DATA COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, CRADLE APPARATUS, SERVER APPARATUS, DATA COMMUNICATION METHOD AND DATA COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

• US 20080263146A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Furue, Nobuki, Kubota, Yoshiyasu, HABUTO, Reiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,351,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations

Abstract

A data communication system includes a portable electronic apparatus, a server apparatus, a cradle apparatus, and a home apparatus. The portable electronic apparatus includes a communication section, a reception control section, a storage section, and a utilization control section. The cradle apparatus includes a first communication section, a second communication section, a connection detection section, a notification control section, and a relaying control section. The server apparatus includes a first communication section, a second communication section, a first transmission control section, and a relaying control section. The home apparatus includes a communication section, a preparation section, and a transmission control section.

Claims

1. A cradle apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, a server apparatus, the cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with the portable electronic apparatus connected to the cradle apparatus;

a second interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus;

a detector configured to detect that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

an interface controller configured to control the second interface to notify the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, and control the first and second interfaces to relay communication between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus.

2. A server apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus;

a second interface configured to communicate with the home apparatus;

a controller configured to form a request for provision of object information to the home apparatus and control the second interface to transmit the request for provision to the home apparatus; and

an interface controller configured to control the second interface to receive information transmitted from the home apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information and control the first interface to transmit the received information to be transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus.

3. The server apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the controller is configured to form a deletion request for requesting deletion of accumulated data to the portable electronic apparatus, and

the interface controller is configured to control the first interface to transmit the deletion request to the portable electronic apparatus.

4. The server apparatus of claim 2, wherein the server apparatus is configured to carry out a communication process with each of one or more home apparatus and further comprises:

a selection unit configured to select one of the home apparatus which should be an opposite party of communication in accordance with the portable electronic apparatus specified based on information included in the notification.

5. The server apparatus of claim 4, wherein the one or more home apparatus which are capable of being connected through the second interface of the server apparatus include a server apparatus provided on a wide area network.

6. A server apparatus for use with a data communication system which includes a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus;

a second interface configured to communicate with the home apparatus;

a controller configured to form a request for provision of object information to the portable electronic apparatus and control the first interface to transmit the request for provision to the portable electronic apparatus; and

an interface controller configured to control the first interface to receive information transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information and control the second interface to transmit the received information to be transmitted to the home apparatus.

7. The server apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the controller is configured to carry out a relaying process of transmitting the provision information from the portable electronic apparatus and form a deletion request for requesting deletion of accumulated data to the portable electronic apparatus, and

the interface controller is configured to control the first interface to transmit the deletion request to the portable electronic apparatus.

8. The server apparatus of claim 6, wherein the server apparatus is configured to carry out a communication process with each of one or more home apparatus and further comprises:

a selection unit configured to select one of the home apparatus which should be an opposite party of communication in accordance with the portable electronic apparatus specified based on information included in the notification.

9. The server apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the one or more home apparatus which are capable of being connected through the second interface include a server apparatus provided on a wide area network.

10. A computer-readable medium including computer readable instructions, which when executed by a computer incorporated in a cradle apparatus, cause the cradle apparatus to perform a method, comprising:

detecting that detecting that a portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

notifying, if it is detected that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus; and

relaying communication between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus.

11. A computer-readable medium including computer readable instructions, which when executed by a computer incorporated in a server apparatus, cause the server apparatus to perform a method, comprising:

forming a request for provision of object information to a home apparatus, which is connected to the server apparatus;

transmitting the request for provision to the home apparatus;

receiving information transmitted from the home apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information; and

transmitting the information received from the home apparatus to the portable electronic apparatus.

12. A computer-readable medium including computer readable instructions, which when executed by a computer incorporated in a server apparatus, cause the server apparatus to perform a method, comprising:

forming a request for provision of object information to a portable electronic apparatus connected to the server apparatus;

transmitting the request for provision to the portable electronic apparatus;

receiving information transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information; and

transmitting the received provision information to the home apparatus.

13. A cradle apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, a server apparatus, the cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with the portable electronic apparatus;

means for communicating with the server apparatus;

means for detecting that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

means for controlling the means for communicating with the server apparatus to notify the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, and

means for controlling the means for communicating to relay communication between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus.

14. A server apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with the cradle apparatus;

means for communicating with the home apparatus;

means for forming a request for provision of object information to the home apparatus;

means for controlling the means for communicating with the home apparatus to transmit the request for provision to the home apparatus; and

means for controlling the means for communicating with the home apparatus to receive information transmitted from the home apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information; and

means for controlling the means for communicating with the cradle apparatus to transmit the received information to be transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus.

15. A server apparatus for use with a data communication system which includes a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with the cradle apparatus;

means for communicating with the home apparatus;

means for forming a request for provision of object information to the portable electronic apparatus;

means for controlling the means for communicating with the cradle apparatus to transmit the request for provision to the portable electronic apparatus;

means for controlling the means for communicating with the cradle apparatus to receive information transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information; and

means for controlling the means for communicating with the home apparatus to transmit the received information to be transmitted to the home apparatus.

16. A data communication system comprising:

a portable electronic apparatus;

a server apparatus;

a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus; and

a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus;

the portable electronic apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

an interface controller configured to control the interface to receive provision information from the server apparatus transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus,

a memory configured to store the provision information destined for the portable electronic apparatus and received through the interface, and

a controller configured to control utilization of the provision information stored in the memory,

the cradle apparatus including

a first interface configured to communicate with the portable electronic apparatus connected to the cradle apparatus,

a second interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus,

a detector configured to detect that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus,

an interface controller configured to control the second interface to notify the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, and

a controller configured to control the first and second interfaces to relay the communication between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus,

the server apparatus including

a first interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

a second interface configured to communicate with the home apparatus,

an interface controller configured to form a request for provision of object information to the home apparatus and control the second interface to transmit the request for provision to the home apparatus, and

a controller configured to control the second interface to receive information transmitted from the home apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information and control the first interface to transmit the received information to the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus,

the home apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus,

a controller configured to prepare information in accordance with the request for provision, and

a controller configured to control the interface to transmit the information prepared by the controller to the portable electronic apparatus through the interface.

17. The data communication system of claim 16, wherein:

the server apparatus further includes

the controller configured to form a deletion request for requesting deletion of accumulated data to the portable electronic apparatus, and control the first interface to transmit the deletion request to the portable electronic apparatus; and

the portable electronic apparatus includes

the controller configured to delete accumulated data stored in a storage unit in accordance with the deletion request.

18. The data communication system according to claim 16, wherein the server apparatus is configured to control the second interface to carry out a communication process with each of one or more home apparatus and includes a selection unit configured to select one of the home apparatus which should be an opposite party of communication in accordance with the portable electronic apparatus.

19. The data communication system according to claim 18, wherein the one or more home apparatus which are capable of being connected through the second interface of the server apparatus include a server apparatus provided on a wide area network.

20. A data communication system comprising:

a portable electronic apparatus;

a server apparatus;

a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus; and

a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus,

the portable electronic apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

an interface controller configured to control the interface to receive provision information from the server apparatus transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus,

a controller configured to prepare transmission information to be transmitted to a requesting source in accordance with the request for provision, and

the interface controller configured to control the interface to transmit the transmission to the requesting source,

the cradle apparatus including

a first interface configured to communicate with the portable electronic apparatus connected to the cradle apparatus,

a second interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus,

a detector configured to detect that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus,

an interface controller configured to control the second interface to notify the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, and

a controller configured to control the first and second interfaces to repeat the communication between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus,

the server apparatus including

a first interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

a second interface configured to communicate with the home apparatus,

a controller configured to form a request for provision of object information to the portable electronic apparatus and control the first interface to transmit the request for provision to the portable electronic apparatus, and

the controller configured to control the first interface to receive information transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision of object information and control the second interface to transmit the received information so as to be transmitted to the home apparatus,

the home apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus, and

a memory configured to store the provision information received via the interface.

21. The data communication system of claim 20, wherein:

the server apparatus further includes

the controller configured to form a deletion request for requesting deletion of accumulated data to the portable electronic apparatus, and control the first interface to transmit the deletion request to the portable electronic apparatus; and

the portable electronic apparatus includes

the controller configured to delete accumulated data stored in accordance with the deletion request.

22. The data communication system according to claim 20, wherein the home apparatus includes a controller configured to carry out a process in accordance with the provision information provided from the portable electronic apparatus and stored in the memory.

23. The data communication system according to claim 20, wherein the server apparatus is configured to control the second interface to carry out a communication process with each of one or more home apparatus, and the controller at the server is configured to select one of the home apparatus which should be an opposite party of communication in accordance with the portable electronic apparatus.

24. The data communication system according to claim 23, wherein the one or more home apparatus which are capable of being connected through the second interface of the server apparatus include a server apparatus provided on a wide area network.

25. A method implemented at a server apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a request for provision of object information to the home apparatus;

transmitting the request for provision to the home apparatus;

receiving information transmitted from the home apparatus in response to the request for provision; and

transmitting the received information to the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus.

26. A method implemented at a server apparatus for use with a data communication system including a portable electronic apparatus, the server apparatus, a cradle apparatus configured to mediate transmission and reception of data between the portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, and a home apparatus configured to be connected to the server apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a request for provision of object information to the portable electronic apparatus;

transmitting the request for provision to the portable electronic apparatus;

receiving information transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision; and

transmitting the received information to the home apparatus.