United States Patent [19J
`Kato et al.
`
`111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006088730A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,088,730
`.Jul. 11, 2000
`
`[54] METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`DOWNLOADING DATA BETWEEN AN
`INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND
`AN EXTERNAL DEVICE VIAA WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Naotaka Kato, Fujisawa; Yoshihisa
`Kanada, Yokohama, both of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: International Business Machines
`Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/005,962
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 12, 1998
`
`[30]
`
`l<'oreign Application Priority Data
`
`Jun. 2, 1997
`
`[JP]
`
`Japan .................................... 9-143596
`
`Int. CJ.7 ...................................................... G06F 13/00
`[51]
`[52] U.S. CJ •.......................... 709/227; 709/217; 7091232;
`709/250; 455/556
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 709/201, 202,
`709/203, 217, 219, 218, 227, 230, 232,
`250, 300, 302; 707!10, 104; 455/422, 433,
`435, 73, 556, 557
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,564,070 10/1996 Want et a!. ............................. 455/50i
`7/1998 Yee eta!. ................................ 713/200
`5,781,723
`5,845,282 12/1998 Alley et a!. ............................... 707/10
`l/1999 Lamming et a!. ................... 395/200.3
`5,862,321
`
`Primary Examiner-Viet D. Vu
`Attorney, !\gent, or Firm-Ryan & Mason, L.L.P.; Paul J.
`Otterstedt
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`To provide an improved information processing apparatus
`and a method for controlling the same, which enables to
`smoothly transfer data, such as processed results obtained
`from execution of an application program, an HTML file
`acquired from a Web server in accordance with the TCP/IP
`protocol or the like, to an external device (PDA) by using an
`infrared communication function. The disclosed information
`processing apparatus periodically accesses a predetermined
`server machine (e.g., a Web server) to acquire a desired file
`(e.g., an HTML file). This file acquisition operation is
`carried out without the involvement of operations of an
`infrared transc.;eiver. In other words, the information pro(cid:173)
`cessing apparatus attempts to continually perform caching of
`the most recent download data. As a result, when the PDA
`as an external device is set into an infrared communication
`mode and a user simply holds the PDA to a station discov(cid:173)
`erable region of the information processing apparatus, a
`connection between them is established, thereby enabling
`the PDA to receive the most recent data.
`
`5,247,380
`5,440,559
`
`9/1993 Lee eta!. ................................ 359/118
`8/1995 Gaskill .................................... 370/314
`
`17 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`DATA DOWNLOAD PHASE
`
`DATA ACQUISITION PHASE
`
`LG Electronics, Inc. et al.
`EXHIBIT 1021
`IPR Petition for
`U.S. Patent No. 7,149,511
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 1 0f5
`
`6,088,730
`
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f5
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`6,088,730
`
`FIG. 2
`
`e1
`/
`CPU
`
`72
`f
`05C
`
`66
`I
`IR
`CONTROLLER
`
`57
`I
`IR
`TX/RX
`
`62
`
`'Ll'q'L'TL'T
`
`SWITCH
`
`SRAM
`
`FONT
`ROM
`
`EEPROM
`
`LCD
`
`7°
`\
`TONE
`DIM-ER
`
`71L’~ SPEAKER
`
`69
`
`63
`
`64
`
`65
`
`63
`
`F I G. 3
`
`APPLICATION
`(AUTO PULL STATION)
`
`APPLICATION
`
`APPLICATION
`
`05
`
`HARDWARE CONTROL LAYER
`
`HARDWARE
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`6,088,730
`
`FIG. 4
`
`DATA DOWNLOAD PHASE
`( START )
`3200
`A,
`/
`A
`STATION SEARCH
`
`sm
`
`ANY
`RESPONSE
`
`DATA ACQUISITION PHASE
`
`START
`
`s1oo\
`'
`sTART TIMER
`
`3102
`
`5
`WAIT FOR
`TIMER EVENT
`
`$204
`f
`CONNECTION
`
`‘A
`$104
`\ ACQUIRE HTML FILE
`FROM A WEB SERVER
`
`25
`
`TT
`
`S206
`
`$106
`
`‘A
`
`EXCHANGE
`INFORMATION
`
`______
`
`_____ UPDATE DOWNLOAD
`DATA
`
`M
`DISCONNECTION ~/‘ 5208
`____J
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11, 2000
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`6,088,730
`
`FIG. 5
`
`PDA
`200
`
`RESPONSE
`TO XID
`
`V
`
`V
`
`:
`
`V
`
`STATION
`SEARCH
`
`XID COMMAND
`XID COMMAND
`
`V
`
`4
`
`STATION
`DISCOVERY
`
`CONNECTION
`SETUP
`
`x10 COMMAND
`m) RESPONSE
`SNRM comma
`“A RESPONSE
`
`I FRAME (1)
`I FRAME (2)
`
`INFORMATION
`EXCHANGE
`
`I FRAME (n)
`“A RESPONSE
`
`|
`
`DISCONNECT
`CONNECTION
`
`I FRAME (n+1)
`I FRAME (n+2)
`:
`DISC FRAME
`“A FRAME
`
`x10 COMMAND 7
`
`x10 COMMAND A
`
`V
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 11,2000
`
`Sheet 5 0f5
`
`6,088,730
`
`FIG. 6
`
`CARD CONNECTOR
`
`

`
`6,088,730
`
`1
`METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR
`DOWNLOADING DATA BETWEEN AN
`INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND
`AN EXTERNAL DEVICE VIA A WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUE
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
`
`2
`internal CPU resumes its operations and, thus, VW-200 is
`noW enabled to function as a PDA. As shoWn in FIG. 6, on
`the top surface of the ?rst housing portion, a keyboard is
`provided as an input device for a PDA. Further, on the
`surface of the second housing portion, a liquid crystal
`display (200x320 dots (displaying em-siZed 12 characters><
`20 lines), STN monochrome) is provided.
`A primary use of a PDA is to manage and to broWse
`personal information or PIM (Personal Information
`Manager) data, such as a calendar, a schedule, an address
`book, a memorandum book or the like. Another use of a
`PDA is to broWse a Web page under a mobile environment.
`Obviously, an advantage of a PDA is in its excellent mobil
`ity. Auser of a PDAis capable of easily referencing/updating
`his/her oWn PIM information, or broWsing a Web page under
`the mobile environment.
`Such data handled by a PDA may be directly edited by a
`user on a PDA, or there may be another implementation
`Wherein a PDA is automatically connected to a netWork on
`its oWn initiative, thereby to directly acquire an HTML ?le
`from a Web server. HoWever, a PDA is much smaller than a
`notebook PC and, in proportion to its siZe, its display as an
`output device and its keyboard/tablet as an input device have
`to be smaller in siZe. In other Words, its Working environ
`ment for inputting/editing is not deemed rich enough.
`Further, any substantial PIM softWare requires a larger
`program siZe and, thus, it is not adapted for execution on a
`PDA due to a limited computing poWer of a CPU and/or a
`limited memory capacity. Further, With respect to acquisi
`tion of Web data, supporting of the TCP/IP protocol on a
`PDA involves certain technical dif?culties, Which necessar
`ily leads to prohibitive increase of costs. In general, under a
`mobile environment, connection to the Internet is not alWays
`expected. While it takes at least several minutes in time to
`access a Web server and to transfer data, such operation time
`just for Waiting may not be disregarded by an internal battery
`of a PDA that has a relatively small siZe and a small capacity.
`Thus, it is already knoWn to pre-edit PIM data for a PDA
`by using PIM softWare on a desktop or a notebook PC acting
`as a host PC, to cut a desired portion only out of the saved
`PIM data, and then to doWnload it to the PDA. Also, it is
`already knoWn to doWnload an HTML (HyperText Markup
`Language) ?le from a desired Web page to a host PC
`connected to the Internet in advance and then, responsive to
`a request from a PDA, to doWnload the saved HTML ?le
`(e.g., a text portion only of the HTML ?le) to the PDA.
`The aforementioned VW200 is designed to have the ?rst
`housing portion, Which conforms to the form factor of
`Type-II de?ned by PCMCIA/JEIDA, so that When it is
`inserted into a card slot provided in a host PC, it is enabled
`to exchange data With the host PC. Namely, While VW200
`is inserted into the card slot, the host PC is arranged to
`doWnload the data acquired in advance (e.g., PIM data or an
`HTML ?le) to the PDA. When the PDA is subsequently
`detached from the card slot, it exercises self-operating
`functions by virtue of an internal CPU and an internal
`battery, Whereby it is capable of presenting the doWnload
`data for broWsing. Japanese Patent Application, Which is
`assigned to the same applicant and Which is identi?ed in
`Japanese Application No. 8-12790 (IBM Docket Number
`JA996004-U.S. application Ser. No. 778,317), discloses to
`transfer PIM data to a PDA of the PC card type While it is
`being inserted into a PC card slot. Further, another Japanese
`article by Hatori et al., “ChipScape for VWZOO” (Soft
`Bank), discloses to transfer Web data to a PDA of the PC
`card type While it is being inserted into a PC card slot.
`In case of using a PDA of the PC card type such as
`VW200, a host PC merely requires a card slot for accepting
`
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`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates to an information processing appa
`ratus capable of executing different applications programs
`such as PIM (Personal Information Manager) softWare, a
`Web broWser or the like and, more particularly, to an
`information processing apparatus that has an infrared com
`munication function for exchanging data With an external
`device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). More
`speci?cally, this invention relates to an information process
`ing apparatus that is capable of smoothly transferring data,
`such as processed results obtained from execution of an
`application program, an HTML (HyperText Markup
`Language) ?le acquired from a Web server in accordance
`With the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
`Protocol) protocol or the like, to the external device by using
`the infrared communication function.
`2. Background Art
`With the technological revolution in these days, different
`types of personal computers (PCs), such as desktop, toWer,
`notebook computers, or the like, have been developed and
`commercially available in the marketplace. As a type of PC
`that is far smaller than a notebook PC (e.g., palm top type
`PC), the so-called “PDA” (Personal Digital Assistant) is
`noW Widespread in the industry. In general, a PDA is
`designed to have a much smaller siZe and a much lighter
`Weight than a notebook PC, thereby to further improve its
`mobility.
`A typical example of PDAs is a mobile type information
`processing device called “NeWton MessagePad”, Which has
`been jointly developed by Apple Computer, Inc. and Sharp
`Corp. Another example of PDAs is “IBM ChipCard
`VW-ZOO” (hereafter called “VW-ZOO”), as shoWn in FIG. 6,
`Which is commercially available from IBM Japan, Ltd.
`Other examples are the 3com Palm Pilot, and the IBM
`Workpad.
`VW-200 is a PDA of the PC card type, and it comprises
`a ?rst housing portion that conforms to the form factor of
`45
`Type-II (5.0 mm><85.6 mm><54.0 mm) de?ned by PCMCIA
`(Personal Computer Memory Card International
`Association)/JEIDA (Japan Electronic Industry Develop
`ment Association), and a second housing portion that is
`pivotably hinged on one end of the ?rst housing portion,
`thereby to form a “foldable structure”. The ?rst housing
`portion can be inserted into a PC card slot provided in a
`system unit of a notebook PC and, at its another end, there
`is provided a PCMCIA connector for implementing a
`mechanical/electrical connection With the system unit of the
`PC. Further, When the second housing portion is folded on
`the ?rst housing portion, the Whole structure can be inserted
`into a PC card slot as a Type-III card (10.5 mm><85.6
`mm><54.0
`on a printed Wiring board Within the housing
`portions, there is mounted an internal CPU (16 bit CPU
`called “TLCS-9001” made by Toshiba Corp.) for coordinat
`ing operations of a PDA, in addition to a PCMCIA interface
`circuit, memories (SRAM, EEPROM, Kanji font ROM or
`the like). In a case Where the ?rst housing portion is inserted
`into a PC card slot, the internal CPU enters a sleep mode
`and, thus, VW-200 functions as a conventional memory. On
`the other hand, When it is detached from a PC card slot, the
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`such a PDA (currently, almost all notebook PCs have a card
`slot as a standard feature) and to install a program for
`transferring data to a PDA. Namely, in case of implementing
`the tWo examples as mentioned in the preceding paragraph,
`burdens of hardWare/softWare imposed on a host PC Would
`be expected to be minimum. HoWever, because a PDA that
`is to receive doWnload data has to conform With the form
`factor de?ned by PCMCIA/JEIDA, its range of application
`is substantially limited.
`On the other hand, since various computer systems
`including PCs are provided With serial communication ports
`or the like as standard features adapted for data communi
`cations by Wire, it is not technically difficult to doWnload
`data by Wire. HoWever, it is not advantageous to implement
`doWnloading from a host PC to a PDA by Wire or cable
`connection. This is because a doWnloadable place is con
`strained by a connection cable and yet it takes some time to
`attach the cable. Further, in a case Where a host PC acting as
`an originator of data (reservoir of doWnload data) is shared
`by plurality of PDAs, it folloWs that a cable is frequently
`connected to and disconnected from each PDA and, hence,
`its connector portion may be subject to mechanical damages
`quite often (in particular, for the layman Who is not accus
`tomed to connecting/disconnecting a cable, damage to the
`connector Would not be an uncommon occurrence but Would
`be detrimental). Further, each PDA acting as a recipient or
`a destination must conform to the standardiZed requirements
`of a cable connector provided at a host PC. Moreover, each
`user has to carry a cable and this may degrade mobility of
`his/her PDA.
`Recently, infrared communications have been Widely
`used for data communications betWeen devices. While infra
`red communications Were originally used for remote control
`of household electric appliances such as TV sets or air
`conditioners, they are noW frequently adopted for data
`exchange betWeen computers. Brie?y, a sending or trans
`mitting side modulates digital signals and controls light
`emitting diodes to radiate infrared pulses for transmitting
`data on air, Whereas a receiving side receives and ampli?es
`the data for demodulating the digital signals. Such a basic
`principle applies to the remote controls and the computer
`communications as Well.
`In order to standardiZe infrared communication schemes
`(i.e., to strengthen interoperability of devices available from
`different makers), IrDA (Infra-red Data Association) Was
`established in 1993. In accordance With the recommended
`standard of IrDA, a UART (Universal Asynchronous
`Receiver-Transmitter) is used to accomplish a loW cost,
`infrared communication With a communication protocol of
`the SDLC (Synchronous Data Link Control) type. In short,
`this standard de?nes a loW output, directional type (center
`angle: 15 degrees), one-to-one or one-to-N communication
`scheme. Basically, an infrared communication is adapted for
`use in a small siZed, light Weight and loW cost apparatus such
`as a mobile type information processing device, Which is
`intentionally designed for reduced Weight and cost. For
`example, in a series of notebook PCs called “ThinkPad”
`(trademark of IBM Corp.) commercially available from
`IBM Japan, Ltd., an infrared communication function is
`provided as a standard feature.
`In accordance With the IrDA de?ned protocol “IrLAP” for
`a data link, an infrared data communication comprises a
`sequence of phases, including “discovery”, “connection”,
`“information exchange” and “disconnection”. In the “dis
`covery” phase, a primary station (parent station: a host PC
`for example) transmits an infrared frame called XID
`(exchange ID) command, Whereas a secondary station (child
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`station: a PDA for example) transmits an XID response (it is
`assumed here that the XID command/response routine refers
`to “Discovery Procedure” in its entirety as described in
`Section 6.8 of “Serial Infrared Link Access Protocol (IrLAP)
`Ver 1.0”). For setup of a connection, the primary station
`transmits an SNRM (Set Normal Response Mode) frame,
`Whereas the secondary station returns either a UA
`(Unnumbered AcknoWledgement) frame or a DM
`(Disconnected Mode) frame depending on Whether or not
`the content of the SNRM frame is acceptable to the second
`ary. When the primary station receives the UA frame and the
`connection is set up, it is then possible to exchange
`information, and the primary station transfers data in the
`form of a frame called “I frame”. Upon completion of the
`data transfer, the primary station transmits a DISC
`(Disconnection) frame to request disconnection and, upon
`receipt of the UA frame from the secondary station, the
`primary station completes the disconnecting procedure.
`After the connection is disconnected, each of the primary
`and secondary stations normally initialiZes its communica
`tion state respectively.
`NoW, regarding the aforesaid data transfer betWeen a host
`PC and a PDA, i.e., doWnloading of data to the PDA, it has
`been already attempted to use an infrared communication for
`this sort of data transfer. For example, a Japanese Patent
`Publication, Which is identi?ed as JA PUPA 8-79330, dis
`closes data transfers betWeen information processing
`devices by an infrared communication.
`More particularly, the disclosed PDA having an infrared
`communication function establishes an infrared connection
`With a connecting device for connecting to a netWork on its
`oWn initiative, thereby to acquire a ?le from a server
`machine on the netWork. HoWever, as a prerequisite
`requirement, the disclosed PDA must be provided With its
`oWn modem protocol (e.g., Microcom NetWorking Protocol
`or the like). Provision of such a protocol means that the
`requirements for hardWare/softWare of this device are
`complicated, Which leads to a substantial increase of costs
`involved. Further, since the disclosed PDA is arranged to
`access a server on the netWork on its oWn initiative, the PDA
`must keep its operating state during accessing and during the
`entire period of data transfers involved, Which causes the
`battery to be consumed rapidly.
`Incidentally, in “Color Zaurus” of Sharp Corp. or “Win
`doWs CE” developed by Microsoft Corp. for PDAS, tech
`niques have already been implemented for causing a PDA to
`acquire a Web page. Namely, a PDA is rendered to directly
`acquire Web data Without any involvement of an external
`host computer system. HoWever, they are designed such that
`a PDA is connected to a netWork (e.g., the Internet) for
`acquiring data on its oWn initiative and, thus, a PDA is
`subject to very large burdens imposed thereon in terms of
`access time, control of the TCP/IP protocol or the like.
`Problems to be Solved by the Invention
`It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an
`improved information processing apparatus that has an
`infrared communication function for communicating With
`an external device such as a PDA (Personal Digital
`Assistant), as Well as a method of controlling the same.
`It is another object of this invention to provide an
`improved information processing apparatus that is capable
`of smoothly transferring data, such as processed results
`obtained from execution of an application program, an
`HTML ?le acquired from a Web server in accordance With
`the TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet
`Protocol) protocol or the like, to an external device (PDA)
`by using an infrared communication function, as Well as a
`method of controlling the same.
`
`

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`6,088,730
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`5
`It is yet another object of this invention to provide an
`improved information processing apparatus that is capable
`of transferring data, such as processed results obtained from
`execution of an application program, an HTML ?le acquired
`from a Web server in accordance With the TCP/IP
`(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) protocol
`or the like, to an external device (PDA) by using an infrared
`communication function Without imposing burdens on the
`external device, as Well as a method of controlling the same.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention has been made in consideration of said
`problems. According to a ?rst aspect of the invention, an
`information processing apparatus having an infrared com
`munication function comprises: an infrared transceiver for
`transmitting/receiving an infrared code; a memory for stor
`ing doWnloaded data; input means for alloWing a user to
`input user commands; and means, responsive to a data
`doWnload command from the user, for entering and search
`for a destination station to Which data is to be doWnloaded.
`According to a second aspect of this invention, an infor
`mation processing apparatus having an infrared communi
`cation function comprises: an infrared transceiver for
`transmitting/receiving an infrared code; a memory for stor
`ing doWnloaded data; input means for alloWing a user to
`input user commands; means, responsive to a data doWnload
`command from the user, for entering and staying in a station
`search state to transmit an infrared code to search for a
`destination station to Which data is to be doWnloaded;
`means, responsive to receipt of an infrared code that indi
`cates a response of station discovery from the destination
`station, for executing an infrared communication to transmit
`the doWnload data; and means, responsive to termination of
`the infrared communication With the destination station, for
`returning to the station search state.
`The information processing apparatus relating to either of
`the ?rst or second aspect may include means, responsive to
`a direction from the user, for exiting the station search state.
`According to a third aspect of this invention, an informa
`tion processing apparatus having an infrared communication
`function comprises: an infrared transceiver for transmitting/
`receiving an infrared code; connection means for connecting
`to a netWork; ?le acquisition means, being operative Without
`the involvement of the infrared transceiver, for acquiring a
`?le from a predetermined server through the netWork; a
`memory for storing the acquired ?le as doWnload data; input
`means for alloWing a user to input user commands; and
`means, responsive to a data doWnload command from the
`user, for entering and staying in a station search state to
`transmit an infrared code to search for a destination station
`to Which data is to be doWnloaded.
`According to a fourth aspect of this invention, an infor
`mation processing apparatus having an infrared communi
`cation function comprises: an infrared transceiver for
`transmitting/receiving an infrared code; connection means
`for connecting to a netWork; ?le acquisition means, being
`operative Without the involvement of the infrared
`transceiver, for acquiring a ?le from a predetermined server
`through the netWork; a memory for storing the acquired ?le
`as doWnload data; input means for alloWing a user to input
`user commands; means, responsive to a data doWnload
`command from the user, for entering and staying in a station
`search state to transmit an infrared code to search for a
`destination station to Which data is to be doWnloaded;
`means, responsive to receipt of an infrared code that indi
`cates a response of station discovery from the destination
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`station, for executing an infrared communication to transmit
`the doWnload data; and means, responsive to termination of
`the infrared communication With the destination station, for
`returning to the station search state.
`The information processing apparatus relating to either of
`the third or fourth aspects may include means, responsive to
`a direction from the user, for exiting the station search state.
`According to a ?fth aspect of this invention, an informa
`tion processing apparatus having an infrared communication
`function of the type Which transmits by itself an exchange ID
`(XID) command to search for a destination station, estab
`lishes a connection With the destination station in response
`to receipt of an XID response from the destination station
`indicating station discovery, and disconnects the connection
`in response to transmission of a disconnection (DISC) frame
`by itself and receipt of an unnumbered acknowledgement
`(UA) frame from the destination station, comprises: means
`for attempting to disconnect the connection by transmitting
`a DISC frame; and means, responsive to disconnection of
`the connection, for returning to a station search state to
`transmit an XID command.
`According to a sixth aspect of this invention, a method of
`controlling an information processing apparatus having an
`infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared
`code, a memory for storing doWnload data, and input means
`for alloWing a user to input user commands, comprises the
`steps of: responsive to a data doWnload command from the
`user, entering and staying in a station search state to transmit
`an infrared code to search for a destination station to Which
`data is to be doWnloaded; responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, executing an infrared communication to
`transmit the doWnload data; and responsive to termination of
`the infrared communication With the destination station,
`returning to the station search state.
`According to a seventh aspect of this invention, a method
`of controlling an information processing apparatus having
`an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared
`code, a memory for storing doWnload data, and input means
`for alloWing a user to input user commands, comprises the
`steps of: responsive to a data doWnload command from the
`user, entering and staying in a station search state to transmit
`an infrared code to search for a destination station to Which
`data is to be doWnloaded; responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, executing an infrared communication to
`transmit the doWnload data; responsive to termination of the
`infrared communication With the destination station, return
`ing to the station search state; and responsive to a direction
`from the user, exiting the station search state.
`According to an eighth aspect of this invention, a method
`of controlling an information processing apparatus having
`an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared
`code, a memory for storing doWnload data, input means for
`alloWing a user to input user commands, and connection
`means for connecting to a netWork, comprises the steps of:
`(a) responsive to a data doWnload command from the user,
`entering and staying in a station search state to transmit an
`infrared code to search for a destination station to Which data
`is to be doWnloaded; (b) responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, executing an infrared communication to
`transmit the doWnload data; (c) responsive to termination of
`the infrared communication With the destination station,
`returning to the station search state; (d) Without the involve
`ment of execution of any of the steps (a) through (c),
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`6,088,730
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`7
`acquiring a ?le from a predetermined server through the
`network; and (e) storing the acquired data as the download
`data.
`According to a ninth aspect of this invention, a method of
`controlling an information processing apparatus having an
`infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared
`code, a memory for storing download data, input means for
`allowing a user to input user commands, and connection
`means for connecting to a network, comprises the steps of:
`(a) responsive to a data download command from the user,
`entering and staying in a station search state to transmit an
`infrared code to search for a destination station to which data
`is to be downloaded; (b) responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, executing an infrared communication to
`transmit the download data; (c) responsive to termination of
`the infrared communication with the destination station,
`returning to the station search state; (d) without the involve
`ment of execution of any of the steps (a) through (c),
`acquiring a ?le from a predetermined server through the
`network; (e) storing the acquired data as the download data;
`and
`responsive to a command from the user, exiting the
`station search state.
`According to a tenth aspect of this invention, a method of
`controlling an information processing apparatus having an
`infrared communication function of the type which transmits
`by itself an exchange ID (XID) command to search for a
`destination station, establishes a connection with the desti
`nation station in response to receipt of an XID response from
`the destination station indicating station discovery, and
`disconnects the connection in response to transmission of a
`disconnection (DISC) frame by itself and receipt of an
`unnumbered acknowledgement (UA) frame from the desti
`nation station, comprises the steps of: attempting to discon
`nect the connection by transmitting a DISC frame; and
`responsive to disconnection of the connection, returning to
`a station search state to transmit an XID command.
`According to an eleventh aspect of this invention, a
`computer readable storage medium for storing in a tangible
`form a computer program executable on a computer system
`comprising an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving
`an infrared code, a memory for storing download data, and
`input means for allowing a user to input user commands,
`said computer program comprising: a routine, responsive to
`a data download command from the user, for entering and
`staying in a station search state to transmit an infrared code
`to search for a destination station to which data is to be
`downloaded; a routine, responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, for executing an infrared communication
`to transmit the download data; and a routine, responsive to
`termination of the infrared communication with the desti
`nation station, for returning to the station search state.
`According to a twelfth aspect of this invention, a com
`puter readable storage medium for storing in a tangible form
`a computer program executable on a computer system
`comprising an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving
`an infrared code, a memory for storing download data, and
`input means for allowing a user to input user commands,
`said computer program comprising: a routine, responsive to
`a data download command from the user, for entering and
`staying in a station search state to transmit an infrared code
`to search for a destination station to which data is to be
`downloaded; a routine, responsive to receipt of an infrared
`code that indicates a response of station discovery from the
`destination station, for executing an infrared communication
`to transmit the download data; a routine, responsive to
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`15
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`65
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`8
`termination of the infrared communication with the desti
`nation station, for returning to the station search state; and
`a routine, responsive to a command from the user, for exiting
`the station search state.
`According to a thirteenth aspect of this invention, a
`computer readable storage medium for storing in a tangible
`form a computer program executable on a computer system
`comprising an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving
`an infrared code, a memory for storing download data, input
`means for allowing a user to input user commands, and
`connection means for connecting to a network, said com
`puter program comprising: (a) a routine, responsive to a data
`download command from the user, for entering and staying
`in a station search state to transmit an infrared code to search
`for a destination station to which data is to be downloaded;
`(b) a routine, responsive to receipt of an infrared code that
`indicates a response of station discovery from the destina
`tion station, for executing an infrared communication to
`transmit the download data; (c) a routine, responsive to
`termination of the infrared communication with the desti
`nation station, for returning to the station search state; (d) a
`routine, being operative without the involvement of execu
`tion of any of the routines (a) through (c), for acquiring a ?le
`from a predetermined server through the network; and (e) a
`routine for storing the acquired data as the download data.
`Accor