Communication system, and mobile communication device, portable information processing device, and data communication method used in the system

• US 6,633,759 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/653,949
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/567, 455/558, 455/566, 455/414, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile communication device includes a unit for establishing a wireless link for a wireless communication with an external device, a unit for, via the wireless link, sending a signal to the external device to start software installed therein, a unit for, via the wireless link, receiving display data generated by software from the external device, and a unit for displaying on a screen the display data received.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless link for wireless communication with an external device;

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link a signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said external device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link said menu display data; and

means for displaying on a screen said menu display data received.

2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said mobile communication device; and

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said mobile communication device.

3. The mobile communication device according to claim 2, further comprising:

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link a signal to request to transmit menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said mobile communication device; and

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link said menu display data.

4. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said mobile communication device is a cellular phone.

5. The mobile communication device according to claim 4, wherein said cellular phone includes:

a retractable antenna; and

means for originating a call when said antenna is pulled out, and terminating a communication when said antenna is pushed back.

6. The mobile communication device according to claim 4, wherein said cellular phone includes:

a covering member which is closable to cover at least a portion of said cellular phone; and

means for originating a call when said covering member is opened, and terminating a communication when said covering member is closed.

7. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein said establishing means establishes the wireless link by a radio wave in a frequency bandwidth different from a frequency bandwidth of a radio wave for a wireless communication used in making a connection to a public line.

8. A portable information processing device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless link for wireless communication with a mobile communication device;

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said mobile communication device;

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link said menu display data; and

means for displaying on a screen said menu display data received.

9. The portable information processing device according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said portable information device; and

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said portable information device.

10. The portable information processing device according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said portable information processing device; and

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link said menu display data.

11. The portable information processing device according to claim 8, wherein said establishing means establishes the wireless link by a radio wave in a frequency bandwidth different from a frequency bandwidth of a radio wave for a wireless communication used in making a connection to a public line.

12. A communication system having a mobile communication device and a portable information processing device comprising:

means, provided in said mobile communication device and portable information processing device, for establishing a wireless link for wireless communication between said mobile communication device and portable information processing device;

means, provided in said mobile communication device, for sending to said portable information processing device via said wireless link a first signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said portable information processing device;

means, provided in said portable information processing device, for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link said menu display data in response to said first signal; and

means, provided in said mobile communication device, for displaying said menu display data sent from said portable information processing device on a screen of said mobile communication device.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising:

means, provided in said portable information processing device, for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link a second signal to start software stored in said mobile communication device;

means, provided in said mobile communication device, for sending display data generated by software installed in said mobile communication device to said portable information processing device via said wireless link in response to said second signal; and

means, provided in said portable information processing device, for displaying said display data sent from said mobile communication device on a screen of said portable information processing device.

14. A data communication method for use in a communication system having a mobile communication device and a portable information processing device, comprising the steps of:

establishing a wireless link for wireless communication between said mobile communication device and portable information processing device;

sending to said portable information processing device from said mobile communication device via said wireless link a first signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said portable information processing device;

sending said menu display data to said mobile communication device from said portable information processing device via said wireless link in response to said first signal; and

displaying said menu display data sent from said portable information processing device to said mobile communication device on a screen of said mobile communication device.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

sending to said mobile communication device from said portable information processing device via said wireless link a second signal to start software installed in said mobile communication device;

sending display data generated by said software installed in said mobile communication device to said portable information processing device from said mobile communication device via said wireless link in response to said second signal; and

displaying said display data sent from said mobile communication device to said portable information processing device on a screen of said portable information processing device.

16. A portable information processing device comprising:

means for setting a first wireless link with a cellular phone which is connectable to a public line via a second wireless link;

means for, via said first wireless link, sending a command to said cellular phone; and

means for, via said first wireless link, receiving data corresponding to the command from said cellular phone, said data including electric field intensity information for said second wireless link.

17. The portable information processing device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for displaying the battery information; and

means for sending data to said public line via said first wireless link and the cellular phone.

18. A mobile communication device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless link for communication with an external device;

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said external device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said external device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said mobile communication device;

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said mobile communication device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link a signal to request to transmit menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said mobile communication device; and

means for displaying on a screen said menu display data received.

19. A cellular phone comprising:

a retractable antenna;

means for originating a call when said antenna is pulled out, and terminating a communication when said antenna is pushed back;

means for establishing a wireless link for communication with an external device;

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said external device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link display data generated by software installed in said external device; and

means for displaying on a screen said display data received.

20. A cellular phone comprising:

a covering member which is closable to cover a manipulation unit of said cellular phone;

means for originating a call when said covering member is opened, and terminating a communication when said covering member is closed;

means for establishing a wireless link for communication with an external device;

means for sending to said external device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said external device;

means for receiving from said external device via said wireless link display data generated by said software; and

means for displaying on a screen said display data received.

21. A portable information processing device comprising:

means for establishing a wireless link for communication with a mobile communication device;

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said mobile communication device;

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said mobile communication device;

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to start software installed in said portable information device;

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link display data generated by said software installed in said portable information device;

means for receiving from said mobile communication device via said wireless link a signal to request to send menu display data showing a plurality of kinds of software installed in said portable information device;

means for sending to said mobile communication device via said wireless link said menu display data; and

means for displaying on a screen said menu display data received.