Background Art [2] To overcome troubles due to a mischief calling, a dirty calling or unexpected commercial callings from unidentified callers, methods for providing information for use in discriminating the callers have been developed and spread. One of such methods, a method to offer a telephone number of a caller as a text data to a mobile terminal of a receiver has been developed first.

[3] In such a method, a telephone number of a caller is displayed as a text data on a display screen in a wireless mobile terminal or a wired terminal of a receiver during line connecting stand by between the caller and the callee (receiver).

[4] However, it is hard to easily identify the caller only with a telephone number in- formation of the caller. To ameliorate this problem Korean Patent Application Laid Open Publication No. 2000-0000899 published on January 15,2000 (hereinafter, referred to as"prior art #1") repeatedly outputs the telephone number of the caller as a voice guide (e. g. ,"There is calling from 011-547-8906") through a speaker in a callee's terminal until a hook-off thereof is executed after receiving a telephone call. This prior art #1 also has a limitation in providing more direct and strong caller discrimination in- formation.

[5] Korean Patent Application Laid Open Publication No 2001-0097794 published on November 8,2001 (hereinafter, referred to as"prior art #2") can output the telephone number and the name of the caller as a voice guide (e. g. ,"There is calling from Cil- dong Hong whose phone number is 011-547-8906.") until a hook-off thereof is executed through a speaker of the callee's terminal after receiving the telephone call.

This prior art #1 also has a limitation in providing more direct and strong caller dis- crimination information.

[6] In accordance with a Korean Utility Model Registration No 20-0280780 (hereinafter, referred to as"prior art #3") registered on July 6,2002, a user (i. e. , callee) of a receiving terminal previously stores phone numbers and corresponding guide in- formation (e. g., name or trade mark) of candidate or real callers as voice into a memory of his or her receiving terminal. Under such conditions, if there is included a phone number data of a caller in a calling line connecting request signal from outside, the receiving terminal extracts the phone number and then display it on a LCD screen thereof. Further, in the prior art #3, if the caller's phone number is previously stored in the memory of the receiving terminal, predetermined corresponding guide information is outputted as a voice through a speaker of the receiving terminal.

[7] Since, however, the prior arts #2 and #3 output caller's information as voice guide regardless of a callee's wish, in some cases, the voice guide entails noise which may result in private information disclosure. Different from the prior arts #2 and #3, Korean Patent Application Laid Open Publication No 2002-0074112 published on September 28,2001 (hereinafter, referred to as"prior art #4") can transmit the so-called an avatar image information of the caller, wherein the avatar image information is not an real image or picture of the caller but an artificially designed unique character of the caller.

The prior art #4 outputs a phone number and/or a name (or a nick name) or an avatar image of the caller on a display screen of a receiving terminal of a callee. This method may be effectively utilized in advertising or publicity work of an enterprise. However, the prior art #4 is less effective to exactly identify the caller.

[8] A Korean Utility Model Registration No 20-0303567 (hereinafter, referred to as "prior art #5") registered on February 11,2003 describes a mobile terminal capable of displaying an image of a caller when the mobile terminal receives a calling fran a <BR> <BR> calling terminal (i. e. , a caller's terminal). In the prior art #5, a receiving terminal (i. e. , a<BR> callee's terminal) can output an image (e. g. , digital still picture, avatar or moving picture) previously stored in the receiving terminal and a phone number of the caller on the display screen of the receiving terminal during the bell is ringing by using"a caller ID data" (e. g. , a telephone number of a caller's terminal).

[9] In the prior art #5, to previously store an image of a caller, the receiving terminal receives and stores an image of a caller employing one-to-one communication technique between the receiving terminal and the calling terminal. Alternatively, in the prior art #5, to previously store an image of a caller, a caller may register his or her image in a memory of a server which provides a download service and then a callee downloads the caller's image after connecting the callee's terminal to the server. Ac- cordingly, the prior art #5 provides a method to identify the caller through the previously stored image of the caller. Since, however, in the prior art #5, in order to previously store images of callers, a callee should communicate directly with callers one by one or the callee should connect to the server in which images of callers have been previously stored. Further, in case that there is a calling fran a caller whose image is not previously stored in a callee's terminal, it is impossible to display an image of a caller on a screen of the callee's terminal.

[10] Therefore, to ameliorate limitations and problems of the above-mentioned prior arts #1 to #5, it is necessary to suggest a method and system for providing a caller's image information even if the caller's image is not previously stored in a callee's terminal during communication line connecting preparation period. Further, it is necessary to provide a method and system for outputting a text information (e. g. , phone number, name, other discrimination information) and/or voice guide to the caller in a client oriented manner on a display screen of the receiving terminal in accordance with a callee's selecting option.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution [11] The present invention has been developed to overcome limitations of conventional caller's image information providing methods. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and system capable of displaying caller's image information (e. g., picture of the caller or the caller's name card) on a display screen of a callee's com- munication terminal in a client oriented manner through a communication network, thereby enabling a callee to easily identify a corresponding caller.

[12] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and system capable of displaying caller's image information on a display screen of a callee's com- munication terminal during outputting a calling request from the caller on a receiving terminal (i. e. , a callee's terminal) even if the caller's image is not previously stored in the callee's terminal. It should be noted herein the specification that"calling request" represents"communication line connecting (between a caller and a corresponding callee) request"from the caller.

[13] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and system capable of outputting text information (e. g. , phone number, name, etc. ) of a caller and/ or voice guidance therefor in accordance with a callee's receiving option selection as well as image information of the caller on a display screen in a corresponding callee's communication terminal.

[14] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and system capable of minimizing the occurrence of calling of caller image information, thereby realizing economical management of communication lines and decreasing cost to store and mange the caller's information.

[15] To achieve the objects of the present invention, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing an image information of a caller in a client oriented manner for use in a caller's image information providing system connected to a caller's terminal and a callee's terminal through a com- munication network, the method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a"caller's image information" (hereinafter, referred to as"CII") from a caller's terminal; b) storing the received CII ; c) receiving a calling request signal originated from the caller's terminal toward to a callee's terminal; d) offering, in response to the calling request signal, a caller's text information having a telephone number of the caller to the callee's terminal; e) evaluating whether a CII request signal from the callee's terminal is received or not during call setup; and f) retrieving the stored CII and then transmitting the CII to the callee's terminal in case that the CII request signal from the callee's terminal is received during call setup.

[16] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing an image information of a caller in a client oriented manner, the system being connected to a caller's terminal ("CLRT") and a callee's terminal ("CLET") through a communication network, the system comprising : a client text information database (DB) storing client text information having a telephone number of a client; a client identification information DB; a web server for enabling a client to access to each DB and search or input information through the com- munication network by using a CLET or a CLRT; and a caller information management server, wherein the server controls a log-in process of a client to the system by using client identification information stored in the client identification in- formation DB; receives caller's image information (hereinafter, referred to as"CII") fed thereto from a CLRT; stores the received CII in a memory location of a client image storing section within the system; receives a calling request signal originated from the CLRT toward to a CLET; offers, in response to the calling request signal, a caller's text information (which has been previously stored in the client text in- formation DB) having a telephone number of the caller to the CLET; retrieves the CII stored in the memory location and then transmits the received CII to the CLET in case that a CII request signal from the CLET is received during call setup.

Brief Description of the Drawings [17] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: [18] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system for providing caller's image in- formation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [19] Fig. 2 represents a detailed structure of a communication terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [20] Fig. 3 depicts a flow chart of a method for providing caller's image information in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [21] Fig. 4 sets forth a flow chart of a process following a step in the method depicted in Fig. 3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [22] Fig. 5 presents a flow chart of a process following a step in the method depicted in Fig. 3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [23] Fig. 6 provides an example of text information of a client in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [24] Fig. 7 gives an example of receiving option data for the caller's image information in accordance with the present invention; [25] Fig. 8 shows an example of output option data for the caller's information in a callee's terminal in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [26] Fig. 9 and 10 represent exemplary screens of callee's terminal at a step of a method for providing caller's image information in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [27] Fig. 11 depicts a flow chart of a method for providing caller's image information in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [28] Fig. 12 sets forth a flow chart of a method for providing caller's image information in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [29] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings.

[30] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a system 100 for providing caller's image in- formation and its relating apparatuses in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1, the system 100 for providing"caller's image information" (hereinafter, referred to as"CII") in a client oriented manner is essentially connected to calling/receiving terminals (i. e. , caller's or callee's terminals) 200,270, 280 and 290 through a wired or wireless communication network (e. g., mobile com- munication network, Internet or PSTN) 170. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the system 100 may be connected to a telephone switching (exchanging) management system 160 through a communication network (e. g. , Internet, LAN or VAN) 190.

[31] It should be noted that if the system 100 itself has a hardware capable of performing functions of the system 160, the system 160 is not necessary as a relating system. The CII system 100 (may be referred to as"CII providing system 100") can be com- mercially managed by a communication line business entity or an independent CII providing service canpany.

[32] Referring to Fig. 1, the CII providing system 100 includes a client text information DB 130, a client identification information DB 115, a web server 150 and a caller in- formation managing server 140. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the CII providing system 100 may further include a client image information DB 120 and a caller information receiving option DB 110.

[33] The client in the specification represents a caller or a callee. The client image in- formation DB (120) usually stores a digital still image (or picture), e. g. , a picture, name card, or, an avatar image or a graphic image of a client (caller), wherein the digital still image is an image file (e. g. , JPEG format or OF format) to enable a user (callee) of a terminal to easily identify the client. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an image of a caller can be stored as a short moving picture. In this case, the short moving picture may be stored in moving picture DB (not shown). To store an image of a caller as a digital still image is more preferable than storing that as a moving picture since the moving picture needs larger storing memory than the digital still image. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may not include the client image information DB 120. In this case, client image in- formation may be temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) within the management server 140.

[34] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a caller's image information may be image information of a client as a caller which was stored in the system 100 after the client has executed log-in to a corresponding Internet site.

[35] The client text information DB 130 stores client text information having a telephone number of a client and at least one of name, an electronic mail address and client discrimination information containing sex distinction, occupation and charac- teristics data, etc (see, Fig. 6).

[36] The client identification information DB 115 stores ID information which is necessary to identify the client, wherein the ID information has at least one of telephone number, residence registration number, address and unique ID/pass word to the corresponding Internet site.

[37] The web server 150 enables a client (a caller or a callee) to access to each DB and search or input information through the communication network 170 by using a calling terminal or a receiving terminal 200,270, 280 and 290.

[38] The caller information management server 140 (hereinafter, referred to as the management server 140) controls a log-in process of a client to the system 100 by using client identification information stored in the client identification information DB 115. The management server 140 receives caller's image information fed thereto fran a calling terminal. The management server 140 stores the received CII in a memory location of a client image storing section within the system 100, wherein the client image storing section may be either the client image information DB (e. g. , the DB 120) or a temporary memory (not shown) in the management server 140. The management server 140 receives a calling request signal originated from a caller's terminal toward to a callee's terminal and provides, in response to the calling request signal, a caller's text information (which has been previously stored in the client text information DB 130) having a telephone number of the caller to the callee's terminal; and retrieves the CII stored in the memory location and then transmits the received CII to the callee's terminal in case that a CII request signal fran the caller's terminal is received during call setup. The term"call setup"represents a preparation procedure to <BR> <BR> establish a communication path between a calling terminal (i. e. , caller's terminal) and a<BR> receiving terminal (i. e. , receiving terminal). A call setup period can be expressed as the so-called telephone communication standby period.

[39] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the management server 140 receives a calling request signal and a caller's image in- <BR> <BR> formation (CII) fed thereto fran a caller's terminal (i. e. , a calling terminal (hereinafter,<BR> may be briefly referred to as"CLRT") ). The server 140 may store the received CII in a temporary memory therein. Thereafter, the server 140 provides a caller's text in- formation (which has been previously stored in the client text information DB 130) to <BR> <BR> a corresponding callee's terminal (i. e. , receiving terminal (hereinafter, may be briefly<BR> referred to as"CLET") ). Then, if CII request signal (hereinafter, may be briefly referred to as"CIIRS") is fed to the management server 140 during call setup from the corresponding callee's terminal, the management server 140 receives the CIIRS and then, in response to the CIIRS, retrieves the temporarily stored CII and transmits the CII to the corresponding callee's terminal (i. e. , CLET). Thereafter, immediately or in a preset time period, the management server 140 may delete the temporarily stored CII from the temporary memory. If the CII is not fed to the management server 140 during a predetermined time period, the server 140 may delete the temporarily stored CII from the temporary memory without transmitting the CII to the corresponding CLET (This will be explained later in seme more details referring to Fig. 11).

[40] The management server 140 may not transmit a CII corresponding to the phone number of the caller if it is evaluated that the CII has been previously stored in a cor- responding callee's terminal. Alternatively, if the management server 140 receives a CIIRS from the corresponding caller's terminal during call setup, the management server 140 may transmit a CII (previously stored therein) corresponding to the phone number of the caller regardless that the CII has been previously stored or not in a cor- responding callee's terminal.

[41] As relating apparatuses or peripheral apparatuses of the CII providing system 100, each of the calling/receiving (i. e., communication) terminals 200,280, 270,280 and 290 may be one of a mobile communication handset, a PDA having wireless com- munication function, a video communication telephone, a PC with Internet telephone function. Each of these terminals may be other kinds of terminals in so far as capable of communicating with the system 100 with image displaying function and calling/ receiving telephone function.

[42] Fig. 2 represents a detailed structure of a communication terminal (e. g. , 200) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The terminal 200 may include a key input unit 225, a display screen 243, a display control unit 240 for <BR> <BR> controlling the display screen 243, an audio input unit (e. g. , a microphone or an audio<BR> input port connected to an outer audio source) 257, an audio output unit (e. g. , a speaker) 253, an audio controller 250 for controlling the audio input unit 257 and the audio output unit 253, a digital still image storing unit 235 for storing a CII, a digital still image capture/managing controller 230 for controlling the digital still image storing unit 235, a central controlling unit 220 for performing a comprehensive control to the terminal 200 and a transceiver 210 for supporting data receiving/sending functions through the communication network 170 between the central controlling unit 220 and the caller information management server 140. It should be noted that each of the terminals 200,270, 280 and 290 may be used as either a caller's terminal or a callee's terminal depending on a situation whether a user of the terminal is a caller or a callee.

[43] In accordance with other preferred embodiments of the present invention, each of the terminals 200,280, 270,280 and 290 may further include one of an audio file storing circuit 255, a digital camera 233, a moving image storing/replay controller 260, a moving image file storing unit 265 and a moving image capture unit 263. The key input unit 225 generates a control signal corresponding to a data input/output signal (occurred by a key operation of a callee or a caller), thereby providing the control signal to the central controlling unit 220 [44] The system 160 may perform communication line connection and calling guidance function (e. g. , calling/receiving management, automatic response, etc) between the server 100 and the terminals 200,270, 280 and 290 through the communication networks 170 and 190. Here, detailed description about the system 160 is omitted for simplicity since the structure and function of the system 160 is well-known those who skilled in the art. The communication network 190 may be the Internet, a VAN or an excusive wire line with enhanced security function.

[45] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may further include a caller information receiving option DB 110. The caller information receiving option DB 110 stores calle's receiving option data, wherein the receiving option data is previously set by the callee or a system manager in order to receive data or information from a caller only in case that the receiving option is satisfied. For example, if the callee does not want to receive data during his or her participation in a business council, the callee can set a non-receipt option to a CII (this will be described later in detail referring to Fig. 7).

[46] From now on, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing an image information of a caller in a client oriented manner for use in the CII providing system 100 or a CII providing system being sub- stantially identical or similar to the system 100 will be described with reference to ac- companying drawings. Fig. 3 depicts a flow chart of a method for providing image in- formation of a caller in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[47] Referring to Fig. 3, a process of a method for providing a CII in a client oriented manner for use in the CII providing system 100 connected to caller's or callee's terminals 200,270, 280 and 290 through the communication network 170 can be started as a step S300 as shown in Fig. 3. In step S300, a CII is received (by the management server 140) from a caller's terminal.

[48] For example, at step S300, after a client performs log-in to an Internet site cor- responding to the system 100, the client as a caller sends his or her image information (e. g, a still picture, name card, an avatar image or a graphic image, etc) to the management server 140 through the web server 150 by using a terminal. Then, the management server 140 receives the image information as a CII.

[49] In step S310, the received CII is stored (by the management server 140). For example, the management server 140 stores the received CII of the caller in a memory location either of the client image information DB 120 or a temporary memory in the management server 140. The storage of the CII may be new registration or an update storage of previously stored one about the caller. The stored CII may be one but may be two or more ones (e. g. , picture& name card, etc) in some cases.

[50] Next, in step S320, a calling request signal to a callee's terminal ("CLET") is received from a caller's terminal ("CLRT") (by the management server). This may be performed in relation to the telephone switching management server 160. The telephone switching management server 160 may acknowledge an occurrence of a calling request signal from a CLRT and then, inform the management server 140 (in the system 100) of this fact.

[51] At step S330, in response to the calling request signal, text information of the caller is offered to a corresponding CLET (i. e. , a target terminal that the caller wants to crnmunicate) (by the management server 140), wherein the text information has a caller's telephone number (i. e. , a phone number of the CLRT which generated the calling request signal). It should be noted here that the number of the CLETs is one but may be two or more. For example, one CLRT 200 may generate and send a calling request signal to CLETs 270,280 and 290 in Fig. l. For example, one caller may request calling to many callee's for advertisement. This situation may be realized in case that a lot of people may communicate with each other buy employing the so- called multi-channel communication technique.

[52] Fig. 6 provides an example of text information of a client in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The text information of a client (e. g., caller) has a telephone number of the client's terminal (i. e. , caller's terminal) and may further have one of the name of the caller, caller discrimination information and an electronic mail address of the caller. The caller discrimination information may be used to enable a callee to easily identify the caller based on the picture of the caller.

[53] Next, at step S340, there is evaluated (by the management server 140) whether a CII corresponding to the telephone number of the caller is previously stored or not in a memory within the CLET. At step S340, if it is evaluated that a CII corresponding to the telephone number of the caller is previously stored in the CLET, the process goes to step S350, if otherwise, the process flows to step S360. At step S350, the CII previously stored in the memory within the CLET is displayed on a display screen of the CLET (by the callee's terminal) and then the process ends.

[54] In more details, in step S340, the central controlling unit 220 of the CLET 200 first receives a caller's text information via communication network 170 and transceiver 210 in sequence from the system 100. Thereafter, the central controlling unit 220 evaluates whether caller's image information corresponding to the caller's text in- formation has been previously stored in the digital still image storing unit 235 or not and then, generates and transmits (directly or via the system 160) a storing ac- knowledgement signal to the management server 140 if it is evaluated that the CII cor- responding to the caller's text information has been previously stored therein.

[55] The management server 140 may evaluate that the CII has been previously stored in the CLET 200 on receipt of the storing acknowledgement signal within a pre- determined period (e. g. , 2 seconds) after sending the caller's text information to the central controlling unit 220 of the CLET 200.

[56] In step S340, if the management server 140 does not receive the storing ac- knowledgement signal within the predetermined period (e. g. , 2 seconds), the management server 140 may evaluate that the CII has not been previously stored in the CLET 200, Then, the process goes to step S360.

[57] It should be noted here that, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the step S340 and S350 may be omitted. In this case the process goes from step S330 directly to step S360.

[58] In step S360, it is evaluated that whether a CII request signal from the callee's terminal is received or not (by the management server 140) during call setup. If it is evaluated that the CII request signal (may be briefly referred to as"CIIRS") from the callee's terminal is received during call setup, the process goes to step S370 and if otherwise, the process ends. At step S370, the stored CII is retrieved and then transmitted (by the management server 140) to the callee's terminal. Namely, at step S370 the management server 140 retrieves the CII stored in a corresponding memory location either of the client image information DB 120 or the temporary memory within the management server 140 and then transmits the CII to the CLET. After step S370, the process may end.

[59] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, steps S380 and S390 may be further included in the CII providing method as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 9 represents an exemplary screen of a callee's terminal (CLET) at a step (e. g. , a step S360) of a method for providing CII in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the <BR> <BR> present invention. To perform step S360, first, a CLET (e. g. , 200) provides a caller<BR> with caller's text information (e. g., 810 in Fig. 9) and a selection menu (e. g. , 850 in Fig.

9) on its display screen to request CII of the caller by using a caller's text information received from the system 100. If the callee pushes on the selection menu 850 during call setup, the CLET generates a CII request signal and transmits the CII request signal to the management server 140. Then the management server 140 receives the CII request signal and accordingly, evaluates that the CII request signal is received. If the callee does not push on the selection menu 850 within a preset time period (e. g. , 5 seconds) during call setup, the CLET does not generate the CII request signal, As a result, the management server 140 evaluates that the CII request signal is not received during call setup.

[60] In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a caller in- formation receiving option may be previously set to each of CLETs and be stored in the caller information receiving option DB 110. This caller information receiving option may be utilized in generating CII request signal in accordance with various situations of the callee. Fig. 7 gives an example of receiving option data for the caller's image information in accordance with the present invention.

[61] Referring to Fig. 7, caller information receiving option data may have a receiving mode (automatic or manual) for CII, receivable kinds of CII (e. g. , picture, name card, etc), special notes as shown in Fig. 7. Information for a specification of the CLET may be further included in the option data. <BR> <BR> <P>[62] In details, in the manual mode, a callee selects a selection menu (e. g. , 850 in Fig. 9) on the display screen of the CLET to request CII of the caller during call setup. In the automatic mode, the callee has no opportunity to use the selection menu to request CII of the caller during call setup.

[63] Fig. 4 sets forth a flow chart of a procedure following the step S340 depicted in Fig.

3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 4, if the process goes from step S340 to step S360, before performing step S460, at step S445, it is evaluated (by the management server 140) that whether an automatic receiving option is set for the CLET or not for the CLET. If, the automatic receiving option is set, the process goes to step S448 and if otherwise, flows to step S460. At step S448, the management server 140 automatically generates and receives the CII request signal during call setup; and then, the process goes to step S470. The de- scription for the step S460 is emitted for simplicity since the step S460 is the same as the step S360 described above. The description for the steps S470, S480 and S490 is omitted for simplicity since the steps S470, S480, S490 are the same as those steps S370, S380, S390, respectively. The steps S380 and S390 will be described later.

[64] Fig. 5 presents a flow chart of a process following the step S350 in the method depicted in Fig. 3 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, step S560 is executed by the management server 140. The de- scription for the step S560 is emitted for simplicity since the step S560 is the same as the step S360 described above. At step S570, the CII is retrieved and then sent (by the management server 140) to the callee's terminal (CLET). At step S590, by the CLET, the CII is received and the received CII is stored in the digital still image storing unit (e. g. , 235 in Fig. 2). Then the process ends.

[65] Referring back to Fig. 3, in step S380, The CLET receives the CII and displays the <BR> <BR> received CII (e. g. , on the display screen 243). Next, at step S390, the CLET stores the<BR> received CII therein (e. g. , in the digital still image storing unit 235). Meanwhile, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at step S350 and/or step S380, the CLET (e. g. , 200) may output a voice guidance information having at least one of the caller's phone number, the name of the caller and the discrimination in- formation during displaying the CII (e. g. , through the audio output unit (speaker) 253).

The voice guidance information represents that content of information is outputted as a voice through a speaker.

[66] Fig. 10 represents an exemplary screen image of a CLET during the process of a CII providing method in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For, example, a preset part (e. g. , 910 of Fig. 10) of the caller's text in- formation may be outputted as a voice guidance information through the audio output unit (e. g. , 253) during the CII being displayed as a name card (e. g. , 930 of Fig. 10).

Further, if the callee pushes on a menu 950 in Fig. 10, the step S390 may be executed.

[67] In case that the CII previously stored in the memory of the callee's terminal is displayed by the callee's terminal (e. g. , at steps S350 and S380), if there are two or more previously stored CIIs, the most recently stored CII among them may be displayed. Fig. 8 shows an example of output option data for the caller's information in a CLET in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of Fig. 8 is omitted since those who skilled in the art can easily understand a method employing output option data shown in Fig. 8.

[68] As described in the above, the step S360 is essentially included in the CII providing method but the steps S340 and S350 are selectively included therein. This reason is as follows. As communication technology develops and function of CLET/CLRT advances, a callee can determine (automatically or manually) whether he or she wants to receive CII during call setup. Further, digital still image storing capability of CLET/ CLRT advances, the CLET can receive and store a plurality of CII (CIIs) for callers who frequently requested phone calls to the callee.

[69] Under this situation, if a CLET receives text information of a caller whose CII has been previously stored in a memory within the CLET, the CLET may automatically display the CII on a screen thereof during call setup without generating and transmitting CII request signal to the management server 140. Of course, if a CLET receives text information of a caller whose CII has not been previously stored in a memory within the CLET, the CLET usually generates and transmits a CII request signal to the management server 140. Then, the management sever 140, in response to the CII request signal, retrieves the CII stored in the client image information DB 120 and then transmits the CII to the CLET.

[70] Fig. 11 depicts a flow chart of a method for providing CII in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 11, in a method for providing a CII in a client oriented manner for use in a caller's image in- formation providing system connected to a caller's terminal (CLRT) and a callee's terminal (CLET) through a communication network, the method starts at a step S1300 as shown in Fig. 11. At step S 1300, the management server 140 receives a calling request signal to a CLET and CII of the caller from the CLRT. Next, at step S 1310, the management server 140 stores the CII temporarily in a memory therein and then, offers the caller's text information to the CLET at step S1330.

[71] Thereafter, if the management server 140 receives a CII request signal from the CLET during call setup (i. e. , if the process goes from Step S1360 to S1370), at step S1370, the management server 140 deletes the temporarily stored CII (immediately or a in a preset time period) after retrieving and sending the CII to the CLET. Then, the process may end. If the management server 140 does not receive a CII request signal from the CLET during call setup, the process goes from S1360 to step S1365. At step S1365, the management server 140 deletes the temporarily stored CII (immediately or in a preset time period) (without sending the CII to the CLET). Then, the process ends.

[72] In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, after step S 1370, steps S 1380 and S 1390 may be further executed as shown in Fig. 11. The description for the steps S1380 and S1390 is emitted for simplicity since the steps S1380 and S1390 are the same as those steps S380 and S390, respectively. It should be noted that in the above embodiment referring to Fig. 11, after step S1330 and before step S1360, two steps which are the same as those steps S340 and S350, respectively may be included.

[73] Fig. 12 sets forth a flow chart of a method for providing CII in accordance with a still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 12, in a method for providing a CII in a client oriented manner for use in a caller's image in- formation providing system connected to a caller's terminal (CLRT) and a callee's terminal (CLET) through a communication networ, the method starts at a step S2300 as shown in Fig. 12. At step S2300, the management server 140 receives a calling request signal to a CLET and CII of the caller from the CLRT. Next, at step S2330, the management server 140 offers the caller's text information to the CLET.

[74] Thereafter, if the management server 140 receives a CII request signal from the CLET during call setup (i. e. , if the process goes from Step S2360 to S2361), at step S2361, the management server 140 sends CII request signal (CIIRS) to the CLRT.

Then, at step S2362, the management server 140 establishes a communication path between the CLET and the CLRT. At step S2363, in response to the CIIRS, the CLRT retrieves the CII previously stored therein and then offers the CII directly to the CLET through the communication path. At step S2380, the CLET receives the CII and then displays the received CII on a display screen thereof. Then the process ends. In accordance with another preferred embodiments of the present invention, after step S2380, a step which is the same as the step S390 of Fig. 3 may be followed and two steps which are the same as steps of S340 and S350, respectively may be performed between steps S2330 and S2360.

[75] It should be noted that in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a CII providing method can be carried out through various technique, e. g., the so-called B2B or P2P or other modified technique. This flexibility in applications decreases burdens of communication and image data storage, thereby minimizing time and cost. Namely, the present invention provides a callee with function to flexibly meet a plurality of callings from callers. Meanwhile, the present invention enables a caller to offer his or her image information to a target callee with more easiness and correctness in a client orient manner.

[76] While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Industrial Applicability [77] Therefore, in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, caller's image information (CII) can be displayed on a display screen of a callee's com- munication terminal (CLET) during call setup only if a callee wants to receive the CII to thereby enable the callee to easily identify the caller and exact cost. Further, in the present invention, if a CII of the caller is previously stored in the CLET, the CII is displayed on the display screen thereof without requesting the CII to a management server and if otherwise, the CII is requested to the management server. This minimizes cost and time to request the CII. Accordingly, the method and system of the present invention can be broadly utilized in communication service and other applications, e. g. , advertising or public information work.