USER TERMINAL, OPERATOR SERVER, REMOTE SUPPORT METHOD AND USER TERMINAL PROGRAM

• US 20140113617A1
• Filed: 02/14/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optim LLC
• Original Assignee: Optim LLC
• Inventors: SUGAYA, Shunji
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/547 Remote procedure calls [RPC]; Web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/133 Protocols for remote procedure calls [RPC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

Mutual remote support between users is easily facilitated without troublesome complicated user registration. For user terminals between which remote support is performed and each of which sets a call to be an originator of remote support, a user can use an appropriate supporter user terminal to enable the supporter user terminal to access a supportee user terminal to thereby facilitate setting manipulation and check device (or terminal) status with regard to not only the supportee user terminal but also a supportee device that is communicably connected to the supportee user terminal, by merely selecting the supportee device (or terminal) from an address book stored in the corresponding user terminal.

Claims

1. A user terminal which includes a call function and is communicably connected to a different user terminal through a public line network, one of the user terminals serving as a supportee terminal that receives remote support from the other user terminal or serving as an operator (supporter) terminal that provides remote support to the other user terminal, the user terminal comprising:

user terminal registering means for registering information of at least one different user terminal performing remote support, associated with information related to an owner of the different user terminal, in an address book; and

remote support start means for starting the remote support with respect to the user terminal based on the registered information and information related to the user terminal serving as a call counterpart while the call function is used.

2. The user terminal of claim 1, wherein when serving as the supportee terminal, the user terminal further comprises:

electronic device detecting means for detecting an electronic device that is connected to a local area network to which the user terminal is connected;

electronic device determining means for determining device type information of the detected electronic device; and

operator assisting means for facilitating one of checking of device status and setting manipulation of the electronic device, and

when serving as the operator terminal, the user terminal further comprises;

electronic device registering means for registering the determined device type information of the detected electronic device, associated with information related to an owner of the supportee terminal, in the address book;

user terminal selecting means for selecting the electronic device registered by said electronic device registering means from the address book to start communications with the user terminal detecting the electronic device as the supportee terminal; and

electronic device support means for performing one of checking of device status and setting manipulation of the selected electronic device by using said operator assisting means of the user terminal starting the communications by said user terminal selecting means.

3. A remote support method which is performed by a user terminal that includes a call function and is communicably connected to a different user terminal through a public line network, one of the user terminals serving as a supportee terminal that receives remote support from the other user terminal or serving as an operator (supporter) terminal that provides remote support to the other user terminal, the remote support method comprising:

registering information of at least one different user terminal performing remote support, associated with information related to an owner of the different user terminal, in an address book; and

starting the remote support with respect to the user terminal based on the registered information and information related to the user terminal serving as a call counterpart while the call function is used.

4. A user terminal program which is executed by a user terminal that includes a call function and is communicably connected to a different user terminal through a public line network, one of the user terminals serving as a supportee terminal that receives remote support from the other user terminal or serving as an operator (supporter) terminal that provides remote support to the other user terminal, the user terminal comprising:

registering information of at least one different user terminal performing remote support, associated with information related to an owner of the different user terminal, in an address book; and

starting the remote support with respect to the user terminal based on the registered information and information related to the user terminal serving as a call counterpart while the call function is used.