Communication device, communication method, computer program, and storing medium for an address book

• US 7,124,185 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuroyanagi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Winder, Patrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, HASSAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/835,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709/223, 709/225, 709/246, 709/204, 709/205
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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]

Abstract

An address book accessed from a local panel is made accessible to Web users (remote panels) connected to a network, by Web server functions. Also, whether to permit or deny requests for changing the data of the address book from the local panel, and requests for changing the data of the address book from the remote panels, is determined.

Claims

1. A communication device having an address book storing data of communication destinations, said communication device comprising:

first access means for accessing data of said address book in response to operations of a local user interface;

second access means for accessing data of said address book in response to requests from remote devices on a network;

control means for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests from said first access means, and from said second access means;

first display control means for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by a local user to access data of said address book from said first access means; and

judgment means for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control means denies address book changes from said second access means when it is judged by said judgment means that the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed by said first access means, and permits address book changes from said second access means when it is judged by said judgment means that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

2. A communication device according to claim 1, further comprising second display control means for displaying a second guide display on a remote user interface of the remote devices, wherein said second guide display is operable by a remote user to access data of said address book from said second access means, and wherein said control means permits address book data changing requests from said first access means oven in the event that said second guide display is being displayed on the remote user interface of the remote devices.

3. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein said address book stores addresses corresponding to multiple communication protocols for each destination.

4. A communication device according to claim 1, wherein said second access means accesses data of said address book in response to WWW server function requests from the remote devices.

5. A communication device having an address book storing data of communication destinations, said communication device comprising:

a local operating unit for accessing data of said address book for a local user via a local user interface;

a remote operating unit for accessing data of said address book for remote users on a network;

a control unit for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests from said local operating unit, and from said remote operating unit;

a first display control unit for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by the local user to access data of said address book from said local operating unit; and

a judgment unit for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control unit denies address book changes from said remote operating unit when it is judged by said judgment unit that the first guide is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed by said local operating unit, and permits address book changes from said remote operating unit when it is judged by said judgment unit that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

6. A method for accessing an address book within a communication device, said method comprising:

a first access step for accessing data of said address book in response to operations of a local user interface;

a second access step for accessing data of said address book in response to requests from remote devices on a network;

a control step for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests in said first access step, and in said second access step;

a first display control step for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by a local user to access data of said address book in said first access stop; and

a judgment step for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control step denies address book changes in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed in said first access step, and permits address book changes in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising a second display control step for displaying a second guide display on a remote user interface of the remote devices, wherein said second guide display is operable by a remote user to access data of said address book in said second access step,

and wherein said control step permits changing the data of said address book in said first access step even in the event that said second guide display is being displayed on the remote user interface of the remote devices.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said address book stores addresses corresponding to multiple communication protocols for each destination.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein said second access step accesses data of said address book in response to WWW server function requests from the remote devices.

10. A method for accessing an address book within a communication device, said method comprising:

a local operating step for accessing data of said address book for a local user via a local user interface;

a remote operating step for accessing data of said address book for remote users on a network;

a control step for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests in said local operating step, and in said remote operating step;

a first display control step for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by the local user to access data of said address book in said local operating step; and

a judgment step for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control step denies address book changes in said remote operating step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed in said local operating step, and permits address book changes in said remote operating step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

11. A computer program executed by a computer of a communication device for accessing an address book within the communication device, said computer program comprising process procedure code for:

a first access step for accessing data of said address book in response to operations of a local user interface;

a second access step for accessing data of said address book in response to requests from remote devices on a network;

a control step for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests in said first access step, and in said second access step;

a first display control step for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by a local user to access data of said address book in said first access step; and

a judgment step for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control step denies address book changes in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed in said first access step, and permits address book changes in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

12. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 11.

13. A computer program executed by a computer of a communication device for accessing an address book within the communication device, said computer program comprising process procedure code for:

a local operating step for accessing data of said address book for a local user via a local user interface;

a remote operating step for accessing data of said address book for remote users on a network;

a control step for deciding to permit or deny address book data changing requests in said local operating step, and in said remote operating step;

a first display step for displaying a first guide display on the local user interface, wherein the first guide display is operable by the local user to access data of said address book in said local operating step; and

a judgment step for judging whether or not the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface,

wherein said control step denies address book changes in said remote operating step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is displayed on the local user interface, even if change of said address book is completed in said local operating step, and permits address book changes in said remote operating step when it is judged in said judgment step that the first guide display is not displayed on the local user interface.

14. A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 13.

15. A communication device having an address book storing data of communication destinations, said communication device comprising:

first access means for accessing data of said address book in response to operations of a local user interface;

second access means for accessing data of said address book in response to requests from remote devices on a network;

judgment means for judging whether or not a display regarding said address book is displayed on an operating screen of said communication device; and

control means for controlling to permit or prevent changing of said address book, wherein said control means prevents changing of said address book by said second access means when it is judged by said judgment means that the display regarding said address book is being displayed on the operating screen of said communication device, even if change of said address book is completed by said first access means, and permits changing of said address book by said second access means when it is judged by said judgment means that the display regarding said address book is not being displayed on the operating screen of said communication device.

16. A method for accessing an address book within a communication device, said method comprising;

a first access step of accessing data of said address book in response to operations of a local user interface;

a second access step of accessing data of said address book in response to requests from remote devices on a network;

a judgments step for judging whether or not a display regarding said address book is displayed on an operating screen of said communication device; and

a control step of controlling to permit or prevent changing of said address book, wherein said control steps prevents changing of said address book in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the display regarding said address book is being displayed on the operating screen of said communication device, even if change of said address book is completed in said first access step, and permits changing of said address book in said second access step when it is judged in said judgment step that the display regarding said address book is not being displayed on the operating screen of said communication device.