Device for and method of processing information

• US 6,584,322 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US09/530,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/415, 455/422, 455/517, 455/466, 455/566, 455/550, 370/401
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities

Abstract

An information processing device determines whether or not it is difficult to use a digital mobile telephone (8) when retrieving second information associated with first information. The information processing device can allow a user to manipulate and cause the information processing device to retrieve the second information associated with the first information only if the digital mobile telephone (8) is available, thus preventing the user from performing extra manipulations when the digital mobile telephone (8) is not available, such as when the user intends not to use the digital mobile telephone (8).

Claims

1. An information processing device that retrieves first information by way of a first predetermined communications channel or from a predetermined storage medium and then displays a text or image corresponding to the retrieved first information on a display thereof, characterized in that said information processing device comprises:

a transmit/receive means for transmitting or receiving information by way of a second predetermined communications, channel;

a determination means for determining whether or not information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means;

an enabling means for providing guidance on manipulation to cause said transmit/receive means to transmit or receive information for a user only if information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means; and

an information retrieving means for controlling said transmit/receive means according to the user'"'"'s manipulation to retrieve second information associated with said first information by way of said second communications channel.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1 wherein the transmit/receive status of the second predetermined communications channel is verified through an interface.

7. The information processing device according to claim 1 wherein a voice generating means is included for producing a voice corresponding to the first and second information received, and further for producing a voice for guiding the user to manipulate the information processing device.

8. The information processing device according to claim 1 wherein a voice recognition means is included for converting a user'"'"'s voice into text data.

2. An information processing device that retrieves first information by way of a first predetermined communications channel or from a predetermined storage medium and then displays a text or image corresponding to the retrieved first information on a display thereof, characterized in that said information processing device comprises:

a transmit/receive means for transmitting or receiving information by way of a second predetermined communications channel;

a determination means for determining whether or not information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means;

a display control means for, when displaying a text or image corresponding to information indicating a storage location where second information included with and associated with said retrieved first information is stored on said display, displaying the text or image corresponding to the information indicating the storage location where said second information is stored in a first predetermined format unless information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means, and displaying the text or image corresponding to the information indicating the storage location where said second information is stored in a second predetermined format different from said first format otherwise;

a manipulation means that is manipulated by a user when the user selects part of the text or image displayed on said display; and

a transmit/receive control means for, when said manipulation means is manipulated and the text or image displayed in said second format is selected, controlling said transmit/receive means to retrieve said second information based on the information indicating the storage location corresponding to the selected text or image.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that said device comprises a digital broadcast receiving means for receiving said first information transmitted thereto by a digital broadcast disposed as said first communications channel, and said transmit/receive means transmits or receives information by way of a digital mobile telephone network disposed as said second communications channel.

4. The information processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first and second information are written in Hyper Text Markup Language or HTML, and, when information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means, said second information is displayed in a format which is the same as that of a hypertext link defined by HTML.

5. An information processing method including the steps of retrieving first information by way of a first predetermined communications channel or from a predetermined storage medium, and then displaying a text or image corresponding to the retrieved first information on a display thereof, characterized in that said information processing method comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not information can be transmitted or received through a transmit/receive means for transmitting or receiving information by way of a second predetermined communications channel;

providing guidance on manipulation to cause said transmit/receive means to transmit or receive information for a user only if information can be transmitted or received through said transmit/receive means; and

controlling said transmit/receive means according to the user'"'"'s manipulation to retrieve second information associated with said first information by way of said second communications channel.