Coordinated operation method, and communication terminal device

• US 20070255817A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vodafone KK (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuo, Matsumura, Toshiro, Kuwabara, Masahiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

An application load unit 72 of a host unit loads an application main body of an engine application which has been acquired to an engine unit 40. Subsequently, when an execution command for the application main body is issued by the user, an execution decision means within an application execution control unit 73 of the host unit refers to application management information, and decides whether or not it is possible to execute the application main body. If the result of this decision is affirmative, an execution command transmission means within the application execution control unit 73 sends an execution command for the application main body to the engine unit 40. As a result, processing related to the engine application is apportioned between the host unit and the engine unit in an appropriate manner.

Claims

1. A coordinated operation method by which a host unit which performs processing related to communication with the exterior, and an engine unit which executes an application under the management of said host unit, perform operation in a communication terminal device in a coordinated manner, comprising:

an application acquisition process in which said host unit acquires an application which includes a main body portion of said application, and application management information related to a utilization limit, including an execution limit for said application, which is a work;

an application load process in which said host unit loads said main body portion of said application into said engine unit;

an application execution decision process in which, in response to an execution command for said application from a user, said host unit refers to said application management information, and decides whether or not said application can be executed;

an application execution command transmission process in which, if the result of the decision in said application execution decision process is affirmative, said host unit sends an execution command for said application to said engine unit; and

an application execution process in which, upon receipt of said application execution command, said engine unit executes said application.

execution command, said engine unit executes said application.

2. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, in said application acquisition process, said host unit acquires said application by utilizing a communication circuit.

3. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, in said application acquisition process, said host unit acquires said application by utilizing a transportable recording medium.

4. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that a decision is made in said application execution decision process, after acquisition of said application, if information of a number of times execution limit is included in said application management information, as to whether or not the cumulative number of times of execution of said application does not conflict with said number of times for execution limit.

5. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, along with a decision being made in said application execution decision process, after acquisition of said application, if information of a time period for execution limit is included in said application management information, as to whether or not the cumulative time period of execution of said application does not conflict with said time period for execution limit, there are further comprised, in parallel with said application execution process:

a cumulative time period of execution monitoring process of said host unit totaling the cumulative time period of execution of said application, and monitoring the excess of said time period of execution limit over the totaled result;

an application forcible stoppage command process of said host unit sending a stop command to said engine unit if, during said cumulative time period of execution monitoring process, it has been detected that said totaled result has exceeded said time period for execution limit; and

an application forcible stoppage process of said engine unit stopping the execution of said application upon receipt of said application stop command.

6. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, if an application region code for limiting the region in which execution permission is given is included in said application management information, then, in said application execution decision process, a decision is made as to whether or not a terminal region code which is imparted to said communication terminal device matches said application region code.

7. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized by further comprising:

an application reproduction decision process of said host unit, in response to a reproduction command for said application from the user, referring to said application management information, and deciding whether or not said application can be reproduced; and

an application reproduction process of said host unit reproducing said application, if the result of this decision in said application reproduction decision process is affirmative.

8. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized by further comprising:

an application transmission decision process of said host unit, in response to a transmission command for said application from the user, referring to said application management information, and deciding whether or not said application can be transmitted; and

an application transmission process of said host unit transmitting said application, if the result of this decision in said application transmission decision process is affirmative.

9. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized by further comprising:

an application modification decision process of said host unit, in response to a modification command for the main body of said application from the user, referring to said application management information, and deciding whether or not the main body of said application can be modified; and

an application modification process of said host unit modifying the main body of said application, if the result of this decision in said application modification decision process is affirmative.

10. A coordinated operation method as described in claim 1, characterized in that said application load process comprises:

an application loading decision process of said host unit, in response to a load command for said application from the user, referring to said application management information, and deciding whether or not said application is to be loaded; and

an application load execution process of said host unit loading the main body portion of said application to said engine unit, if the result of this decision in said application loading decision process is affirmative.

11. A communication terminal device, characterized by comprising:

a host unit, comprising a host processor, which performs processing related to communication with the exterior; and

an engine unit, comprising an engine processor, which executes an application under the management of said host unit;

and wherein said host unit comprises;

an application acquisition means which acquires an application which includes a main body portion of said application, and application management information related to a utilization limit, including an execution limit for said application, which is a work;

an application load means which loads said main body portion of said application into said engine unit;

an application execution decision means which, according to an execution command for said application from a user, refers to said application management information, and decides whether or not said application can be executed; and

an application execution command transmission means which, if the result of the decision by said application execution decision means is affirmative, sends an execution command for said application to said engine unit.

12. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized by further comprising a recorded contents read device which is connected to said host processor, and which reads out said application from a recording medium upon which said application is recorded.

13. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said application execution decision means, after acquisition of said application, if information of a number of times execution limit is included in said application management information, decides whether or not the cumulative number of times of execution of said application does not conflict with said number of times for execution limit.

14. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that, along with said application execution decision means deciding, after acquisition of said application, if information of a time period for execution limit is included in said application management information, as to whether or not the cumulative time period of execution of said application does not conflict with said time period for execution limit, said host unit further comprises:

a cumulative time period of execution monitoring means which, during the execution of said application, while totaling the cumulative time period of execution of said application, also monitors the excess of said time period for execution limit over the totaled result; and

an application forcible stoppage command means of sending a stop command for the execution of said application to said engine unit, if it has been detected by said cumulative time period of execution monitoring means that said totaled result has exceeded said time period for execution limit.

15. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that, if an application region code for limiting the region in which execution permission for said application management information is given is included in said application management information, then said application execution decision means makes a decision as to whether or not a terminal region code which is imparted to said communication terminal device matches said application region code.

16. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said host unit further comprises an application reproduction means which, in response to a reproduction command for said application from the user, refers to said application management information and makes a decision as to whether or not said application can be reproduced, and reproduces said application, if the result of this decision is affirmative.

17. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said host unit further comprises an application transmission means which, in response to a transmission command for said application from the user, refers to said application management information and makes a decision as to whether or not said application can be transmitted, and transmits said application, if the result of this decision is affirmative.

18. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said host unit further comprises an application modification means which, in response to a modification command for the main body of said application from the user, refers to said application management information and makes a decision as to whether or not the main body of said application can be modified, and modifies the main body of said application, if the result of this decision is affirmative.

19. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said application load means comprises:

an application loading decision means which, in response to a load command for said application from the user, refers to said application management information, and decides whether or not said application is to be loaded; and

an application load execution means which loads the main body portion of said application to said engine unit, if the result of this decision by said application loading decision means is affirmative.

20. A communication terminal device as described in claim 11, characterized in that said host unit further comprises a wireless communication unit, connected to said host processor, for performing wireless communication with a base station of a mobile communication network.