Apparatus and method for controlling data transfer transmitted via radio communication applicable to electronic equipment and electronic equipment communication system

• US 6,731,924 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gushiken, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks-Harold, Marsha D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/726,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 455/343.1, 455/574, 455/557, 340/7.32, 340/693.3, 370/311, 713/310, 713/324, 713/323, 713/320
• US Class Current: 455/343.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/3814 Wireless link with a computer system port

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling the transfer of data that are received and arranged in a radio communication unit in electronic equipment, such as a personal computer or a communication terminal, to a data processing device in the electronic equipment. The radio communication unit in the personal computer or the communication terminal includes a buffer memory for storing the arranged data and a function of determining the operating state of the personal computer or the data processing unit in the personal computer when the radio communication unit detects the receipt of data via radio communication.

Claims

1. A method for controlling data transfer to electronic equipment that includes a data processing unit and a radio communication unit that is powered independent from the data processing unit, comprising the steps of:

detecting receipt of data transmitted via radio communication;

storing the received data in a memory in the radio communication unit;

determining a state of the data processing unit when the data receipt is detected;

requesting start up of the data processing unit if it is determined to be in a non-operating state; and

transferring the received data stored in the memory to the data processing unit when start up of the data processing unit is complete.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

examining a state of an application corresponding to the received data when the data processing unit is determined to be in an operating state; and

storing the received data in one of the memory in the communication unit, or in a primary memory or an HDD in the data processing unit when the application has not yet run.

3. A method for communicating data between a communication terminal and a computer that includes a data processing unit and a radio communication unit that is powered independent from the data processing unit, comprising the steps of:

detecting receipt of data transmitted via radio communication;

storing the received data in a memory provided in the communication terminal;

inquiring by the communication terminal via radio communication as to a state of the data processing unit;

determining a state of the data processing unit when the inquiry is received in the computer;

requesting start up of the data processing unit if it is determined to be in a non-operating state;

sending a notice of completion of the start up of the data processing unit when the start up is complete;

transmitting the received data stored in the memory to a radio communication unit of the computer via radio communication when the communication terminal receives the completion notice; and

transferring the transmitted received data from the radio communication unit to the data processing unit in the computer.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

storing the transmitted received data from the radio communication unit in a second buffer provided in the computer; and

transferring the stored received data into a memory provided in the data processing unit when the computer is in a stable condition.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

examining a state of an application corresponding to the received data when inquiring as to the state of the computer;

requesting start up of the application when the data processing unit is in an operating state; and

sending a notice of completion of the start up of the application unit from the computer to the communication terminal when the application start up is completed.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

storing the transmitted received data in buffer a memory provided in the data processing unit; and

transferring the stored received data in the buffer memory to the data processing unit when the computer is in a stable operation state.

7. Apparatus for controlling transfer of data to electronic equipment that includes a data processing unit and a radio communication unit that is powered independent from the data processing unit, comprising:

means for detecting receipt of data transmitted via radio communication;

a memory for storing the received data in the radio communication unit;

means for determining a state of the data processing unit when the data receipt is detected by the detecting means;

means for requesting start up of the data processing unit if it is determined to be in a non-operating state; and

means for transferring the received data stored in the memory to the data processing unit when start up of the data processing unit is complete.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

means for examining a state of an application corresponding to the received data when the data processing unit is determined to be in an operating state; and

means for controlling storage of the received data into one of the memory in the communication unit, or in a primary memory or an HDD in the data processing unit when the application has not yet run.

9. Apparatus for controlling transfer of data between a communication terminal and a computer that includes a data processing unit and a radio communication unit that is powered independent from the data processing unit, comprising:

means for detecting receipt of data transmitted via radio communication in the communication terminal;

a first memory provided in the communication terminal for storing the received data;

means for inquiring as to a state of the data processing unit from the communication terminal via radio communication;

means for determining a state of the data processing unit when the inquiry is received in the computer;

means for requesting start up of the data processing unit if it is determined to be in a non-operating state;

means for sending a notice of completion of the start up of the data processing unit when the start up is complete;

means for transmitting the stored data in the first memory to the computer via radio communication when the communication terminal receives the completion notice; and

means for transferring the transmitted received data from the radio communication unit to the data processing unit in the computer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a second memory provided in the communication unit in the computer for storing the received data transmitted from the communication terminal; and

reading the stored received data in the second memory when the computer is in a stable condition.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for examining as to a state of an application corresponding to the received data when the inquiry is received in the computer;

means for requesting start up of the application when the data processing unit is in an operating state; and

means for sending a notice of completion of the start up of the application from the computer to the communication terminal when the application start up is completed.

12. In a portable computer including a data processing unit and a continually powered radio communication unit, the radio communication unit comprising:

a device for transmitting/receiving data via radio communication;

a memory for storing the data;

a USB ON/OFF controller for determining an operating state of the data processing unit and requesting start up of the data processing unit when the data processing unit is determined to be in a non-operating state;

a memory controller for controlling writing/reading the data in the memory; and

a bus transfer controller for controlling transfer of the data from the radio communication unit to the data processing unit based on the determination of the USB ON/OFF controller.