JP2011028528A - Communication terminal equipment and conduction control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication terminal equipment which can continue processing even when any power supply other than a communication control part is turned off when the communication terminal equipment and peripheral equipment continue communication processing. <P>SOLUTION: The communication terminal equipment includes: a communication control part 106 for mediating communication processing between an information processing apparatus 102 and peripheral equipment through a network 103; a terminal functioning part 108 for performing the own function of the communication terminal 101; and a power supply control part 107 for individually conducting the communication control part and the terminal functioning part. Even after the terminal functioning part is put in a non-conductive state, the communication control part is put in a conductive state, and the communication processing between the information processing apparatus and the peripheral equipment through the network is continued. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thin client that can use an externally connected device.

In recent years, companies are introducing thin clients for the purpose of preventing data leakage and reducing terminal costs. The thin client system does not include a storage device such as an HDD in the terminal body, transmits operation information to a remote host computer, and displays only the screen on the terminal.
Patent Document 1 reports a method of using a USB peripheral device connected to a thin client from a remote host computer.

  In addition, with the spread of the Internet and home networks, AV equipment having a communication function has been commercialized, and Patent Document 2 reports a method for controlling energization of equipment during network operation.

JP2008-210115 JP 2008-98791 A

  In the prior art, it is possible to use a peripheral device with a thin client, but energization control of the thin client and the peripheral device is performed integrally. In addition, the energization control in the network operation only performs the energization control according to the operation state of the apparatus, and the energization control according to the operation status of the remote host computer and the peripheral device cannot be performed.

A communication control unit that mediates communication processing between the information processing apparatus and peripheral devices via the network;
It has a terminal function unit that performs the function of the communication terminal itself, and a power control unit that individually energizes the communication control unit and the terminal function unit, and energizes the communication control unit even after the terminal function unit is turned off. The communication processing between the information processing apparatus and the peripheral device via the network is continued.

  According to the present invention, the user can operate the power supply of the communication terminal device even when the peripheral device is operating, and the processing of the peripheral device can be continued even if the main body is turned off.

It is an example of the block diagram of the apparatus which implement | achieved the 1st Example. It is an example of the block diagram of the information communication system which implement | achieved the 2nd Example. It is an example of the operation | movement sequence in a 1st Example. It is an example of the flowchart in a 1st Example. It is an example of the flowchart in a 1st Example. It is an example of the hardware block diagram which implement | achieved the 2nd Example. It is an example of the hardware block diagram which implement | achieved the 2nd Example.

  Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration diagram of an information communication terminal implementing the present invention.
The communication terminal device 101 includes a power control unit 107, a communication control unit 106 connected to the power control unit 107 and capable of independently controlling energization, and a terminal function unit 108. The communication control unit 106 includes a communication unit 109 that communicates with the information processing device 102 via the network 103, a peripheral device connection unit 110 that performs data input / output via the external connection device 104 and the connection line 105, and an input of the communication unit 109. The data conversion unit 111 converts output data and input / output data of the peripheral device connection unit 110 to each other.

The communication control unit 106 mediates information input / output between the information processing apparatus 102 and the external connection apparatus 104.
The terminal function unit 108 performs processing of the communication terminal device 101 main body. The power supply control unit 107 individually controls energization of the communication control unit 106 and the terminal function unit 108. With the above configuration, when the information processing apparatus 102 and the external connection apparatus 104 are operating, the terminal function unit 108 can be in a non-energized state by energizing only the communication control unit 106.

FIG. 3 shows an operation sequence in the first embodiment.
The communication terminal apparatus 101 notifies the information processing apparatus 102 of the start of processing of the external connection apparatus 104 by a user operation. (S101)
The information processing apparatus 102 starts processing of the external connection apparatus 104. (S102)
When the information processing apparatus 102 finishes the process of the external connection apparatus 104 (S103), the information processing apparatus 102 notifies the communication terminal apparatus 101 that the process is finished. (S104)
FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart when a processing end notification is received in the first embodiment.
Upon receiving the processing end notification from the information processing apparatus 102 (S201), the communication terminal apparatus 101 determines whether the user is operating based on whether the terminal function unit 108 is in an energized state (S202). When the terminal function unit 108 is in an energized state, that is, during a user operation, the process ends without doing anything. When the terminal function unit 108 is in a non-energized state, that is, when a user operation is not being performed, the entire communication terminal device 101 including the communication control unit 106 is in a de-energized state. (S203)
Note that, instead of notifying the communication terminal device 101 that the processing is completed, there is a method of monitoring whether or not communication for processing is being performed by the communication control unit 106.

FIG. 5 is an example of a flowchart when the user turns off the power in the first embodiment.
When the communication terminal apparatus 101 detects power-off by the user (S301), the communication terminal apparatus 101 determines whether the external connection apparatus 104 is processing. (S302) Whether the external connection device 104 is processing is determined based on whether the communication control unit 106 is energized or whether the data conversion unit is processing. Note that the determination of whether or not the external connection device 104 is processing may be performed by other methods, and is not limited to the above.

When the external connection device 104 is processing, only the terminal function unit 108 is in a non-energized state (S303), and when not processing, the entire communication terminal device 101 including the communication control unit 106 is in a non-energized state. (S304)
According to the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 102 can continue processing using the external connection apparatus 104 even when the user turns off the power of the communication terminal apparatus 101. Further, when the processing of the information processing apparatus 102 is completed, the communication terminal apparatus 101 can be brought into a non-energized state. By performing energization control as necessary, the power consumption of the communication terminal device 101 can be reduced.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information communication system that implements the second embodiment.
The thin client 201 is connected to the host computer 202 via the Internet 203 and is connected to the printer 204 via the USB cable 205.
The television 206 is connected to the host computer 202 via the Internet 203 and is connected to the printer 204 via the USB cable 205.

  The user operates the thin client 201 or the television 206 to notify the host computer 202 of print processing by the printer 204 via the Internet 203. The host computer 202 performs printing processing to the printer 204 via the Internet 203 and the thin client 201 or the television 206. When the user turns off the power of the thin client 201 or the television 206 during the printing process of the printer 204, the thin client 201 or the television 206 energizes only circuits necessary for communication with the host computer 202 and data input / output with the printer 204. The other circuits are turned off.

  When the printing process by the host computer 202 and the printer 204 is completed, the host computer 202 notifies the thin client 201 or the television 206 of the completion of the process. When the thin client 201 or the television 206 receives the processing end notification, the entire apparatus including circuits necessary for communication with the host computer 202 and data input / output with the printer 204 is turned off.

FIG. 6 is a hardware configuration diagram of the thin client 201 in the second embodiment.
A memory 303, a LAN controller 306, a USB controller 307, a display 304, and a speaker 308 are connected to the CPU 301 via a chip set 302 via a bus 305.

  The LAN controller 306 is connected to the host computer 202 via the Internet 203. The USB controller 307 is connected to the printer 204 via the USB cable 205. The thin client 201 notifies the user of the processing screen and sound through the display 304 and the speaker 308. When a user operates a program that is expanded in the memory 303 and runs on the CPU 301, the LAN controller 306 notifies the host computer 202 of print processing via the Internet 203 via the Internet 203. The user's operation is performed using a mouse, a keyboard (not shown), or the like.

  Processing from the host computer 202 to the printer 204 is notified by IP packets to the LAN controller 306 via the Internet 203, converted to USB format by a program operating on the CPU 301, and then transferred from the USB controller 307 to the printer 204 via the USB cable 205. Output.

  For example, the operation state of the printer 204 such as an error is input to the USB controller 307 in the USB format via the USB cable 205, converted into an IP packet by a program operating on the CPU 301, and then transmitted from the LAN controller 306 to the host via the Internet 203. The data is output to the computer 202.

  When the user performs a power-off operation while the host computer 202 and the printer 204 are processing, the program running on the CPU 301 energizes only the circuits that perform LAN connection and USB connection, IP packet and USB format conversion, and other circuits. For example, the display 304 and the speaker 308 are set in a non-energized state, or in a non-display / non-output state.

  When the processing of the host computer 202 and the printer 204 is completed, an IP packet indicating a processing end notification is input from the host computer 202 to the LAN controller 306 via the Internet 203, and the program operating on the CPU 301 detects the end of processing, and the thin client 201 The whole is turned off. It should be noted that before the power is turned off, the printer 204 may notify the printer 204 via the USB cable 205 of power off or transition to a standby state.

  As described above, the energization control by the program allows the host computer 202 and the printer 204 to continue processing even when the user turns off the thin client 201. When the processing is completed, the entire thin client 201 is deenergized. It is possible. Furthermore, by notifying the printer 204 via the USB cable 205 of power off or transition to a standby state, it is possible to put the external device in a non-energized state.

FIG. 7 is a hardware configuration diagram of the television 206 in the second embodiment.
A memory 303 is connected to the CPU 301 via a memory bus, and a display 304, a LAN controller 306, a USB controller 307, a speaker 308, a graphic 310, a decoder 311, a tuner 312, and a remote control input receiving unit 313 are connected via the bus 305. It is connected.

  The display 304, the speaker 308, the graphic 310, the decoder 311 and the tuner 312 are controlled via the bus 305, and data is transferred via an individual bus.

  The operation of the television 206 is expanded in the memory 303 and controlled by a program operating on the CPU 301. The broadcast wave selected and received by the tuner 312 is decoded by the decoder 311, the decoded video is input to the graphic 310, subjected to image processing, displayed on the display 304, and the decoded audio is output from the speaker 308. Is done.

  A user operation is input to the remote control input receiving unit 313 using a remote controller (not shown), and is detected and processed by a program operating on the CPU 301. The operations of the LAN controller 306 and the USB controller 307 are the same as those described with reference to FIG.

  When the user performs a power-off operation while the host computer 202 and the printer 204 are processing, the remote control input reception 313 notifies the program running on the CPU 301 of the power-off, LAN connection and USB connection, IP packet and USB format conversion. Only the circuit for performing the operation is energized, and other circuits such as the display 304, the speaker 308, the graphic 310, the decoder 311 and the tuner 312 are deenergized. When the display 304 of the TV 206 and other parts are connected by HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (R), the display 304 is turned off using an HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) command. It is also possible.

  When the processing of the host computer 202 and the printer 204 is completed, an IP packet indicating processing completion notification is input from the host computer 202 to the LAN controller 306 via the Internet 203, and the program operating on the CPU 301 puts the entire TV 206 in a non-energized state. To do.

  As described above, even if the user turns off the power of the television 206, the host computer 202 and the printer 204 can continue the processing, and when the processing is completed, the entire television 206 can be de-energized. Furthermore, by using the HDMI-CEC command to notify the display 304 of power off or transition to a standby state, it is possible to put the externally connected display into a non-energized state.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

  In addition, each of the above-described configurations may be configured such that some or all of them are configured by hardware, or are implemented by executing a program by a processor. Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

101 Communication Terminal Device 102 Information Processing Device 103 Network 104 External Connection Device 105 Connection Line 106 Communication Control Unit 107 Power Supply Control Unit 108 Terminal Function Unit 109 Communication Unit 110 Peripheral Device Connection Unit 111 Data Conversion Unit 201 Thin Client 202 Host Computer 203 Internet 204 Printer 205 USB cable 206 TV 301 CPU
302 Chipset 303 Memory 304 Display 305 Bus 306 LAN controller 307 USB controller 308 Speaker 310 Graphic 311 Decoder 312 Tuner 313 Remote control input receiver

Claims (6)

A communication terminal device,
A communication control unit that connects to an information processing apparatus and peripheral devices via a network and mediates the communication processing;
A terminal function unit that controls the functions of the communication terminal itself;
A power control unit that individually energizes the communication control unit and the terminal function unit,
A communication terminal device characterized in that, even after the terminal function unit is deenergized, the communication control unit is energized and communication processing between the information processing apparatus and peripheral devices via the network is continued. A communication terminal device,
A communication control unit that connects to an information processing apparatus and peripheral devices via a network and mediates the communication processing;
A terminal function unit that controls the functions of the communication terminal itself;
A power control unit that individually energizes the communication control unit and the terminal function unit,
A communication terminal device characterized in that when communication processing between an information processing device and a peripheral device via a network ends, an energization state of the entire communication terminal device is determined according to an energization state of the terminal function unit. The communication terminal device according to claim 2,
A communication terminal device, wherein the peripheral device is controlled to be in a non-energized state or a standby state before the entire communication terminal device is shifted to a non-energized state. The communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
A communication terminal device, wherein the video display device is controlled to be in a non-energized state or a standby state using HDMI-CEC before the terminal function unit is shifted to a non-energized state. A communication terminal device energization control method,
The communication control unit mediates communication processing between the information processing device and peripheral devices via the network,
The terminal function unit controls the functions of the terminal itself,
Energize the communication control unit and the terminal function unit individually by the power control unit,
An energization control method, wherein the communication control unit is energized and communication processing between the information processing apparatus and peripheral devices via the network is continued even after the terminal function unit is de-energized. A communication terminal device energization control method,
Mediating communication processing with information processing devices and peripheral devices connected via a network by the communication control unit,
The terminal function unit controls the functions of the terminal itself,
Energize the communication control unit and the terminal function unit individually by the power control unit,
An energization control method characterized by determining an energization state of an information communication terminal according to an energization state of a terminal function unit when communication processing between an information processing apparatus and a peripheral device via a network ends.

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