PORTABLE INFORMATION TERMINAL, A CONTROL METHOD FOR A PORTABLE INFORMATION TERMINAL, A PROGRAM OF A METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PERSONAL INFORMATION TERMINAL AND A RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING RECORDED THEREIN A PROGRAM OF A METHOD OF CONTROLLING A PERSONAL INFORMATION TERMINAL

• US 20070129070A1
• Filed: 02/01/2007
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakamatsu, Masataka, TAKAMURA, Kazuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• 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

The present invention is applied to a portable personal computer or the like having a plurality of wireless communication means, for example, so as to provide a user with appropriate wireless communication means in a situation where a plurality of wireless communication means are available. According to the present invention, the wireless communication means is selectively used in accordance with an application program with reference to a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal comprising:

a plurality of wireless communication mechanisms; and

a controller for controlling said plurality of wireless communication mechanisms,

wherein said controller transmits and receives data using at least one of the wireless communication mechanisms in response to a request from an application judgment agent which accesses a communication management table identifying a subset of the wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used by each of a plurality of application programs to generate said request.

2. The portable information terminal of claim 1, wherein:

said subset of wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used are wireless communication mechanisms which are identified in response to a user input.

3. The portable information terminal of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of said wireless communications mechanisms are configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.

4. The portable information terminal of claim 3, wherein:

said communication management table identifies a priority between said plurality of wireless communications mechanisms configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.

5. A method of controlling a portable information terminal having a plurality of wireless communication mechanisms, comprising:

transmitting and receiving data using corresponding wireless communication mechanisms in response to a request from an application judgment agent,

wherein said application judgment agent accesses a communication management table identifying wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used by each of a plurality of application programs to generate said request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

said wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used are wireless communication mechanisms which are identified in response to a user input.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

a plurality of said wireless communications mechanisms are configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

said communication management table identifies a priority between said plurality of wireless communications mechanisms configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.

9. A program embedded in a computer readable medium and having instructions that implement a method of controlling a portable information terminal having a plurality of wireless communication mechanisms, comprising:

transmitting and receiving data using corresponding wireless communication mechanisms in response to a request from an application judgment agent,

wherein said application judgment agent accesses a communication management table identifying wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used by each of a plurality of application programs to generate said request.

10. The program of claim 9, wherein:

said wireless communication mechanisms allowed to be used are wireless communication mechanisms which are identified in response to a user input.

11. The program of claim 9, wherein:

a plurality of said wireless communications mechanisms are configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.

12. The program of claim 11, wherein:

said communication management table identifies a priority between said plurality of wireless communications mechanisms configured to be used for one of said plurality of application programs.