Portable information terminal, a control method for a portable information terminal, a program of a method of controlling a personal information terminal and a recording medium having recorded therein a program of a method of controlling a personal information terminal

• US 20040045027A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wakamatsu, Masataka, Takamura, Kazuhisa
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• 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

The present invention is applied to a portable personal computer or the like having a plurality of wireless communication means, for example, so as to provide a user with appropriate wireless communication means in a situation where a plurality of wireless communication means are available. According to the present invention, the wireless communication means is selectively used in accordance with an application program with reference to a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.

Claims

1. A portable information terminal comprising a plurality of wireless communication means and a controller for controlling said plurality of wireless communication means, wherein:

said controller transmits and receives data using corresponding wireless communication means in response to a request from an application program in accordance with a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.

2. The portable information terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless communication means allowed to be used is wireless communication means which a user allows to be used.

3. The portable information terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said communication management table has priority established therein in a case a plurality of wireless communication means are allowed to be used for a single application program, and

said controller transmits and receives data using corresponding wireless communication means in accordance with said priority.

4. The portable information terminal as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a detector for detecting whether or not data transmission/reception using said wireless communication means allowed to be used is possible, wherein;

said controller updates said communication management table in accordance with a detection result by said detector.

5. The portable information terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said controller switches said wireless communication means used for data transmission/reception depending on an update of said communication management table.

6. The portable information terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said communication management table has recorded therein information indicating relationship between said wireless communication means and application programs which are the same kind but function differently from each other or information restricting a function of a single application program with regard to said wireless communication means, and

said controller switches the application program in accordance with the information indicating the relationship or switches the function of the application program in accordance with the information restricting the function in response to switching the wireless communication means.

7. A method of controlling a portable information terminal having a plurality of wireless communication means, comprising the step of:

transmitting and receiving data using corresponding wireless communication means in response to a request from an application program in accordance with a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.

8. The method of controlling a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said wireless communication means allowed to be used is wireless communication means which a user allows to be used.

9. The method of controlling a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said communication management table has priority established therein in a case a plurality of wireless communication means are allowed to be used for a single application program, and

said step of transmitting and receiving data is carried out using corresponding wireless communication means in accordance with said priority.

10. The method of controlling a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

updating said communication management table depending on a detection result by a detector for detecting whether or not data transmission/reception through said wireless communication means allowed to be used is possible.

11. The method of controlling a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of:

switching said wireless communication means used for data transmission/reception depending on an update of said communication management table.

12. The method of controlling a portable information terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said communication management table has recorded therein information indicating relationship between said wireless communication means and application programs which are the same kind but function differently from each other or information restricting a function of a single application program with regard to said wireless communication means, further comprising the step of;

switching the application program in accordance with the information indicating the relationship or switches the function of the application program in accordance with the information restricting the function in response to switching the wireless communication means.

13. A program of a method of controlling a portable information terminal having a plurality of wireless communication means, wherein:

data is transmitted and received using a corresponding wireless communication means in response to a request from an application program in accordance with a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.

14. The program of a control method of portable information terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said wireless communication means allowed to be used is wireless communication means which a user allows to be used.

15. The program of a control method of portable information terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said communication management table has priority established therein in a case a plurality of wireless communication means are allowed to be used for a single application program, and

data is transmitted and received using corresponding wireless communication means in accordance with said priority.

16. The program of a control method of portable information terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said communication management table is updated depending on a detection result by a detector for detecting whether or not data transmission/reception through said wireless communication means allowed to be used is possible.

17. The program of a control method of portable information terminal as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said wireless communication means used for data transmission/reception is switched depending on an update of said communication management table.

18. The program of a control method of portable information terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said communication management table has recorded therein information indicating relationship,between said wireless communication means and application programs which are the same kind but function differently from each other or information restricting a function of a single application program with regard to said wireless communication means, and

said application program is switched in accordance with the information indicating the relationship or the function of the application program in switched in accordance with the information restricting the function in response to switching the wireless communication means.

19. A recording medium having recorded therein a program of a method of controlling a portable information terminal having a plurality of wireless communication means, wherein:

said control method comprises the step of transmitting and receiving data using corresponding wireless communication means in response to a request from an application program in accordance with a communication management table in which at least wireless communication means allowed to be used is described with regard to respective application programs.