Information processing apparatus and method and display control apparatus and method

• US 20010000249A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 04/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
• Original Assignee: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Sawai, Kunihito
• Application Number:
  US09/731,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20010000249A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 : Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first member to be located at a given position, the first member comprising;

communicating means for communicating with a telephone network;

supplying means for supplying power to a second member; and

first exchanging means for exchanging data wirelessly with the second member; and

the second member being portable and detachable from the first member, the second member comprising;

second exchanging means for exchanging data wirelessly with the first member;

processing means for processing data that is supplied from the first member;

display means for performing a prescribed display; and

input means for allowing a prescribed input.

2. The information processing apparatus according to

claim 1

, further comprising a cordless telephone that is detachable from the first member.

3. An information processing method of an information processing apparatus comprising a first member to be located at a given position and a second member being portable and detachable from the first member, the information processing method comprising in the first member:

a communicating step of communicating with a telephone network;

a supplying step of supplying power to a second member; and

a first exchanging step of exchanging data wirelessly with the second member, the information processing method further comprising in the second member;

a second exchanging step of exchanging data wirelessly with the first member;

a processing step of processing data that is supplied from the first member;

a display step of performing a prescribed display; and

an input step of allowing a prescribed input.

4. An information processing apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing information that is received through a telephone network;

selection means constituted of symbols displayed on a display device, and selected by a plurality of users, respectively, to identify themselves in reading out a desired one from among pieces of information directed to the users that are stored in the storing means; and

output means for reading out, when one symbol of the selection means is selected, a piece of information corresponding to the selected symbol from among the pieces of information stored in the storing mean, and for outputting the read-out piece of information.

5. The information processing apparatus according to

claim 4

, wherein the respective symbols constituting the selection means have different colors.

6. The information processing apparatus according to

claim 4

, further comprising discriminating means for indicating, when information directed to a user has been stored in the storing means, that information directed to the user is stored in the storing means.

7. An information processing method comprising:

a storing step of storing information that is received through a telephone network;

a preparing step of preparing a plurality of symbols corresponding to a plurality of users, respectively, so that a selection can be made from among the symbols for the users to identify themselves in reading out a desired one from among pieces of information directed to the users that are stored in the storing step; and

an output step of reading out, when one symbol is selected, a piece of information corresponding to the selected symbol from among the pieces of information stored in the storing step, and outputting the read-out piece of information.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of a plurality of persons to be accessed through a telephone network;

manipulation means to be manipulated in accessing a desired person through the telephone network;

first display means for displaying, when an instruction to access a certain person by E-mail is made, a correlation table of the E-mail addresses and the telephone numbers of the respective persons and information necessary to transmit E-mail at the same time;

second display means for displaying, when an instruction to access a certain person by telephone, a correlation table corresponding to that displayed by the first display means and information necessary for access by telephone at the same time; and

accessing means for accessing, when one person is selected from the correlation table, the selected person through the telephone network.

9. The information processing apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein the information displayed by the first display means is a message to be transmitted by E-mail.

10. The information processing apparatus according to

claim 8

, wherein the information displayed by the second display means is an image of the accessed person.

11. An information processing method comprising:

a storing step of storing E-mail addresses and telephone numbers of a plurality of persons to be accessed through a telephone network;

a manipulation step in which a manipulation is made in accessing a desired person through the telephone network;

a first display step of displaying, when an instruction to access a certain person by E-mail is made, a correlation table of the E-mail addresses and the telephone numbers of the respective persons and information necessary to transmit E-mail at the same time;

a second display step of displaying, when an instruction to access a certain person by telephone, a correlation table corresponding to that displayed by the first display means and information necessary for access by telephone at the same time; and

an accessing step of accessing, when one person is selected from the correlation table, the selected person through the telephone network.

12. A display control apparatus for controlling display of information on a display device, comprising:

first display means for displaying first information necessary to access a certain person who is determined by an E-mail address;

second display means for displaying second information necessary to access a certain person who is determined by a telephone number;

first manipulation means to be displayed together with the first information and to be manipulated in making a transition from a state that the first information is displayed to a state that the second information is displayed; and

second manipulation means to be displayed together with the second information and to be manipulated in making a transition from the state that the second information is displayed to the state that the first information is displayed.

13. The display control apparatus according to

claim 12

, wherein each of the first and second manipulation means is a button displayed on the display device.

14. A display control method for controlling display of information on a display device, comprising:

a first step of displaying first information necessary to access a certain person who is determined by an E-mail address;

a second step of displaying second information necessary to access a certain person who is determined by a telephone number;

a third step of displaying, together with the first information, a first manipulation portion to be manipulated in making a transition from a state that the first information is displayed to a state that the second information is displayed; and

a fourth step of displaying, together with the second information, a second manipulation portion to be manipulated in making a transition from the state that the second information is displayed to the state that the first information is displayed.