Method for providing information apparatus together with setups transfer service

• US 20030041133A1
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hiroshige, Yuzo, Sakaue, Masakazu, Miyauchi, Masashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,464,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files

Abstract

In the case of providing a new information apparatus purchased for the replacement of or for the use in addition to a currently used information apparatus, the present invention enables a user to use the new information apparatus immediately after the delivery by providing the user with the new information apparatus in such a state that the setups and/or data of the currently used information apparatus are stored therein. The new information apparatus is delivered in the aforementioned state by: receiving from the user an order of a service for transferring setups, data and the like at the same time with receiving an order of the new information apparatus; transmitting from the user to an administrative information apparatus the setups, data and the like to be transferred by using a setups/data transfer-dedicated tool; and transmitting and setting up the contents transmitted to the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus to be produced according to the user'"'"'s order. Thus, the user can operate the new information apparatus in the same environment as that of the currently used information apparatus when the user obtains the new information apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for providing an information apparatus comprising:

receiving, from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus, order information indicating an order of a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus received via a network;

transmitting via the network the setups and/or data stored in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus ordered by the user; and

providing the new information apparatus to the user after storing the setups and/or data therein.

3. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 1 comprising:

transmitting the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus that are stored in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus;

receiving from the new information apparatus confirmation information indicating that a transfer of the setups and/or data is performed after providing the user with the new information apparatus; and

ensuring a user security by erasing the setups and/or data stored in the administrative information apparatus when the confirmation information is received indicating that the transfer of the setups and/or data is completed.

4. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the method includes collecting and recycling the current information apparatus at the same time with delivering the new information apparatus to the user.

5. A method for providing an information apparatus comprising:

receiving, from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus, order information indicating an order of a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus encrypted setups and/or data of the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus that are received via the network;

transmitting via the network the encrypted setups and/or data stored in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus that is ordered by the user; and

providing the user with the new information apparatus in such a state that the encrypted setups and/or data are stored therein and the encrypted setups and/or data are capable of being decrypted via a decryption key to be provided at the time of starting up the new information apparatus.

6. A method for providing an information apparatus comprising:

receiving, from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus, order information indicating an order of a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus that are received via a network;

converting the setups and/or data transmitted to the administrative information apparatus based on conversion information of the setups and/or data;

transmitting via the network the converted setups and/or data to the new information apparatus that is ordered by the user; and

providing the user with the new information apparatus after storing the converted setups and/or data therein.

7. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the conversion comprises converting setups and/or data of an application used in the current information apparatus into setups and/or data of an application to be installed in the new information apparatus by referring to a setup conversion database provided in the administrative information apparatus.

8. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether an application used in the current information apparatus is a newest version using a function provided in the administrative information apparatus for administrating versions of applications;

transmitting, in the case where an application of newer version compared with the application used in the current information apparatus is present in the new information apparatus, to the current information apparatus information regarding a transfer to the new application; and

performing a conversion of the setups and/or data in the case of receiving from the user purchasing information indicating a purchase of the new application.

9. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining a capacity required for operating a new application to be installed in the new information apparatus using a function provided in the administrative information apparatus;

transmitting, if a hardware capacity of the new information apparatus is small as compared with the capacity determined, information regarding a change to another information apparatus or another hardware configuration of the new information apparatus that provides the required capacity; and

performing a conversion of the setups and/or data if information is received from the user requesting a change to an information apparatus having the hardware capacity for operating the new application.

10. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether the application in the current information apparatus is a newest version by using a function in the administrative information apparatus for administrating versions of applications;

transmitting, if an application of newer version compared with the application in the current information apparatus is present in the administrative information apparatus, to the current information apparatus, information regarding a transfer to the new application;

determining a capacity required for operating the new application to be installed in the new information apparatus;

receiving from the user purchasing information indicating a purchase of the new application;

transmitting, in the case where a hardware capacity of the new information apparatus ordered by the user is small as compared with the capacity, determined in the determining step, information regarding a change to another information apparatus or another hardware configuration of the new information apparatus to achieve the required capacity; and

performing a conversion of the setups and/or data if the user requests to change to information apparatus having the hardware capacity for operating the new application.

11. A method for transferring setups of an information apparatus, comprising:

transmitting, from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus to an order-receiving information apparatus, order information indicating an order of a new information apparatus and information requesting a transfer service for setups and/or data;

transmitting a portion of information included in the setups and/or data that are confidential of the current information apparatus to a secure storage area via a network, and transmitting part of the information required for the setups in the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus to an administrative information apparatus via the network; and

transmitting the setups and/or data stored in the secure storage area to the new information apparatus by connecting the new information apparatus to the server after the new information apparatus wherein the setups and/or data that are transferred to the administrative information apparatus are stored and set up is delivered to the user.

2. The method for providing an information apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting setups and/or data of the current information apparatus that are stored in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus; and

ensuring a user security by erasing the setups and/or data stored in the administrative information apparatus after confirming that the transmission is completed.

12. A process for producing an information apparatus, comprising:

receiving from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus information indicating an order of a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus that are received via a network;

transmitting via the network the setups and/or data stored in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus that is ordered by the user; and

storing the setups and/or data in the new information apparatus.

13. A process for producing an information apparatus, comprising:

receiving from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus information indicating an order for a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus encrypted setups and/or data of the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus;

transferring via a network the encrypted setups and/or data memorized in the administrative information apparatus to the new information apparatus; and

providing the user with the new information apparatus in such a state that the encrypted setups and/or data are stored therein and the encrypted setups and/or data are capable of being decrypted via a decryption key to be provided at the time of operating the new information apparatus.

14. A process for producing an information apparatus, comprising:

receiving from a user'"'"'s current information apparatus information indicating an order of a new information apparatus, as well as request information indicating a request for a transfer service of setups and/or data;

storing in an administrative information apparatus the setups and/or data of the current information apparatus;

converting the setups and/or data received based on conversion information for the setups and/or data;

transmitting the converted setups and/or data to the new information apparatus that is ordered by the user; and

storing the converted setups and/or data in the new information apparatus.

15. A method for providing an information apparatus, comprising:

selecting a service for transferring setups and/or data when ordering a new information apparatus;

accessing an administrative information apparatus using a tool via a network;

selecting setups and/or data to be transmitted to the administrative information apparatus via the network; and

transmitting to the administrative information apparatus a signal indicating a confirmation of existence of necessary setups and/or data in the new information apparatus delivered from the manufacturer.

16. A method for providing an information apparatus, comprising:

selecting a service for transferring setups and/or data at the same time with ordering a new information apparatus;

accessing an administrative information apparatus using a tool via a network;

selecting setups and/or data to be transmitted to transmit the selected setups and/or data to the administrative information apparatus or the new information apparatus via the network; and

transmitting to the administrative information apparatus of the manufacturer a signal indicating a confirmation of existence of necessary setups and/or data including those transmitted automatically from a server of the user in the new information apparatus delivered from the manufacturer.

17. A method for supporting a transfer of setups of an information apparatus, comprising:

reading setup information when operating the information apparatus and applications stored in the information apparatus; and

transmitting the setup information via a network.

18. A method for supporting a transfer of setups and/or data of an information apparatus, comprising:

reading setup information upon operation of the information apparatus and applications stored in the information apparatus;

designating an area of data stored in the information apparatus; and

transmitting the setup information and contents of the designated data area via a network.

19. A method for supporting a transfer of setups and/or data of an information apparatus comprising:

reading setup information of operation of the information apparatus and applications stored in the information apparatus;

designating an area of data stored in the information apparatus;

encrypting the setup information and contents of the designated data area based on a predetermined key; and

transmitting the encrypted information via a network.