Communication system with removable operation member providing internet access

• US 8,386,634 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuma, Kondo, Yoshiyuki, Sato, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Zele, Krista
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAJEE-ULLAH, TARIQ S
• Application Number:
  US10/771,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,309 Days
• Field of Search: 709/232
• US Class Current: 709/232
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00832 Recording use, e.g. counting number of pages copied
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00965 using a plug-in memory module, e.g. memory card, memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

A communication system includes a communication device provided with an accessing system capable of accessing web pages. At least one operation member which is operable with being attached to the communication system is provided. The operation member has a data storage containing first access data which is used by the communication device to access a first predetermined web page. The system includes a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the data storage to the accessing system when the at least one operation member is operated while it is attached to the communication device. In this configuration, the accessing system accesses the first predetermined web page based on the first access data transmitted from the data storage of the at least one operation member.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a communication device including;

an accessing unit capable of accessing web pages;

an interface unit having an opening, a first circuit and a second circuit; and

a data acquiring unit that acquires data via the interface unit;

a portable operation member removably insertable into the opening of the interface unit, the portable operation member including a memory that stores first access data corresponding to a first predetermined web page, wherein the first circuit is configured to activate in response to insertion of the portable operation member, which includes the memory, to a first depth into the opening of the interface unit, and the second circuit is configured to activate in response to a mechanical operation that further inserts the same portable operation member, which includes the memory, to a second depth in the opening of the interface unit, the second depth being greater than the first depth; and

an operation detecting unit configured to detect that the portable operation member is inserted into the opening of the interface unit when the first circuit activates and that the portable operation member is mechanically operated by a user when the second circuit activates;

the data acquiring unit automatically acquiring the first access data from the memory when the operation detecting unit detects that the second circuit activates and the accessing unit automatically accessing the first predetermined web page based on the first access data acquired by the acquiring unit.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the memory to the accessing unit when the operation detecting unit detects that the portable operation unit is mechanically operated by the user; and

wherein;

the transmitting system is included in the portable operation member;

the transmitting system determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when the operation detecting unit detects that the portable operation member is mechanically operated by the user; and

the transmitting system transmits the first access data from the memory to the accessing unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the portable operation member includes;

a counting system that counts the number of times the first access data is transmitted from the memory to the accessing unit; and

wherein the transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the number of times counted by the counting system is less than a predetermined number, the transmitting system determining the predetermined condition is not satisfied if the number of times counted by the counting system has reached the predetermined number.

4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein:

the communication device includes;

a count inquiry system that transmits a count inquiry signal inquiring the number counted by the counting system to the portable operation member; and

a count notifying system that notifies the number counted by the counting system based on a count response signal which is transmitted by the portable operation member in response to the count inquiry signal transmitted thereto; and

the portable operation member includes a count response system that outputs the count response signal to the communication device in response to the count inquiry signal transmitted from the communication device.

5. The communication system according to claim 4, Wherein the count inquiry system transmits the count inquiry signal when the first access data is transmitted from the memory of the portable operation member.

6. The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the count inquiry system outputs the count inquiry signal when the operation detecting unit detects the insertion of the portable operation member.

7. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein:

the communication device includes;

an allowed number inquiry system that transmits an allowed number inquiry signal inquiring an allowed number of times that the first access data stored in the memory is allowed to be transmitted from the memory of the portable operation member; and

an allowed number notifying system that notifies the allowed number based on a response signal which is transmitted by the portable operation member in response to the allowance number inquiry signal transmitted thereto, and

the portable operation member includes a response system that outputs the response signal to the communication device in response to the allowed number inquiry signal transmitted from the communication device.

8. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the allowed number inquiry system transmits the allowed number inquiry signal when the first access data is transmitted from the memory of the portable operation member.

9. The communication system according to claim 7, wherein the allowed number inquiry system outputs the allowed number inquiry signal when the operation detecting unit detects the insertion of the portable operation member.

10. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein:

the memory contains second access data indicating a second web page; and

the transmitting system transmits the second access data stored in the memory to the accessing unit if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation unit by the user.

11. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device includes:

a device side detecting system that detects if the operation detecting unit is operated; and

a notification system that notifies that the first access data is not received because the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the first access data is not transmitted from the memory of the portable operation member for a predetermined period.

12. The communication system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitting system that transmits the first access data contained in the memory to the accessing unit when the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation unit by the user; and

wherein;

the transmitting system is included in the communication device;

the transmitting system determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied when the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation by the user; and

the transmitting system transmits the first access data contained in the memory to the accessing unit when the predetermined condition is satisfied.

13. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein:

the memory stores a transmission number representing a number of times that the first access data is transmitted by the transmitting system;

the communication device includes;

a device side detection system that detects if the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation unit by the user; and

a readout system that reads out the transmission number from the memory when the device side detection system detects that the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation unit by the user;

the transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the readout transmission number has not reached a predetermined number, the transmitting system determining that the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the readout transmission number has reached the predetermined number; and

the communication device further includes a rewriting system that increases the transmission number by one when the first access data is transmitted to the accessing unit.

14. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the communication device includes a notification system that notifies the transmission number.

15. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein:

the memory contains an allowed number of times by which the first access data is allowed to be transmitted;

the readout system reads out the transmission number and the allowed number from the memory when the device side detection system detects if the operation detecting unit detects the mechanical operation of the portable operation unit by the user; and

the transmitting system determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied if the readout transmission number has not reached the allowed number, the transmitting system determining that the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the readout transmission number has reached the allowed number.

16. The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the memory comprises a ROM and a RAM, the ROM storing the first access data and the RAM storing the transmission number.

17. The communication system according to claim 12, wherein:

the memory contains second access data indicating a second web page; and

the transmitting system transmits the second access data stored in the memory to the accessing unit if the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the portable operation member is mechanically operated.

18. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a ROM, the ROM storing the first access data.

19. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical operation of the portable operation member includes a depression of the portable operation member by the user.

20. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the operation detecting unit is part of the portable operation member.

21. A communication system, comprising:

a communication device including;

an accessing unit capable of accessing web pages;

a plurality of interface units, each interface unit having an opening, a first circuit, and a second circuit;

a plurality of data acquiring units that acquire data via the interface units;

a plurality of portable operation members, each portable operation member removably insertable into the openings of the interface units, each of the plurality of portable operation members including a memory that stores access data corresponding to a predetermined web page, wherein the first circuit is configured to activate in response to insertion of one of the portable operation members, which includes the memory, to a first depth into the opening of one of the interface units, and the second circuit is configured to activate in response to a mechanical operation that further inserts the same one of the portable operation members, which includes the memory, to a second depth in the opening of the one of the interface units, the second depth being greater than the first depth;

at least one operation detection unit configured to detect that one of the portable operation members is inserted into an opening of an interface unit when the first circuit activates and that the one of the plurality of portable operation members is mechanically operated by a user when the second circuit activates;

the data acquiring units automatically acquiring the access data from the memory when the operation detecting unit detects that the second circuit activates and the accessing unit automatically accessing the predetermined web page based on the access data acquired by the acquiring unit.

22. The communication system according to claim 21, wherein the mechanical operation of the portable operation member includes a depression of one of the plurality of portable operation members by the user.

23. The communication system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one operation detection unit comprises a plurality of operation detecting units each being part of a respective one of the plurality of portable operation members.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for allowing a communication system to access a predetermined web page, the program comprising:

instructions for controlling a detecting unit to detect (1) an insertion of a portable operation member, which includes a memory that stores access data corresponding to the predetermined web page, to a first depth into an opening of an interface unit of the communication system, the insertion activating a first circuit of the interface unit, and (2) a mechanical operation that further inserts the same portable operation member, which includes the memory, to a second depth into the opening of the interface unit, the mechanical operation activating a second circuit of the interface unit, the second depth being greater than the first depth;

instructions for transmitting the access data contained in the memory of the portable operation member to an accessing unit of the communication system upon the detection of the mechanical operation of the portable operation member; and

instructions for causing the accessing unit to access the predetermined web page based on the access data transmitted from the memory of the portable operation member.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 24, wherein the instructions for controlling the detecting unit to detect a mechanical operation of the portable operation member include instructions for detecting a depression of the portable operation member.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 24, wherein the detecting unit is part of the portable operation member.