JP2003242106A - Information synchronizing method, information synchronizing device capable of using the method, and information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve inconvenience when a single user properly uses a plurality of terminals. <P>SOLUTION: In a network system 10, terminals of a portable telephone 20, a PDA 22, a PC 24, a TV set 26, and an audio stereo set 28 are connected through the internet 16 to an information synchronizing server 14. When one terminal of these terminals gets into use while another terminal is in user the information synchronizing server 14 obtains data related to contents being processed and environments to be sent to the terminal newly getting into use. A seamless transfer of the terminals is thus realized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information synchronization method and device. The present invention particularly relates to a technique for transmitting / receiving data between a plurality of terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Due to the development and spread of communication technology including the Internet, many people are now using some kind of communication terminal. The most popular terminals are mobile phones and personal computers (hereinafter referred to as "PCs"). It is no longer unusual for an individual to use multiple terminals properly. If IPv6, which is the next-generation communication protocol, becomes widespread in the future, a vast address space that can cover all information devices and electric appliances will be provided. In that case, various devices around us can be used as network terminals, and it seems that new ways of using the devices will be created one after another.

[0003]

However, with regard to products, even if various improvements are made, users are not satisfied with them, and they always seek products that are more convenient and easy to use. The features that I found useful at that time also forget about their usefulness after a while. On the other hand, when it comes to one convenience, other parts that have not been inconvenient until then may become inconvenient. It is considered that pre-reading and solving the problems that will occur when various information devices and electric appliances are converted into network terminals will be the key to popularizing such next-generation networks.

The present inventor has made the present invention based on the above recognition, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for eliminating inconvenience in properly using a plurality of terminals.

[0005]

One aspect of the present invention relates to an information synchronization method. This method detects when a target terminal to be put into use by a specific user is transferred from the first terminal to the second terminal, and detects the transfer when the transfer is detected from the first terminal. The necessary data is acquired and transferred to the second terminal, whereby the work content and work environment performed by the user on the first terminal is reproduced on the second terminal.

When it is desired to transfer the contents being worked from one terminal to another, conventionally, the data to be transferred, the sender,
And it was necessary for the user to specify all of the destinations.
In the present embodiment, these series of procedures are automatically processed. That is, detection of migration, acquisition of data to be migrated,
Automatically handle all transfers of migrated data.

Incidentally, since the data is acquired and transferred after detecting the movement of the terminal or the operation corresponding thereto, the work content and the work environment are always recorded on the server like a workstation. This is essentially different from the configuration that makes it available from any terminal.

The "first terminal" and the "second terminal" are
The type of each terminal does not matter. For example, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), P
C, a television receiver, an audio stereo, and the like, which have a communication function for transmitting and receiving data to and from at least another device. "Work content and work environment" is reproduced on the destination terminal, for example, application software used by the user on the terminal, data processed using the application software, environment settings for the application software, etc. Indicates what should be done.

Another aspect of the present invention also relates to an information synchronization method. This method realizes a seamless transition of terminals in the time axis direction while maintaining the content of the work regarding the work performed by a specific user by switching the used terminal. here,
“Seamless in the time axis direction” means that no special operation is required when moving the terminal, and that the time lag is small and the terminal can be smoothly moved.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to an information synchronization device. This apparatus includes a state detection unit that detects when a target terminal to be put into use by a specific user shifts from the first terminal to the second terminal, and a first state detection unit when the shift is detected. An acquisition processing unit that acquires reproduction data necessary for continuing the work performed by the user on another terminal from another terminal, and a transfer processing unit that transmits the reproduction data to the second terminal. And.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to an information terminal. This terminal is provided with a sensor for detecting contact by the user, and when the sensor detects contact, the terminal information indicating the usage state is transmitted to the server, and the data prepared for the user is received from the server. . Here, the “sensor” is, for example, a device that is provided at a portion contacted by a user who is using the terminal and that detects the contact or pressure.

Any combination of the above components,
Also, the components and expressions of the present invention, which are mutually replaced among methods, devices, computer programs, recording media storing computer programs, data structures, and the like,
It is effective as an aspect of the present invention.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) In the present embodiment, when a terminal used by a user is transferred from one terminal to another terminal, the work contents and work environment up to that time are also transferred at the same time. To process. That is, it is detected that the terminal has been migrated, the server receives the data such as the work contents up to that point at that timing, and transfers it to the terminal to be used next. For example, when a document is being created on a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) and the data is transferred to the PDA, the document being created and the data of the application software, which is the creating environment, are transferred to the PDA.
Obtained from C, optimized for PDA, and transferred.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a network system in which a plurality of terminals are connected. Network system 1
0 is the information synchronization server 14 and the internet 1
Mobile phone 20, PDA22, PC2 connected via 6
4, television receiver 26, audio stereo 28
including. The information synchronization server 14 uses the ASP (Application
Service Provider). Other terminals may be connected to the network system 10.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the information synchronization server. The information synchronization server 14 includes the communication unit 3
0, terminal information holding unit 32, identification information holding unit 34, state detection unit 36, acquisition processing unit 38, transfer processing unit 40, additional information holding unit 42, registration information holding unit 44. Each unit transmits / receives data to / from a terminal on the Internet 16 via the communication unit 30. The communication unit 30 may have a router function and a server function in addition to the data transmission / reception function.

The state detecting unit 36 has a function of detecting when a terminal to be put in use by a specific user has moved from the first terminal to the second terminal. The state detection unit 36 includes a shift determination unit 50 and a terminal determination unit 52.

The shift judging section 50 receives from the terminal the terminal information indicating the usage status of the terminal. This terminal information also includes information about the model of the terminal and network address information. The migration determination unit 50 receives the terminal information from each terminal and causes the terminal information holding unit 32 to hold the terminal information.
The migration determination unit 50 monitors the usage status of the terminal, detects a change in usage status, and detects migration based on the modification.

In the case where the terminal is provided with a sensor for detecting the contact by the user, when the sensor detects that the terminal is in the use state, the transition judging section 50.
Receives terminal information from that terminal.

The terminal discriminating section 52 receives, from each terminal, identification information regarding the user of the terminal. This identification information includes a user ID and a password. Terminal discrimination unit 5
2 determines based on the identification information received from a certain terminal and the identification information received from another terminal whether or not the users of those terminals are the same. The terminal determination unit 52 performs processing so that the transfer determination unit 50 detects a transfer between a plurality of terminals having the same user. The terminal discrimination unit 52 causes the identification information holding unit 34 to hold the received identification information.

When the migration is detected, the acquisition processing unit 38 obtains the reproduction data necessary for continuing the work performed by the user on the first terminal on another second terminal. Get from the terminal. Even before such a shift is detected, if it is detected that a certain terminal has changed from the used state to the unused state, the reproduction data may be acquired from the terminal. After that, when the terminal that has changed to the usage state is detected, the reproduction data is transmitted to the terminal.

The transfer processing unit 40 has a function of transmitting the reproduction data to the second terminal. The transfer processing unit 40 includes an optimization processing unit 54 and a transmission processing unit 56. Prior to transmission, the optimization processing unit 54 optimizes the reproduction data according to the destination terminal. For example, the content displayed on the screen may be subjected to optimization processing such as enlargement or reduction according to the screen resolution of the transmission destination terminal, or processing for excluding data that cannot be reproduced at the transmission destination terminal may be added. The specifications of the destination terminal are determined based on the terminal information.

When the attribute of the user and the type of additional information that the user desires to acquire are registered in the registration information holding unit 44, the optimization processing unit 54 uses the information held in the registration information holding unit 44. Based on this, additional information is selected from the additional information holding unit 42. This information is optimized according to the destination terminal. The additional information is, for example, news or advertisement.
The transmission processing unit 56 transmits the reproduction data or the additional information to the second terminal. For example, the transmission timing of the additional information may be registered in the registration information holding unit 44 in advance, such as “send economic news every day at 3 pm”.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal. The information terminal 18 includes a communication unit 60, a contact detection unit 62, a terminal information holding unit 64, an identification information holding unit 66, a transmission processing unit 68, a reproduction processing unit 70, an execution processing unit 72, and a reception processing unit 74. Each unit transmits / receives data to / from the information synchronization server 14 on the Internet 16 via the communication unit 60.

The contact detector 62 includes a sensor for detecting contact by the user, and the sensor detects the contact to detect the use state. The transmission processing unit 68 transmits the terminal information held in the terminal information holding unit 64 and the identification information held in the identification information holding unit 66 to the information synchronization server 14 when the usage state of this terminal changes. The reception processing unit 74 receives reproduction data or additional information from the information synchronization server 14 as data prepared for the user of this terminal. The reproduction processing unit 70 executes processing necessary for reproducing the user's work content and work environment based on the reproduction data. The execution processing unit 72 realizes the work environment of the user.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of a mobile phone provided with a touch sensor. The mobile phone 20 is provided with a touch sensor 80 at a portion which the user may grasp during a call or an operation, and this functions as the contact detection unit 62 in FIG. Instead of the touch sensor 80, a pressure sensor that detects a grip by the user may be used. Touch sensor 80
Malfunctions may be prevented by providing a plurality of locations.

FIG. 5 shows the appearance of a mouse provided with a touch sensor. The mouse 82 is provided with a touch sensor 84 at a portion which the user may touch during operation, and this functions as the touch detection unit 62 in FIG. 3. Here, too, the touch sensor 84 may be provided at a plurality of locations to prevent malfunction.

FIG. 6 shows the correspondence between the terminal information sent from the terminal to the information synchronization server and the identification information. The table 100 includes terminal information 90 and identification information 92 transmitted from the first terminal to the information synchronization server 14. In the terminal information 90,
Includes device information and network address. The device information is composed of the model number of the terminal and information on the usage status of the terminal. A user ID is included in the identification information 92.
108 and password 110 are included.

The table 102 includes terminal information 94 and identification information 9 transmitted from the second terminal to the information synchronization server 14.
Including 6. The terminal information 94 includes device information 112 and a network address 114, and the identification information 96 includes a user ID 116 and a password 118. Identification information 9
Since 2 and the identification information 96 match, it is recognized that the first terminal and the second terminal are used by the same user.

In the figure, it is shown that both the usage states of the first terminal and the second terminal have changed to "ON". The timing of acquisition and transfer of the reproduction data is determined according to the timing of receiving the terminal information. The operation timing of the information synchronization server 14 will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information synchronization server according to the embodiment. Information synchronization server 1
4 waits until it receives terminal information indicating that the usage state is turned "ON" from the first terminal (S10N), and when it receives it (S10Y), stores the terminal information and identification information. (S12). When the terminal information indicating that the usage state is "OFF" is received from the first terminal (S14Y), the reproduction data is acquired from the first terminal (S24), and the next used terminal is the first one. It waits until it receives the terminal information indicating that the usage state is "ON" from the second terminal (S26N).

In S14, if the terminal information is not received from the first terminal (S14N), the terminal information indicating that the usage state has become "ON" is sent from either the first terminal or the second terminal. Wait until you receive it (S16
N). During this time, when the terminal information is received from the second terminal (S16Y), the reproduction data is acquired from the first terminal.

Regardless of whether the first terminal is in use or not, after the second terminal switches to the use state and acquires the reproduction data, the reproduction data is optimized according to the second terminal. (S20), transfer to the second terminal (S2
2).

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a network system in which a plurality of terminals according to the second embodiment are connected. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the home server 12 is used for connecting each terminal. Since other configurations are the same, the description is omitted.

The home server 12 is used indoors and relays the connection of each terminal to the information synchronization server 14.
The home server 12 may have a router function and a server function in addition to the data transmission / reception function. Mobile phone 20 and P
The DA 22 is connected to the information synchronization server 14 via the home server 12 when used indoors, and directly connected to the information synchronization server 14 via the Internet 16 when used outdoors.

(Third Embodiment) Each terminal in the present embodiment is provided with a sensor for detecting the distance between the terminals. For example, an infrared sensor or an optical sensor may be used, or wireless communication technology may be used. The acquisition processing unit 38 in the present embodiment acquires reproduction data from one terminal currently in use when the distance between both terminals detected by the sensor becomes shorter than a predetermined distance reference. To do.

For example, the configuration may be such that when the PDA 22 approaches the audio stereo 28 while music is being reproduced, the music being reproduced is transferred and the continuation is reproduced. For example, when moving closer to the television receiver 26 during a videophone conference using the moving picture transmission / reception function of the mobile phone 20, the moving picture and the sound are transferred from the mobile phone 20 to the television receiver 26 and reproduced. May be. When a terminal in another unused state approaches a terminal in a certain unused state, the terminal in the unused state may be automatically turned on.

The present invention has been described above based on some embodiments. It is understood by those skilled in the art that this embodiment is an exemplification, that various modifications can be made to the combinations of the respective constituent elements and the respective processing processes, and that such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. Some modifications will be described below.

In the present embodiment, the processing for migrating the work content and the work environment between a plurality of terminals has been described, but in the modification, the processing is performed so that a plurality of terminals can be used at the same time instead of a complete terminal migration. It may be configured to. That is, the work content and the work environment are acquired from the first terminal, transferred to the second terminal, and by operating either one or both terminals in that state, both terminals perform their respective processes, and simultaneously Utilization is realized. The contents of each process may be divided into tasks according to the specifications of the terminal.

In a modification, the terminal information and the identification information of a plurality of terminals to be controlled may be registered in the information synchronization server 14 in advance.

In a modification, each terminal may directly communicate with the information synchronization server 14 without going through the Internet 16. For example, communication may be performed using wireless technology or a telephone line.

In a modified example, data formats such as reproducible moving images, still images, and sounds may be registered in advance for each terminal, and the optimization processing unit 54 of FIG. The reproduction data may be converted for each terminal.

[0042]

According to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the convenience in using a plurality of terminals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system in which a plurality of terminals are connected according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an information synchronization server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a mobile phone provided with a touch sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a mouse provided with a touch sensor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing correspondence between terminal information and identification information according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the information synchronization server according to the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system in which a plurality of terminals are connected according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 information synchronization server, 32 terminal information holding unit, 3
4 identification information holding unit, 36 state detecting unit, 38 acquisition processing unit, 40 transfer processing unit, 90 terminal information, 9
2 identification information, 94 terminal information, 96 identification information.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A terminal to be put in use by a specific user is detected when the terminal is transferred from a first terminal to a second terminal, and the first terminal is detected when the transfer is detected. Acquiring necessary data from the second terminal and transferring the data to the second terminal, thereby reproducing the work content and work environment performed by the user on the first terminal on the second terminal. Information synchronization method characterized by. 2. An information synchronization method, wherein a specific user switches a terminal to be used and implements a seamless terminal transition in a time axis direction while maintaining the content of the task. 3. A state detection unit that detects when a terminal to be put in use by a specific user is transferred from the first terminal to the second terminal, and when the transfer is detected. An acquisition processing unit that acquires, from the first terminal, reproduction data necessary for continuing the work performed by the user on the first terminal on another terminal, and the reproduction data on the second terminal. An information synchronization device, comprising: 4. The status detecting unit receives terminal information indicating a usage status of the terminal from at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal, and changes in the usage status indicated in the terminal information. The information synchronizer according to claim 3, wherein the shift is detected based on the. 5. The state detection unit receives identification information about a user of the terminal from at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal, so that the transition between terminals having the same user is performed. The information synchronizer according to claim 3 or 4, wherein 6. The first terminal and the second terminal are provided with a sensor for detecting a contact by a user, and when the sensor detects that the terminal is in use. The information synchronization device according to claim 4, wherein the state detection unit receives the terminal information from at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal. 7. The first terminal and the second terminal are each provided with a sensor for detecting a mutual distance, and the distance between the two terminals detected by the sensor is a predetermined distance. When it becomes shorter than the reference, the acquisition processing unit acquires the reproduction data from one terminal currently in use, and the transfer processing unit transmits the reproduction data to the other terminal. The information synchronizer according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that. 8. The transfer processing unit, prior to the transmission,
8. The information synchronization apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reproduction data is optimized according to the destination terminal. 9. The state detecting unit monitors the use states of the first terminal and the second terminal and detects a terminal that has changed from a use state to an unused state, and the acquisition processing unit 9. The information synchronization apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the reproduction data is acquired from a terminal that has changed to an unused state. 10. A data sensor provided for detecting a contact by a user, wherein when the sensor detects the contact, terminal information indicating a usage state thereof is transmitted to a server, and the data prepared for the user from the server. An information terminal, characterized by receiving the.