JP2009171532A - Apparatus for easily adding short distance communication capability such as infrared ray to mobile device such as cellular phone, electronic organizer, or the like and data processing device such as personal computer, and enabling them to perform instantaneous high speed mutual data exchange, and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and system for allowing electronic exchange of name cards using a cellular phone or the like at a fingertip operation of a button superseding the existing name cards exchange using the paper cards. <P>SOLUTION: The data exchanging apparatus (data outlet) having optical communication (infrared ray or the like) capability is created and attached onto the cellular phone or the like to allow electronic exchange of name cards through a fingertip operation. In addition, an edit system (software) of data of the name card or the like is installed or downloaded onto the cellular phone or the like to allow to exchange the name cards electronically and create the electronic name cards (digital name card) using various mobile devices such as the cellular phone or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  A variety of bidirectional data can be obtained by attaching a device with a short-distance communication function (infrared, etc.) to a mobile device such as a mobile phone and adding a high-speed data transfer function at a short distance instead of the normal communication function of a mobile phone. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a system that enable exchange, particularly electronic business card exchange.

(A) The conventional business card exchange method has been to hand a paper card.
(B) Recently, there is an example in which a business card exchange using a communication function of a mobile phone has been devised, but the business card exchange using an e-mail has been limited.
(C) What is currently being devised as an auxiliary input device for connecting to a mobile phone and exchanging electronic business cards is based on the use of a database server via the Internet. No.
(D) Some of the above auxiliary input devices use infrared rays, but instantaneous data exchange by one touch is not possible. There is no practicality in actual business card exchange.

In the exchange of business cards using current paper cards, management of a large number of business cards is troublesome, and search and update are not easy. Therefore, it aims to provide a method for exchanging business cards with an effect equivalent to or better than that of a paper card by an electronic method.
Specifically, it is considered that the following is instantaneously performed at the place of business card exchange, and an apparatus and a system having these functions are created.
(A) One-to-one information exchange is basic, but there may be one-to-n (receiving effective distance 1 m)
(B) Time for one exchange is about 2 seconds (data transfer speed is 500 kb / s or more)
(C) Information (data) of exchanged parties can be confirmed on the spot (d) Business cards may be exchanged with many people at the same time (for example, exchange of words)
(E) The size and format of business cards are almost constant, but some are large and some are irregular. (F) Various indications (figure, characters, face photographs, color prints, symbols (trademarks, etc.) are included. Yes (g) Checking the partner's company name / posture and the partner's face (appearance) on the spot (h) Information such as date, place, product, etc. may be added on the spot (by handwriting) )

The present invention is an apparatus and a system that enable a person who owns a mobile device such as a mobile phone to exchange electronic business cards in a business card exchange. The details are as follows.
(A) Add a short-range communication function (infrared rays, etc.) to a mobile phone or the like, and create a device (data outlet) capable of instantaneous high-speed data exchange on a one-to-one basis. In addition, if the distance between the two is about 1 m, a communication system capable of 1 to n is adopted.
(B) By devising the shape (shown in [Fig. 1]) of the pressure contact surface (outlet face) of the data outlet (considering the golden ratio), one-touch pressure contact ("kiss" in the popular expression)) Allows exchange of data (business cards, etc.).
(C) By connecting the data outlet to a mobile phone or the like, the electronically exchanged data is output to a display device such as a mobile phone on the spot so that it can be confirmed.
(D) When exchanging business cards with many people, the other party has various types of mobile phones, etc., so by devising the data outlet mounting structure so that it can be mounted on various mobile phones, etc. Improve utility in places such as business card exchange.
(E) In order to exchange electronic business cards with a partner who does not have a data outlet, the paper business card of the partner is read with a scanner so that it can be loaded into a mobile phone or the like as data.
(F) By installing a business card exchange system (software) on a mobile phone or the like from a minidisk or a personal computer, or by downloading from the center using a communication function, an electronic business card exchange function ( Other party information display etc.) and data editing functions (addition of face photo, voice, product information etc., search operation etc.) are provided.
The apparatus and system combining the above functions enables instantaneous high-speed data exchange such as practical electronic business card exchange.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.
(A) Business card exchange using a paper card becomes unnecessary, and paper resources can be saved.
(B) Since business cards are exchanged using electronic data, it is easy to manage a large amount of data, and at the same time, information such as the date and place of exchange, and voice and facial photos can be easily added. In addition to being able to do so, it can also be a means to track forgotten memories.
(C) Furthermore, since the business card data can be exchanged not only in exchange of business card data but also in one touch, a wide range of applications are possible. For example, after exchanging business cards, company information, product information, etc. can be exchanged. Also, ringtones, game software, electronic money, etc. can be exchanged with one touch.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  In the electronic business card exchange according to the embodiment of the present invention, a data outlet and a method of using the same will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the simplest form as an example of a data outlet structure (a form in which an electronic business card can be easily exchanged by connecting to an external device terminal of a mobile phone). This is an example in which a data outlet can be attached to various mobile devices such as mobile phones by inserting a conversion connector for connection between the external device terminals of the mobile phone. Next, FIG. 2 shows an example of a structure that is integrated with a mobile phone or the like by attaching and fixing the data outlet to the mobile phone or the like. Since mobile phones, etc. have various shapes, sizes, and thicknesses, we devised a structure that allows them to be worn accordingly. In particular, the connector portion (symbol 6 in FIG. 2) has a structure that can slide sideways, and can be adjusted according to the connector position of a mobile phone or the like. In addition, there is a liquid crystal display unit having a scanner function, and it is possible to capture paper business card data. FIG. 3 shows an example of a structure in which a data outlet is integrally formed with a mobile phone or the like, and is the most suitable form for electronic business card exchange. However, in order for such mobile phones and the like to become widespread, it is necessary to know the exchange of electronic business cards, and it will take some time. Therefore, it is considered that the implementation is performed from the data outlet of FIG. 1 in the simplest form.

An outline of the operation is described in the functional block diagram of the data outlet shown in FIG.
(A) Preparation for electronic business card exchange First, in order to create electronic business card data on a mobile phone, an electronic business card exchange tool is downloaded or installed on the mobile phone. Next, using the business card creation function of the previous tool while looking at the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone, a layout of an electronic business card as illustrated in FIG. 6 is created. If necessary, add a photo of your face taken with a mobile phone camera or a company logo to complete your electronic business card.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the data outlet is connected to the mobile phone with the conversion connector, and preparation for electronic business card exchange is completed.
(B) Implementation of electronic business card exchange When the other party also has a mobile phone with a data outlet, the electronic business cards are exchanged by bringing the outlet faces into contact with each other as shown in FIG. The business card data of the other party can be confirmed on the LCD screen of the mobile phone. If the other party does not have a data outlet or has not created electronic business card data, read the existing paper business card from the scanner on the LCD screen and check the other party's email address. Complete the exchange of electronic business cards.
(C) Data outlet operation details Data outlet operation in electronic business card exchange is as follows. First, the power source of operation is prepared in two patterns from the battery of the mobile phone supplied from the mobile interface unit of FIG. 4 and from the battery of the data outlet itself, usually the data outlet itself Works with any battery. However, when this battery voltage drops, it is switched to supply from the mobile phone side. Next, the mode of the cellular phone is set to electronic business card exchange, and the button of the switch unit in FIG. 4 is pressed by pressing the outlet face of both the data outlet and the processing unit shown in FIG. Infrared light is emitted from the light-emitting unit of and the business card data is transmitted. At the same time, the light receiving unit in FIG. 4 senses infrared rays from the partner, captures the partner's business card data into the processing unit in FIG. 4 via the conversion unit in FIG. 4, and the liquid crystal display unit in FIG. Edit the format and display it. Alternatively, business card data is passed to the mobile phone via the mobile interface unit of FIG. 4 and displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the mobile phone. Further, the received business card data of the other party is stored in the memory unit of FIG. 4 to prepare for the next business card exchange.

Data outlet structure example 1 Data outlet structure example 2 Example of data outlet structure integrated with mobile phone Functional diagram of data outlet Electronic business card exchange method Electronic business card layout example

Explanation of symbols

1 Convex part of outlet face 2 Concave part of outlet face 3 Light emitting device for optical communication (semiconductor laser, etc.)
4 Optical communication receiver 5 Optical communication start switch (push button)
6 Connection part (connector) to mobile phone etc.
7 Pressure contact part when attached to a mobile phone, etc. 8 Knob to adjust the pressure of the pressure contact part when attached to a mobile phone, etc. 9 Liquid crystal display part with a scanner function

Claims (1)

It has a structure that can be mounted on various types of mobile devices such as mobile phones and electronic notebooks, or data processing devices such as personal computers, and has an uneven press-contact surface devised to enable instantaneous high-speed exchange of mutual data ( This is referred to as “Outlet Face”), a transmission / reception device incorporating optical communication such as infrared rays incorporated in that portion, and a device (this is referred to as “Data Outlet”) and a system including a push button switch linked to the device.
(Note: Outlet is an official English notation that is called an outlet in Japan. Therefore, it may be more common to say “Outlet Face” or “Data Outlet” in Japan.)