Abstract:
In a communication terminal apparatus having a telephone function, an information communication mode function and a transmission history display function, when transmission based on a telephone number described in an electronic information content such as an electronic mail, a website or the like is performed, the electronic information content is stored in a memory. Then, when a transmission history is displayed, the electronic information content is displayed in addition to transmission information by user handling. Thus, even if the transmission is performed while the electronic information content is being browsed, a user can know how situation the displayed transmission history is transmitted from.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/866,792, filed Jun. 15, 2004 (allowed). 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to display of a transmission history in case of directly transmitting connection information described in an electronic information content from a screen being browsed (or accessed), in a communication terminal apparatus having an information communication mode function. Here, it should be noted that the information communication mode is an operation mode in an on-line data service, such as an Internet connection service, a message service and the like. However, the present invention is not limited only to these services. 
     2. Related Background Art 
     In a conventional communication terminal apparatus, when a history of transmission in a case where connection information is input by using a numeric keypad and an electronic telephone directory (hereinafter called transmission by a first transmission method) is displayed as a transmission history, transmission information (i.e., the connection information, a transmission time, and a name of party if it can be specified) is displayed on a display unit. Meanwhile, in a communication terminal apparatus having an information communication function, when a history in case of direct transmission by using an input means for selecting connection information while an electronic information content (e.g., an electronic mail, a website or the like) in which the connection information is described is being browsed (hereinafter called transmission by a second transmission method) is displayed as a transmission history, only transmission information (i.e., the connection information, a transmission time, and a name of party if it can be specified) is displayed as well as the transmission by the first transmission method. However, in these cases, when the transmission history is afterward displayed, a user cannot confirm or know how situation the displayed transmission history on the display unit is transmitted from. Therefore, when the user afterward accesses or browses the transmission history for the purpose of retransmission to the connection information included in the electronic information content, the user cannot have the conviction whether the displayed connection information is truly desired connected information. For this reason, the user worries about whether the retransmission has been surely connected to the target party. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in order to solve such conventional problems as above, and an object thereof is to enable, in a case where a user tries to perform retransmission to a party, which is the same as that to which the user performed transmission at one time by the second transmission method, by using a transmission history in such past transmission, the user to easily find the transmission history in question by means of the structure for displaying, on a display screen which was used when the transmission history in question was displayed, an electronic information content is displayed in addition to transmission information (i.e., connection information, and a transmission time, and a name of party if it can be specified). 
     A communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a communication means for connecting to a communication line; an input means for inputting connection information for performing communication with a connection destination through the communication means; an obtaining means for obtaining transmission information in case of performing the communication with the connection destination through the communication means; a memory means for storing the transmission information; a display means for displaying the transmission information; a judgment means for judging whether or not predetermined information for the transmission information exists, when the transmission information stored in the memory means is input as the connection information by the input means; and a control means for performing control, when displaying a transmission history, so as to cause the display means to display the transmission information and the predetermined information when it is judged by the judgment means that the predetermined information exists, and so as to cause the display means to display only the transmission information when it is judged by the judgment means that the predetermined information does not exist. According to this structure, in a case where the user tries to perform retransmission to a telephone number, which has been described in the electronic information content and to which the user performed transmission at one time directly from the screen being browsed, by using the transmission history in such past transmission, the user can easily find the transmission history in question, 
     Moreover, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the case where the transmission history is being displayed by the display means under the control of the control unit, the retransmission can be performed by predetermined user handling to the connection information stored in the transmission information held in the transmission history. According to this structure, the user can perform the retransmission as confirming the connection information, whereby it is possible to connect a target party more certainly. 
     Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means controls to be able to set the arbitrary number of transmission histories from one to the number storable by a memory area and controls the same transmission history so as not to duplicate. According to this structure, it is possible to hold the transmission history more effectively. 
     Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in case of storing the transmission history, the memory unit stores a new transmission history by deleting an old transmission history when the number of the stored transmission histories has reached the upper limit. According to this structure, the new transmission history can be effectively stored, whereby it is possible to easily confirm the transmission history and thus perform retransmission based on the stored transmission history. 
     Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in a case where an electronic mail is used for the predetermined information, a return mail to the displayed electronic mail can be transmitted by user handling when the transmission history is being displayed. According to this structure, it is possible for the user to easily transmit the electronic mail to the party to which the transmission was performed. 
     Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in a case where a website is used for the predetermined information, it is possible to reconnect to an URL of the displayed website by user handling when the transmission history is being displayed. According to this structure, it is possible for the user to easily confirm the website of the party to which the transmission was performed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the structure of a communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the structure of a display unit of the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the structure of a storage unit of the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing the structure of an operation unit of the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing an operation after calling a telephone of the communication terminal apparatus until storing a transmission history according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an operation of changing the content of a transmission history list held in the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing an operation of displaying the transmission history held in the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing transmission history display examples in the communication terminal apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the relative arrangements of the structured components, the display screens and the like which are disclosed in the embodiment. 
     A telephone apparatus, which has a function of holding transmission histories, as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained below.  FIG. 1  is a structural view showing a structural example of the telephone apparatus, which has the function of holding the transmission histories, according to the present embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a reference numeral  100  denotes a central processing unit (CPU) for controlling an entire part of the telephone apparatus, a reference numeral  101  denotes a ROM for storing programs and data, a reference numeral  102  denotes a nonvolatile RAM for storing data for the backup such as personal data, a telephone directory and the like, a reference numeral  103  denotes a storage unit (DRAM) for storing CPU work data, transmission history data, display data, recording data, electronic information content obtained through a communication line, and the like. A reference numeral  104  denotes an electronic information content conversion unit for converting the stored electronic information content into the display data. A reference numeral  105  denotes a display unit for color displaying the electronic information content data which was converted into the display data through the electronic information content conversion unit  104  or status of the telephone apparatus, a reference numeral  106  denotes an operation unit structured by ten keys and the like, and a reference numeral  108  denotes a communication unit structured by a MODEM or the like for communicating with an external device by connecting with a communication line  109 . Each of processing units is connected through a system bus  110 . 
       FIG. 2  is a structural view of the display unit  105 . The display unit  105  includes a VRAM  200  for storing the display data and an LCD driver  201  for outputting the content in the VRAM  200  on a dot matrix LCD  202 . 
       FIG. 3  is a memory map showing the internal structure of the DRAM  103 . The DRAM  103  is structured by a CPU work area used as a work area of the CPU  100 , a transmission history list storage area (transmission history list)  801 , a display data storage area for storing the display data and other data storage area for storing other data. In the transmission history list storage area  801 , the transmission histories are stored with a state of a list such as a transmission history  1 , a transmission history  2  and the like. This list can have the arbitrary length of data as long as a memory area permits to memorize data. It should be noted that the transmission history list storage area  801  maintains a status of sorting the histories in order of the time. In a transmission history  802 , transmission information (a transmission information storage area)  803 , electronic information content (an electronic information content storage area)  804 , a pointer  805  for the previous transmission history and a pointer  806  for the next transmission history are stored. In the transmission information  803 , a telephone number being connecting information, a transmission date, information of the electronic information content such as a URL of a website, an address to an E-mail storage area, and the like are stored. In the electronic information content  804 , the content of websites and E-mails are stored. If it is checked whether or not the electronic information content is stored in the electronic information content  804 , it can be judged that which of a first transmission method (to be described later) or a second transmission method (to be described later) is used for the transmission. In the pointer  805  for the previous transmission history, a pointer for the oldest transmission history is stored among a set of the transmission histories more recent than the transmission history  802  for holding the pointer  805  for the previous transmission history. In the pointer  806  for the next transmission history, a pointer for the latest transmission history is stored among a set of the transmission histories older than the transmission history for holding the pointer  806  for the next transmission history. In the pointer  805  for the previous transmission history held by the latest transmission history  802  in the transmission history list  801 , any data is not stored. That is, a head element in the transmission history list can be discriminated by searching the transmission history  802  holding the pointer  805  for the previous transmission history which does not store any data. In the pointer  806  for the next transmission history held by the oldest transmission history  802  in the transmission history list  801 , any data is not stored. That is, a last element in the transmission history list can be discriminated by searching the transmission history  802  holding the pointer  806  for the next transmission history which does not store any data. 
       FIG. 4  is an external structure view of the operation unit  106  of the telephone apparatus. The operation unit  106  includes an LCD  202 , ten keys  502  used for inputting the telephone number or the like, a register key  503  used for setting functions, four function keys used for a multi-functional input, a set key  505  being a setting input key and a right/left and upper/lower directions key  506  used for moving a cursor on a display unit. 
     Hereinafter, the details of the first transmission method will be explained. The first transmission method corresponds to a method of performing transmission by inputting a telephone number by use of the ten keys  502 , a method of performing the transmission by inputting the telephone number utilizing the personal data stored in the nonvolatile RAM  102  or telephone number information included in an electronic telephone directory or a method of performing the transmission by inputting the telephone number utilizing a transmission history of the transmission performed by use of the first transmission method. Transmission information transmitted in this condition is stored in the transmission information storage area  803 . 
     Next, the details of the second transmission method will be explained. First, the electronic information content is obtained by utilizing an electronic information mode through the communication line  109  and the communication unit  108  and then the obtained data is transferred to the electronic information content conversion unit  104  to convert that data into the display data, and the converted data is stored in a display data area of the storage unit  103  as display bit map data. Further, among the data stored in the display data area, the data required to be displayed is sent to the VRAM  200  of the display unit  105  and is driven by the LCD driver  201  to be displayed on the dot matrix LCD  202 . When the telephone number is described within the displayed electronic information content, a transmission method of performing a telephone transmission by selecting that telephone number by a user using the operation unit  106  corresponds to the second transmission method. A transmission method of performing transmission by inputting the telephone number utilizing a transmission history of the transmission performed by use of the second transmission method also corresponds to the second transmission method. Transmission information in case of performing the transmission by the second transmission method is stored in the transmission information storage area  803 , and the electronic information content is stored in the electronic information content storage area  804 . 
     In case of referring to the transmission history  802 , it can be judged that the transmission history  802  is obtained by use of the first transmission method or the second transmission method by confirming whether or not the electronic information content is stored in the electronic information content storage area  804 . 
     Next, a flow after performing the transmission until storing the transmission history will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     First, a transmission is performed by use of the first transmission method or the second transmission method (S 701  and S 702 ). The transmission performed in this time is defined as a transmission A. 
     It is checked whether or not a transmission history having the same telephone number as that used in the transmission A exists within the transmission history list  801  (S 703 ). Telephone connecting numbers held within the transmission information of the transmission history in the transmission history list  801  are compared with the telephone number in the transmission A from the head element to the last element in the list. If the same number is found, the transmission history thereof is defined as a transmission history B. 
     If two or more numbers are found, plural transmission histories B surely exist. Then, a flow advances to a step S 709 . If none of the transmission histories B is found, the flow advances to a step S 704 . 
     In the step S 704 , it is judged whether or not vacancy, where a new transmission history is written, exists in the transmission history list  801 . If the vacancy does not exist, the flow advances to a step S 705 , and if the vacancy exists, the flow advances to a step S 706 . In the step S 705 , the new transmission history can be added to the transmission history list by deleting the oldest transmission history from the transmission histories stored in the transmission history list  801 . The oldest transmission history can be extracted by searching the content in the transmission history list  801  from the head element to the last element and judging whether or not the pointer  806  for the next transmission history is stored in the list. 
     Next, it is judged whether or not the transmission A is performed by the second transmission method according to a fact whether or not the electronic information content is stored in the electronic information content storage area  804  (S 706 ). When the transmission A is a telephone transmission performed by the first transmission method, transmission information of the transmission A is stored in the transmission information storage area  803  (S 708 ). When the transmission A is performed by the second transmission method, the transmission information of the transmission A is stored in the transmission information storage area  803  and the electronic information content used in the transmission A is stored in the electronic information content storage area  804  (S 707 ). 
     In the step S 709 , the content of the transmission history list is changed. A detailed flow in the step S 709  is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this flow, it is aimed to eliminate the duplicated old transmission history in a case that the same transmission history existed in the past, when a transmission history is newly stored. First, it is judged whether or not the transmission A is performed by the second transmission method (S 722 ). As a judgment result, if YES, the flow advances to a step S 723 , and if NO, the flow advances to a step S 725 . 
     In the step S 723 , it is judged whether or not the transmission history B is a history of a telephone transmission performed by the second transmission method. As a judgment result, if YES, the flow advances to a step S 724 . If NO, it is discriminated that the transmission A was performed by the second transmission method and the transmission history B is a transmission history of the transmission which was performed by the first transmission method, and even if the transmission history of the transmission A is stored, since that history is not a duplicate of the transmission history B, the flow ends (S 730 ). 
     In the step S 724 , it is judged whether or not the electronic information content  804  corresponding to the transmission A is same as the electronic information content  804  corresponding to the transmission history B by comparing the contents of the two electronic information contents. As a compared result, if it is judged that they are not the same contents, even if the transmission history of the transmission A is stored, since that history is not the duplicate of the transmission history B, the flow ends (S 730 ). If it is judged that they are the same contents, since the transmission history of the transmission A is same as the transmission history B, the older transmission history B is deleted from the transmission history list  801  (S 726 ) in order to prevent to remain the duplicated transmission histories. Then, the flow ends (S 730 ). 
     In the step S 725 , it is judged whether or not the transmission history B is a transmission history of the transmission performed by the second transmission method. As a judgment result, if YES, since the transmission A was performed by the first transmission method and the transmission history of the transmission A is not the duplicate of the transmission history B, the flow ends (S 730 ). If NO, since both of the transmission A and the transmission of the transmission history B were performed by the first transmission method and the two transmission histories become the same history, the older transmission history B is deleted from the transmission history list  801  (S 729 ) in order to prevent to remain the duplicated transmission histories. Then, the flow ends (S 730 ). 
     The duplicated transmission histories can be eliminated from the transmission history list  801  by executing a process shown in  FIG. 6 , and a user can avoid from holding the same plural transmission histories. A condition of regarding the histories as the duplicated histories is that the transmissions of the two transmission histories were performed by the first transmission method and connecting information held in the transmission information  803  is in a coincident status, or the transmissions of the two transmission histories were performed by the second transmission method and the connecting information held in the transmission information  803  is in a coincident status and further the electronic information contents  804  is in a coincident status. 
     Next, a displaying method of the transmission history in the present telephone apparatus will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     When the user performs an operation of displaying the transmission history by the operation unit  106  (S 741 ), the latest transmission history C is obtained from the DRAM  103 . 
     In a case that there is not any transmission history in the transmission history list  801 , an operation of displaying the transmission history is ended (S 742 , S 743 , S 744  and S 752 ). 
     In case of obtaining the transmission history C, it is judged whether or not the transmission of the transmission history C is performed by the second transmission method according to a fact whether or not the electronic information content is stored in the electronic information content storage area  804  (S 745 ). 
     When the electronic information content is stored, transmission information of the transmission history C and the electronic information content are obtained (S 746 ). 
     When the electronic information content is not stored, only the transmission information of the transmission history C is obtained (S 747 ). Then, the obtained transmission information or both of the transmission information and the electronic information content are displayed (S 748 ). 
     Examples of the displayed transmission histories are indicated by transmission history screens  601 ,  602  and  603  shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The transmission history screen  601  is a display example of the transmission history in case that the transmission was performed by the first transmission method. A reference numeral  604  denotes transmission information stored in the transmission information  803 . A reference numeral  605  denotes a telephone number of a calling party being connecting information among the transmission information stored in the transmission information  803 . A reference numeral  606  denotes an electronic button portion used for recalling the telephone. The user can recall the telephone by selecting the electronic button portion  606  by use of the operation unit  106 . 
     The transmission history screen  602  is a display example of the transmission history in case that the transmission was performed by the second transmission method and an E-mail was used as the electronic information content. A reference numeral  607  denotes transmission information stored in the transmission information  803 . A reference numeral  608  denotes the E-mail stored in the electronic information content  804 . A reference numeral  609  denotes an electronic button portion used for recalling the telephone. The user can recall the telephone by selecting the electronic button portion  609  by use of the operation unit  106 . Similarly, a reference numeral  610  denotes an electronic button portion, which is used for sending a reply E-mail, by which the user can send the reply E-mail to a party who calls the telephone. 
     The transmission history screen  603  is a display example of the transmission history in case that the transmission was performed by the second transmission method and a website was used as the electronic information content. A reference numeral  611  denotes transmission information stored in the transmission information  803 . A reference numeral.  612  denotes a website stored in the electronic information content  804 . A reference numeral  613  denotes an electronic button portion used for recalling the telephone. The user can recall the telephone by selecting the electronic button portion  613  by use of the operation unit  106 . Similarly, a reference numeral  614  denotes an electronic button portion, which is used for connecting to the website, by which the user can connect to the website of a party who calls the telephone.] 
     Here, return to the explanation in  FIG. 7 . When a display of the transmission history is stopped, an operation of stopping the display is performed in the operation unit  106  (S 749 ) to end the flow. 
     When the next new transmission history, which follows the transmission history presently displayed, is desired to display, an operation thereof is performed by use of the operation unit  106  (S 750 ). At this time, it is judged whether or not the transmission history presently displayed is the oldest transmission history by checking an area for storing the pointer  806  for the next transmission history (S 751 ). 
     If the pointer is stored, the next new transmission history is obtained (S 753 ), and if the pointer is not stored, the latest transmission history is obtained (S 752 ). 
     Then, the flow returns to a step S 744 , where it is judged whether or not the transmission of the obtained transmission information of the transmission history was performed by the second transmission method. 
     As explained above, according to the present invention, when the user refers to the transmission history intending to recall the telephone, since the electronic information content indicating the condition when the transmission was performed is displayed regarding the telephone number remained in the transmission history by using the electronic information content for the transmission history, a communication party can be easily specified, and it becomes possible to call the telephone without anxiety. 
     Further, in case of performing a transmission to a calling destination party not stored in an electronic telephone directory or the like, effectiveness can be exhibited.