Theme change system, portable communication device, server apparatus, and computer program

• US 20060206590A1
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: FeliCa Networks, Inc (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Okada, Daisuke, Wakasa, Shigeki, Ogishima, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 10,110,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

A theme change system includes a portable communication device; and a server apparatus, wherein the portable communication device and the server apparatus are connected to each other via a communication network. The portable communication device includes a theme request section making a request for theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus, a theme management section determining permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data requested by the theme request section and storing, in a storage section, the theme data, and an interface output section outputting the interface on the basis of the theme data when the process execution part is started or while the process execution part is being started. The server apparatus includes a transmission section transmitting theme data to the portable communication device.

Claims

1. A theme change system comprising:

a portable communication device; and

a server apparatus, wherein the portable communication device and the server apparatus are connected to each other via a communication network, and

the portable communication device includes

a theme request section making a request for theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus via the communication network,

a theme management section determining permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data requested by the theme request section and storing, in a storage section, the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus via the communication network, and

an interface output section outputting the interface on the basis of the theme data when the process execution part is started or while the process execution part is being started, and

the server apparatus includes a transmission section transmitting theme data to the portable communication device when the theme data is requested from the portable communication device via the communication network.

2. A portable communication device capable of communicating with a server apparatus via a communication network, the portable communication device comprising:

a theme request section making a request for theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus via the communication network;

a theme management section determining permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data requested by the theme request section and storing, in a storage section, the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus via the communication network; and

an interface output section outputting the interface on the basis of the theme data when the process execution part is started or while the process execution part is being started.

3. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein, when a theme version described in the theme data possessed by the portable communication device differs from a version indicating a version at which an interface can be output on the basis of the theme data, the theme request section makes a request for theme data to the server apparatus.

4. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein the theme management section determines permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data by comparing a theme version corresponding to the theme data possessed by the server apparatus with a version indicating a version at which an interface can be output on the basis of the theme data.

5. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein the theme management section receives a metafile related to the theme data possessed by the server apparatus via the communication network, and determines permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data by comparing a theme version described in the metafile with a version indicating a version at which an interface can be output on the basis of the theme data.

6. The portable communication device according to claim 5, wherein, when the theme version described in the metafile is the same as the version at which output is possible or is older than the version at which output is possible, the theme management section determines that theme data is received from the server apparatus.

7. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein the theme management section replaces the existing theme data stored by the portable communication device with the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus.

8. The portable communication device according to claim 5, wherein the metafile contains identification information for identifying the theme data and/or a theme version indicating a version of the theme data.

9. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein, when a selection of the theme data is accepted from the user on the basis of the identification information for identifying the theme data, the theme request section makes a request for the selected theme data to the server apparatus.

10. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein, in an attribute definition file for at least defining attributes of the process execution part, a version indicating a version at which an interface output section can output an interface is described, and the interface output section outputs the interface by comparing the version at which output is possible with the theme version indicating the version of the theme data.

11. A server apparatus capable of communicating with a portable communication device via a communication network, the server apparatus comprising:

a transmission section for, when theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user is requested from the portable communication device via the communication network, transmitting the theme data to the portable communication device.

12. The server apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when theme data is requested from the portable communication device, the transmission section transmits a metafile related to the theme data to the portable communication device.

13. The server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the metafile contains identification information for identifying the theme data and/or a theme version indicating the version of the theme data.

14. A computer program for enabling a computer to function as a portable communication device capable of communicating with a server apparatus via a communication network, the computer program comprising the steps of:

making a request for theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user to the server apparatus via the communication network;

determining permission and non-permission about the reception of the theme data requested by the theme request section and storing, in a storage section, the theme data transmitted from the server apparatus via the communication network; and

outputting an interface on the basis of the theme data when the process execution part is started or while the process execution part is being started.

15. A computer program for enabling a computer to function as a server apparatus capable of communicating with a portable communication device via a communication network, the computer program comprising the step of:

when theme data related to an interface between a user and a process execution part for performing processing in accordance with a request from the user is requested from the portable communication device via the communication network, transmitting the theme data to the portable communication device.