Portable information terminal using near field communication
First Claim
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1. A portable information terminal switchable between a normal power state and a reduced power state, the portable information terminal comprising:
- a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in the normal power state, and power is not supplied to the display in the reduced power state;
wireless communication circuitry; and
processing circuitry configured to control the portable information terminal to cooperatively perform an internet communication background process and a local communication background process which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry,wherein the internet communication background process comprises;
automatically and repeatedly searching for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points at least when the portable information terminal is in the reduced power state, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; and
when an internet access point is detected by the searching, automatically connecting, using the wireless communication circuitry, to the detected internet access point and automatically performing a data communication process,wherein the local communication background process comprises;
automatically receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, first data from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, andwherein the first data received from the other portable information terminal by the local communication background process is transmitted, for communication over the internet, to the connected-to internet access point by the data communication process of the internet communication background process.
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Abstract
When a portable information terminal operates in an unused state, a predetermined access point is searched for. As a result, when the predetermined access point is detected, a connection to the predetermined access point is established, and a predetermined data communication process is performed.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A portable information terminal switchable between a normal power state and a reduced power state, the portable information terminal comprising:
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a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in the normal power state, and power is not supplied to the display in the reduced power state; wireless communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to control the portable information terminal to cooperatively perform an internet communication background process and a local communication background process which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the internet communication background process comprises; automatically and repeatedly searching for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points at least when the portable information terminal is in the reduced power state, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; and when an internet access point is detected by the searching, automatically connecting, using the wireless communication circuitry, to the detected internet access point and automatically performing a data communication process, wherein the local communication background process comprises; automatically receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, first data from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, and wherein the first data received from the other portable information terminal by the local communication background process is transmitted, for communication over the internet, to the connected-to internet access point by the data communication process of the internet communication background process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A portable information terminal comprising:
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a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in a normal power state of the portable information terminal, and power is not supplied to the display in a reduced power state of the portable information terminal; wireless communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to control the portable information terminal to cooperatively perform an internet communication background process and a local communication background process which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the local communication background process comprises; automatically receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, data from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, and wherein the internet communication background process comprises; automatically and repeatedly searching for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; automatically connecting to an internet access point found by the searching via the wireless communication circuitry; and automatically transmitting, over the internet via the connected-to access point, the data received from the other portable information terminal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a communication control program for execution by a computer of a portable information terminal comprising wireless communication circuitry and a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in a normal power state of the portable information terminal, and power is not supplied to the display in a reduced power state of the portable information terminal, the program, when executed, causing the computer to control the portable information terminal to at least cooperatively perform an internet communication background process and a local communication background process, which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry,
wherein the local communication background process comprises controlling the portable information terminal to: -
automatically receive, via the wireless communication circuitry, data from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, and wherein the internet communication background process comprises controlling the portable information terminal to; automatically and repeatedly search for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; automatically connect to an internet access point found by the searching via the wireless communication circuitry; and automatically transmit, over the internet via the connected-to access point, the data received from the other portable information terminal.
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10. A communication control method for controlling a portable information terminal comprising wireless communication circuitry and a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in a normal power state of the portable information terminal, and power is not supplied to the display in a reduced power state of the portable information terminal, the communication control method comprising cooperatively performing an internet communication background process and a local communication background process, which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry,
wherein the local communication background process comprises: -
automatically receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, data from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, wherein the internet communication background process comprises; automatically and repeatedly searching for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; automatically connecting to an internet access point found by the searching via the wireless communication circuitry; and automatically transmitting, over the internet via the connected-to access point, the data received from the other portable information terminal.
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11. A portable information system comprising:
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a display, wherein power is supplied to the display in a normal power state of the portable information system, and power is not supplied to the display in a reduced power state of the portable information system; wireless communication circuitry; and processing circuitry configured to control the information terminal to cooperatively perform an internet communication background process and a local communication background process, which, when performed, enable data communication even when no other application program is executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the local communication background process comprises; automatically receiving, via the wireless communication circuitry, data and transmission information from another portable information terminal present in a local communication range using local wireless communication, and wherein the internet communication background process comprises; automatically and repeatedly searching for, using the wireless communication circuitry, internet access points, wherein the repeated searching increases internet access point detection efficiency; automatically connecting to an internet access point found by the searching via the wireless communication circuitry; and automatically transmitting over the internet, using the transmission information, via the connected-to access point, the data received from the other portable information terminal.
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Specification