HK1035614B - Communication device and communication system - Google Patents

Description

Communication apparatus and communication system

This application is based on and claims priority from earlier Japanese patent application No.11-245737, filed on 31/8/1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a communication device such as a PHS terminal which provides not only a function of communicating a mail file but also a function of communicating information specific to a current position, and also relates to a communication system using such a communication device.

Prior Art

Recent digital cellular phones and PHS (personal handyphone system: second generation codeless phone system) terminals can transmit not only sound but also mail files or hand-drawn images. When generating and sending a mail file, the addition of information specific to the current location of the terminal (e.g., an image representing a scene specific to that area) makes the mail file appear attractive and pleasing to the recipient.

However, whether the image attached to the mail document is manually generated or selected from a large number of prepared images, the generation or selection of the attached image requires much time and labor even if the mail document is simple. This makes the sender's mood depressed and unable to easily send the mail file.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a communication device and a communication system which enable a sender to select information depending on the current position of the communication terminal device of the sender and attach the information to a mail file for transmission.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus including: file input means for inputting file data, area specifying information obtaining means for obtaining area specifying information corresponding to the current position, and transmission control means for attaching the area specifying information obtained by the area specifying information obtaining means to the file data input by the file input means.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication system in which a communication terminal transmits file data or the like to a destination terminal via a service station connected to a service center, wherein the communication terminal includes: input means for inputting document data; command means for commanding area specifying information representing the current position to be added to the file data; and means for specifying a destination of the document data, the communication terminal transmitting the document data, the command information, and the destination information to a service center, wherein the service center includes: means for storing a large amount of area specifying information, selecting one of the large amount of area specifying information corresponding to the command information based on the command information, attaching the selected area specifying information to the received file data, and transmitting the file data to the communication terminal specified by the destination information.

According to this communication apparatus configuration of the present invention, the area specifying information such as the image corresponding to the area where the sender is located is automatically attached to the mail file for transmission, so that the mail file given the area specifying information suitable for that area can be easily transmitted without requiring a long time and labor.

The above-mentioned area specifying information obtaining means may obtain the information of the position based on the identification information on the nearest cell site obtained by radio and select one of a large number of pieces of area specifying information originally provided, the pieces of area specifying information corresponding to the above-mentioned position information.

With this configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, the area specifying information is selected based on the identification information automatically obtained by the apparatus when the apparatus moves. This configuration does not require any other specific positioning device or the like and avoids complicating the configuration of the circuit.

The above-mentioned area specifying information obtaining means can obtain the area specifying information corresponding to the cell station closest to the cell station by radio.

With this configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, the apparatus does not have to have a large amount of area specifying information, thereby enabling the scale of the circuit of the apparatus to be reduced.

According to this communication system configuration of the present invention, the communication terminal attaches command information commanding addition of area specifying information corresponding to an area where the sender is located to the mail file, and the service center relaying the mail file attaches area specifying information such as that corresponding to the command to the mail file for transmission. Therefore, the communication terminal can easily transmit the mail file and does not need a memory or the like to store a large number of images, thereby reducing the scale of the circuit. On the other hand, the service center can easily provide the contents of its service to the service user by changing the area specifying information on the same area depending on, for example, seasons.

The above-mentioned command information may be position information obtained by the communication terminal and representing its current position.

With this system configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, the service center can easily obtain the area specifying information from the position information.

The above-mentioned command information may be position information obtained by the service center and representing the current position of the communication terminal.

With this configuration, in addition to the above-described effects, the communication terminal does not need to generate specific command information, and required operations can be performed only by the service center, thereby facilitating new service settings and the like.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and particularly pointed out hereinafter in the combination specified.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing an overall configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a circuit in the PHS terminal according to the first embodiment;

fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure performed in the mail generation mode according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a flowchart showing how mail is generated with a PHS terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a flowchart showing how a mail file is received at a service center according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out The Invention

An email display device according to various embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First embodiment

Fig. 1 shows the overall configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment, in which the present invention is applied to a communication service (PHS in this case) capable of transmitting and receiving an image of an area and a mail file using a bitmap. A plurality of PHS Cell Stations (CS)2-1, 2-2.. 2-N are connected to a network (PSTN, ISDN, etc.), and a service center operated by a service company providing a service of transmitting regional images and mail files via PHS is also connected to the network.

PHS terminals (only two are shown, but the number is not limited to two) 4a and 4b may each communicate with one of the cell stations 2-1, 2-2.. 2-N by performing a location registration procedure. The PHS terminals 4a and 4b are adapted to a communication service for causing regional images and mail files to be transmitted and received and are registered in the service center 3 by contracting with a service company.

Fig. 2 shows the configuration of circuits in the respective PHS terminals 4a and 4 b. The transmitting and receiving section 12 is connected to the antenna 11. Although not shown, the transmitting and receiving section 12 includes an antenna switch for assigning transmission/reception of a corresponding address, a frequency converting section for frequency-converting between a radio frequency signal and an IF signal, and a modem.

The frequency conversion section receives an input of a signal received by the antenna 11 via the antenna switch and converts a radio frequency signal in a 1.9-GHz section (zone) into an IF signal in a 1-MHz section by mixing the signal with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from a PLL synthesizer, not shown. The IF signal is provided to a modem. On the other hand, the frequency converting section mixes the phase-shifted GPSK modulated wave (IF signal) of π/4 with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from the PLL synthesizer to convert the IF signal in the 1-MHz section into a radio frequency signal in the 1.9-GHz section, and then transmits the signal from the antenna 11 via the antenna switch.

The modem demodulates the IF signal from the frequency conversion section to separate it into I and Q data, which are then transmitted to the communication control section 13. On the other hand, the modem generates I and Q data from the data transmitted from the communication control section 13 and subjects the data to phase shift QPSK conversion of pi/4 before outputting the data to the frequency conversion section.

The communication control section 13 is connected to the transmitting and receiving section 12, and the sound processing section 14 is connected to the communication control section 13. A receiving speaker 15 and a transmitting microphone 16 are connected to the sound processing section 14.

The communication control section 13 performs frame synchronization and cuts (slots) the data into format. The receiver uses a predetermined timing to obtain a piece of data (slot) from the received data transmitted from the modem of the transmitting and receiving section 12, extracts a unique word (synchronization signal) from the data for frame synchronization, descrambles the control data, sound data or communication data, and transmits the control and communication data to the control section 17, which will be described later, while transmitting the sound data to the sound processing section 14.

On the other hand, the sender adds control data to the sound data sent from the sound processing section 14 or to the communication data sent from the control section 17 to scramble these data, then adds a unique word or the like to the data to generate one piece of the sent data, then inserts the data into a predetermined piece within a frame using a predetermined timing, and finally sends the data to the modem of the transmitting and receiving section 12.

The sound processing section 14 includes a voice CODEC (CODEC) and a PCM CODEC. The voice codec compresses/expands digital data. The receiver expands the ADPCM sound signal (4 bits × 8KHz ═ 32Kbps) transmitted from the communication control section 13 by decoding it into a PCM sound signal (8 bits × 8KHz ═ 64Kbps), and then outputs the expanded signal to the PCM codec. On the other hand, the sender compresses the PCM sound signal sent from the PCM codec by encoding it as an ADPCM sound signal, and then outputs the compressed signal to the communication control section 13.

In addition, the PCM codec performs an analog/digital conversion process. The receiver subjects the PCM audio signal sent from the speech codec to D/a conversion, and outputs the resulting analog audio signal to the speaker 15. On the other hand, the sender a/D converts the analog sound signal input from the microphone 16 to obtain a PCM sound signal and outputs it to the speech codec.

The transmission and reception section 12, the communication control section 13, and the sound processing section 14 are connected to a control section 17, which is connected to a display section 18, a key input section 19, a ROM 20, a RAM21, and a transmission and reception buffer 22.

The control section 17 includes a CPU or the like to control the entire apparatus based on a predetermined program stored in the ROM 20. The ROM 20 stores programs for controlling operations such as communication control, transmission and reception of voice data, and generation and transmission of mail files and regional images, which are all executed by the control section 17, and also stores character pattern data corresponding to character body codes, regional image data as stamp images corresponding to regions to which identification information (hereinafter abbreviated as "CS-ID") on the national cell sites 2-1, 2-2,. 2-N in japan is assigned (the regional image data indicates scenes, icon marks, and the like of the respective regions).

The RAM21 has a work area for temporarily storing various data used by the control section 17 for control, a mail area for storing a predetermined number of different mail data including transmitted sound data, character body data, and image data, and a directory area for storing destination groups and their telephone numbers or mail addresses.

The display section 18 includes a dot matrix liquid crystal display panel with a substrate lamp and a driving circuit for the display panel, which can display, for example, 130 × 192 dot binary image data.

The key input section 19 has a dial key, a "send" key, a "close" key, a mode selection key, a cursor key, and other keys for inputting key operation signals for setting corresponding functions to the control section 17.

The transmission and reception buffer 22 includes a transmission buffer area and a reception buffer area, which buffer data to be transmitted and received, respectively.

The operation of this embodiment is described below.

In this embodiment, the transmission modes selected by the user are: a normal mode of sending the mail file as it is or a stamp attachment mode of automatically selecting an area image corresponding to the CS-ID on the nearest cell site 2 as a stamp image (information specific to the area) and attaching the selected image to the mail file for transmission.

Fig. 3 shows a procedure performed by the PHS terminal 4a or 4b if the mode selection key of the key input section 19 is used to select the mail transmission mode.

It is determined whether the PHS terminal is located within the corresponding communication range (step a 1). If not within the communication range, the generated mail file cannot be transmitted, so that the display section 18 displays guidance information such as "out of communication range". You cannot send a mail, move into communication range "(step a10), and speaker 15 sends an intermittent beep. Thus, the process ends, waiting for the user to move into the communication range.

If the PHS terminal is determined to be within range in which it can communicate with a certain cell station, the CS-ID on the cell station 2, i.e., its identification information, is temporarily maintained in a register for the working area of the RAM21 as position information representing the current position of the terminal. Mail generation processing corresponding to key input on the key input section 19 is then executed. Then, the user selects a telephone number or a mail address registered in the directory area of the RAM21 by specifying the destination of the mail file using the cursor key, or directly inputs the telephone number or the mail address using the dial key on the key input section 19 (mail generation processing: step a 2).

The user uses the key input section 19 to determine whether a stamp is attached to the mail file (i.e., selects and sets a stamp attachment mode or a normal mode) (step A3), operates the "send" key of the key input section 19 to complete the generation of the mail file, and waits for a command to send the generated mail file (step a 4).

When the "send" key is determined to be operated, it is determined whether a stamp affixing mode has been set (step A5).

If the stamp attachment mode is not set, i.e., the normal mode is set, a communication channel to one of the cell sites is established (step A8), the above-described generated mail file is transmitted (step A9), and the process returns to the normal standby mode.

If the stamp attachment mode has been set at step A5, the CS-ID temporarily maintained in the register for the work area of the RAM21 is used to search the ROM 20 for a stamp image for the corresponding area (step A6), and the read stamp image is attached to the generated mail file (step A7).

Then, a communication channel to one of the cell sites is established (step A8), and the resulting mail piece with the stamp image attached thereto is transmitted after it is maintained in the transmission buffer of the transmission and reception buffer 22 (step A9). The channel is then disconnected and processing returns to normal standby mode.

In this way, the regional image corresponding to the region where the mail file sender is placed is automatically selected and attached to the mail file to be sent, so that it is easy to send the mail file with the image attached thereto and corresponding to the current position without requiring much time and labor. Thus, the transmitted mail is transmitted to the destination terminal via the network and then displayed on the display section of the destination terminal. If the received mail piece has a postage stamp image attached thereto, the postage stamp image is displayed at a predetermined location (e.g., in the upper left corner) of the display screen on which the mail piece file is displayed. As a result, the mail piece looks like a real postcard, which is very attractive.

Although the above-described embodiment fixedly stores additional postage stamp images in the ROM 20, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a postage stamp image corresponding to the CS-ID may be downloaded from a service center or cell site and stored in memory. A new stamp image may then be obtained each time the stamp image is updated.

In addition, if the stamp image is downloaded once, the CS-ID of the area is available (i.e., once the control channel to the cell site is successfully established upon power-up or after the user's movement), no memory for the stamp image is needed. In addition, because the stamp image cannot be downloaded unless the user accesses the corresponding area, the stamp image has excellent regional and scarce value.

Further, the default mode may be set in advance whenever a mail file is generated, instead of setting the above-described mode (normal mode or stamp attachment mode). It is assumed that the stamp attachment mode is generally set to attach a stamp image to all of the sent mail files, and that the attachment of the stamp image may be exceptionally omitted. Alternatively, the stored or obtained postage stamp image may be displayed and inspected prior to or while the mail piece generation process is being performed. The user is then encouraged to add notes on the stamp image to the mail file to enrich the mail file.

According to the second embodiment, the configuration of the entire system is almost the same as that shown in fig. 1, and the circuit configuration of the PHS terminal is almost the same as that shown in fig. 2. Thus, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

In the first embodiment, the ROM 20 of each of the PHS terminals 4a and 4b stores regional image data as stamp images, wherein the stamp images correspond to respective areas to which CS-IDs on the national cell sites 2-1, 2-2.. 2-N of japan are assigned, but in the second embodiment, these data are not stored in the ROM 20, but the service center 3 stores the image data as postcard images of screens corresponding to the respective areas to which OS-IDs on the national cell sites 2-1, 2-2, … 2-N of japan are assigned. In the first embodiment, the image data are stored in the terminal so that they must be minimized in size and are therefore referred to as "stamp images". The size of the image stored in the second embodiment is not limited, so that the image data is referred to as "postcard data" because the postcard is larger than a postage stamp.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment is explained.

In this embodiment, the user also selects a transmission mode, such as a normal mode in which the mail file is transmitted as it is or a stamp attachment mode in which an area image corresponding to the CS-ID on the nearest cell site 2 is automatically selected as a postcard image (information specific to the area) and the selected postcard image is attached to the mail file for transmission.

Fig. 4 shows a procedure performed by the PHS terminal 4a or 4b if the mode selection key of the key input section 19 is used to select the mail transmission mode.

It is determined whether the PHS terminal is located within the corresponding communication range (step B1). If not within the communication range, the generated mail file cannot be transmitted, so that the display section 18 displays guidance information such as "out of communication range". You cannot send a mail, move into communication range "(step B8), and speaker 15 sends an intermittent beep. Thus, the process ends, waiting for the user to move into the communication range.

If the PHS terminal is determined to be within range in which it can communicate with a certain cell station, the CS-ID on the cell station 2, i.e., its identification information, is temporarily maintained in a register for the working area of the RAM21 as position information representing the current position of the terminal. Mail generation processing corresponding to key input on the key input section 19 is then executed. Then, the user selects a telephone number or a mail address registered in the directory area of the RAM21 by specifying the destination of the mail file using the cursor key, or directly inputs the telephone number or the mail address using the dial key on the key input section 19 (mail generation processing: step B2).

The user uses the key input section 19 to determine whether a postcard is to be attached to the mail file (i.e., selects and sets a postcard attachment mode or a normal mode) (step B3), operates the "send" key of the key input section 19 to complete the generation of the mail file, and waits for a command to send the generated mail file (step B4).

When the "send" key is operated, it is determined whether the postcard attachment mode has been set (step B5).

If the postcard attach mode is not set, i.e., the normal mode is set, a communication channel to one of the cell sites is established (step B7), the above-described generated mail file is transmitted (step B9), and the process returns to the normal standby mode.

If the postcard attach mode has been set in step B5, the CS-ID temporarily held in the register for the work area of the RAM21 is attached to the mail file generated as described above (step B6), a communication channel to one of the cell stations is established (step B7), a mail is sent (step B9), and the process returns to the normal standby mode.

The service center 3 that receives the transmission from the PHS terminals 4a and 4b performs processing for relaying the mail file, as shown in fig. 5.

First, the service center 3 waits for the mail file of the waiting service registered therein to be received from the PHS terminal (step C1). Upon determining that the mail file has been received, the service center 3 performs a reception process (step C2).

It is then determined whether the CS-ID has been attached to the received mail file (step C3). If no CS-ID has been attached to the mail file, a communication channel to the destination is established (step C6), and the mail file is transmitted to the PHS terminal of the mail destination (step C7) to complete a series of relay processing. The service center 3 then returns to the standby state at step C1.

Alternatively, if the service center 3 determines that the CS-ID has been attached to the mail file (step C3), it reads out image data with the same CS-ID from the image data on the postcard image stored thereat in a manner corresponding to the area of japan to which the corresponding CS-ID is assigned. (step C4), and attaches the read-out image data to the mail file as a postcard image (step C5).

The service center establishes a channel to the destination (step C6), transmits a mail with a title card attached thereto (step C7), subsequently disconnects the channel, and then returns to the dormant state at step C1.

In this manner, upon receiving the mail file, the service center 3 automatically selects an image corresponding to the current position of the sender of the mail file and attaches the selected image to the mail file before sending the mail file to the destination. Thus, the mailer can send a mailpiece file with an image suitable for an area attached thereto without requiring much time and labor. If the received mail has a postcard image attached thereto, the postcard image is displayed as the first page of the mail file. As a result, the mail piece looks like a real postcard, which is very attractive.

According to the present embodiment, since a large number of images do not need to be stored in the PHS terminal, and the service center 3 that receives the transmitted mail file attaches images, the PHS terminals 4a and 4b can easily transmit the mail file and do not need a memory or the like to store a large number of images, thus enabling the circuit scale to be reduced.

In addition, in the first and second embodiments, a stamp or postcard image corresponding to a CS-ID is selected, but a large number of images corresponding to the same CS-ID may be provided so that one of them may be selected randomly or depending on the age, sex, hobbies, preferences, etc. of the PHS end user.

In particular, if the service center 3, which is not limited to the capacity of the medium storing images, provides such a service to allow the user to select images in consideration of time factors (seasons), the contents of the service can be easily applied to the user, thereby promoting an increase in the number of service users.

Also, the image information attached to the mail may be an advertisement of a company. It is assumed that the communication service is sponsored by a company and that an advertisement image designated for that area can be attached to a mail file for transmission to partially or completely reduce the rate of mail transmission. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the information attached to the mail is an image, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and multimedia information (sentences, sounds, animation, etc.) may be used.

In the first and second embodiments, the CS-ID of the closest cell site 2 acquired by the PHS terminal during the normal location registration processing is used as means for identifying the location of the mail sender. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a GPS (global positioning system) receiver of relatively low positioning accuracy may be combined to obtain latitude and longitude information about the current position.

In addition, if a digital mobile communication system and its terminal capable of transmitting and receiving mail files are used instead of the PHS and its terminal, the present invention can also be easily implemented with a digital portable telephone system or other systems.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, a wireless communication system is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a system for transmitting mail via a wire line may be used.

Claims (34)

1. A communication system, comprising:

generating means (19) for generating a mail file;

specifying means (19, 21) for specifying a destination of the mail file;

attaching means (17, 20; 3) for attaching regional information to the mail file, the regional information being specific to a region corresponding to the current position; and

transmitting means (1, 2) for transmitting the mail file with the attached regional information to the destination specified by the destination specifying means (19, 21).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means constitutes a communication network (1), and wherein said mail file generation means, said destination specification means, and said regional information addition means constitute a communication terminal (4) connectable to said communication network.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said communication terminal comprises receiving means (11, 12, 13, 17) for receiving regional information corresponding to the current location from said communication network, and storage means (21) for storing the received regional information.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the communication terminal comprises storage means (20, 21) for storing regional information specific to a region; and

the communication terminal reads out regional information specific to a region corresponding to the current position of the communication terminal from the storage device and attaches it to the mail file.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the storage device comprises a read-only memory.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the storage means comprises a re-writable memory and means for writing externally provided regional information into the re-writable memory.

7. The system of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the storage device stores at least one of a scene image of a region, an iconic marker of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the regional information attached to the mail file is any one of a scene image of a region, an icon mark of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the regional information is image information displayed on a display screen of the destination terminal on which the mail file is displayed.

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said regional information is image information of a stamp such as a postcard, which is displayed at a predetermined position on a display screen of said destination terminal, on which display screen said mail file is displayed.

11. The system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein said communication terminal includes selection means for selecting whether or not the regional information is attached to the mail file by said regional information attaching means.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means constitutes a communication network (1), said mail file generation means and said destination designation means constitute a communication terminal (4) connectable to said communication network, and said regional information addition means is provided in a service center (3) connected to said communication network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the service center includes a storage device for storing regional information specific to a region, and

the service center reads out regional information specific to a region corresponding to the current position of the communication terminal from the storage means and attaches it to the mail file.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the storage device comprises a read-only memory.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the storage means comprises a re-writable memory and means for writing externally provided regional information into the re-writable memory.

16. The system of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the storage device stores at least one of a scene image of a region, an iconic marker of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

17. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the regional information attached to the mail file is any one of a scene image of a region, an icon mark of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

18. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the regional information is image information displayed on a display screen of the destination terminal on which the mail file is displayed.

19. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said regional information is image information such as a postcard, which is displayed at a predetermined position on a display screen of the destination terminal on which the mail file is displayed.

20. The system according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the communication terminal includes selection means for selecting whether or not the regional information is attached to the mail file by the regional information attaching means.

21. A method of communication, comprising the steps of:

generating a mail file;

specifying a destination of the mail file;

attaching regional information to the mail file, the regional information being specific to a region corresponding to the current location; and

the mail file with the attached regional information is sent to the destination.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mail file generating step, the destination specifying step and the regional information attaching step are performed at a communication terminal (4), and the mail file transmitting step is performed by a communication network (1).

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the regional information attaching step comprises the steps of receiving regional information corresponding to the current location from the communication network and storing the received regional information.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the mail file generating step and the destination specifying step are performed at a communication terminal (4), the regional information attaching step is performed at a service center (3), and the service center (3) is connected to a communication network (1) that performs the mail file transmitting step.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the regional information attaching step includes a step of reading out the regional information from a storage means in which the regional information specific to the region is stored, and a step of attaching the read-out regional information to the mail file.

26. A communication device, comprising:

generating means (19) for generating a mail file;

specifying means (19, 21) for specifying a destination of the mail file;

attaching means (17, 20) for attaching regional information to the mail file, the regional information being specific to a region corresponding to the current location of the communication device; and

sending means (11, 12, 13, 17, 18) for sending the mail file with the attached regional information and the destination information to a communication network (1, 2) so as to send the mail file with the attached regional information to a destination designated by the destination designating means (19, 21) via the communication network.

27. The device according to claim 26, wherein said communication device comprises receiving means (11, 12, 13, 17) for receiving the regional information corresponding to the current location from said communication network and storing means (21) for storing the received regional information.

28. A device according to claim 26, wherein said communication device comprises storage means (20, 21) for storing regional information specific to a region, and detection means for detecting the current location of the communication device, an

The communication apparatus reads out regional information specific to a region corresponding to the current position of the communication terminal from the storage device and attaches the information to the mail file.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said storage means comprises a rewritable memory and means for writing externally provided regional information into said rewritable memory.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 or 29, wherein the storage means stores at least one of a scene image of a region, an icon label of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

31. The apparatus of any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the regional information attached to the mail file is any one of a scene image of a region, an icon mark of a region, and an advertisement image corresponding to a region.

32. The apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the regional information is image information displayed on a display screen of the destination terminal on which the mail file is displayed.

33. The apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein said regional information is image information of a stamp such as a postcard, which is displayed at a predetermined position on a display screen of the destination terminal on which the mail file is displayed.

34. The apparatus according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein said communication apparatus comprises selection means for selecting whether or not the regional information is attached to the mail file by said regional information attaching means.