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

• US 20090031069A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: HABUTO, Reiko, Furue, Nobuki, Kubota, Yoshiyasu
• Granted Patent: US 8,032,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/303
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/91 Television signal processing therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A data communication system includes a server apparatus and a cradle apparatus. The cradle apparatus includes a first communication section, a second communication section, a connection detection section, a notification control section, and a relay control section. The server apparatus includes a communication section, a data preparation section, and a communication control section.

Claims

1. A data communication system, comprising:

a server apparatus; and

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

the cradle apparatus including

a first interface configured to communicate with the portable electronic 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,

a notification unit configured to notify the server apparatus, via the second interface, that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus, and

an interface controller configured to control reception of first data for the portable electronic apparatus from the server apparatus via the second interface and control transmission of the first data to the portable electronic apparatus via the first interface,

the server apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

a controller configured to prepare the first data for the portable electronic apparatus, and

an interface controller configured to control transmission of the first data to the portable electronic apparatus via the interface of the server apparatus.

2. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface of the server apparatus is configured to receive information transmitted via the cradle apparatus and indicative of an apparatus attribute of the portable electronic apparatus; and

the controller of the server configured to specify the first data to be prepared in response to the apparatus attribute of the portable electronic apparatus.

3. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the server apparatus further includes:

a memory configured to store a transmission history including information representative of data transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus; and

the controller of the server configured to specify the first data to be prepared in response to the stored transmission history.

4. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the server apparatus further includes:

a decision unit configured to determine a data attribute of data accumulated in the portable electronic apparatus based on data received from the portable electronic apparatus in response to an inquiry issued to the portable electronic apparatus via the interface of the server; and

the controller of the server configured to specify the first data to be prepared in response to the data attribute determined by the decision unit.

5. The data communication system of claim 1, wherein the server apparatus further includes:

a user interface configured to receive an instruction regarding data to be prepared as the first data; and

the controller of the server configured to specify data to be prepared as the first data in response to the instruction.

6. A cradle apparatus, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with a portable electronic apparatus;

a second interface configured to communicate with a server apparatus;

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

a notification unit configured to notify the server apparatus via the second interface that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus; and

an interface controller configured to control receiving data for the portable electronic apparatus from the server apparatus via the second interface and transmitting the data to the portable electronic apparatus via the first interface.

7. The cradle apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the interface controller is configured to control receiving data for the server apparatus from the portable electronic apparatus via the first interface and transmitting the data to the server apparatus via the second interface.

8. A server apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with a cradle apparatus;

a controller configured to prepare data for the portable electronic apparatus to be provided to the portable electronic apparatus; and

an interface controller configured to control transmitting the prepared data for the portable electronic apparatus to the portable electronic apparatus via the interface.

9. The server apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

the interface is configured to receive information transmitted via the cradle apparatus and indicative of an apparatus attribute of the portable electronic apparatus; and

the controller specifies data to be prepared as the data for the portable electronic apparatus in response to the apparatus attribute of the portable electronic apparatus received via the interface.

10. The server apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a transmission history including information representative of data transmitted as the data for the portable electronic apparatus; and

the controller configured to specify data to be prepared as the data for the portable electronic apparatus in response to the stored transmission history.

11. The server apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a decision unit configured to determine a data attribute of data accumulated in the portable electronic apparatus based on data received from the portable electronic apparatus in response to an inquiry issued to the portable electronic apparatus via the interface; and

the controller configured to specify data to be prepared as the data for the portable electronic apparatus in response to the determined data attribute.

12. The server apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface configured to receive an instruction regarding data to be prepared as the data for the portable electronic apparatus; and

the controller configured to specify data to be prepared as the data for the portable electronic apparatus in response to the instruction.

13. The server apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory configured to store data transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus and received through the interface;

an erasure instruction unit configured to form an erasure instruction of data to be transmitted to the portable electronic apparatus;

the controller configured to prepare the data for the portable electronic apparatus based on the stored data from the portable electronic apparatus; and

the interface controller configured to control reception of the data transmitted from the portable electronic apparatus and provided through the cradle apparatus through the interface and transmission of the erasure instruction to the portable electronic apparatus through the cradle apparatus via the interface.

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

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus, and configured to receive a notification that any of the first and second portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

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

the interface controller configured to control the interface to receive transmission information transmitted from the first portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision;

a controller configured to form provision information to be provided to the second portable electronic apparatus based on the transmission information accepted through the interface; and

the interface controller configured to control the interface to transmit the provision information to the second portable electronic apparatus.

15. A cradle apparatus for use with a data communication system including first and second portable electronic apparatus, a server apparatus and the cradle apparatus, the cradle apparatus mediating transmission and reception of data between the first and second portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus, the cradle apparatus comprising:

a first communication section configured to communicate with the first and second portable electronic apparatus connected to the cradle apparatus;

a second communication section configured to communicate with the server apparatus;

a connection detection section configured to detect that any of the first and second portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

a notification control section configured to notify the server apparatus through the second communication section that any of the first and second portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus; and

a relay control section configured to control the first and second communication sections to relay the communication between the first and second portable electronic apparatus and the server apparatus.

16. A data communication system, comprising:

first and second portable electronic apparatus;

a server apparatus; and

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

the first portable electronic apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

a controller configured to prepare transmission information to be transmitted to a requesting source of the request in response to the request, and

an interface controller configured to control transmitting the transmission information to the requesting source through the interface, the second 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 second portable electronic apparatus,

a memory configured to store the provision information destined for the second portable electronic apparatus 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 first and second portable electronic apparatus connected to the cradle apparatus,

a second interface configured to communicate with the server apparatus,

a detector configured to detect that any of the first and second portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus,

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

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

the server apparatus including

an interface configured to communicate with the cradle apparatus,

a controller configured to determine when a notification that any of the first and second portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus is accepted through the interface, whether or not the first and/or second portable electronic apparatus are connected to the cradle apparatus,

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

an interface controller configured to control the interface to receive transmission information transmitted from the first portable electronic apparatus in response to the request for provision,

the controller configured to form provision information to be provided to the second portable electronic apparatus based on the transmission information accepted through the interface, and

the interface controller configured to control the interface to transmit the provision information to the second portable electronic apparatus.

17. The data communication system of claim 16, wherein the first portable electronic apparatus is an image pickup apparatus and the second portable electronic apparatus is a portable electronic apparatus with a display function, and

in the server apparatus:

the controller is configured to form a request for provision for requesting provision of image data obtained by image pickup to the first portable electronic apparatus and controls the interface to transmit the request for provision to the first portable electronic apparatus;

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to receive image data from the first portable electronic apparatus;

the controller is configured to form image data for the second portable electronic apparatus from the image data from the first portable electronic apparatus; and

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to transmit the image data for the second portable electronic apparatus formed by the controller to the second portable electronic apparatus.

18. The data communication system of claim 16, wherein the first and second portable electronic apparatus have a music reproduction function, and

in the server apparatus:

the controller is configured to form a request for provision for requesting provision of music data retained in the first portable electronic apparatus and control the interface to transmit the request for provision to the first portable electronic apparatus;

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to receive music data from the first portable electronic apparatus;

the controller is configured to form music data for the second portable electronic apparatus from the music data from the first portable electronic apparatus; and

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to transmit the music data for the second portable electronic apparatus to the second portable electronic apparatus.

19. The data communication system of claim 16, wherein the first portable electronic apparatus is an image pickup apparatus and the second portable electronic apparatus is a portable electronic apparatus with a display function, and

in the server apparatus:

the controller is configured to form a request for provision for requesting provision of image data obtained by image pickup to the first portable electronic apparatus and control the interface to transmit the request for provision to the first portable electronic apparatus;

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to receive image data from the first portable electronic apparatus;

the controller is configured to form text data from character information included in the image data from the first portable electronic apparatus; and

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to transmit the text data to the second portable electronic apparatus.

20. The data communication system according to claim 16, wherein the first portable electronic apparatus is an image pickup apparatus having a measuring function of an image pickup position and capable of adding image pickup position data to image data obtained by image pickup and the second portable electronic apparatus is a portable electronic apparatus with a display function, and

in the server apparatus:

the controller is configured to form a request for provision for requesting provision of image data obtained by image pickup to the first portable electronic apparatus and control the interface to transmit the request for provision to the first portable electronic apparatus;

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to receive image data from the first portable electronic apparatus;

the controller is configured to refer to map information retained in the server apparatus based on the image pickup position data added to the image data from the first portable electronic apparatus to form image data to which map relating information including a name and an address of the image pickup position is added; and

the interface controller is configured to control the interface to transmit the map data having the map relating information added thereto to the second portable electronic apparatus.

21. A cradle apparatus, comprising:

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

means for notifying a server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

means for receiving data for the portable electronic apparatus from the server apparatus; and

means for transmitting the data to the portable electronic apparatus.

22. A server apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with a cradle apparatus;

means for preparing data for the portable electronic apparatus to be provided to the portable electronic apparatus; and

means for controlling the means for communicating with a cradle apparatus to transmit the data prepared for the portable electronic apparatus to the portable electronic apparatus.

23. A method implemented at a cradle apparatus for relaying information between a portable electronic apparatus and a server apparatus, comprising:

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

notifying the server apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

receiving data for the portable electronic apparatus from the server apparatus; and

transmitting the data to the portable electronic apparatus.

24. A method implemented at a server apparatus for communicating with a portable electronic apparatus via a cradle apparatus, comprising:

communicating with the cradle apparatus;

receiving a notification from the cradle apparatus that the portable electronic apparatus is connected to the cradle apparatus;

preparing data for the portable electronic apparatus to be provided to the portable electronic apparatus; and

transmitting the data prepared for the portable electronic apparatus to the portable electronic apparatus via the cradle apparatus.