role of a gateway to the IP server  1 , and has a role for transmitting information from the mobile phones to the IP server  1  in accordance with demands from the mobile phones  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the gateway server  2 . In FIG. 6, a transmission and reception section  61  for conducting transmission and reception of a data, a modulation and demodulation section  62  for modulating and demodulating the transmitted and received data in the transmission and reception section  61 , a hard disk  63  in which a program and so forth are stored, and an MPU  64  for conducting a process of a relay function for the mobile phones  4  and the IP server  1  in accordance with the program are illustrated. 
     In the hard disk  63 , in addition to the program, a user ID list table  70  is held. As shown in FIG. 7, this user ID list table  70  is a table in which the telephone numbers of the mobile phones  4 , intrinsic identifiers for discriminating the mobile phones  4  of these telephone numbers, and user ID&#39;s that have a relationship in pairs with these intrinsic identifiers are described in association with each other. 
     In a web-interface that is conducted via the gateway server  2 , the gateway server  2  is constructed so as to, when a request comes from the mobile phones  4 , convert the intrinsic identifier which is provided to the request of the mobile phones  4  into a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier by using the user ID list table  70 , and to transfer the request to the IP server  1 . 
     In addition, as typical one of such a gateway server  2 , there is an i-mode server in i-mode service that is provided by NTT DoCoMo. 
     Next, the mobile phones  4  will be explained. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a mobile phone  4 . 
     The mobile phone  4  has a display  91  on which an image is displayed, a VRAM  92  (Video Random Access Memory) for displaying an image on the display  91 , a transmission and reception section  93  for transmitting and receiving a data, a modulation and demodulation section  94  for conducting modulation and demodulation of a data transmitted and received in the transmission and reception section  93 , a storage section  95  in which a data is held, an operating section  96  that is used for selection and so forth of an image, and a CPU  97  for conducting control of each section and a process of a data. 
     The mobile phone  4  is constructed so as to, in case of transmitting a request and so forth to the IP server  1 , add an intrinsic identifier for discriminating self to the request and so forth, and to transmit it. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, the storage section  95  is divided into a region  98  where a user of the mobile phone  4  can freely conduct reading and writing, and a region  99  where the user cannot freely conduct reading and writing. In the region  98 , data such as a telephone dictionary of users and so forth are held, and writing, reading and deleting can be freely conducted by a user. On the other hand, in the region  99 , reading and editing cannot be freely conducted by a user, and such data that distribution thereof to others makes the user trouble are held. For example, an image data and so forth of a character to be delivered in the service of the present invention is held in the region  99  for copyright protection purposes. 
     Further, the mobile phone  4  can down-load an image data via the transmission and reception section  93 , which is held in the IP server  1 . And, it is possible to show the down-loaded image data on the display  91 , and to use it as a waiting screen. Also, the down-loaded image data can be held in the region  99  of the storage section  95 , and also, can be displayed on the display  91  again under a certain condition. 
     Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention in the arrangement will be explained. In addition, in the explanation of this operation, the operation of a member registration for utilizing image delivery service and the operation for down-loading an image to the mobile phones  4  will be explained separately. 
     FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of the member registration. 
     First, a user of the mobile phone  4  operates the operating section  96  of the mobile phone  4 , and selects a site of the IP server  1 , in which the member registration is conducted, and transmits an HTTP request (Step  100 ). In FIG. 10, it is shown that “GET http://IP 1 .menu.or.jp/uid=xxxxxxx” is transmitted from the mobile phone  4  as the HTTP request. In addition, as an example of the request, “IP 1 ” indicates the IP server  1 , “menu” indicates a menu screen of the member registration, and “xxxxxxx” out of “uid=xxxxxxx” respectively. 
     In the gateway server  2  that received the request, a user ID corresponding to the intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  101 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is “xxxxxxx”, if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the user ID corresponding to “xxxxxxx” is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “GET http://IP 1 .menu.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh” is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     In the IP server  1 , “uid=abcdefgh” out of the received request “GET http://IP 1 .menu.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh” is extracted, and whether or not the corresponding user ID is already registered is checked by retrieving the member list table  31 . If the corresponding user ID is not described in the member list table  31 , an HTML source for the member registration as a response is transmitted to the gateway server  2  (Step  102 ). 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the response is received, and in accordance with instruction displayed on a screen, a request for the member registration is transmitted (Step  103 ). For example, as the request from the mobile phone  4 , it is assumed that the request “http://IP 1 .request.or.jp/uid=xxxxxxx” indicates a demand of the member registration. 
     In the gateway server  2 , the request “http://IP 1 .request.or.jp/uid=xxxxxxx” from the mobile phone  4  is received, and by means of the operation same as the Step  101 , namely, an intrinsic identifier is converted into a user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  104 ). 
     In the IP server  1 , the request of the member registration from the mobile phone  4  is received, and the user ID described in the request, namely in this example, “abcdefgh” is newly described in the member list table  31 , and processing of the member registration is conducted (Step  105 ). Thereafter, a response of completion of the member registration is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2  (Step  106 ). 
     By means of the above operation, the member registration is completed. 
     FIG. 11 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of image data delivery after the member registration. 
     First, a user of the mobile phone  4  operates the operating section  96  of the mobile phone  4 , and selects a site of the IP server  1 , in which the image delivery is conducted, and transmits an HTTP request (Step  200 ). In FIG. 11, it is shown that “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=xxxxxxx” is transmitted from the mobile phone  4  as the HTTP request. In addition, as an example of the request, “IP 1 ” indicates the IP server  1 , “channel” indicates a demand of a menu of the image delivery, and “xxxxxxx” out of “uid=xxxxxxx” respectively. 
     In the gateway server  2  that received the request, a user ID corresponding to the intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  201 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is “xxxxxxx”, if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the user ID is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh” is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     In the IP server  1 , whether or not “abcdefgh”, which is the user ID, out of the received request “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh” is already registered is checked by retrieving the member list table  31  (Step  202 ). Since, in the operation of the member registration, the user of the mobile phone  4  finished the member registration, the user ID is described in the member list table  31 . Accordingly, an HTML source for the image delivery as a response is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2 . 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the response is received, and in accordance with instruction displayed on a screen, a request for a delivery of a desired image is transmitted (Step  203 ). For example, as the request from the mobile phone  4 , it is assumed that “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx” is transmitted. In addition, it is assumed that “chara=new 1 ” indicates discrimination information of a desired image to be delivered, and “new 1 ” indicates an updated image, namely, an image data of a today&#39;s character. In the gateway server  2 , the request “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx” from the mobile phone  4  is received, and by means of the operation same as the Step  201 , namely, an intrinsic identifier is converted into a user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  204 ). 
     In the IP server  1 , the request from the mobile phone  4  is received, and in the same manner as Step  202 , the member list table is retrieved, and if it is confirmed that it is a member, based on the discrimination information of an image data, which is described in the request, an image data held in the image folder  32  is read out, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2  (Step  205 ). In this operation, since the request is “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=abcdefgh”, the discrimination information of an image is “new 1 ”, and this indicates an image data of a today&#39;s character, and an image data is read from the image folder  321  for the day, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2 . 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the image data is received, and the received image data is held in the VRAM  92  and is displayed on the display (Step  206 ). On the other hand, in case that the down-loaded image data is displayed again, it is held in the region  99  of the storage section  95  (Step  207 ). 
     By means of the above operation, the image data of a character is down-loaded in the mobile phone  4 . Also, even in case of storing the down-loaded image data, since the image data is held in the region of the storage section, to which access control by a user is applied, such actions that the stored image data is sent to others and is newly edited, which infringe a copyright, are not made. 
     A second embodiment will be explained. 
     At present, there are various kinds of mobile phones that are being sold, and they have various screen sizes and image data in various sizes, which can be displayed, respectively. Therefore, if only one kind of image data to be delivered is prepared, not only it is not exactly displayed, but there is a case in which it cannot be displayed at all, which depends on a sort of the mobile phone. Accordingly, in the second embodiment, it is characterized in that an image data in accordance with a sort of the mobile phone is prepared for the same contents, and a function for delivering an image data in accordance with the sort of the phone is added to the first embodiment. In addition, in the explanation of the second embodiment, the same numerals in the figures are attached to elements same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     Presently, in each kind of services, when the mobile phone transmits a request, it transmits information on a sort of its own phone. Accordingly, in the second embodiment, it is constructed so that this information on the sort of the phone is determined in the IP server  1 , and an image data in accordance with the sort of the phone is selected and delivered. Accordingly, as an image data to be prepared, as shown in FIG. 12, folders for each sort of phones are prepared in the image folder  32 , and in the folder of each sort of the phones, an image data corresponding to its sort the phone is held. In FIG. 12, it is shown that the folders from a sort AAA of a phone to a sort ZZZ of a phone are provided, and that, in the folder of each sort of the phone, for example, a folder of a sort NNN of a phone, a folder in which an image data for the day is held, and a folder for a back number, in which a past image data is held, are provided. In addition, in the same manner, menus for an image delivery are prepared for every sort of a phone. 
     Below, operation in the arrangement will be explained. 
     FIG. 13 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of an image data delivery for every sort of a phone. 
     First, a user of the mobile phone  4  operates the operating section  96  of the mobile phone  4 , and selects a site of the IP server  1 , in which the image delivery is conducted, and transmits an HTTP request (Step  300 ). In FIG. 14, it is shown that “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=xxxxxxx user=NNN” is transmitted from the mobile phone  4  as the HTTP request. In addition, as an example of the request, “IP 1 ” indicates the IP server  1 , “channel” indicates a demand of a menu of an image delivery, “xxxxxxx” out of “uid=xxxxxxx” indicates an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4 , and “user=NNN” indicates a sort of the mobile phone  4 , respectively. 
     In the gateway server  2  that received the request, a user ID corresponding to the intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  301 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is “xxxxxxx”, if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the corresponding user ID is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     In the IP server  1 , whether or not “abcdefgh” out of the received request “GET http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN”, which is a user ID, is already registered is checked by retrieving the member list table  31  (Step  302 ). Since, in the operation of the member registration, a user of the mobile phone  4  finished the member registration, the user ID is described in the member list table  31 . 
     Accordingly, from the information “user=NNN” on the sort of the phone, an HTML source for the image delivery for the sort NNN of the phone as a response is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2  (Step  303 ). 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the response is received, and in accordance with instruction displayed on a screen, a request for demanding a delivery of a desired image is transmitted (Step  304 ). For example, as the request from the mobile phone  4 , it is assumed that “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx user=NNN” is transmitted. In addition, it is assumed that “chara=new 1 ” out of the request to be transmitted indicates discrimination information of a desired image to be delivered, and “new 1 ” indicates an updated image, namely, an image data of a today&#39;s character. 
     In the gateway server  2 , the request “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx user=NNN” operation same as the Step  301 , namely, an intrinsic identifier is converted into a user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  305 ). 
     In the IP server  1 , the request from the mobile phone  4  is received, and like at Step  302 , the member list table is retrieved (Step  306 ). If it is confirmed that the requester is a member, the request moves from the information on the sort of the phone to the image folder for the sort of the phone, and further, based on the discrimination information of the image data, which is described in the request, the image data held in the image folder is read out, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2  (Step  307 ). In this operation, since the request is “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=abcdefgh user=NNN”, the information on a sort of a phone is “NNN”, and the discrimination information of an image is “new 1 ”. This indicates an image data of a today&#39;s character for the sort NNN of the phone, and an image data is read from the image folder for the day for the sort NNN of the phone, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2 . 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the image data is received, and the received image data is held in the VRAM  92  and is displayed on the display (Step  308 ). On the other hand, in case that the down-loaded image data is displayed again, it is held in the region  99  of the storage section  95  (Step  309 ). 
     By means of the above operation, an image data that is the most suitable for the sort of a phone becomes to be delivered to the mobile phone  4 , and inconvenience that an image data cannot be displayed in a certain sort of a phone can be avoided. 
     In addition, in the second embodiment, the information on the sort of the mobile phone  4  is constructed so as to be transmitted from the mobile phone  4 . However, an arrangement can be adopted, wherein a table, in which information on a sort of the mobile phone  4  and an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  are described in association with each other, is previously prepared in the gateway server  2 , and in case that a request is issued from the mobile phone  4 , based on an intrinsic identifier added to the request, the information on the sort of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the table, and the retrieved information of the sort of the phone is added to the request, and is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     Even though such an arrangement is adopted, since the IP server  1  can obtain the information on the sort of the mobile phone  4 , which it needs, an image data suitable for the sort of the mobile phone can be selected. 
     A third embodiment will be explained. 
     Although it is already mentioned that, at present, the mobile phone can conduct transmission and reception of a data, by adapting this, each company can receive service of a so called electronic mail. On the other hand, the first embodiment and second embodiment are so called pull type service. Accordingly, in the third embodiment, a system for so called push type service is provided, wherein the system is constructed so that information of a daily updated image is notified to a user by an electronic mail, and an updated image data is down-loaded by means of an operation of a link by the user, which is set in the received electronic mail. 
     Also, in the third embodiment, since an electronic mail is used, like in the first embodiment and second embodiment, not only a web-interface, namely, a communication system of an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), but also a mail interface, namely, a communication system of an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) are used. Usually, in the communication system of the SMTP, the gateway server  2  does not add a user ID to an electronic mail. Accordingly, for maintaining a relationship with the user ID, specific processing is conducted. 
     Below, a system will be described according to the third embodiment. In addition, in the explanation of the third embodiment, the same numerals in the figures are attached to elements same as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     In the third embodiment, provided in the IP server  1  are means for responding to a request from the mobile phone  4 , based on the communication system of the HTTP, and starting an electronic mail function of the mobile phone  4  by using a function, such as a CGI scriptfor example. The IP server  1  further comprises means for generating a mail delivery list of members who desire a delivery of an electronic mail that has been transmitted from the mobile phone  4 , and means for notifying the members of the electronic mail, which are described in the mail delivery list, based on the communication system of the SMTP. 
     Further, as mentioned above, since transmission and reception of an electronic mail are conducted by means of the communication system of the SMTP, the IP server  1  cannot obtain a user ID for discriminating users from the electronic mail. Accordingly, this embodiment is constructed so that means for generating a mail identifier which has a relationship in pairs with the obtained user ID is provided, and the generated mail identifier is set in an electronic mail to be transmitted, and is transmitted. 
     In addition, these means are realized in the MPU  24  of the IP server  1 . 
     Below, the operation of the third embodiment will be explained. In addition, in the explanation of this operation, the operation of a member registration for utilizing mail delivery service and the operation for down-loading an image to the mobile phones  4  will be explained separately. 
     FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of the mail delivery member registration. 
     First, a user of the mobile phone  4  operates the operating section  96  of the mobile phone  4 , and selects a site of the IP server  1 , in which the member registration is conducted, and transmits an HTTP request based on the communication system of the HTTP (Step  400 ). In FIG. 14, it is shown that “http://IP 1 .mail.or.jp/uidxxxxxxx user=NNN” is transmitted from the mobile phone  4  as the HTTP request. In addition, as an example of the request, “IP 1 ” indicates the IP server  1 , “mail” indicates a menu screen of member registration, “xxxxxxx” out of “uid=xxxxxxx” indicates an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4 , and “user=NNN” indicates the sort of mobile phone. 
     In the gateway server  2  that received the request, since the request is one based on the communication system of the HTTP, a user ID corresponding to the intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  401 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is “xxxxxxx”, if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the user ID corresponding to “xxxxxxx” is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “http://IP 1 .mailmenu.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     In the IP server  1 , whether or not the user ID “abcdefgh” out of the received request “http://IP 1 .mail.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” is already registered is checked by retrieving a mail delivery member list table  150 . FIG. 15 is a view showing one example of the mail delivery member list table  150 , and in the mail delivery member list table  150 , a user ID of a member of the mail delivery service, an mail address of the member, and an admission date when the member registration was made are described contents by contents in association with each other. If a corresponding user ID is not described in the mail delivery member list table  150 , the request of the member registration from the mobile phone  4  is received, and a response for starting a function of an electronic mail of the mobile phone  4 , for example a program of a mailer by means of a CGI script and so forth is transmitted. At this time, an identifier having a relationship in pairs with the extracted user ID “abcdefgh”, for example “200000504” is generated. And, this generated mail identifier “200000504” and a mail address which the IP server  1 , for example “mail@zpl.or.jp” has are added to the response, and are transmitted (Step  403 ). 
     The above processing is conducted by means of the communication system of the HTTP. 
     In addition, since processing of Step  405  and Step  407  mentioned later is conducted by means of the communication system of the SMTP, explanation of the gateway server  2  will be omitted. 
     In the mobile phone  4 , when the response is received, an electronic mail transmission and reception function is started (Step  404 ). And, a destination of transmission of an electronic mail is set to be a mail address “mail@IP 1 .or.jp”, and an origin of transmission of the mail is set to be a mail address “user@xxx.or.jp” of a user (the mobile phone  4 ). Also, the received mail identifier “20000204” is set in a mail to be transmitted (Step  405 ). And, the mail in which these settings are made is transmitted based on the communication system of the SMTP. 
     In the IP server  1 , an electronic mail from the mobile phone  4  is received, and a user ID is specified from the mail identifier “20000504” that is being set in the electronic mail. Further, a mail address of a user is specified from the origin “user@xxx.or.jp” of transmission of the electronic mail. Thereby, the user ID “abcdefgh” and “user@xxx.or.jp” are coupled to have a relationship in pairs with each other, and are stored (Step  406 ). 
     Successively, a site for confirming the member registration is prepared. This site for the confirmation is set so that only the mobile phone  4  having a user ID coupled to the mail address can have access thereto. And, the mail address of the user is set for an address of a destination of transmission of an electronic mail, and the B mail address of the IP server  1  is set for an origin of transmission, respectively, and a mail for confirming the member registration, in which a destination to be linked of a site for the exclusive use of a user ID is set, is generated (Step  407 ). In FIG. 14, it is shown that the mail address “user@xxx.or.jp” of the user is set for an address of a destination of transmission of an electronic mail, and the mail address “mail@IP 1 .or.jp” of the IP server  1  is set for an origin of transmission, respectively, and “IP 1 .confirmational.or.jp” is set for a destination to be linked of the site for the exclusive use of a user ID. 
     In the mobile phone  4 , an electronic mail for registration confirmation is received, and if a registration of a mail delivery is desired, a link button which is being set in the received electronic mail is pushed, and an HTTP request by means of the communication system of the HTTP is transmitted (Step  408 ). 
     Since it is the HTTP request by means of the communication system of the HTTP, in the gateway server  2  that received the request, a user ID corresponding to an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  409 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is “xxxxxxx”, if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the user ID corresponding to “xxxxxxx” is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “http://IP 1 .confirmational.or.jp/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” is transmitted to the IP server  1 . 
     In the IP server  1 , the request is received, and an HTML source of the site is transmitted (Step  410 ). 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the HTML source is received, and is displayed on a screen. If a registration thereof is desired, a “OK” button displayed on the screen is pushed, and a request of the member registration is transmitted (Step  411 ). In FIG. 14, it is shown that, as the HTTP request, “http://IP 1 .confirmational.or.jp/ok/uid=xxxxxxxx user=NNN” is transmitted. 
     Since it is the HTTP request by means of the communication system of the HTTP, in the gateway server  2  that received the request, a user ID corresponding to an intrinsic identifier of the mobile phone  4  is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , and the intrinsic identifier added to the received request is converted into the retrieved user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  412 ). In this operation, since the intrinsic identifier added to the request from the mobile phone  4  is xxxxxxx , if a user ID corresponding to this intrinsic identifier is retrieved from the user ID list table  70 , the user ID corresponding to “xxxxxxx” is “abcdefgh”. Accordingly, “xxxxxxx” is converted into “abcdefgh”, and “http://IP 1 .confirmational.or.jp/ok/uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” 
     In the IP server  1 , in response to the request, the user ID and the mail address that are stored are registered in pairs in the mail delivery member list  150  (Step  413 ). 
     By means of the above operation, the member registration is completed. 
     In addition, in this explanation, for carefully confirming an intention of a registration of a mail delivery by a user, this embodiment is constructed so that, after the site for registration confirmation is linked, and the intention of the registration is confirmed again, the registration in the mail delivery member list  150  is made. However, without confirming the intention of the registration again, the operation for the registration may be finished at a time point when the electronic mail from a user is received. In other words, the process can be constructed so that; at Step  406 , at a time point when the user ID and the mail address are coupled to have a relationship in pairs with each other, the mail address and the user ID are registered in pairs in the mail delivery member list  150 . In this case, the processing after Step  407  becomes unnecessary. 
     FIG. 16 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of image data delivery after member registration. 
     First, when an image to be delivered is added to the IP server  1 , the IP server generates a mail in which a destination to be linked is set so that a folder in which the added updated image data is held, and an image are read out (Step  500 ). And, the generated mail is concurrently transmitted to a mail address described in the mail delivery member list table  150  (Step  501 ). 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the mail is received, and when a link button that is being set in the electronic mail is pushed, a request is automatically transmitted (Step  502 ). For example, as the request from the mobile phone  4 , it is assumed that “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx user=NNN” “chara=new 1 ” out of the request to be transmitted is discrimination information of the added updated image, and “user=NNN” indicates a sort of the mobile phone  4 , respectively. Also, the operation after that is subject to a web-interface. 
     In the gateway server  2 , the request “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=xxxxxxx user=NNN” identifier is converted into a user ID, and is transmitted to the IP server  1  (Step  503 ). 
     In the IP server  1 , whether or not the user ID “abcdefgh” out of the received request “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=abcdefgh user=NNN” is already registered is checked by retrieving the member list table  31  (Step  504 ). Since, in the operation of the member registration, the user of the mobile phone  4  finished the member registration, the user ID is described in the member list table  31 . Accordingly, the request moves from information on a sort of the phone to an image folder for the sort of the phone, and further, based on the discrimination information of the image data, which is described in the request, the image data held in the image folder is read out, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2  (Step  505 ). In this operation, since the request is “http://IP 1 .channel.or.jp/chara=new 1 /uid=abcdefgn user=NNN”, the information on a sort of a phone is user=NNN”, and the discrimination information of an image is “new 1 ”. This indicates an image data of a today&#39;s character for the sort NNN of the phone, and an image data is read from the image folder for the day for the sort NNN of the phone, and is transmitted to the mobile phone  4  via the gateway server  2 . 
     In the mobile phone  4 , the image data is received, and the received image data is held in the VRAM  92  and is displayed on the display (Step  506 ). 
     On the other hand, in case that the down-loaded image data is displayed again, it is held in the region  99  of the storage section  95  (step  507 ).