Multiuser communications device

• US 6,832,083 B1
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Sawai, Kunihito
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/037,217
• Time in Patent Office: 2,471 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1, 455/412, 455/413, 455/575, 455/90, 455/572, 455/566, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32523 a plurality of output devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 : Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a registration means for registering a user to have access to information via said information processing apparatus, a password to restrict access to information related to the user, and for associating the user to a symbol so as to identify the user from other registered users;

a receiving means for receiving the information via a communication network;

an associating means for associating said received information to said user;

storing means for storing said received information;

a first display means for displaying said symbol and a plurality of function identification means each for identifying a function accessible by said user according to an association between said function and said symbol;

a first selection means for selecting said symbol corresponding to said user displayed by said first display means;

an authorization means for authorizing access of said information responsive to an entered password matching the user'"'"'s registered password;

a second selection means for selecting one of said function identification means and enabling access to a corresponding information upon authorization by said authorization means; and

a second display means for displaying said corresponding information upon selection by said second selection means,

wherein said function comprises a function to access at least one of a web page selected for access by said user, and an identification of another apparatus that can be controlled by said user through a signal transmitted by said information processing apparatus.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said symbol and a plurality of other symbols for different users each have different colors.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

discriminating means for indicating that said received information is stored in the storing means.

4. An information processing method comprising:

a registering step of registering a user to have access to information via an information processing apparatus, a password to restrict access to information related to said user, and associating said user to a symbol so as to identify said user from other registered users;

a receiving step of receiving information received via a communication network;

an associating step of associating said received information to said user;

a storing step of storing said received information;

a first displaying step of displaying said symbol and a plurality of function identification means for identifying a function accessible by said user according to an association between said function and said symbol;

a first selecting step of selecting said symbol corresponding to said user displayed in said first displaying step;

an authorization step of authorizing access of said information if an entered password matches said registered password;

a second selecting step of selecting one of said function identification means and enabling access to a corresponding information upon authorization in said authorization step; and

a second displaying step of displaying said corresponding information upon selection in said second selecting step;

wherein said function comprises a function to access at least one of, a web page selected for access by said user and an identification of another apparatus that can be controlled by said user through a signal transmitted by said information processing apparatus.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store an information that is received via a communication network with a wireless receiver, wherein the information is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of users of said information processing apparatus, the user being registered to have access to the information via said information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus having a password to restrict access to information related to the user and associating the user to a symbol so as to identify the user from other registered users;

a touch panel configured to accept selection of the symbol displayed on a display device being removable from said wireless receiver, to accept selection of the password by touching buttons displayed in a screen on said display device, and to accept selection of one of a plurality of function identification means with a touching means and access a corresponding information upon authorization of an accepted password matching the registered password, the function identification means for identifying a function accessible by said user according to association between said function and said symbol; and

a processor configured to display the corresponding information upon selection with the touching means,

wherein said function comprises a function to access at least one of, a web page selected for access by said user and an identification of another apparatus that can be controlled by said user through a signal transmitted by said information processing apparatus.

6. An information processing apparatus comprising:

storing means for storing an information that is received via a communication network with a wireless receiver, wherein the information is associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of users of said information processing apparatus, the user being registered to have access to the information via said information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus having a password to restrict access to information related to the user and associating the user to a symbol so as to identify the user from other registered users;

selection means for selecting the symbol displayed on a display device being removable from said wireless receiver, for selecting the password by touching buttons displayed in a screen on said display device, and for selecting one of a plurality of function identification means with a touching means and access a corresponding information upon authorization of an accepted password matching the registered password, the function identification means for identifying a function accessible by said user according to association between said function and said symbol; and

output means for display the corresponding information upon selection with the touching means,

wherein said function comprises a function to access at least one of, a web page selected for access by said user and an identification of another apparatus that can be controlled by said user through a signal transmitted by said information processing apparatus.