Information processing system, information processing method, mobile phone, server, and control methods and control programs thereof

• US 9,571,954 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US14/387,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20150056978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

When an input device is connected via a communication interface, a mobile phone determines whether a local device can control the input device. When it is determined that the local device cannot control the input device, the mobile phone requests a server connected via a wireless communication network to control the input device. The mobile phone controls signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network so that the server can control the input device by establishing communication between the input device and the server. In response to the request from the mobile phone, the server controls the input device via the established communication with the input device.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a server connected to the mobile device via a wireless communication network,

wherein the mobile device comprises a first memory storing first instructions and a first processor configured to execute the first instructions to;

determine, when an input device is connected via a communication interface, whether the mobile device can control the input device;

request, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot control the input device, the server to control the input device; and

control signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can control the input device, by establishing communication between the input device and the server; and

wherein the server comprises a second memory storing second instructions and a second processor configured to execute the second instructions to;

control, in response to the request, the input device via the established communication with the input device;

read, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

display the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first processor is further configured to execute the first instructions to:

determine whether the mobile device can process data provided by the input device;

request, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot process the data provided by the input device, the server to process the data provided by the input device; and

control data transfer from the input device to the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can process the data provided by the input device; and

wherein the server acquires the data provided by the input device via the communication established between the input device and the server and processes the data.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the second processor is further configured to execute the second instructions to:

acquire the data provided by the input device;

convert the acquired data into data processable by the mobile device; and

transmit the converted data to the mobile device via the wireless communication network; and

wherein the first processor is further configured to execute the first instructions to receive the converted data.

4. An information processing system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a server connected to the mobile device via a wireless communication network,

wherein the mobile device comprises a first memory storing first instructions and a first processor configured to execute the first instructions to;

determine, when an input device is connected via a communication interface, whether the mobile device can control the input device;

request, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot control the input device, the server to control the input device; and

control signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can control the input device, by establishing communication between the input device and the server; and

wherein the server comprises a second memory storing second instructions and a second processor configured to execute the second instructions to;

control, in response to the request, the input device via the established communication with the input device;

store, in a processing candidate table, a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and a candidate for processing the data;

read, from the processing candidate table, the candidate for processing corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

cause selective display of the candidate on a display device of the mobile device.

5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the first processor is further configured to execute the first instructions to:

determine whether the mobile device can process data provided by the input device;

request, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot process the data provided by the input device, the server to process the data provided by the input device; and

control data transfer from the input device to the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can process the data provided by the input device; and

wherein the server acquires the data provided by the input device via the communication established between the input device and the server and processes the data.

6. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the second processor is further configured to execute the second instructions to:

acquire the data provided by the input device;

convert the acquired data into data processable by the mobile device; and

transmit the converted data to the mobile device via the wireless communication network; and

wherein the first processor is further configured to execute the first instructions to receive the converted data.

7. An information processing method comprising:

determining, when an input device is connected via a communication interface, whether a mobile device can control the input device;

requesting, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot control the input device, a server connected via a wireless communication network to control the input device;

controlling the input device via established communication with the input device in response to the requesting;

controlling signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can control the input device, by establishing communication between the input device and the server;

reading, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

displaying the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

8. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the mobile device can process data provided by the input device;

requesting, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot process the data provided by the input device, the server to process the data provided by the input device;

controlling data transfer from the input device to the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can process the data provided by the input device;

acquiring, by the server, the data provided by the input device via the communication established between the input device and the server; and

processing the data.

9. The information processing method according to claim 7, further comprising:

acquiring the data provided by the input device;

converting the acquired data into data processable by the mobile device;

transmitting the converted data to the mobile device via the wireless communication network; and

receiving the converted data.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program of a mobile device, the control program, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

determining, when an input device is connected via a communication interface, whether a mobile device can control the input device by recognizing the input device;

requesting, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot control the input device, a server connected via a wireless communication network to control the input device;

controlling signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can control the input device, by establishing communication between the input device and the server;

reading, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

displaying the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, further comprising:

determining whether the mobile device can process data provided by the input device;

requesting, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot process the data provided by the input device, the server to process the data provided by the input device;

controlling data transfer from the input device to the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can process the data provided by the input device;

acquiring, by the server, the data provided by the input device via the communication established between the input device and the server; and

processing the data.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 10, further comprising:

acquiring the data provided by the input device;

converting the acquired data into data processable by the mobile device;

transmitting the converted data to the mobile device via the wireless communication network; and

receiving the converted data.

13. An information processing system comprising:

a mobile device; and

a server connected to the mobile device via a wireless communication network,

wherein the mobile device comprises a first memory storing first instructions and a first processor configured to execute the first instructions to;

determine, when an input device is connected via a communication interface, whether the mobile device can control the input device;

request, when it is determined that the mobile device cannot control the input device, the server to control the input device; and

control signal transfer between the input device and the server via the communication interface and the wireless communication network, so that the server can control the input device, by establishing communication between the input device and the server; and

wherein the server comprises a second memory storing second instructions and a second processor configured to execute the second instructions to;

control, in response to the request, the input device via the established communication with the input device;

control a second input device via established communication with the input device in response to a request;

store, in a processing candidate table, a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and a candidate for processing;

read, from the processing candidate table, the candidate for processing corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

cause selective display of the candidate on a display device of the mobile device.

14. The information processing system according to claim 13, wherein:

the second processor is further configured to execute the second instructions to;

control transfer of the data to the server when an amount of the data acquired from the input device reaches a threshold amount, and

accept the transferred data to start control of the input device.

15. An information processing method of a server connected to a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, via the wireless communication network when a mobile device determines that the mobile device cannot control an input device connected to the mobile device via a communication interface, a request to control the input device;

establishing, in response to the request, communication with the input device via the wireless communication network;

controlling the input device, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless communication network;

reading, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

displaying the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

16. The information processing method of claim 15, wherein the method further includes:

receiving, from the mobile device over the wireless communication network, input data;

converting, in response to the request, the input data from a first format into a second format the input device is configured to process; and

wherein controlling the input device includes providing, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless network, the converted input data to the input device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a server connected to a wireless communication network, causes the server to perform an information processing method, the method comprising:

receiving, via the wireless communication network when a mobile device determines that a mobile device cannot control an input device connected to the mobile device via a communication interface, a request to control the input device;

establishing, in response to the request, communication with the input device via the wireless communication network;

controlling the input device, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless communication network;

reading, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

displaying the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further includes:

receiving, from the mobile device over the wireless communication network, input data; and

converting, in response to the request, the input data from a first format into a second format that the input device is configured to process; and

wherein controlling the input device includes providing, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless network, the converted input data to the input device.

19. A server connected to a wireless communication network, the server comprising:

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor configured to execute the instruction to;

receive, via the wireless communication network when a mobile device determines that a mobile device cannot control an input device connected to the mobile device via a communication interface, a request to control the input device;

establish, in response to the request, communication with the input device via the wireless communication network;

control the input device, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless communication network;

read, from a message table storing a correspondence relationship between a type of the input device and an inquiry message to inquire about an output destination of a data input from the input device, the inquiry message corresponding to the input device connected to the mobile device; and

display the inquiry message on a display device of the mobile device.

20. The server of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

receive, from the mobile device over the wireless communication network, input data; and

convert, in response to the request, the input data from a first format into a second format the input device is configured to process; and

wherein, to control the input device, the server is configured to execute the instructions to provide, via the communication interface of the mobile device over the wireless network, the converted input data to the input device.