Patent Publication Number: US-7216171-B2

Title: Network system, network server and terminal device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 09/523,583 filed Mar. 10, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,243, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 11-067193 filed on Mar. 12, 1999. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a network system, a network server and a terminal device, and is applicable to the network system, network server and terminal device with that plural users transfer information via the network. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Heretofore, there is a system for transferring various information between plural terminal devices via a network. In this network system, a user himself connects to the network using a terminal device to transfer information with a user who operates another terminal device. 
   In this case, the information such as an e-mail sent from the user who operates that other terminal device is temporary stored in a network server. The user being the destination can read out the e-mail from the sender by accessing to the network server from the terminal device being the destination of the above e-mail. 
   In the above network system, however, the user receives the information such as e-mail stored in the network server by connecting the terminal device to the network. Accordingly, the user must confirm whether or not there is the information such as e-mail directed to him, by connecting the terminal device to the network every time. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide a network system, a network server and a terminal device that can easily and surely transmit various information to a user being the destination of the information. 
   The foregoing object and other objects of the invention have been achieved by the following manner. A terminal device to be used by a user is recorded in a network server. The network server converts information to be transmitted to the terminal device used by the user into information conformed to the terminal device used by the user, or a notice is transmitted to the terminal device to the effect that there is information to be transmitted to said user. Thereby, the information can be easily and surely transmitted to the user being the destination of the information. 
   Moreover, a group of plural users is formed, and information to be transferred in the above group is converted into information conformed to a terminal device used by each user who belongs to the group, or a notice is transmitted to the terminal device used by each user belonging to the group to the effect that there is information to be transmitted to said each user. Thereby, the information can be easily and surely transferred in the group. 
   According to the present invention as described above, a terminal device to be used by a user is recorded in a network server. The network server converts information to be transmitted to the terminal device used by the user into information conformed to the terminal device used by the user, or transmits a notice to the terminal device to the effect that there is information to be transmitted to said user. Thereby, the information can be easily and surely transmitted to the user who is the destination of the information. 
   Moreover, a group of plural users is formed, and the information to be transferred in the above group is converted into information conformed to a terminal device used by each user who belongs to the group, or a notice is transmitted to the terminal device used by each user belonging to the group to the effect that there is the information to be transmitted to said each user. Thereby, the information can be easily and surely transferred in the group. 
   The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals or characters. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the entire structure of a network system according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a memory card; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing the memory map of the memory card; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing the internal format of the memory card; 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a television set; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram showing the authentication sequence between the television set and a server; 
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network server; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram showing the sequence when the memory card is ejected; 
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a cellular phone; 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the configuration of a personal computer; 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram explaining a method of forming a group; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram showing the sequence of forming a group; 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram explaining the operation to notify group members a message; 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic diagram showing the procedure for transmitting a message; 
       FIG. 15  is a block diagram explaining the operation for searching for user&#39;s using terminal; 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic diagram showing the sequence of searching for user&#39;s using terminal; 
       FIG. 17  is a block diagram explaining the operation for setting/updating an access right; 
       FIG. 18  is a schematic diagram showing the sequence of setting/updating the access right; 
       FIG. 19  is a block diagram explaining the operation for access control processing; 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic diagram showing the access control sequence; and 
       FIG. 21  is a schematic diagram showing the sending sequence in the ISDN and the PHS in another embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings: 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  10  generally shows a network system. A network server  22  in the system is connected to a telephone line  15 , a cellular phone line  33  and broadcast means  25  via a cable interface (INF)  23 A, a radio interface  23 B and a broadcast interface  23 C. 
   A television set  13  which is a terminal device is connected to the telephone line  15  via a modem. The television set  13  can access to the network server  22  via the telephone line  15 . On the other hand, a cellular phone  31  is connected to the cellular phone line  33 . The cellular phone  31  can access to the network server  22  via the cellular phone line  33 . 
   In addition to this, the network server  22  is connected to an internet  41  via a router  23 D. A personal computer  47  is connected to a network  45  for example that is constructed by a local area network (LAN) in an office or the like and connected to the above internet  41  by a dedicated line. Thereby, the personal computer  47  can access to the network server  22  via the internet  41 . 
   Here, each terminal device (television set  13 , cellular phone  31  and personal computer  47 ) has a slot to insert a memory card  11   x  ( 11   1 ,  11   2 ,  11   3 , . . . ) being storage means. When operating these terminal devices, the user inserts the memory card  11   x  ( 11   1 ,  11   2 ,  11   3 , . . . ) that is individually owned by him in the above operating terminal. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the memory card  11   x  ( 11   1 ,  11   2 ,  11   3 , . . . ) is composed of a connector  11 B to connect to the slot of each terminal device and a memory  11 A that is connected to the above connector  11 B via a bus BUS. 
   The memory  11 A stores various information particular to the user who owns the above memory card  11   x  in an area designated by a memory map shown in  FIG. 3 . That is, in the storage area of this memory  11 A, a first area AR 11  is an area to store network connection information to connect the terminal device to insert the memory card  11   x  to the network. A user ID and a password to receive authentication from the network server  22  and a password for user identification that has been previously recorded by the user using the memory card  11   x  or the like are stored in that area. The password for user identification is information that will be compared with a password that will be entered by the user every time when he inserts the memory card  11   x  in the terminal device, and is used to determine whether or not the user at this time is the regular user allowed to use the memory card  11   x . 
   A second area AR 12  is an area to store additional information that will be downloaded for example when receiving various services (information provision or the like) on the network from the network server  22  by using the terminal device having the memory card  11   x . 
   A third area AR 13  is an area to store information particular to the user owing the memory card  11   x , such as an address book or schedule data or the like. 
   A fourth area AR  14  is an area to store information that can be used in each terminal device having the memory card  11   x . For example, a telecast list or uniform resource locator (URL) information to see a description of each television program on the world wide web (WWW) that will be used when the terminal device having it is the television set  13 , a sentence in editing or a screen or a program on development that will be read or written when the terminal device having the memory card  11   x  is the personal computer  47 , data of character mail service transmitted or received when the terminal device having the memory card  11   x  is the cellular phone  31 , etc., will be stored respectively. 
   And a fifth area AR 15  is an area to store various data such as a static image or the like. 
   The above data stored in the memory  11 A of the memory card  11   x  is stored in a type length value (TLV) format shown in  FIG. 4 , for example. This format is the format of the data to be stored in each area (AR 11  to AR 15 ) of the memory map described above with reference to  FIG. 3 . And it is composed of type information (TYPE) D 11 , data length information (LENGTH) D 12  and content information (VALUE) D 13  of the data to be stored, in each area (AR 1  to AR 15 ). 
   In this case, a code “00” which means network connection information is assigned as the type information D 11  of the data in the first area AR 11  of the memory  11 A, and information such as an authentication ID (user ID) and a password or the like is stored as the content information D 13  in the above first area AR 11 . Then, a TLV format is further formed for each authentication ID and password stored as the content information D 13 . The content information D 13  is composed of type information D 13 A, data length information D 13 B and content information D 13 C respectively. 
   In the second area AR 12  of the memory  11 A, a code “01” which means the network additional information is assigned as the type information D 11  of the data, and information such as a group ID that is the additional information that will be downloaded from the network server  22  when receiving various services (information provision or the like) on the network and its password or the like is stored as the content information in the above second area AR 12 . The group ID is identification information to be used when a specific group of plural users who use a terminal is formed. Then, a TLV format is further formed for each group ID and its password stored as the content information D 13 . The content information D 13  is composed of the type information D 13 A, data length information D 13 B and content information D 13 C respectively. 
   In the third area AR 13  of the memory  11 A, a code “02” which means the personal information is assigned as the type information D 11  of the data, and information such as a telephone directory, address book data and personal schedule data or the like that are the information to be peculiarly used by the user who owns the above memory card  11   x  is stored as the content information in the above third area AR 13 . Then, a TLV format is further formed for each telephone directory, address book data and personal schedule data stored as the content information D 13 . The content information D 13  is composed of the type information D 13 A, data length information D 13 B and content information D 13 C respectively. 
   In the fourth area AR 14  of the memory  11 A, a code “03” which means the information on each terminal is assigned as the type information D 11  of the data, and information such as various terminal attribute or the like that will be used in each terminal device that is an object to insert the above memory card  11   x  is stored as content information in the above fourth area AR 14 . Then, a TLV format is further formed for each information such as various terminal attribute or the like stored as the content information D 13 . The content information D 13  is composed of the type information D 13 A, data length information D 13 B and content information D 13 C respectively. 
   And in the fifth area AR 15  of the memory  11 A, various data which will be arbitrary read or written is stored as the type information D 11  of the data. Then, a TLV format is further formed for each this various data stored as the content information D 13 . The content information D 13  is composed of the type information D 13 A, data length information D 13 B and content information D 13 C respectively. 
   In this manner, in the memory card  11   x , peculiar information (authentication ID, password, etc.) to specify the user who owns the above memory card  11   x  (user A, user B, user C, . . . ) and various information to be individually used by said user (personal information, each terminal information, etc.) are stored. When operating each terminal device, the user inserts the memory card  11   x  in the operating terminal, and notifying the network connection information (authentication ID, password, etc.) which is peculiar information to specify the user himself to the network server  22  via the operating terminal. Thereby, a correspondence relationship between the terminal device operated by the user at this time and the user is recorded in the network server  22 . 
   As a first terminal device, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the television set  13  has a configuration in which a CPU  13 A, a memory  13 B, a memory card (MC) interface (INF)  13 C, an interface processor  13 N, a communication interface (INF)  13 D, a receiving circuit (RF)  13 E and an output part  13 F are connected to a data bus BUS. The CPU  13 A executes various operations according to an operation program stored in the memory  13 B and controlling each circuit based on the above operation. 
   The radio frequency (RF) part  13 E receives television broadcast wave S RF  received with an antenna (not shown), and transmits a receiving signal S 13 E obtained by the above receiving to the output part  13 F. The output part  13 F generates a television video signal S TV  by subjecting intermediate frequency (IF) amplifying processing, video detecting processing or the like to the receiving signal S 13 E, and transmits this to a cathode ray tube display (CRT)  13 G. Thus, television broadcasting received by the RF part  13 E is visibly displayed on the display screen of the CRT  13 G. 
   Here, if for example the user A who is operating the television set  13  inserts the memory card  11   1  owned by him into a memory card slot (not shown), the detecting contact of the memory card  11  is connected to the contact of the memory card interface  13 C, and the interface processor  13 N detects a change of a signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “L” level to logic “H” level). And an interrupt signal is transmitted to the CPU  13 A and interrupt processing is performed. Thereby, the CPU  13 A detects the insertion of the memory card  11   1 . In this connection, the interface processor  13 N is a processing block which performs protocol processing according to the interface specification when in transferring data to the memory card  11   1 . Therefore, the interface processor  13 N gets into a state where it can read the information peculiar to the user stored in the memory card  11   1 . 
   The memory card interface  13 C is formed by a serial interface, and has at least three data lines. A first data line transmits a clock signal in data transmission, a second data line transmits a status signal necessary for data transmission, and a third data line serially transmits data to be written in or read out from the memory card  11   x . 
   The CPU  13 A reads out data in the memory card  11   1  via the memory card interface  13 C, and transmits this to the network server  22  via the communication interface  13 D and the telephone line  15  ( FIG. 1 ) to perform authentication request of the network server  22 . 
   The sequence of this authentication request is shown in  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , if for example the memory card  11   1  is inserted in the television set  13 , the CPU  13 A detects the insertion state of the memory card  11   1  via the memory card interface  13 C, and transmits a signal to the network server  22  via the telephone line  15  to retain a channel. 
   Then, after performing an establishment of a session by point to point protocol (PPP) processing, the CPU  13 A of the television set  13  transmits an authentication request to the network server  22 . This authentication request data D 21  is specifying information to specify a user and a terminal used by said user. As the above authentication request data D 21 , the CPU  13 A transmits, to the network server  22 , information to specify the user that is composed of a user ID and a password for authentication included in the network connection information ( FIG. 3 ) stored in the memory card  11   1 , terminal type data previously stored in the memory  13 B of the television set  13  (data means television set), information to specify sending means and a communication form (wire telephone, wireless or internet, etc.) and information to specify the terminal that is composed of a calling telephone number and various option data on the television set (subnet, internet protocol (IP) address, machine name, etc.) and terminal&#39;s ability (TCP/IP, wireless application protocol (WAP)), no data communication facility, etc.). 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the network server  22  receives the authentication request data D 21  transmitted from the television set  13  operated by the user A at this time with a communication part  22 A, and supplies the above received authentication request data D 21  to an authenticator  22 B. 
   If the user ID (authentication ID) and password that are contained in the authentication request data D 21  coincide with the prerecorded data of the regular user A, the authenticator  22 B determines that the user A who is operating the sender of the authentication request data D 21  that was entered at this time (i.e., television set  13 ) is the regular user. The information to specify the user contained in the authentication request data D 21  (user ID and password or the like) and information for terminal specification that is to specify the terminal device operated by the user A (television set  13 ) (terminal type data, information to specify sending means and sending telephone number and various option data on the television set) are recorded in a database  22 D as combined data of the user and the operating terminal D 23 . At this time, when existent combined data has been stored in the database  22 D, the database  22 D overwrites the new combined data D 23  that is supplied from the authenticator  22 B at this time on the existent combined data and updating. 
   Thereby, in the database  22 D, at every time when the specified user operates a different terminal device, the combination of the terminal device newly operated and said user will be recorded. 
   If such determination being the regular user is obtained with respect to the authentication request in the authenticator  22 B, the authenticator  22 B replies authentication response data D 27  to the terminal device operated by the user A at this time (television set  13 ) via the communication part  22 A ( FIG. 6 ). 
   Therefore, in the network server  22 , the terminal device presently used by the user A (television set  13 ) will be registered combined with said user A. The information thus recorded in the database  22 D of the network server  22  remains in the database  22 D even if the terminal device used by the user is disconnected from the network server  22 . 
   Note that, when the authentication request data D 21  is transmitted from the television set  13  to the network server  22  as aforementioned with reference to  FIG. 6 , the authentication request data D 21  may be enciphered for example by an encryption algorithm that generates one-way random patterns called MD5 etc. By transmitting thus enciphered authentication request data D 21 , an illegal use of the data necessary for authentication, such as user ID or password, can be prevented. 
   In this manner, when the user A uses the television set  13 , he inserts the memory card  11  owned by him in the slot of the above television set  13 , and the paired peculiar information on the user A and the peculiar information on the terminal device being used at this time (e.g., television set  13 ) is recorded in the network server  22 . Thereby, the network server  22  can grasp a place where the user A is. 
   In this connection, in the state where the user A has inserted the memory card  11  in the television set  13 , the user A performs a prescribed input operation, the CPU  13 A of the television set  13  reads out the television program list or the URL information stored in the fourth area AR 14  in the memory card  11   1  described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  based on the type information D 11  and D 13 A on the data having the data structure of the TLV format, and displays them on the CRT  13 G as the occasion demands. On the other hand, when the television program list or the information on URL or the like have not been stored in the above fourth area AR 14 , the CPU  13 A sends a request to send (RS) to the network server  22 , so that latest information that the network server  22  obtained from information provision means (service provider or the like) via the network can be stored. As how to store this information, the information may be periodically transmitted from the network server  22  to the television set  13  without sending the RS from the television set  13  to the network server  22 . 
   If the user A ejects the memory card  11   1  from the slot of the television set  13 , the detecting contact of the memory card  11   1  is detached from the contact of the slot of the memory card interface  13 C. The interface processor  13 N detects a change of the signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “H” level to logic “L” level), and transmits an interrupt signal to the CPU  13 A to perform interrupt processing. Thereby, the CPU  13 A detects the ejection of the memory card  11   1 . 
   At this time, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the CPU  13 A transmits an erase request which includes the user ID and the terminal type data (data means the type the television set  13 ) to the network server  22 . The authenticator  22 B of the network server  22  received this erases the combined data of the user A and the operating terminal (television set  13 ) recorded in the database  22 D, and replies an answer signal to the television set  13 . Thereby, the television set  13  in which the memory card  11   1  was ejected is deleted from a record as the user&#39;s present operating terminal device (his position) in the database  22 D of the network server  22 . 
   As a second terminal device, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the cellular phone  31  has a configuration in which a CPU  31 A, a memory  31 B, a memory card (MC) interface (INF)  31 C, an interface processor  31 N, a transmitter-receiver circuit (RF)  31 E for performing send/receive of a signal with a cellular phone line  33 , a baseband processor  31 D for converting a radio frequency (RF) signal received by the transmitter-receiver circuit  31 E into a baseband signal and besides, for converting a transmitting baseband signal into an RF signal, a man machine interface (MMI)  31 F being an interface for a microphone  31 G and a speaker  31 H, a display  31 I and a keyboard  31 J are connected to a data bus BUS. 
   The CPU  31 A executes various operations according to operation programs stored in the memory  31 B and controlling each circuit corresponding to the above operation. Various processing contents by the CPU  31 A will be displayed on the display  31 I formed by a liquid crystal display panel or the like as the occasion demands. 
   If the user enters a telephone number that he wants to call on the keyboard  31 J, data meaning the above telephone number is transmitted to the CPU  31 A. The CPU  31 A transmits a call request to the other party designated by the telephone number entered by the user via the transmitter-receiver circuit  31 E. Then the line is connected via the cellular phone line  33  according to a response from the other party. If the line is connected, the transmitter-receiver circuit  31 E supplies an RF signal from the other party received via an antenna (not shown) to the baseband processor  31 D. Here the RF signal is converted into a baseband signal. The baseband processor  31 D supplies the baseband signal obtained by the above conversion to the MMI  31 F. Thus, a received speech signal from the other party is outputted from the speaker  31 H as a voice. 
   Besides, if the user enters a voice through the microphone  31 G, the MMI  31 F supplies an input audio signal supplied from the microphone  31 G to the baseband processor  31 D. Here the baseband signal is converted into an RF signal. Then, the baseband processor  31 D transmits the above converted RF signal to the cellular phone line  33  via the transmitter-receiver circuit  31 E, and the above RF signal is transmitted to the other party connected by the line. Therefore, the user using the cellular phone  31  can speak or transfer various information with the other party. 
   Here, if the user B operating the cellular phone  31  inserts the memory card  11   2  owned by him in a memory card slot of the cellular phone  31  (not shown), the detection contact of the memory card  11   2  is connected to the contact of the memory card interface  31 C. The interface processor  31 N detects a change of the signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “L” level to logic “H” level), and transmits an interrupt signal to the CPU  31 A and performing interrupt processing. Thus the CPU  31 A detects the insertion of the memory card  11   2 . In this connection, the interface processor  31 N is a processing block that performs protocol processing according to the interface specification when in transferring data to the memory card  11   x . Thus, the interface processor  31 N gets into the state where it can read out information peculiar to the user stored in the memory card  11   2 . 
   At this time, the CPU  31 A reads out the data in the memory card  11   2  via the memory card interface  31 C, and transmits this to the network server  22  via the transmitter-receiver circuit  31 E and the cellular phone line  33  ( FIG. 1 ) and requesting an authentication of the network server  22 . 
   As the sequence of this authentication request, if the memory card  11   2  is inserted in the cellular phone  31 , similarly to the authentication request sequence in the television set  13  described above with reference to  FIG. 6 , the CPU  31 A detects the insertion state of the memory card  11   2  via the memory card interface  31 C, and sends a signal to the network server  22  via the cellular phone line  33  to retain a channel. 
   The CPU  31 A of the cellular phone  31  establishes a session by means of information transmitting/receiving means built in the cellular phone  31  that uses the point to point protocol (PPP) processing or the wireless application protocol (WAP) or the like, and then transmits an authentication request to the specified network server  22 . In this connection, if the cellular phone  31  does not have such protocol function, PPP or WAP, line connection is performed with a protocol such as the dual tone multiple frequency (DTMF) or the like. 
   Then, as the authentication request data D 21 , the CPU  31 A transmits, to the network server  22 , information to specify the user B that is composed of a user ID and a password for authentication in the network connection information stored in the memory card  11   2  ( FIG. 3 ), terminal type data previously stored in the memory  31 B of the cellular phone  31  (data means cellular phone (personal digital cellular (PDC) phone), information to specify the sending means (PDC), the sending telephone number of the cellular phone  31 , protocol information such as the WAP used in the connection and information to specify a terminal composed of various option data. 
   The network server  22  receives the authentication request data D 21  sent from the cellular phone  31  operated by the user B with the communication part  22 A at this time as described above with reference to  FIG. 7 , and supplies the above received authentication request data D 21  to the authenticator  22 B. 
   If the user ID (authentication ID) or the password contained in the authentication request data D 21  coincide with the prerecorded data of the regular user B, the authenticator  22 B determines that the user B operating the sender of the authentication request data D 21  entered at this time (i.e., cellular phone  31 ) is the regular user. And the information to specify the user B contained in the authentication request data D 21  (user ID and password or the like), and information for terminal specification to specify the terminal device operated by the user B (cellular phone  31 ) (terminal type data, information to specify the sending means, and the sending telephone number and various option data on the cellular phone) are recorded in the database  22 D as combined data of the user and the operating terminal D 23 . At this time, if extent combined data has been stored in the database  22 D, the database  22 D overwrites the new combined data D 23  that is supplied from the authenticator  22 B at this time on the existent combined data and updating. 
   In this manner, in the database  22 D, the use of the cellular phone  31  by the user B is recorded at this time. This record will remain in the database  22 D even if the cellular phone  31  is disconnected from the network server  22 . 
   Note that, when the authentication request data D 21  is transmitted from the cellular phone  31  to the specified network server  22 , the authentication request data D 21  may be enciphered for example by the encryption algorithm that forms one-way random patterns called MD5 or the like. By transmitting thus enciphered authentication request data D 21 , illegal use of the data necessary for authentication such as user ID or password can be prevented. 
   When the user B uses the cellular phone  31 , he inserts the memory card  11   2  in the slot of the above cellular phone  31 . And the paired information peculiar to the user and the information peculiar to the terminal device used at this time (cellular phone  31 ) are recorded in the network server  22 . Therefore, the network server  22  can grasp the place where the user B is. 
   If the user B ejects the memory card  11   2  from the slot of the cellular phone  31 , the detecting contact of the memory card  11   2  is detached from the contact of the memory card interface  31 C, and the interface processor  31 N detects a change of the signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “H” level to logic “L” level). An interrupt signal is transmitted to the CPU  31 A according to that, and interrupt processing is performed. Thus, the CPU  31 A detects the ejection of the memory card  11   2  was ejected. 
   At this time, similarly to the case of the television set  13  described above with reference to  FIG. 8 , the CPU  31 A transmits an erase request that includes the user ID and the terminal type data (data means the type the cellular phone  31 ) to the network server  22 . The authenticator  22 B of the network server  22  received this erases the combined data of the user B and his operating terminal (cellular phone  31 ) recorded in the database  22 D, and replies a response signal to the cellular phone  31 . Thereby, the cellular phone  31  from which the memory card  11   2  has ejected is deleted from a record as the terminal device being operated by the user B (his position) in the database  22 D of the specified network server  22 . 
   In this connection, if the user B performs a prescribed input operation in the state where the user B inserted the memory card  11   2  in the cellular phone  31 , the CPU  31 A of the cellular phone  31  reads out telephone directory data and address book data or the like stored in the third area AR 13  in the memory card  11   2  described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4  based on the type (TYPE) information D 11  and D 13 A of the data having the data structure of the TLV format, and displays them on the display  31 I as the occasion demands. On the other hand, if the telephone directory data and the address book data or the like are not stored in the above third area AR 13 , the CPU  13 A can store various information in the above area by the input operation by the user B. 
   On the other hand, as a third terminal device, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the personal computer  47  has a configuration in which a CPU  47 A, a memory  47 B, a memory card (MC) interface (INF)  47 C, an interface processor  47 N, a communication interface (INF)  47 D and a display  47 E are connected to a data bus BUS. The CPU  47 A executes various operations according to operation programs stored in the memory  47 B. Each circuit is controlled based on the above operation. The content of various processing by the CPU  47 A will be displayed on the display  47 E formed by a liquid crystal display panel or the like. 
   If the user C who is operating the personal computer  47  inserts the memory card  11   3  owned by him in a memory card slot (not shown), the detecting contact of the memory card  11   3  is connected to the contact of the memory card interface  47 C. The interface processor  47 N detects a change of the signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “L” level to logic “H” level). An interrupt signal is transmitted to the CPU  47 A based on that, and interrupt processing is performed. Thereby, the CPU  47 A detects the insertion of the memory card  11   3 . In this connection, the interface processor  47 N is a processing block which performs protocol processing according to the interface specification when in transferring data to the memory card  11   3 . Thus, the interface processor  47 N gets into the state where it can read information peculiar to the user stored in the memory card  11   3 . 
   At this time, the CPU  47 A reads out data in the memory card  113  via the memory card interface  47 C, and transmits this to the network server  22  via the communication INF  47 D, office network  45  and internet  41  ( FIG. 1 ) to request an authentication of the network server  22 . 
   In this case, since the network  45  is connected to the internet  41  by a dedicated line, the personal computer  47  connected to the above network  45  is in the state where the session to the network server  22  is being established. Therefore, if the user C inserts the memory card  11   3  in the personal computer  47 , it can enter authentication processing directly. 
   In this case, in the internet  41 , the protocol has been determined to the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). Therefore, also the authentication request from the personal computer  47  to the network server  22  is performed by the same protocol (TCP/IP). 
   On the other hand, if the network  45  is protected by a fire wall  46 , it is needed to transmit authentication request data that includes the attribute information of the above fire wall  46  from the personal computer  47  to the network server  22 . Accordingly, if the user C inserts the memory card  11   3  in the personal computer  47 , the personal computer  47  transmits information to specify a user that is composed of a user ID and a password for authentication in the network connection information ( FIG. 3 ) stored in the memory card  11   3 , terminal type data prestored in the memory of the personal computer  47  (data means personal computer), information to specify sending means (dedicated line), a fire wall attribute to maintain network security such as SOCKS, the internet protocol (IP) address of the personal computer  47  and information for terminal specification composed of the name of the terminal and various option data, to the network server  22  as the authentication request data. 
   The network server  22  receives the authentication request data D 21  transmitted from the personal computer  47  that is being operated by the user C at this time with the communication part  22 A as described above with reference to  FIG. 7 . Thus received authentication request data D 21  is supplied to the authenticator  22 B. 
   If a user ID (authentication ID) and a password or the like are contained in the authentication request data D 21  coincide with prerecorded data of the regular user C, the authenticator  22 B determines that the user C who is operating the sender of the authentication request data D 21  entered at this time (i.e., the personal computer  47 ) is the regular user, and records the information to specify the user C contained in the authentication request data D 21  (user ID and password or the like) and information for terminal specification to specify the terminal device operated by the user C (personal computer  47 ) in the database  22 D as combined data of the user C and his operating terminal D 23 . If existent combined data has been stored in the database  22 D at this time, the database  22 D overwrites the new combined data D 23  which is supplied from the authenticator  22 B at this time on the existent combined data and updating. 
   Thereby, in the database  22 D, the use of the personal computer  47  by the user is recorded at this time. 
   Note that, when the authentication request data D 21  is transmitted from the personal computer  47  to the network server  22 , the authentication request data D 21  may be enciphered for example by the encryption algorithm that forms one-way random patterns called the MD5 or the like. By transmitting thus enciphered authentication request data D 21 , illegal use of the data necessary for authentication such as the user ID or the password can be prevented. 
   When the user C uses the personal computer  47 , the memory card  11   3  is inserted in the slot of the above personal computer  47  by him, and the paired information of the information peculiar to the user and the information peculiar to the terminal device being used at this (personal computer  47 ) are recorded in the network server  22 . Thus, the network server  22  can grasp his position. 
   If the user C ejects the memory card  11   3  from the slot of the personal computer  47 , the detecting contact of the memory card  11   3  is detached from the contact of the slot of the memory card interface  47 C; the interface processor  47 N detects a change of the signal level for memory card detection (change from logic “H” level to logic “L” level), and transmits an interrupt signal to the CPU  47 A and performing interrupt processing. Thereby, the CPU  47 A detects the ejection of the memory card  11   3 . 
   At this time, the CPU  47 A transmits an erase request including the user ID and the terminal type data (data means the type the personal computer  47 ) to the network server  22 , similarly to the case of the television set  13  described above with reference to FIG  8 . Receiving this, the authenticator  22 B of the network server  22  deletes the combined data of the user C and the operating terminal (personal computer  47 ) recorded in the database  22 D, and replies a response signal to the personal computer  47 . Thereby, the personal computer  47  from which the memory card  11   3  has ejected is deleted from a record as the terminal device presently operated by the user C (his position) in the database  22 D of the network server  22 . 
   In this manner, when the plural users (user A, user B and user C) use respective desired terminal device (television set  13 , cellular phone  31  or personal computer  47 ), they insert the memory card  11   x  owned by each user in the terminal device that he is going to operate, and the authentication request data is transmitted from each terminal device to the network server  22 . Thus, in the network server  22 , the terminal device respectively used by the plural users (i.e., users&#39; positions) can be recognized. 
   In this case, the network server  22  records the users and the terminal devices used by said users in the database  22 D. Therefore, even if the terminal device and the network server  22  become off-line after the completion of the authentication processing, the network server  22  can search for the terminal device used by the user (user&#39;s position) anytime. 
   In the state where the terminal devices respectively used by the plural users have been recorded in the network server  22  as the above, the network system  10  can form a group in which users are specified according to a group forming request by the user. 
   As an example of this group forming processing,  FIG. 11 and 12  show the case where the user A who operates the television set  13  forms a group and the user B who operates the cellular phone  31  enters the above formed group. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , that is, after the user A sends a signal to the network server  22  by operating the television set  13  and the session between the television set  13  and the network server  22  is established, the user A transmits a group forming request D 121  to the network server  22 . In this group forming request D 121 , the user ID of the user A, a group ID and its password set by the user A are included. 
   The network server  22  that received the group forming request D 121  from the television set  13  operated by the user A confirms whether or not the combination of the group ID and the password included in thus received group forming request D 121  has already recorded in an application processor  22 C. If the above combination is not recorded, the above group ID and its password, and the former of the above group (user A) are recorded in the database  22 D. 
   If the recording is completed, the network server  22  transmits the group ID (D 122 ) to the television set  13  used by the user A who is the former, to notify the forming of the group according to the request by the user A. The television set  13  which received the above notice stores the group IF receiving from the network server  22  in the second area AR 12  ( FIG. 3 ) of the memory card  11   1  that is being inserted at this time as the network additional information. By storing the group ID and the password of the formed group in the memory card  11   1 , peculiar to the user A as the above, the above using terminal device is recognized by the network server  22  as a device forming the group, also in the case where the user A inserts the above memory card  11   1  in another terminal device and uses this terminal device. 
   In this connection, the group ID and the password given to the above group may be set at random in the network server  22  that formed the group according to the request by the user A. In this case, the above set group ID and password are transmitted to the user A (television set  13 ). 
   In this manner, the group formed by the user A is recorded in the network server  22 . And if another user (e.g., user B) enters the above extent group recorded, the user B sends a signal from the cellular phone  31  using at this time to the network server  22  to establish the session with the network server  22 . 
   Then, the user B transmits the group ID and the-password of the group formed by the user A to the network server  22  as a group entry recording request D 131 . If receiving this, the network server  22  confirms whether or not the above receiving combination of the group ID and password have been recorded in the database  22 D. If it is found, the network server  22  records the user B as a group member. 
   Then, if the entry of the user B is recorded, the network server  22  transmits the group ID (D 132 ) recorded to entry at this time to the cellular phone  31  being used by the user B, and notifying the completion to record the entry to the group according to the request by the user B. The cellular phone  31  that received the above notice stores the group ID receiving from the network server  22  in the second area AR 12  ( FIG. 3 ) of the memory card  11   2  being inserted as the network additional information. Since the group ID and the password of the group to which the entry has recorded are stored in the memory card  11   2  peculiar to the user B, also in the case where the user B inserts the above memory card  11   2  in another terminal device and uses the terminal device, the above using terminal device will be recognized by the network server  22  as a device forming the group. 
   By the way, when a group member left from the group that he is joining in, the group member transmits a leaving request to the network server  22 . Thus the application processor  22 C deletes the record in the database  22 D. Furthermore, disengagement (dissolution) of the group will be performed by the user A who is the former of the above group. The network server  22  receives a disengagement request only from the user A. Thereby, disengagement of the group by the third party can be prevented. Besides, also with respect to leaving of a group member, performing the leaving processing may be permitted only to the user A who is the former of the group. 
   Note that,  FIGS. 11 and 12  have dealt with the case where the user B joined the group formed by the user A, however, also the user C who operates the personal computer  47  can join in it. Each user can arbitrary perform forming a group and joining in a group using various terminal devices. 
   Here, in the application processor  22 C of the network server  22 , notice information (message information) such as electronic mails to a specified user or the like sent from various terminal devices will be stored. In these notice information, if notice information sent to a specified group or notice information or notice information to be transferred in a specified group arrives the network server  22 , the application processor  22 C searches the database  22 D for the user who is the destination of the above notice information and a group member, and transmits the notice information to said group member. 
   That is, as shown in  FIG. 13  in which the same reference numeral is added to the corresponding part of  FIG. 7 , the network server  22  records the specified users according to the group forming request D 121  or the entry for group request D 131  (user A, user B, user C, user D, . . . ) as the group members of a group GP 1 , from among the combinations of users and their operating terminals recorded in the database  22 D by the authentication request data D 21 . In the contents of this record, if the user who is a member of the group GP 1  changes a using terminal device (that is, if the user inserts the memory card  11   x  in another terminal device), the combination of said user and his operating terminal is updated in the database  22 D by the authentication processing described above with reference to  FIG. 6 , so that also the combination of the user recorded as the member of the group GP 1  and his operating terminal is rewritten. Therefore, the record content of the above group GP 1  is always the latest information. 
   Then, as shown in  FIG. 14 , if a message to the group GP 1  (hereinafter, this is referred to as notice information) D 24  is sent from one of the members of the above group GP 1  (i.e., user A) to the network server  22  along with the group ID designating the group GP 1  and its password, the application processor  22 C of the network server  22  searches for an operating terminal being used by each user of the group GP 1  recorded in the database  22 D. In this case, the application processor  22 C recognizes that for example the user B is using the cellular phone  31  and the user C is using the personal computer  47  by the above search processing. 
   The application processor  22 C supplies the notice information D 24  sent from the user A to the other group members to a media converter  22 E along with the information showing the type of a terminal device used by each group member who are the destinations (cellular phone  31 , personal computer  47 , . . . ), to convert the notice information D 24  into a data format receivable in the terminal device used by each user (cellular phone  31 , personal computer  47 ). For instance, the cellular phone  31  is more suitable for receiving speech data than character representation in its use, and the personal computer  47  is more suitable for receiving display data such as character or the like than speech data in its use. 
   Therefore, the media converter  22 E transmits the notice information D 24  to the cellular phone  31  used by the user B after converting into speech data. On the other hand, the media converter  22 E transmits the notice information D 24  to the user C after converting into a data format that is able to be displayed in the personal computer  47 . 
   Each terminal device that received the notice information D 24  replies a response signal to the network server  22 . The network server  22  transmits an ACK (acknowledge) to the user A (television set  13 ) that is the sender of the notice information D 24  responding to that, and notifies that each terminal device has received the notice information D 24 . 
   In this connection, when transmitting the notice information D 24  from the user A to the terminal device being used by each group member (cellular phone  31 , personal computer  47  or the like), if the network address translation (NAT), the small office/home office (SOHO), the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), etc., are interposed between the terminal device and the network server  22 , the network server  22  is hard to uniformly recognize the terminal only by address information such as an IP address or the like. 
   As a method to cope with such case, it may be applied that each group member previously records a telephone number to receive a call, and if the notice information D 24  is arrived, the network server  22  notifies each group member the arrival of the notice information D 24  by calling the telephone number previously recorded. Each group member who received this notice inserts the memory card  11   x  in the desired terminal device and requesting the notice information D 24 . Thereby, the network server  22  can transmit the notice information D 24  to the terminal device having the memory card  11   x . As a result, each group member can immediately recognize the arrival as soon as the notice information (message) D 24  directed to him is arrived to the network server  22 . 
   On the other hand, as a method of transmitting the notice information D 24  to the group members, it may be applied that the sending of the notice information D 24  is notified from the network server  22  via the broadcast interface  23 D ( FIG. 1 ) and broadcast means for example by digital television broadcasting. In this case, the group ID is assigned to one channel of digital broadcasting, and in the terminal device having the memory card  11   x  of each group member in which the group ID has been written, if the broadcasted group ID agrees with the group ID in the memory card  11   x , the arrival of the notice information D 24  to the network server  22  is received. Then, the user who received this notice can receive the notice information D 24  by requesting of the network server  22  from each terminal device. 
   In this manner, each user recorded as a group member can send each group member the above notice information D 24  being a message or the like to the group members or the notice that the above notice information D 24  is reaching the network server  22  from the network server  22 , only by specifying the group, without confirming the place where each group member is. 
   In this connection,  FIG. 14  has dealt with the case of transferring a message in a group. However, the present invention is not only limited to the case of transferring information in a group but also it can be applied to transferring a message between other users recorded in the database  22 D. 
   Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 15  in which the same reference numeral is added to the corresponding part of  FIG. 7 , in the state where the specified users (user A, user B, user C, user D, . . . ) have been registered as the group members of the group GP 1  by the group forming request D 122  and the group entry recording request D 132  or the like among the combinations of the user and his operating terminal that have been recorded in the database  22 D by the authentication request data D 21 , when one of the group members of the above group GP 1  (e.g., user A) searches the network server  22  for the place where a specified group member (e.g., user B) is (his using terminal), as shown in  FIG. 16 , the user A calls the network server  22  and establishing the session between the television set  13  used by the user A at this time and the network server  22 . 
   Then, the user A transmits a search request D 141  which includes the group ID and the user ID of the user B to the network server  22  by operating the controller (not shown) of the television set  13 . If the network server  22  receives the above search request D 141  via the communication part  22 A, the search part  22 K of a controller  22   CNT  searches the database  22 D for the using history of the terminal of the user B who has been recorded as a group member responding to the above search request D 141  based on the user ID of said user B. In this connection, in the database  22 D, if each user changes a using terminal (that is, inserts the memory card  11   x  in another terminal device), the combined data of the terminal device presently used by said user and the user is deleted from the record area about the using terminal. However, this using history will be stored in a history data area. 
   Accordingly, referring to  FIG. 16 , if the search request for the user B is transmitted to the network server  22  from the user A, in the above network server  22 , the search part  22 K searches the history data area in the database  22 D for the using history of the terminal about the user B as well as reading out the information on the terminal device presently used from the record area about present using terminal and fetching this in the search part  22 K ( FIG. 15 ) as search data DS. 
   The search part  22 K transmits thus fetched search data DS to the television set  13  being used by the user A who inquired that by transmitting the search request D 141  as a searched result D 142 . 
   Thereby, the user A can confirm the place where the user B is (his using terminal) and his using history of terminal based on the terminal using history by the user B. 
   In this connection, in the case of  FIG. 15 , it has dealt with the case of searching for the user B recorded as a group member. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also whereabouts of a user who is not registered as a group member and his terminal using history can be searched. 
   Here, the network server  22  can set an access right on a specified combination from among the combinations of each group member and all terminal devices used by them. The access right means a right, for example when the user A is using the personal computer  47 , to access to the personal computer  47  being operated by said user A. The network server  22  can set the access right to the combination, for example, of the user A and the personal computer  47  etc., about that the right to access should be given to all of the other group members or that the right should be given to a part of the group members. 
   For example, when the user A is using the cellular phone  31 , if a right to access to the cellular phone  31  used by said user A is set to a part of the group members among the other group members (e.g., only the user B and the user C), only the user B and the user C are allowed to access to the cellular phone  31  being used by the user A. 
   In this case, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  in which the same reference numeral is added to the corresponding part of  FIG. 7 , one of the group members (for example, the user A using the television set  13 ) operates the controller (not shown) of the television set  13  and calls the network server  22 , and establishing the session between the television set  13  and the network server  22 . Then, the user A transmits an access right setting or update request D 161  from the television set  13  to the network server  22 . In this access right setting or update request D 161 , the user ID and the group ID of the user A and his using. terminal device, and the user ID of the person who set the access right (all or a part of the group members) at the time of using the terminal device are included. 
   If the network server  22  receives the access right setting or update request D 161  with the communication part  22 A, in the access right controller  22 H of the controller  22   CNT , setting or update of the access right is performed on the database  22 D based on the access right setting or update request D 161  from the user A. Thereby, in the database  22 D, access right setting data AC on the user A ( FIG. 17 ) is obtained. In this case, the setting of the access right in which all the group members can access to the personal computer  47  used by the user A, a part of the group members the user B and the user C can access to the cellular phone  31  used by the user A, all the group members can access to the television set  13  used by the user A, and all the group members can access to a personal computer in the home of the user A used by him (not shown) is performed. 
   In this manner, if the setting or the update of the access right is performed, the network server  22  notifies the television set  13  being used by the user A at this time the execution of the setting or the update of the access right by a setting or an update response D 162 . Then, the setting or the update processing of the access right is finished. 
   Also with respect to the update processing of access right, the group members can respectively change their own access right in similar manner to the access right setting processing. 
   On the other hand, in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the group members has respectively set their own access right. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also the group former (e.g., the user A) may set the access right of another group member. 
   Moreover, it is not only limited to the setting or update of the access right in the group. In short, also users recorded in the network server  22  can respectively set or update their own access right. 
   If an access right is set in this manner, the other users than the users (user B and user C) who have been given the right to the combination of the user and his using terminal to which the above access right has been set (e.g., the combination of the user A and his using cellular phone in  FIG. 18 ) are inhibited to access to the terminal device. 
   For instance, as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , if a user D being a group member transmits an access request D 171  which includes the user ID and the group ID of the user A to the user A to whom the setting of the access right has done to the network server  22 , the search part  22 K of the network server  22  performs the whereabouts search of the user A described above with reference to  FIG. 15  according to the above access request D 171 , and at the same time, searches for the access right setting data AC described above with reference to  FIG. 17 . As a result of the whereabouts search, if the whereabouts of the user A (his using terminal device) is a cellular phone, and also as a search result of the access right setting data, if the right to access to the above cellular phone during the user A is using the cellular phone is given to only the user B and the user C, the search part  22 K does not allow the user D to access to the cellular phone being used by the user A and transmits an access inhibit response D 172  to the personal computer being used by the user D. 
   Thereby, the user D to whom the access right to the combination of the user A and the cellular phone is not set is inhibited to access to the cellular phone being used by the user A. 
   According to the above configuration, the network server  22  has recorded the plural users as one group. Each user in the above group can send/receive the various notice information (messages) D 24  in the group via the network server  22  only by specifying the group ID and the password of the group. 
   For instance, if the user A transmits a message to the group members to the network server  22 , the network server  22  searches the database  22 D for the other users (user B, user C, . . . ) being the other group members, converts the message from the user A into a data format usable in each using terminal and transmits this to where each user is (using terminal) according to the above searched result. In this case, even if the terminal device used by each user (user B, user C, . . . ) is not connected to the network server  22 , the network server  22  can access to these terminal devices from the searched result and can transmit the message from the user A. 
   Accordingly, each user being one of the group members can send each group member the above message only by transmitting the message in which the group ID is specified to the network server  22 , without grasping the mutual whereabouts. 
   According to the above configuration, a message to a user recorded in the network server  22  can be surely reached said user. 
   In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the case where the place where a user is (his using terminal) is recorded in the network server  22  at the timing of inserting the memory card  11   x  when the user uses each terminal device. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also for example in a network system interposed by the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), since number of terminal devices changes, each terminal device may always notify the network server  22  the latest number of the terminal device by performing polling. 
   In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the case where the notice information (message) D 24  directed to each user is evenly reached each user. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also the notice information having higher priority may be reached the destination prior to other notice information by previously adding the priority to the notice information, or the notice information transmitted from the user having higher priority may be reached the destination or the notice information may be reached the user having higher priority prior to the others by previously adding the priority to the users to transmit the notice information or the users to receive the notice information. 
   In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the case where as a method of transmitting data from the network server  22  to each terminal device, the data is transmitted after the line is connected. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also for example as shown in  FIG. 21 , the arrival of the notice information to the network server  22  may be notified using an outband signal (signal till a call, e.g., call control or the like) in the integrated services digital network (ISDN), the personal handyphone system (PHS), etc., or by means of a character transmission service used in radio communication or terrestrial wave broadcast means, satellite broadcast means, etc., in digital broadcasting or the like. 
   In this connection, information to be put on the outband signal is prescribed by the standard of radio communication. In the ISDN, the data called user information is included in call setting. This information is communicated between a server and a terminal by peer to peer. On the other hand, in the PHS, subaddress information is information to be communicated by peer to peer. By putting the notice information on them, an arrival of the information from the server to the terminal can be notified. Since the outband signal does not take any communication cost, the working cost of the network server  22  can be reduced. 
   In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the case where the communication between the network server  22  and a terminal device is performed via a communication line such as a telephone line or the like. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also if the terminal device can communicate with a power line via an outlet, the network server  22  can transmit the notice information (message) and the notice that the above notice information has arrived to each terminal device by performing a transmission/receiving via the above power line. 
   Furthermore, in the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with the case where the memory card  11   x  having the memory  11 A is used as external storage means. However, the present invention is not only limited to this but also a memory card mounting a CPU may be used. Moreover, the external storage means is not only limited to in the card shape but also many storage means in various forms can be applied. 
   While there has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.