System and method for distributing images to mobile phones

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR

DISTRIBUTING IMAGES TO MOBILE
PHONES

(75) Inventors: Naomi Tobita, Tokyo (JP); Fujio Ishii, Tokyo (JP)

(73) Assignee: Bandai Co., Ltd., Tokyo (JP)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 685 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/771,638

(22) Filed: Jan. 30, 2001

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2002/0009987 Al Jan. 24, 2002 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data

Jul. 24, 2000 (JP) 2000-221998

(51) Int. CI.7 G06F 13/00

(52) U.S. CI 709/219; 709/206; 709/225;

719/311; 719/313

(58) Field of Search 455/414, 426,

455/566, 410; 709/203, 206, 217, 219, 225, 250; 719/311, 313, 328, 329

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

6,038,295 A * 3/2000 Mattes 379/93.25

In the storage of images to be disclosed, records corresponding to the number of persons authorized in disclosure are added to the database 15. The mail addresses of image destinations are respectively described to the mail address fields of the added records. Image storage destinations are respectively described to the storage destination addresses. An electronic mail that notifies an image destination of an image in storage is created. A storage destination is set to the created electronic mail. Then, the electronic mail is transmitted. When an image disclosure request is received from a mobile phone, the record in which the storage destination of a disclosure required image is described is retrieved. The user identifier described in the user identifier field of the retrieved record is verified against the user identifier of the disclosure requesting mobile phone. When two user identifiers coincides with each other, the image is read out from the storage destination and then is transmitted and disclosed to the mobile phone. When two user identifiers do not coincide with each other, non-permission in disclosure is sent to the mobile phone.

29 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets