Data transfer system and handheld terminal device used therefor

• US 5,933,478 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hiroshi, Mese, Michihiro, Hibi, Kouichi, Kunimori, Yoshihiko, Ozaki, Tomochika, Yamaguchi, Muneaki, Kuwabara, Tadashi, Yokozawa, Tooru
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US08/534,318
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 379/96, 379/93, 379/97, 379/98, 379/100, 379/110, 379/90, 379/56, 379/57, 379/58, 379/59, 379/90.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.23, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 379/100.14, 358/442, 358/400, 358/401, 358/402, 358/407, 358/434, 358/468, 340/825.44, 455/412, 455/413, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/31.1-31.3
• US Class Current: 379/93.24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32438 Informing the addressee of reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

In the handheld terminal device, when a message reception unit receives from a host computer a new arrival message indicating a new arrival of a file (or electronic mail), a control unit analyzes the new arrival message to obtain identifier information for identifying the file (or electronic mail) and a telephone number of the host computer. After a line connection to the host computer is established by a handheld phone transceiver unit, a fetch request command for fetching the file (or electronic mail) is transmitted to automatically fetch the file (or electronic mail) from the host computer and make the user know the contents of the file (or electronic mail) by using a display unit. A FAX transmitting user designates a destination handheld terminal device and transmits FAX image data to a communication server (CS). CS stores the received FAX image data and transmits a FAX arrival message to a pager connected to the destination handheld terminal device. A user of the handheld terminal device informed of a FAX arrival by the pager confirms the FAX brief image data contained in the message, and if necessary, calls CS by a handheld phone connected to the handheld terminal device to make CS transmit the FAX image data and refer to the detailed contents thereof.

Claims

1. A data transfer system having a host computer for receiving data, storing the received data, and transmitting the stored data, and at least one handheld terminal device with a communication function for receiving data transmitted from said host computer, wherein:

said host computer comprises;

a storage unit for storing the received data;

a transmission control unit for performing a transmission control for transmitting a new data arrival notice command to said at least one associated handheld terminal device, said new data arrival notice command including a command name and a command parameter, said command parameter including data identifier information for a data file identifier for identifying the received data on a file basis and connection information necessary for said at least one handheld terminal device to access said host computer but not including the received data itself, and

a host side transmission/reception control unit for performing reception processing of a transmission request command transmitted from said at least one associated handheld terminal device, said transmission request command including a command name and a command parameter for identifying the received data and transmission processing of the received data identified by said transmission request command to said at least one associated handheld terminal device; and

said at least one associated handheld terminal device comprises;

a new message arrival analysis processing unit for analyzing said received new data arrival notice command and deriving said data identifier information and said connection information,

a connection establishment processing unit for performing connection processing of a communication line to said host computer in accordance with said connection information, and

a terminal side transmission/reception control unit for controlling transmission processing of transmitting said transmission request command in accordance with said data identifier information and reception processing of receiving the received data transmitted from said host computer.

2. A data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said host side transmission/reception control unit performs the transmission processing of the same data to a plurality of handheld terminal devices simultaneously.

3. A data transfer system according to claim 2, wherein said at least one associated handheld terminal device further comprises a retry control unit for controlling said connection establishment processing unit to repetitively perform the communication line connection processing by using said connection information of said new data arrival command until a predetermined number of retries are carried out or a communication line is established.

4. A data transfer system according to claim 3, wherein said connection establishment processing unit performs the communication line connection processing by radio or a wired telephone line.

5. A data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one associated handheld terminal device further comprises a retry control unit for controlling said connection establishment processing unit to repetitively perform the communication line connection processing by using said connection information of said new data arrival command until a predetermined number of retries are carried out or a communication line is established.

6. A data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said connection establishment processing unit performs the communication line connection processing by radio or a wired telephone line.

7. A data transfer system according to claim 1, wherein, in response to a transmission data transfer command from said at least one handheld terminal device having received said notice command notified by said host computer and having confirmed said received transmission data or attribute information of said received transmission data, said host computer transfers said received transmission data to another handheld terminal device or a designated output device.

8. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for performing transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a communication server having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for performing transmission/reception of the transmitted and received data via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein said communication server sends a notice command including a command name and a command parameter, via said public telephone line, said command parameter including a data file identifier for identifying for the received transmission data on a file basis and connection information necessary for said handheld terminal device to access said communication server after analysis of said notice command but not including the received transmission data, to said handheld terminal device designated by said received transmission data, and, in response to a transmission data transfer request command transmitted from said handheld terminal device, said transmission data transfer request command including a command name and a command parameter including said data file identifier obtained by analyzing said notice command, transmits the received transmission data to said handheld terminal device.

9. A data transfer system according to claim 8, wherein each said handheld terminal device includes a pager, and said communication server sends said notice command by transmitting a predetermined call signal to the pager of said handheld terminal device designated by said transmission data.

10. A data transfer system according to claim 9, wherein each said handheld terminal device further includes a handheld phone as said connection means and said data transmission control means, and said handled terminal device which is notified of said notice command connects to said communication server via said public telephone line by using said handheld phone, and thereafter transmits said transmission data transfer request via said public telephone line to thereby receive said stored transmission data from said communication server via said public telephone line, and wherein in each said handheld terminal device, a connection to said communication server by said handheld phone is performed after confirming that said handheld phone becomes usable.

11. A data transfer system according to claim 9, wherein said notice command which is notified to the pager of said handheld terminal device contains attribute information indicating a data file or an electronic mail of said transmission data received by said communication server.

12. A data transfer system according to claim 11, wherein said attribute information of said transmission data contains server ID information for identifying said communication server storing said transmission data.

13. A data transfer system according to claim 11, wherein the attribute information of said transmission data in said message further contains information for identifying the originating station of said transmission data.

14. A data transfer system according to claim 8, wherein each said handheld terminal device is equipped with a handheld phone, and said communication server sends said notice command by transmitting a predetermined call signal to the handheld phone of said handheld terminal device designated by said transmission data.

15. A data transfer system according to claim 8, wherein in response to a transmission data transfer command from said designated handheld terminal device having received said notice command notified by said communication server and having confirmed said received transmission data or attribute information of said received transmission data, said communication server transfers said received transmission data to another handheld terminal device or a designated output device.

16. A data transfer system according to claim 8, wherein said transmission data contains image data run-length encoded as in FAX, and said communication server transmits said image data with a no-signal portion having a blank line being deleted to said designated handheld terminal device or a designated output device.

17. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a communication server having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of the transmitted and received data via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein said communication server sends information including identification information for specifying the transmitted data, but not including the received data itself, to said handheld terminal device designated by the transmitted data, and in response to a transmission data transfer request from said handheld terminal device, transmits the transmitted data via said public telephone line, and

wherein said transmission data contains image data run-length encoded as in FAX, said communication server performs a predetermined data compression processing for two-dimensional bit map image data obtained by developing said image data when said transmission data is transmitted to said designated handheld terminal device, and said designated handheld terminal device performs a predetermined data expansion processing corresponding to said data compression processing when said transmission data is received, to recover and display said transmission data.

18. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for performing transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a plurality of communication servers interconnected by a dedicated LAN each having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for performing transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein a first one of said communication servers having received said transmission data via said public telephone line transfers said transmission data via said LAN to a second one of said communication servers installed near to said handheld terminal device designated by said transmission data, and said second communication server sends a notice command via said public telephone line to said handheld terminal device, said notice command including a command name and a command parameter, said command parameter including a data file identifier for identifying the received transmission data on a file basis and connection information necessary for said handheld terminal device to access said second communication server after analysis of said notice command, but not including the received transmission data.

19. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for performing transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a plurality of communication servers interconnected by a dedicated LAN each having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein a first one of said communication servers having received said transmission data via said public telephone line sends a notice command via said public telephone line to said handheld terminal device, said notice command including a command name and a command parameter, said command parameter including a data file identifier for identifying the received transmission data on a file basis and connection information necessary for said handheld terminal device to access said second communication server after analysis of said notice command, but not including the received transmission data.

20. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a communication server having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of the transmitted and received data via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein said communication server sends information including identification information for specifying the transmitted data, but not including the received data itself, to said handheld terminal device designated by the transmitted data, and in response to a transmission data transfer request from said handheld terminal device, transmits the transmitted data via said public telephone line, and

wherein said transmission data contains image data run-length encoded as in FAX, and said communication server transmits said image data with pixels thinned by a predetermined scheme to said designated handheld terminal device, wherein in response to a total transfer instruction from said designated handheld terminal device having confirmed said thinned and transmitted image data, said communication server transfers all of said transmission data to said designated handheld terminal device or a designated output device.

21. A data transfer system, comprising:

at least one handheld terminal device for generating, storing, and displaying data to be transmitted and received, said handheld terminal device having connection means for connecting to a public telephone line and data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of data transmitted and received via said public telephone line; and

a communication server having connection means for connecting to said public telephone line, data transmission control means for controlling transmission/reception of the transmitted and received data via said public telephone line, and a storage unit for storing received transmission data,

wherein said communication server sends information including identification information for specifying the transmitted data, but not including the received data itself, to said handheld terminal device designated by the transmitted data, and in response to a transmission data transfer request from said handheld terminal device, transmits the transmitted data via said public telephone line, and

wherein said transmission data contains image data run-length encoded as in FAX, and said communication server transmits said image data with pixels thinned by a predetermined scheme to said designated handheld terminal device, wherein in response to a partial transfer instruction from said designated handheld terminal device having confirmed said thinned and transmitted image data, said communication server transfers partial image data itself or partial image data with thinned pixels, of said image data in an area designated by said partial transfer instruction, to said designated handheld terminal device or a designated output device.

22. A handheld terminal device with a communication function, comprising:

new data arrival message reception controlling means for receiving a newly arrived data notice message indicating reception of new data; and

transmission/reception controlling means for controlling data acquisition processing in accordance with the contents of said newly arrived data arrival notice command, wherein said newly arrived data notice command includes a command name and a command parameter, said command parameter including data identifier information for identifying said data and connection information necessary for said handheld terminal device to access a host which stores said new data but does not include of body of said new data, said reception controlling means has a newly arrived data notice command analysis processing unit for analyzing said received newly arrived data notice command and deriving said data identifier information and said connection information, and said transmission/reception controlling means has a connection establishment processing unit for performing a connection processing of a communication line in accordance with said connection information and received data transmission controlling means for controlling a transmission processing of said data in accordance with said data identifier information.

23. A handheld terminal device according to claim 22, further comprising a retry control unit for controlling to make said connection establishment processing unit repetitively perform a communication line connection processing by using said connection information of said newly arrived data notice command, until a predetermined number of retries are carried out or a communication line is established.

24. A handheld terminal device according to claim 22, further comprising a user confirmation processing unit for making a user judge whether an acquisition processing for said data is performed or not, said transmission/reception controlling means displaying contents of said new data arrival notice command to said user to control the acquisition processing for the body of said new data in accordance with an instruction determined in said user confirmation processing unit by a user'"'"'s decision based on the display as to whether or not the body of said new data should be received.