Information providing system, information providing method, information processing apparatus, information processing method, communication terminal, and a method for communication terminal

• US 7,050,945 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oba, Haruo, Rekimoto, Junichi, Sugawara, Taku, Ayatsuka, Yuji, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Inagaki, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/416,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20040078169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702182-185, 700/1, 700/9, 700/12, 700/108, 700/110, 714/25, 709/201, 709/223
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information providing method, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a communication terminal, for providing requested information in an easy manner. In an information board 1, guides about information which can be provided are displayed on display units 2A to 2D. A PDA 11 includes a non-contact IC card, and a reader/writer is disposed in each of information requesting units 3A to 3D. The information board 1 acquires information to be provided to the PDA 11, depending on which one of readers/writers the PDA 11 is brought close to, and establishes Bluetooth communication with the PDA 11 in accordance with a Bluetooth address, acquired from the non-contact IC card, of the PDA 11. After establishing the Bluetooth communication, the information board 1 provides the acquired information to the PDA 11 by means of the Bluetooth communication. The present invention may be applied to various types of information processing apparatuses for providing information to users.

Claims

1. An information providing system including an information processing apparatus and a communication terminal,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided; and

first wireless communication units located close to the respective display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units,

the information processing apparatus further comprising;

first acquisition means for acquiring identification information of the communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, by means of first communication performed by the one of the first wireless communication units;

first synchronization achieving means for, on the basis of the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

identification means for identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

information acquisition means for, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified by the identification means, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal; and

first providing means for providing, by means of the second communication, the information acquired by the information acquisition means to the communication terminal with which synchronization has been achieved by the first synchronization achieving means,

the communication terminal comprising;

second providing means for, in response to a request issued by the information processing apparatus, providing the identification information of the communication terminal by means of the first communication performed by a third wireless communication unit operating using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave;

second synchronization achieving means for achieving synchronization for the second communication, using a fourth wireless communication unit different from the third wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved by the second synchronization achieving means; and

outputting means for outputting the information received by the receiving means.

2. An information providing method for an information providing system including an information processing apparatus and a communication terminal, the information providing method comprising a method for the information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units located close to the respective display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, the method for the information processing apparatus comprising;

a first acquisition step, of acquiring identification information of a communication terminal brought close to one of first wireless communication units, by means of first communication performed by the one of first wireless communication units;

a first synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the identification information acquired in the first acquisition step, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an identification step of identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

an information acquisition step of, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified in the identification step, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal; and

a first providing step of providing, by means of the second communication, the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal with which synchronization has been achieved in the first synchronization achieving step,

the information providing method also comprising a method for the communication terminal, comprising;

a second providing step of, in response to a request issued by the information processing apparatus, providing the identification information of the communication terminal by means of the first communication performed by a third wireless communication unit operating using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave;

a second synchronization achieving step of achieving synchronization for the second communication, using a fourth wireless communication unit different from the third wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

a receiving step of receiving the information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the second synchronization achieving step; and

an outputting step of outputting the information received in the receiving step.

3. An information processing apparatus comprising a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units located close to the respective display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, the information processing apparatus further comprising;

first acquisition means for acquiring identification information of the communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, by means of first communication performed by the one of the first wireless communication units;

synchronization achieving means for, on the basis of the identification information acquired by the first acquisition means, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

identification means for identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

information acquisition means for, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified by the identification means, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal; and

providing means for providing, by means of the second communication, the information acquired by the information acquisition means to the communication terminal with which synchronization has been achieved by the synchronization achieving means.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the synchronization achieving means achieves synchronization by acquiring attribute information of a plurality of terminals, including said communication terminal, present in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus, and achieving synchronization with the communication terminal detected, on the basis of the identification information, as a terminal which has transmitted attribute information corresponding to the identification information.

5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the providing means provides the information by a process including acquiring terminal name information from each of the plurality of terminals, including said communication terminal, present in the vicinity of the information processing apparatus the synchronization of which has been achieved by the synchronization achieving means;

on the basis of the identification information, identifying the communication terminal which has transmitted terminal name information corresponding to the identification information; and

providing the information to said communication terminal.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal from a storage unit disposed in the information processing apparatus or from a storage unit disposed close to the information processing apparatus.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal from a particular server via a network.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising changing means for changing a guide displayed on the display unit to another guide,

wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal, depending on the guide changed by the changing means.

9. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units located close to the respective display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, the information processing method comprising;

a first acquisition step, of acquiring identification information of a communication terminal brought close to one of first wireless communication units, by means of first communication performed by the one of first wireless communication units;

a synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the identification information acquired in the first acquisition step, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an identification step of identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

an information acquisition step of, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified in the identification step, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal; and

a providing step of providing, by means of the second communication, the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal with which synchronization has been achieved in the synchronization achieving step.

10. A program for a computer to execute a process associated with an information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units located close to the respective display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, the process comprising;

a first acquisition step, of acquiring identification information of a communication terminal brought close to one of first wireless communication units, by means of first communication performed by the one of first wireless communication units;

a synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the identification information acquired in the first acquisition step, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an identification step of identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

an information acquisition step of, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified in the identification step, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal; and

a providing step of providing, by means of the second communication, the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal with which synchronization has been achieved in the synchronization achieving step.

11. An information providing system including an information processing apparatus and a communication terminal,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided; and

first wireless communication units which are disposed on the respective display units and which operate using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the communication terminal brought close,

the information processing apparatus further comprising;

first providing means for providing first identification information assigned to a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also providing second identification information identifying information to be provided, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

first synchronization achieving means for achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

information acquisition means for acquiring information corresponding to the second identification information, in response to receiving the first identification information transmitted from the communication terminal by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved by the first synchronization achieving means; and

second providing means for providing the information acquired by the information acquisition means to the communication terminal by using the second communication,

the communication terminal comprising;

a third wireless communication unit for communicating, via an electromagnetic wave, with a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units disposed in the information processing apparatus and close to which the communication terminal has been brought,

acquisition means for acquiring, by means of the first communication performed by the third wireless communication unit, the first identification information assigned to the first wireless communication unit, close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also acquiring the second identification information identifying the information to be provided by the information processing apparatus;

second synchronization achieving means for, on the basis of the first identification information acquired by the acquisition means, achieving synchronization for the second communication, using a fourth wireless communication unit different from the third wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

requesting means for requesting the information processing apparatus to provide information corresponding to the second identification information, by transmitting the second identification information acquired by the acquisition means to the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved by the second synchronization means; and

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted, in response to the request issued by the requesting means, from the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication.

12. An information providing method for an information providing system including an information processing apparatus and a communication terminal, the information providing method comprising a method for the information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

first wireless communication units which are disposed close to the respective display units and which operate using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the communication terminal brought close, the method for the information processing apparatus comprising;

a first providing step of providing first identification information assigned to a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also providing second identification information identifying information to be provided, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

a first synchronization achieving step, of achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an information acquisition step of acquiring information corresponding to the second identification information, in response to receiving the second identification information transmitted, by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the first synchronization achieving step, from the communication terminal; and

a second providing step of providing the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal by using the second communication,

the information providing method also comprising a method for the communication terminal including a third wireless communication unit for communicating, via an electromagnetic wave, with a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units disposed in the information processing apparatus and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, the method for the communication terminal comprising;

an acquisition step of acquiring, by means of the first communication performed by the third wireless communication unit, the first identification information assigned to the first wireless communication unit, close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also acquiring the second identification information identifying the information to be provided by the information processing apparatus;

a second synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the first identification information acquired in the acquisition step, achieving synchronization for the second communication, using a fourth wireless communication unit different from the third wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

a request issuing step of requesting the information processing apparatus to provide information corresponding to the second identification information, by transmitting the second identification information acquired in the acquisition step to the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the second synchronization step; and

a receiving step of receiving the information transmitted, in response to the request issued in the request issuing step, from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication.

13. An information processing apparatus comprising a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units which are disposed on the respective display units and which operate using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a communication terminal brought close, the information processing apparatus further comprising

first providing means for providing first identification information assigned to a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also providing second identification information identifying information to be provided, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

synchronization achieving means for achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

information acquisition means for acquiring information corresponding to the second identification information, in response to receiving the second identification information transmitted from the communication terminal by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved by the synchronization achieving means; and

second providing means for providing the information acquired by the information acquisition means to the communication terminal by using the second communication.

14. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal from a storage unit disposed in the information processing apparatus.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal from a particular server via a network.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising changing means for changing a guide displayed on the display unit to another guide,

wherein the information acquisition means acquires the information to be provided to the communication terminal, depending on the guide changed by the changing means.

17. An information processing method for an information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units which are disposed close to the respective display units and which operate using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a communication terminal brought close, the information processing method comprising;

a first providing step of providing first identification information assigned to a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also providing second identification information identifying information to be provided, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

a synchronization achieving step of achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an information acquisition step of acquiring information corresponding to the second identification information, in response to receiving the second identification information transmitted, by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the synchronization achieving means, from the communication terminal; and

a second providing step of providing the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal by using the second communication.

18. A program for a computer to execute a process associated with an information processing apparatus including a plurality of display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and first wireless communication units which are disposed close to the respective display units and which operate using electric power generated by means of induction associated with reception of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a communication terminal brought close, the process comprising;

a first providing step of providing first identification information assigned to a first wireless communication unit, which is one of the plurality of first wireless communication units and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also providing second identification information identifying information to be provided, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

a synchronization achieving step of achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication units, with the communication terminal;

an information acquisition step of acquiring information corresponding to the second identification information, in response to receiving the second identification information transmitted, by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the synchronization achieving means, from the communication terminal; and

a second providing step of providing the information acquired in the information acquisition step to the communication terminal by using the second communication.

19. A communication terminal comprising a first wireless communication unit for communicating, via an electromagnetic wave, with a wireless communication unit, which is one of a plurality of wireless communication units disposed in an information processing apparatus and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, the communication terminal further comprising:

acquisition means for acquiring, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit, first identification information assigned to the wireless communication unit, close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also acquiring second identification information identifying information to be provided by the information processing apparatus;

synchronization achieving means for, on the basis of the first identification information acquired by the acquisition means, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

requesting means for requesting the information processing apparatus to provide information corresponding to the second identification information, by transmitting the second identification information acquired by the acquisition means to the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved by the synchronization means; and

receiving means for receiving the information transmitted, in response to the request issued by the requesting means, from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication.

20. A communication terminal according to claim 19, wherein the synchronization achieving means achieves synchronization by acquiring attribute information of a plurality of terminals, including the information processing terminal, present in the vicinity of the communication terminal, and achieving synchronization with the information processing apparatus detected, on the basis of the first identification information, as a terminal which has transmitted attribute information corresponding to the first identification information.

21. A communication terminal according to claim 19, wherein the requesting means requests the information processing apparatus to provide the information by a process including acquiring terminal name information from each of the plurality of terminals, including the information processing apparatus, which are present in the vicinity of the communication terminal and the synchronization of which has been achieved by the synchronization achieving means;

on the basis of the first identification information, identifying the information processing apparatus which has transmitted terminal name information corresponding to the first identification information; and

requesting the information processing apparatus to provide said information.

22. A communication method for a communication terminal including a first wireless communication unit for communicating, via an electromagnetic wave, with a wireless communication unit, which is one of a plurality of wireless communication disposed in an information processing apparatus and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, the communication method for the communication terminal comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit, first identification information assigned to the wireless communication unit, close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also acquiring second identification information identifying information to be provided by the information processing apparatus;

a synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the first identification information acquired in the acquisition step, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

a request issuing step of requesting the information processing apparatus to provide information corresponding to the second identification information, by transmitting the second identification information acquired in the acquisition step to the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the synchronization step; and

a receiving step of receiving the information transmitted, in response to the request issued in the request issuing step, from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication.

23. A program for a computer to execute a process associated with a communication terminal including a first wireless communication unit for communicating, via an electromagnetic wave, with a wireless communication unit, which is one of a plurality of wireless communication disposed in an information processing apparatus and close to which the communication terminal has been brought, the process comprising:

an acquisition step of acquiring, by means of first communication performed by the first wireless communication unit, first identification information assigned to the wireless communication unit, close to which the communication terminal has been brought, and also acquiring second identification information identifying information to be provided by the information processing apparatus;

a synchronization achieving step of, on the basis of the second identification information acquired in the acquisition step, achieving synchronization for second communication, using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication unit, with the information processing apparatus;

a request issuing step of requesting the information processing apparatus to provide information corresponding to the second identification information, by transmitting the second identification information acquired in the acquisition step to the information processing apparatus by means of the second communication the synchronization of which has been achieved in the synchronization step; and

a receiving step of receiving the information transmitted, in response to the request issued in the request issuing step, from the information processing apparatus, by means of the second communication.

24. An information processing apparatus comprising at least one or more display units for displaying guides about information to be provided;

and a plurality of first wireless communication units disposed on the one or more display units, for communicating with a communication terminal brought close to one of the first wireless communication units, the information processing apparatus further comprising;

an information storage unit for storing a plural pieces of information to be provided, said plural pieces of information corresponding to the respective first wireless communication units;

identification means for identifying the one of the first wireless communication units, close to which the communication terminal has been brought;

information acquisition means for, depending on the first wireless communication unit identified by the identification means, acquiring information to be provided to the communication terminal from the information storage unit; and

providing means for providing, by means of the second communication using a second wireless communication unit different from the first wireless communication unit, the information acquired by the information acquisition means to the communication terminal.