Communication apparatus and control method therefor, information apparatus and control method therefor, communication system, and control programs

• US 20030078038A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kurosawa, Takahiro, Bannai, Yuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,076,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

There is provided a communication apparatus which makes it possible to properly process data acquired by an external device even if the data is difficult to process by the external device that acquired the data. Information is acquired from an external apparatus by communication. It is determined whether the acquired information is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus. Processing of information determined to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus is delegated to an information apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

an acquiring device that acquires information from an external apparatus by communication;

a determination device that determines whether the information acquired by said acquiring device is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

a delegation device that delegates processing of information determined by said determination device to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus to an information apparatus.

2. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, which comprises a portable telephone terminal.

3. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said acquiring device acquires information managed by a server on a network.

4. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines whether the information acquired by said acquiring device is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus by comparing a size of display required by the information with a size of a display screen of the communication apparatus.

5. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines the information acquired by said acquiring device to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus, if a processing amount of the information is greater than a predetermined amount.

6. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines the information acquired by said acquiring device to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus, if the information is encrypted with an encryption system that is not provided on the communication apparatus.

7. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines the information acquired by said acquiring device to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus, if the information is to be processed with plug-in software that is not provided on the communication apparatus.

8. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines whether the information acquired by said acquiring device is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus, according to at least one of a data format and an extension of the information.

9. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination device determines whether the information acquired by said acquiring device is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus, according to a result of analysis of contents of the information.

10. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said delegation device delegates processing of a part of the information acquired by said acquiring device to the information apparatus, if the part of the information is determined by said determination device to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus.

11. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said delegation device is responsive to a result of the determination by said determination device that the information acquired by said acquiring device is unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus, for storing the information and displaying the result of the determination, and for delegating processing of the information to the information apparatus after an instruction to delegate the processing is given.

12. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said delegation device delegates at least one parameter for processing the information acquired by said acquiring device together with the information to the information apparatus to delegate processing of the information.

13. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said delegation device includes a designation device that designates the information apparatus as a delegate destination.

14. A communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said designation device designates the information apparatus as a delegate destination according to determination conditions applied for the determination by said determination device.

15. A communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said designation device carries out the designation using a table in which candidates for the information apparatus as a delegate destination is registered in correspondence to determination conditions to be applied for the determination by said determination device.

16. A communication apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said designation device includes an updating device that updates contents of registration of the table.

17. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus comprises an instruction device that instructs the information apparatus to process the information after said delegation device delegates processing of the information to the information apparatus.

18. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said determination device and said delegation device is implemented by a program acquired by communication.

19. A communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus comprises an acception device that accepts a request for registration as a delegate destination made from the information apparatus together with indication of at least attributes of information that can be processed by the information apparatus.

20. A method of controlling a communication apparatus, comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring information from an external apparatus by communication;

a determination step of determining whether the information acquired by said acquiring step is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

a delegating step of delegating processing of information determined by said determination step to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus to an information apparatus.

21. An information apparatus comprising:

an acquiring device that waits for information to be delegated to the information apparatus and acquires the information, wherein the information was acquired by a communication apparatus from an external apparatus and then determined to be delegated to the information apparatus for processing, as being unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

an executing device that executes processing of the information delegated to the information apparatus and acquired by said acquiring device.

22. A method of controlling an information apparatus, comprising:

an acquiring step of waiting for information to be delegated to the information apparatus and acquires the information, wherein the information was acquired by a communication apparatus from an external apparatus and then determined to be delegated to the information apparatus for processing, as being unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

an executing step of executing processing of the information delegated to the information apparatus and acquired in said acquiring step.

23. A communication system comprising a communication apparatus connectable to a wide area network, and an information apparatus connected to said communication apparatus for communication therewith, wherein:

said communication apparatus includes;

a first acquiring device that acquires information from the wide area network by communication, a determination device that determines whether the information acquired by said first acquiring device is suitable for processing by said communication apparatus, and a delegation device that is responsive to a result of the determination by said determination device that the acquired information is not suitable for processing by said communication apparatus, for delegating processing of the information to said information apparatus; and

said information apparatus includes;

a second acquiring device that waits for the information having processing thereof delegated by said delegation device to be delegated to said information device, and an execution device that executes the delegated processing on the information acquired by said second acquiring device.

24. A control program executed by a communication apparatus, comprising:

an acquiring module for acquiring information from outside by communication;

a determination module for determining whether the information acquired by said acquiring module is suitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

a delegate module for delegating processing of information determined by said determination module to be unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus to an information apparatus.

26. A medium that computer-readably contains a control program according to claim 24.

25. A control program executed by a communication apparatus having a function of acquiring information from a wide area network by communication, and an information apparatus connected to the communication apparatus for communication therewith, the control program comprising:

an acquiring module for waiting for information to be delegated to the information apparatus and acquiring the information, wherein the information was acquired by the communication apparatus from the wide area network and then determined to be delegated to the information apparatus for processing, as being unsuitable for processing by the communication apparatus; and

an executing module for executing processing of the information delegated to the information apparatus and acquired by said acquiring module.

27. A medium that computer-readably contains a control program according to claim 25.