JP3674201B2 - Communication system and data processing apparatus having communication function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communication systems, and data processing equipment having a communication function for performing data communication with an external data processing apparatus such as personal digital assistants and personal computers such as an electronic notebook.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, mobile computing uses an information portable terminal and a personal computer. For example, when away from home, it can be connected to a telephone line from a modem using an information portable terminal to send e-mail and FAX. By returning to the company and connecting the portable information terminal and the personal computer, it is possible to exchange data with the personal computer and share information.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, as described above, in mobile computing, an information portable terminal and a personal computer are properly used depending on the usage in a place where the user is away or at a company. It is necessary to connect to some kind of communication line (telephone line, ISDN line, etc.) on the go.
[0004]
However, a communication line that can be used is not always available at the place of going out, and even if it is in a communicable state, it becomes impossible to communicate due to insufficient charging of the battery or unexpected interruption of the wireless telephone line. It may fall.
[0005]
In such a case, there is a problem that the user must return to the office, use the personal computer connected to the communication line by wire, and perform the e-mail or FAX transmission operation performed again on the go.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. When transmission processing cannot be performed in an information portable terminal, unsent data is transmitted by the data processing apparatus without performing the same transmission operation again. it is an object to provide a data processing equipment having a communication system made possible, and communication functions.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, a communication system according to the present invention is a communication system including a portable terminal having a communication function and a stationary data processing device having a communication function,
When the portable terminal detects a connection between the data processing device, a transmission unit that transmits data by connecting to a communication line, a data storage unit that stores untransmitted data that is not transmitted by the transmission unit, and the data processing device, Data output means for outputting untransmitted data stored in the data storage means to the data processing device,
The data processing device includes data input means for inputting untransmitted data output by the data output means of the portable terminal, and transmission means for transmitting the untransmitted data input by the data input means by connecting to a communication line. It is characterized by comprising.
[0008]
In other words, in the communication system according to the present invention, untransmitted data that is not transmitted by the transmission means of the portable terminal is stored in the data storage means, and is stored in the data storage means when a connection with the data processing device is detected. Since untransmitted data is output to the data processing device, and the untransmitted data input to the data processing device is connected to a communication line and transmitted, the portable terminal can be simply connected to the data processing device. Thus, unsent data in can be reliably transmitted.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a use state of an information portable terminal and a personal computer according to an embodiment of a communication system of the present invention.
[0010]
The information portable terminal 11 has a data communication function in addition to various data input, storage, retrieval, display functions, etc., and connects the card-type communication unit 12 to the card I / F, thereby enabling the wireless telephone line A Can be connected, and e-mail data and FAX data can be transmitted.
[0011]
Further, the information portable terminal 11 connects the RS232C • I / F built in the main body to the RS232C • I / F of the cradle 14 connected to the personal computer 13, thereby sharing data (synchronizing). Process).
[0012]
For example, when unsent mail data or FAX data exists in the portable information terminal 11, the unsent data is transferred to the personal computer 13 for automatic transmission processing or stored in a transmission memory. The data is processed as transmitted data.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the portable information terminal 11 in the communication system.
The information portable terminal 11 includes a CPU 21 formed of a computer.
[0014]
The CPU 21 receives an input signal from the input unit 22 such as a key, various command data input from a ROM card or a RAM card via the card I / F 23, and from the personal computer 13 or the like via the RS232C / I / F 24. In response to the communication data, the program data such as system program data or communication control program stored in advance in the recording medium 25a of the storage device 25 is activated, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled by using the RAM 26 as a work RAM accordingly. Therefore, in addition to the input unit 22, the card I / F 23, the RS232C / I / F 24, the storage device 25, and the RAM 26, the CPU 21 is connected with a display unit 27 including a liquid crystal display.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic circuit of the personal computer 13 in the communication system.
The personal computer 13 includes a CPU 31.
[0016]
The CPU 31 responds to a key input signal from the keyboard 32, communication data received from the telephone line B or the like via the communication unit 33, and communication data received from the portable information terminal 11 or the like via the RS232C / I / F 34. The CPU 31 activates program data such as system program data or a communication control program stored in advance in a recording medium 35a included in the storage device 35, and controls the operation of each circuit unit using the RAM 36 as a work RAM. In addition to the keyboard 32, the communication unit 33, the RS232C / I / F 34, the storage device 35, and the RAM 36, a display unit 37 such as a CRT is connected.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transmission data storage area provided in the RAM 26 of the portable information terminal 11 in the communication system.
The RAM 26 of the portable information terminal 11 has a transmission data storage area for storing transmission data associated with e-mail and FAX, and this transmission data storage area includes a transmission data area 26a and a spool area 26b. Yes.
[0018]
The transmission data area 26a stores e-mail data and FAX data to be transmitted from the portable information terminal 11, and the spool area 26b indicates that the transmission data stored in the transmission data area 26a cannot be transmitted. When this happens, the untransmitted data is transferred and stored.
[0019]
The unsent data stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 of the portable information terminal 11 is transferred to the personal computer 13 and transmitted via the telephone line B when the portable information terminal 11 is set on the cradle 14. Is done.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the communication system composed of the portable information terminal and the personal computer having the above configuration will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an electronic mail / fax transmission process in the portable information terminal 11.
[0021]
For example, when the user operates the input unit 22 of the portable information terminal 11 and inputs data to be transmitted as an e-mail or FAX when the user is out, the generated transmitted data is stored in the transmission data area 26 a in the RAM 26. Stored (step S1).
[0022]
When the transmission of the e-mail or FAX data created in step S1 is instructed by the operation of the input unit 22, the card type connected to the card I / F 23 according to the e-mail transmission destination address or the FAX transmission destination address. Line connection processing with the radio telephone line A is performed via the communication unit 12, and it is determined whether or not the line connection is completed (steps S2 to S3).
[0023]
If it is determined that the line connection with the radio telephone line A via the card-type communication unit 12 is completed, the e-mail or FAX transmission data stored in the transmission data area 26a in the RAM 26 is stored. Then, it is transmitted and output via the communication unit 12 (step S3 → A4).
[0024]
When all the transmission outputs of the transmitted data stored in the transmission data area 26a in the RAM 26 are completed, the series of e-mail / fax transmission processing is terminated (step S5 → END).
[0025]
On the other hand, in step S3, it is determined that the line connection from the card I / F 23 to the wireless telephone line A via the communication unit 12 is impossible, and the transmission data stored in the transmission data area 26a in the RAM 26 is stored. If it is determined that transmission cannot be performed, or if it is determined in step S5 that the transmission process of the transmitted data has been interrupted due to, for example, a poor line state, the data is stored in the transmission data area 26a. The unsent data that has been transferred is transferred and stored in the spool area 26b (step S3 or S5 → S6).
[0026]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing data synchronization processing between the portable information terminal and the personal computer in the communication system. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing synchronization processing on the portable information terminal 11 side, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the sync process on the computer 13 side.
[0027]
In accordance with the e-mail / fax transmission process in the portable information terminal 11 in FIG. 5, e-mail or FAX unsent data is stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 of the portable information terminal 11, for example When the user who has returned to the company sets the portable information terminal 11 on the cradle 14 of the personal computer 13, the RS232C IF 24 on the portable information terminal 11 side and the RS232C IF 34 on the personal computer 13 side are connected. First, when the information portable terminal 11 detects a set on the cradle 14, a synchronization start command is transmitted to the personal computer 13 (step A1 → A2).
[0028]
When it is determined that the personal computer 13 has received the synchronization start command from the portable information terminal 11, the rewritable area of the storage device 25 of the portable information terminal 11, the data stored in the RAM 26, the personal computer The common processing with 13 rewritable areas and data stored in the RAM 36 is executed (step B1 → B2 / A3).
[0029]
When the database sharing process between the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13 is completed, whether or not untransmitted e-mail data is stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 in the portable information terminal 11. Judgment is made (step A4).
[0030]
If it is determined that unsent e-mail data is stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26, a send command for the unsent e-mail data is sent to the personal computer 13, and then Unsent e-mail data stored in the spool area 26b is transmitted and output to the personal computer 13 (steps A4 → A5, A6).
[0031]
If the personal computer 13 determines that the e-mail transmission command from the information portable terminal 11 has been received, then the e-mail data sent from the information portable terminal 11 is received and stored in the RAM 36. It is stored in the e-mail data transmission area (steps B3 → B4, B5).
[0032]
Thus, when unsent e-mail data stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 of the information portable terminal 11 is transferred to the personal computer 13 and stored, it is stored in the RAM 26 of the information portable terminal 11. The unsent e-mail data is deleted (step A7).
[0033]
Further, in the portable information terminal 11, it is determined whether or not untransmitted FAX data is stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 (step A8). If it is determined that unsent FAX data is stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26, a transmission command for the unsent FAX data is transmitted to the personal computer 13, and then Untransmitted FAX data stored in the spool area 26b is transmitted and output to the personal computer 13 (steps A8 → A9, A10).
[0034]
If the personal computer 13 determines that the FAX data transmission command from the information portable terminal 11 has been received, then the FAX data sent from the information portable terminal 11 is received and the FAX in the RAM 36 is received. It is stored in the data transmission area (steps B6 → B7, B8).
[0035]
Thus, when the untransmitted FAX data stored in the spool area 26b in the RAM 26 of the information portable terminal 11 is transferred to the personal computer 13 and stored, it is stored in the RAM 26 of the information portable terminal 11. Untransmitted FAX data is deleted (step A11).
[0036]
Then, when an end command is transmitted from the information portable terminal 11 (step A12) and it is determined that the end command from the information portable terminal 11 is received by the personal computer 13 (step B9), an application program in the e-mail mode Is started (step B10), and the unsent e-mail data stored in the e-mail data transmission area in the RAM 36 is securely sent from the communication unit 33 via the telephone line B (step B10). B11).
[0037]
In addition, an application program in the FAX mode is started (step B12), and reliable FAX transmission processing from the communication unit 33 via the telephone line B is performed for untransmitted FAX data stored in the FAX data transmission area in the RAM 36. It is executed (step B13).
[0038]
Therefore, according to the communication system composed of the portable information terminal and the personal computer having the above-described configuration, for example, the card-type communication unit 12 is connected to the portable information terminal 11 and connected to the wireless telephone line A while away from home. When transmission of data is not completed due to inability to connect to the telephone line A or interruption of transmission due to line failure, etc., transmission of unsent data stored in the transmission data area 26a in the RAM 26 is performed. The data is transferred to and stored in the spool area 26b. Then, when the user who has returned from going out sets the portable information terminal 11 to the cradle 14 and connects to the personal computer 13, the database is shared between the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13, and the information Unsent data stored in the spool area 26b of the portable terminal 11 is transferred to the personal computer 13 and stored in the mail data transmission area or the FAX data transmission area in the RAM 36, connected to the telephone line B and transmitted. Therefore, for example, even when the communication is disabled due to insufficient charging of the portable information terminal 11 or unexpected interruption of the wireless telephone line A when the user is away from home, the user performs the electronic There is no need to repeat the e-mail or fax transmission operation. Only set to 14, it is possible to ensure complete transmission of mail or FAX by a personal computer 13 connected to the communication line B by wire.
[0039]
In the embodiment, when transmission of e-mail data or FAX data becomes impossible in the portable information terminal 11, untransmitted data stored in the transmission data area 26a in the RAM 26 is transferred to the spool area 26b. The unsent data stored in the spool area 26b is transferred to the personal computer 13 and transmitted to the personal computer 13 when set to the cradle 14. As shown in FIG. The RAM 26 has a mail data area 41a and a FAX data area 41b for storing mail data and FAX data independently, and a flag area F1 for setting a transmitted flag indicating completion of transmission of each data. When F2 is provided and the portable information terminal 11 is set on the cradle 14 For example, if the transmitted flag is not set in the flag area F1, the mail address and mail data stored in the mail data area 41a are transferred to the personal computer 13 and secured in the RAM 36. If the transmitted flag is not set in the flag area F2, the FAX address and FAX data stored in the FAX data area 41b are transferred to the personal computer 13 and secured in the RAM 36. The unsent data stored in the FAX data area 36b and stored in the mail data area 36a or the FAX data area 36b may be appropriately transmitted automatically or by user operation.
[0040]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of transferring and storing untransmitted data between the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13 according to another embodiment of the communication system of the present invention.
[0041]
In the above embodiment, a memory area for storing transmission data such as e-mail data and FAX data is provided separately from the database shared by the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13. A memory area for storing transmission data such as e-mail data and FAX data is also provided in the common database, and along with the common processing at the initial connection between the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13, the portable information terminal 11 A configuration may be adopted in which e-mail and FAX transmission data that have not been transmitted and deleted on the side are transferred and stored in the memory area of the corresponding mode (mail / FAX) on the personal computer 13 side.
[0042]
The method described in the above embodiment, that is, the e-mail / fax transmission process in the portable information terminal 11 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the data synchronization process between the portable information terminal 11 and the personal computer 13 shown in the flowchart of FIG. Each of these methods is stored in the recording media 25a and 35a as programs that can be executed by a computer. The recording media include a memory card (ROM card, RAM card, etc.), a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk). Etc.), optical discs (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), semiconductor memory, etc. can be used, and can be fixed or detachably provided in the storage device. The computer reads the program recorded in the external recording medium (25a or 35a) by the storage device (25 or 35), and the operation is controlled by the read program, so that each of the embodiments described in the above embodiment is performed. The function can be realized, and the same processing can be executed by the method described above.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the communication system according to the present invention, and according to the data processing equipment, unsent data not transmitted by the transmitting means of the mobile terminal stored in the data storing means, connected to the data processing device is detected The untransmitted data stored in the data storage means is output to the data processing device, and the untransmitted data input to the data processing device is connected to the communication line and transmitted. By simply connecting to the processing device, untransmitted data in the portable terminal can be transmitted reliably.
[0044]
Therefore, when the transmission processing is impossible in the information portable terminal, it is possible to transmit untransmitted data in the data processing apparatus without performing the same transmission operation again.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view showing a usage state of a portable information terminal and a personal computer according to an embodiment of a communication system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a portable information terminal in the communication system.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a personal computer in the communication system.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a transmission data storage area provided in the RAM of the portable information terminal in the communication system.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing electronic mail / fax transmission processing in the portable information terminal;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing data synchronization processing between the portable information terminal and the personal computer in the communication system. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing synchronization processing on the portable information terminal side, and FIG. Flowchart showing computer-side synchronization processing.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which unsent data is transferred and stored between a portable information terminal and a personal computer according to another embodiment of the communication system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 ... information portable terminal,
12: Card type communication unit,
13 ... Personal computer,
14 ... Credor,
21, 31 ... CPU,
22 ... input section,
32 ... Keyboard,
23 ... Card I / F,
33 ... Communication unit,
24, 34 ... RS232C I / F,
25, 35 ... storage device,
25a, 35a ... external recording medium,
26, 36 ... RAM,
26a ... transmission data area,
26b ... spool area,
36a ... Mail data area,
36b ... FAX data area,
27, 37 ... display section,
A ... Wireless telephone line
B: Wired telephone line.

Claims (6)

A communication system comprising a mobile terminal having a communication function and a data processing device having a communication function,
The portable terminal is
A transmission means for transmitting data by connecting to a communication line;
Data storage means for storing untransmitted data not transmitted by the transmission means;
A data output means for outputting untransmitted data stored in the data storage means to the data processing apparatus when detecting a connection with the data processing apparatus;
The data processing device includes:
Data input means for inputting untransmitted data output by the data output means of the portable terminal;
A communication system comprising: transmission means for connecting untransmitted data input by the data input means to a communication line for transmission.   The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the data is at least e-mail or FAX data.   The portable terminal and the data processing device each include a common unit that executes commonality between the databases stored therein, and the untransmitted data stored in the database of the portable terminal is converted into the data by the common unit. 3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication system is transferred to a processing device for common use. A data processing apparatus having a communication function connected to a portable terminal having a communication function,
Data input means for inputting untransmitted data output from the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal is connected;
A data processing apparatus having a communication function, comprising: transmission means for connecting untransmitted data input by the data input means to a communication line for transmission.   The communication system according to claim 4, wherein the data is at least e-mail or FAX data.   When the portable terminal is connected, the portable terminal is provided with a sharing means for executing sharing with the database of the portable terminal, and unsent data stored in the database of the portable terminal is shared by the sharing means. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the data processing apparatus is configured.

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