Electronic apparatus with remote data supplementation/update selection and error display

• US 5,377,326 A
• Filed: 06/22/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Murata, Kaoru, Matsuda, Eichika
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowler, Alyssa H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, ALPESH
• Application Number:
  US08/080,052
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 395/800, 395/575, 395/200, 395/600, 395/425, 364/705.05, 364/705.06, 364/709.09, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, 364/710.04, 364/710.08
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval

Abstract

A small electronic apparatus such as an electronic organizer, electronic memo, etc. is disclosed which has a memory for storing data, and a communication unit for transmitting data stored in the memory to another electronic apparatus, and for receiving data from the other electronic apparatus. The apparatus selects, before transmitting at least one portion of said data, either of an add mode (transmitted data is added to data stored in the other electronic apparatus) and a update mode (data stored in the other electronic apparatus is replaced with the transmitted data). The apparatus has a signal unit for, when the add mode is selected, transmitting a first signal indicative that the add mode is selected to the other electronic apparatus, and for, when the update mode is selected, transmitting a second signal indicative that the update mode is selected to the other electronic apparatus. The apparatus displays data which has been transmitted when a data transmission error has occurred.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising a memory means for storing data and a communication means for transmitting at least one portion of said data stored in said memory means to another electronic apparatus, said apparatus further comprising:

a selection means for, before transmitting at least one portion of said data, selecting either of an add mode and an update mode as a function of a user input,

a signal means for, when said add mode is selected, generating a first signal which is transmitted by said communication means to said other electronic apparatus, said first signal being indicative that said add mode is selected, and for, when said update mode is selected, generating a second signal which is transmitted by said communication means to said other electronic apparatus, said second signal being indicative that said update mode is selected, and

said first signal generated by said signal means placing said other apparatus in said add mode wherein said transmitted portion of data is added to data stored in said other electronic apparatus, and said second signal generated by said signal means placing said other apparatus in said update mode wherein data stored in said other electronic apparatus is replaced with said transmitted portion of data.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, said communication means further comprising means for receiving data from said other electronic apparatus.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus further comprises a memory management means for, when said communication means receives said first signal from said other electronic apparatus, add data transmitted from said other electronic apparatus to data stored in said memory means, and for, when said communication means receives said second signal from said other electronic apparatus, replacing data stored in said memory means being replaced with data transmitted from said other electronic apparatus.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is an electronic organizer for storing in said memory means data representative of at least one of telephone number information and schedule information.

5. An electronic apparatus comprising:

memory means wherein data is stored;

communication means for transmitting at least one portion of data stored in the memory means to a second electronic apparatus during a transmit operation and for receiving data from the second electronic apparatus during a receive operation;

a selection means for, before transmitting the at least one portion of the data in the transmit operation, selecting one of an add mode and an update mode as a function of a user input;

control means responsive to a selection means of the second electronic apparatus for controlling the storage of information in the memory means during the receive operation in accordance with a mode selection of the second electronic apparatus, whereby during the receive operation in an update mode the control means loads the transmitted data obtained through the communication means from the second electronic apparatus into a location in the memory means for replacing data previously stored in the memory means, and whereby during the receive operation in an add mode the control means loads the transmitted data obtained through the communication means from the second electronic apparatus into a location in the memory means for supplementing data stored in the memory means.