Data communication system, data communication device, program product for controlling data communication device, and portable terminal

• US 7,376,109 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Idehara, Takenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEW, KEVIN D
• Application Number:
  US10/214,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20030031155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A data communication device includes the first interface for communicating with a portable terminal and the second interface for communicating with another communication device. The data communication device makes a judgment as to whether the first connection format for communication with the portable terminal via the first interface should be allowed when the data communication device receives the first connection request from the portable terminal via the first interface, selects another communication device that is capable of communicating with the portable terminal when the first connection format is not allowed, and transmits to the portable terminal the connection information concerning the second connection format for communication with the portable terminal via the selected another communication device and the second interface.

Claims

1. A data communication device comprising:

a first interface for communicating with a portable terminal;

a second interface for communicating with another communication device; and

a controller that makes a judgment as to whether a first connection format for communication with said portable terminal via the first interface should be allowed when the data communication device receives a first connection request from said portable terminal via the first interface, selects another communication device that is capable of communicating with said portable terminal when the first connection format is not allowed, and transmits to said portable terminal the connection information concerning a second connection format for communication with said portable terminal via said another communication device and the second interface, wherein said controller switches the communication with a second portable terminal to the first connection format when the communication with a first portable terminal ends while the communication with the first portable terminal is conducted in the first connection format and the communication with the second portable terminal is conducted in the second connection format, wherein said controller selects one portable terminal based on a specified order of priority when there are multiple portable terminals that are communicating in the second connection format when the communication with the first portable terminal ends, and switches the communication with the selected portable terminal from the second connection format to the first connection format.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said specified order of priority is an order of receiving the first connection request from the portable terminal.

3. A computer readable medium having a program for controlling a data communication device having a first interface for communicating with a portable terminal and a second interface for communicating with another communication device, said program causing the data communication device to execute a process comprising:

making a judgment as to whether a first connection format for communication with said portable terminal via the first interface should be allowed when the data communication device receives a first connection request from said portable terminal via the first interface;

selecting another communication device that is capable of communicating with said portable terminal when the first connection format is not allowed;

transmitting to said portable terminal the connection information concerning a second connection format for communication with said portable terminal via the selected another communication device and the second interface; and

switching the communication with a second portable terminal to the first connection format when the communication with a first portable terminal ends while the communication with the first portable terminal is conducted in the first connection format and the communication with the second portable terminal is conducted in the second connection format, wherein, in said switching step, one portable terminal is selected based on a specified order of priority when there are multiple portable terminals that are communicating in the second connection format when the communication with the first portable terminal ends, and the communication with the selected portable terminal is switched from the second connection format to the first connection format.

4. A computer readable medium having a program as claimed in claim 3, wherein said specified order of priority is an order of receiving the first connection request from the portable terminal.