Portable device, information processing apparatus and method for communicating between those

• US 6,763,252 B2
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Itazawa, Toshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOORE, JAMES K
• Application Number:
  US09/313,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 455/88, 455/557, 455/418, 455/420, 455/90, 455/575, 455/572, 455/573, 713/182-186
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements

Abstract

An information processing apparatus can accommodate a portable device in a detachable way, and can detect accommodation/removal of the portable device, and can read ID information transmitted from the portable device. Therefore, access to a security system and a host computer via a same portable device can be achieved, and an individual can be relieved of the trouble of carrying to many portable devices.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

an information processing unit;

a portable device attachable to said information processing unit, said portable device capable of communicating with an external device via radio wave by radio wave transmitting and receiving means in a state independent of said information processing apparatus;

accommodation means for accommodating said portable device in a detachable way;

detection means for detecting accommodation/removal of said portable device in/from said accommodation means;

read means for reading ID information transmitted from an information transmitting means different from said radio transmitting and receiving means;

requiring means for requiring an input of a password;

authentication means for authenticating the inputted password; and

control means for enabling said information processing apparatus to access personal information corresponding to the ID information when the inputted password is authenticated by said authentication means,

wherein said requiring means requires the input of the password when it is determined by said detection means that a time period from the removal of said portable device from said accommodation means to the accommodation of said portable device in said accommodation means is equal to or longer than a predetermined time period, and said requiring means does not require the input of the password when it is determined by said detection means that the time period from the removal of said portable device from said accommodation means to the accommodation of said portable device in said accommodation means is shorter than the predetermined time period.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means turns on the power of the information processing apparatus when said detection means detects accommodation of said portable device in said accommodation means.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control means turns on the power of the information processing apparatus as well as starts charging said portable device when said detection means detects accommodation of a charge-type portable device.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising termination control means for controlling a connection termination process of said portable device and the information processing apparatus when said detection means detects removal of said portable device from said accommodation means.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said termination control means performs time management until the start of the termination process.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for performing data communications with a removed portable device when the information processing apparatus is in a work continuation state and said portable device is removed.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for notifying said removed portable device of an incoming e-mail.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an incoming e-mail to said removed portable device.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for undergoing remote operation from said removed portable device.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus makes a higher level device recognize ID information of said portable device via connection means which connects to the higher level device when said connection means and detection means have detected accommodation of said portable device in said accommodation means to make accessible personal information managed by the higher level device.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said portable device is a portable telephone set or an ID card.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ID information of a portable device can be transmitted to a security system which manages entrance/exit of an owner of said portable device.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ID information read from an ID card can be transmitted to a security system which manages entrance/exit of an owner of the ID card and setting of the number of a fixed-type telephone set is allowed based on the ID information.

14. An inter-device communication method applied to a system equipped with an information processing apparatus and a portable device, said portable device capable of communicating with an external device via radio wave by radio wave transmitting and receiving means in a state independent of said information processing apparatus, wherein said inter-device communication method comprises:

a detection step wherein the information processing apparatus which accommodates the portable device in a detachable way as well as connects the portable device and the information processing apparatus in such a way as communication is enabled detects accommodation/removal of the portable device;

a communication step wherein ID information is transmitted from the portable device to the information processing apparatus;

a requiring step of requiring a password to be input;

an authenticating step of authenticating the input password; and

a control step wherein the information processing apparatus is enabled to access personal information corresponding to the ID information read when the password is authenticated, wherein

said requiring step is required when it is determined in said detection step that a time period from the removal of the portable device from the information processing apparatus to the accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is equal to or longer than a predetermined time period, and said requiring step does not require the input of the password when it is determined in said detection step that the time period from the removal of the portable device from the information processing apparatus to the accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is shorter than the predetermined time period.

15. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, further comprising a control step for monitoring said detection step.

16. The inter-device communication method according to claim 15, wherein, in said control step, the power of the information processing apparatus is turned on when accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is detected in said detection step.

17. The inter-device communication method according to claim 15, wherein, in said control step, the power of the information processing apparatus is turned on as well as charging of the portable device is started when accommodation of a charge-type portable device in the information processing apparatus is detected in said detection step.

18. The inter-device communication method according to claim 15, wherein, in said control step, ID information is read from a portable device as well as the ID information is made known to a higher level device via said communication step when accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is detected in said detection step, and access to the personal information managed by the higher level device is made possible.

19. The inter-device communication method according to claim 15, wherein, in said control step, connection termination process of the portable device to the information processing apparatus and the higher level device is performed when removal of the portable device from the information processing apparatus is detected in said detection step.

20. The inter-device communication method according to claim 19, wherein, in said control step, time management until the start of said termination process and change to time setting based on an external input are performed.

21. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein, data communications are performed between an information processing main unit and a removed portable device when the information processing apparatus main unit is in a work continuation state and the portable device is removed.

22. The inter-device communication method according to claim 21, wherein data communication is an incoming e-mail notification.

23. The inter-device communication method according to claim 21, wherein data communication includes contents of incoming e-mail transferred from the removed information processing apparatus.

24. The inter-device communication method according to claim 21, wherein data communication is an information processing apparatus remote operation command.

25. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein, in said communication step, electrical communications are performed between a portable device and an information processing apparatus.

26. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein, in said communication step, electromagnetic communications are performed between the portable device and the information processing apparatus.

27. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein, in said communication step, optical communications such as infrared transmission are performed between the portable device and the information processing apparatus.

28. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein said portable device is a portable telephone set or an ID card.

29. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein ID information of portable device can be transmitted to a security system which manages entrance/exit of an owner of the portable device.

30. The inter-device communication method according to claim 14, wherein ID information read from an ID card can be transmitted to a security system which manages entrance/exit of an owner of the ID card and setting of the number of a fixed-type telephone set is allowed based on the ID information.

31. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program which executes an inter-device communication method applied to a system equipped with an information processing apparatus connected to a higher level device such as a computer and a portable device, the portable device capable of communicating with an external device via radio wave by radio wave transmitting and receiving means in a state independent of the information processing apparatus, with said program containing code for performing:

a detection step for detecting accommodation/removal of the portable device;

a communication step for communicating ID information transmitted from the portable device to the information processing apparatus;

a requiring step of requiring a password to be input;

an authenticating step of authenticating the input password; and

a control step wherein the information processing apparatus is enabled to access personal information corresponding to the ID information read when the password is authenticated, wherein

said requiring step is required when it is determined in said detection step that a time period from the removal of the portable device from the information processing apparatus to the accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is equal to or longer than a predetermined time period, and said requiring step does not require the input of the password when it is determined in said detection step that the time period from the removal of the portable device from the information processing apparatus to the accommodation of the portable device in the information processing apparatus is shorter than the predetermined time period.