Communication system

• US 20040205226A1
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kondo, Yoshiyuki, Sato, Yuji, Aoki, Kazuma
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00832 Recording use, e.g. counting number of pages copied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A communication system includes a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages. At least one operation member which is operable with being attached to the communication system is provided. The operation member has a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page. The system includes a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to the communication device. In this configuration, the accessing system accesses the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from the data storage of the at least one operation member.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages;

at least one operation member attachable to said communication device, said at least one operation member being operable with being attached to said communication system, said at least one operation member being provided with a data storage containing first access data which is used by said communication device to access a first predetermined web page; and

a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in said data storage to said accessing system when said at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to said communication device,

said accessing system accessing the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from said data storage of said at least one operation member.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting system is included in said at least one operation member, said transmitting system determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when said at least one operation member is operated with being attached to said communication system, said transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in said data storage to said accessing system when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one operation member includes:

a operation detection system that detects operation of said at least one operation member; and

a counting system that counts the number of times by which the first access data contained in said data storage is transmitted to said accessing system by said transmitting system,

wherein said transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the number of times counted by said counting system is less than a predetermined number when said operation detection system detects the operation of said at least one operation member, said transmitting system determining the predetermined condition is not satisfied if the number of times counted by said counting system has reached the predetermined number.

4. The communication system according to claim 3,

wherein said communication device includes:

a count inquiry system that transmits a count inquiry signal inquiring the number counted by said counting system to said at least one operation member; and

a count notifying system that notifies the number counted by said counting system based on a count response signal which is transmitted by said at least one operation member in response to the count inquiry signal transmitted thereto, and

wherein said operation member includes;

a count response system that output the count response signal to said communication device in response to the count inquiry signal transmitted from said communication device.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein said count inquiry system transmits the count inquiry signal when the first access data is transmitted from said at least one operation member.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein said communication device includes an attachment detection system that detects attachment of the operation member to said communication device, said count inquiry system outputting the count inquiry signal when said attachment detection system detects'"'"' attachment of said operation member.

7. The communication system according to claim 3,

wherein said communication device includes:

an allowed number inquiry system that transmits an allowed number inquiring signal inquiring the allowed number of times by which the readout of the first access data stored in the data storage is allowed to be read to said at least one operation member; and

an allowed number notifying system that notifies the allowed number based on a response signal which is transmitted by said at least one operation member in response to the allowance number inquiry signal transmitted thereto, and

wherein said operation member includes;

a response system that outputs the response signal to said communication device in response to the allowed number inquiry signal transmitted from said communication device.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein said allowed number inquiry system transmits the allowed number inquiry signal when the first access data is transmitted from said at least one operation member.

9. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein said communication device includes an attachment detection system that detects attachment of the operation member to said communication device, said allowed number inquiry system outputting the allowed number inquiry signal when said attachment detection system detects attachment of said operation member.

10. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein said data storage contains second access data indicating a second web page as well as the first access data, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits the second access data stored in said data storage to said accessing system if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when said operation member is operated with being attached to said communication device.

11. The communication system according to claim 1,

wherein said communication device includes:

a device side detecting system that detects that said at least one operation member is operated with being attached to said communication device; and

a notification system that notifies that the first access data is not received since the predetermined condition is not satisfied if the fist access data is not transmitted from said at least one operation member for a predetermined period.

12. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting system is included in said communication device, said transmitting system determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when said at least one operation member is operated with being attached to said communication system, said transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in said data storage to said accessing system when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

13. The communication system according to claim 12,

wherein said data storage stores the readout number of times by which the first access data is transmitted by said transmitting system as well as the first access data,

wherein said communication device includes:

a device side detection system that detects that said at least one operation member is operated;

a readout system that reads the readout number of times from said data storage when said device side detection system detects that said at least one operation member is operated;

wherein said transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the readout number has not reached a predetermined number, said transmitting system determining that the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the readout number has reached the predetermined number; and

wherein said communication device further includes a rewriting system that rewrites the readout number stored in said data storage of said at least one operation member with the readout number incremented by one when the first access data is read out by said transmitting system.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein said communication device includes a notification system that notifies the readout number read out by said readout system.

15. The communication system according to claim 12,

wherein said data storage contains an allowed number of times by which the first access data is allowed to be read out;

wherein said readout system reads out the readout number and the allowed number from said data storage when said device side detection system detects the operation of said at least one operation member;

wherein said transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the readout number has not reached the allowed number, said transmitting system determining that the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the readout number has reached the allowed number.

16. The communication system according to claim 12,

wherein said data storage contains second access data indicating a second web page as well as the first access data, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits the second access data stored in said data storage to said accessing system if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when said operation member is operated with being attached to said communication device.

17. A communication system, comprising:

a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages;

a plurality of operation members attachable to said communication device, each of said plurality of operation members being operable with being attached to said communication system, each of said plurality of operation members being provided with a data storage containing first access data which is used by said communication device to access a first predetermined web page;

an operation detection system that identifies an operated one of said plurality of operation member;

a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in said data storage of said operated one of said plurality of operation member to said accessing system, said accessing system accessing the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted by said transmitting system.

18. An operation member for a communication system including a communication device capable of accessing web pages, said operation member being attachable to the communication device, said operation member being operable with being attached to the communication system, said operation member being provided with a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page, when said operation member is operated with being attached to the communication device, the first access data contained in said data storage is transmitted to the communication device, which accesses the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from said data storage of said operation member.

19. The operation member according to claim 18, wherein an indication related to the first web page being formed on a surface of said operation member.

20. The operation member according to claim 18, comprising a transmitting system that transmits the first access data to the communication device, said transmitting system determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when said operation member is operated with being attached to the communication system, said transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in said data storage to the communication device when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

21. The operation member according to claim 18, wherein the communication device includes a transmitting system which determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when said operation member is operated with being attached to the communication system, the transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in said data storage to the communication device when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

22. A computer program product defining a procedure to be executed by a computer employed in a communication system, the communication system including a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages, at least one operation member attachable to the communication device, the at least one operation member being operable with being attached to the communication system, the at least one operation member being provided with a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page, and a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to the communication device, the accessing system accessing the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from the data storage of the at least one operation member, the computer that executes the procedure defined by the computer program product functioning as the communication device.

23. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the transmitting system is included in the communication device, the computer that executes the procedure defined by the computer program product functioning as the transmitting system, the transmitting system determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when the at least one operation member is operated with being attached to the communication system, the transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

24. A computer program product defining a procedure to be executed by a computer employed in a communication system, the communication system including a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages, at least one operation member attachable to the communication device, the at least one operation member being operable with being attached to the communication system, the at least one operation member being provided with a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page, and a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to the communication device, the accessing system accessing the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from the data storage of the at least one operation member, the computer that executes the procedure defined by the computer program product functioning as the transmitting system.

25. The communication system according to claim 24, wherein the transmitting system is included in the at least one operation member, the transmitting system determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when the at least one operation member is operated with being attached to the communication system, the transmitting system transmitting the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the predetermined condition is satisfied.