Terminal for information processing

• US 7,116,438 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Iguchi, Shinya, Doi, Koji, Morimoto, Yoshiaki, Maeoka, Jun, Satoyama, Motoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/747,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20040233621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 348/333.06, 705/50, 345/81, 713/176, 715/750, 358/1.15, 358/1.16
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

An electronic notice-board system for allowing information to be contributed to an electronic notice board. A first short-distance communication device carries out communication with the mobile terminal located in a predetermined communication range and a second communication device exchanges data with the mobile terminal after the user of the mobile terminal has been authenticated. Similarly, the mobile terminal also has a short-distance communication device for carrying out communication with the electronic notice board located in a predetermined communication range and a second communication device for exchanging data with the electronic notice board after the user of the mobile terminal has been authenticated. Since users of the electronic notice board must be close by, it is possible to avoid improper use of the electronic notice board by any user located a long distance away from the electronic notice board.

Claims

1. An information-processing terminal comprising:

an input unit for receiving an input entered by a user;

a first short-distance communication unit for carrying out a short-distance communication with a display apparatus; and

a second communication unit for carrying out a communication with said display apparatus through a network;

wherein

said first short-distance communication unit using said input, carries out an authentication process for allowance to use said display apparatus;

said second communication unit carries out data exchange with said display apparatus if said authentication process is affirmed; and

said second communication unit does not carry out data exchange with said display apparatus if said authentication process is not affirmed.

2. An information-processing terminal according to claim 1, wherein said information-processing terminal has a function of contributing data to said display apparatus and a function of adding a comment to contributed data.

3. An information-processing terminal according to claim 2, further comprising means for selecting an object displayed on said display apparatus.

4. A display apparatus for presenting information to users surrounding said display apparatus, comprising:

a first short-distance communication unit for carrying out a short-distance communication with an information-processing terminal; and

a second communication unit for carrying out a communication with said information-processing terminal through a network;

wherein

said first short-distance communication unit carries out an authentication process for allowance to use said information-processing terminal;

said second communication unit carries out data exchange with said information-processing terminal if said authentication process is affirmed; and

said second communication unit does not carry out data exchange with said information-processing terminal if said authentication process is not affirmed.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a process is carried out to associate information on a communication establishment between said first short-distance communication unit and said information-processing terminal with information on a communication establishment between said second communication unit and said information-processing terminal.

6. An electronic notice-board system including a display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said display apparatus is an electronic notice board.

7. An electronic notice-board system including a display apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said display apparatus is an electronic notice board.