Device control method and computer-readable recording medium

• US 9,467,509 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2014
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagishi, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US14/582,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20150180967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A method in a communication system in the present disclosure includes: receiving a first access from the information apparatus which starts a first application for a telephone conversation function; transmitting an identifier and a confirmation destination address to the information apparatus in response to the first access; receiving an instruction to the information apparatus from the information processing apparatus; receiving a second access using the confirmation destination address from the information apparatus; transmitting the instruction to the information apparatus in response to the second access; and when it is judged that the instruction instructs the information apparatus to start the second application for providing a camera function, causing the information apparatus to continue the telephone conversation process, to start the second application without involving a user operation, receiving image information captured using the camera function from the information apparatus, and forwarding the image information to the information processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A device control method in a communication system connectable via a network to an information apparatus of a user and to an information processing apparatus of a service center, the information apparatus being equipped with a first application for providing a telephone conversation function, a second application for providing a camera function, and a third application, the device control method comprising:

receiving a first communication access for an identifier from the information apparatus based on a telephone conversation instruction at the information apparatus, the telephone conversation instruction comprising an instruction to initiate a telephone conversation with the information processing apparatus, the information apparatus initiating the first application to execute a telephone conversation process with the information processing apparatus based on the telephone conversation instruction, and receiving the identifier, which identifies the information apparatus, the identifier being assigned to the information apparatus by the first communication access;

transmitting the identifier and a confirmation destination address to the information apparatus in response to the first communication access, the confirmation destination address confirming an instruction from the information processing apparatus to the information apparatus;

receiving from the information processing apparatus the instruction to the information apparatus in association with the identifier;

receiving from the information apparatus a second communication access for destination information using the confirmation destination address in association with the identifier; and

transmitting the instruction to the information apparatus corresponding to the identifier, in response to the second communication access,

wherein the third application is for requesting remote support to the communication system,

when it is determined at the information apparatus that the transmitted instruction is an instruction to instruct the information apparatus to start the second application, the information apparatus is caused to continue the telephone conversation process using the first application and to start the second application absent a user operation at the information apparatus, and to receive from the information apparatus image information captured by the information apparatus using the camera function provided by the second application, and to forward the image information to the information processing apparatus, and

the instruction to instruct the information apparatus to start the second application is generated by the information processing apparatus based on the third application.

2. The device control method according to claim 1, wherein

the information processing apparatus acquires the identifier transmitted by the information apparatus.

3. The device control method according to claim 1, wherein

a third communication access is received from the information apparatus based on start of the third application at the information apparatus;

address information of the information processing apparatus is transmitted to the information apparatus in response to the third communication access; and

the information apparatus executes the telephone conversation process with the information processing apparatus, using the address information of the information processing apparatus, based on the telephone conversation instruction.

4. The device control method according to claim 3, wherein

when a display screen corresponding to the third application is displayed on the information apparatus based on the start of the third application, the display screen includes a telephone conversation instruction button of the first application or an image capture button of the second application.

5. The device control method according to claim 1, wherein

after the instruction to the information apparatus corresponding to the identifier is transmitted to the information apparatus in response to the second communication access, the instruction to the information apparatus is erased from the communication system.

6. The device control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

managing the instruction to the information apparatus with a value for identifying the instruction after receiving from the information apparatus the second communication access using the confirmation destination address in association with the identifier; and

transmitting to the information apparatus the instruction to the information apparatus with the value for identifying the instruction, in response to the second communication access.

7. A method for controlling an information apparatus which is equipped with a first application for providing a telephone conversation function, a second application for providing a camera function, and a third application,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

sense a telephone conversation instruction comprising an instruction to initiate a telephone conversation with a predetermined destination;

start the first application to perform the telephone conversation with the predetermined destination when the telephone conversation instruction is sensed;

execute a communication access to a predetermined server using address information of the predetermined server that differs from the predetermined destination, separately from the telephone conversation process, in response to sensing of the telephone conversation instruction;

receive an identifier and a confirmation destination address from the predetermined server, the identifier identifying the information apparatus, the confirmation destination address for confirming an instruction to the information apparatus from an information processing apparatus corresponding to the predetermined destination;

access the predetermined server based on the confirmation destination address to receive the instruction to the information apparatus from the predetermined server; and

when it is judged that the received instruction provides an instruction to start the second application, start the second application absent a user operation at the information apparatus in a state where the telephone conversation process is continued using the first application on the information apparatus, and transmit to the predetermined server image information captured by the information apparatus using the camera function provided by the second application,

wherein the third application is for requesting remote support to the communication system, and

the instruction to start the second application is generated by the information processing apparatus based on the third application.

8. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the method further comprises causing the computer of the information apparatus to:

start the third application when sensing an instruction to start the third application;

display on a display of the information apparatus a display screen which corresponds to the third application upon start of the third application, the display screen including a telephone conversation instruction button; and

execute a communication access to the predetermined server using address information of the predetermined server included in the third application, in response to the sensing of the telephone conversation instruction.

9. The method according to claim 7,

wherein the method further comprising causing the computer of the information apparatus to:

start the third application when sensing an instruction to start the third application;

execute a communication access to the predetermined server to acquire address information of the predetermined destination, using address information of the predetermined server included in the third application, upon start of the third application;

receive the address information of the predetermined destination from the predetermined server, in response to the communication access to the predetermined server; and

execute the telephone conversation process based on the start of the first application using the address information of the predetermined destination when the telephone conversation instruction is sensed.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein

a display screen corresponding to the third application is displayed on the information apparatus based on the start of the third application, the display screen including a telephone conversation instruction button of the first application.

11. The method according to claim 7, further causing the computer of the information apparatus to:

access the predetermined server based on the confirmation destination address to receive an instruction to the information apparatus from the predetermined server with a value for identifying the instruction; and

store the value for identifying the instruction in a memory of the information apparatus,

wherein when the received value is the same as a value previously stored in the memory of the information apparatus, the second application is not started.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the value for identifying the instruction comprises a hash value.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program executable by an information apparatus that includes with a first application for providing a telephone conversation function, a second application for providing a camera function, and a third application,

the program, when executed, causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

sense a telephone conversation instruction comprising an instruction to initiate a telephone conversation with a predetermined destination;

start the first application to perform the telephone conversation with the predetermined destination when the telephone conversation instruction is sensed;

execute a communication access to a predetermined server using address information of the predetermined server that differs from the predetermined destination, separately from the telephone conversation process, in response to sensing of the telephone conversation instruction;

receive an identifier and a confirmation destination address from the predetermined server, the identifier identifying the information apparatus, the confirmation destination address being for confirming an instruction to the information apparatus from an information processing apparatus corresponding to the predetermined destination;

access the predetermined server based on the confirmation destination address to receive the instruction to the information apparatus from the predetermined server; and

when it is judged that the received instruction provides an instruction to start the second application, start the second application absent a user operation at the information apparatus in a state where the telephone conversation process is continued using the first application on the information apparatus, and transmit to the predetermined server image information captured by the information apparatus using the camera function provided by the second application,

wherein the third application is for requesting remote support to the communication system, and

the instruction to start the second application is generated by the information processing apparatus based on the third application.

14. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13,

wherein the program is usable to request remote support to the information processing apparatus,

wherein the program further causes the computer of the information apparatus to:

display on a display of the information apparatus a display screen which corresponds to the program, based on start of the program, the display screen including a telephone conversation instruction button; and

execute a communication access to the predetermined server, using address information of the predetermined server included in the program, in response to sensing of the telephone conversation instruction.

15. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13,

wherein the program is usable to request remote support to the information processing apparatus,

wherein the program further causing the computer of the information apparatus to:

execute a communication access to the predetermined server to acquire address information of the predetermined destination, using address information of the predetermined server included in the program, upon start of the program;

receive the address information of the predetermined destination from the predetermined server, in response to the communication access to the predetermined server; and

execute the telephone conversation process based on the start of the first application using the address information of the predetermined destination when the telephone conversation instruction is sensed.

16. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 15,

wherein a display screen corresponding to the program is displayed on the information apparatus based on the start of the program, the display screen including a telephone conversation instruction button of the first application.

17. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13,

wherein the program further causing the computer of the information apparatus to:

receive from the predetermined server an instruction to the information apparatus with a value for identifying the instruction by accessing the predetermined server based on the confirmation destination address; and

store the value for identifying the instruction in a memory of the information apparatus, wherein when the received value is the same as a value previously stored in the memory of the information apparatus, the second application is not started.

18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the value for identifying the instruction comprises a hash value.