Pulse or digital communications – Testing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2004-10-19
Chin, Stephen (Department: 2634)
Pulse or digital communications
Testing
C370S396000, C370S399000, C370S265000, C379S001010, C379S100150, C379S093090, C379S093110, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06807226
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which can be easily and securely grouped with other such apparatus, a method for grouping the apparatuses together, and a recording medium for use with such a method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional method for grouping together a plurality of apparatuses capable of, communicating with one another, Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 9-200860 discloses a method for registering a sub unit in a main unit by using a recording medium. The main unit disclosed in this publication includes a section for storing an identification code, and a section for accessing the recording medium. The identification code of the sub unit which is stored in the recording medium can be registered in the main unit by inserting the recording medium in which the identification code of the sub unit has been recorded into the main unit. Thus, a sub unit registration can be easily be accomplished.
However, the sub unit registration method disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 9-200860 requires a recording medium in which the identification code of the sub unit has been registered in advance. Moreover, the identification code needs to be set to a different value for each sub unit. Therefore, the identification code management is very difficult. Furthermore, the sub unit registration is very difficult to accomplish when the apparatus does not have unique ID information such as a telephone number. In addition, a main unit is always necessary when registering an apparatus. Therefore, sub units cannot be grouped and registered under circumstances where there is no main unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an apparatus including a communication section for communicating with another apparatus. The apparatus includes: a registration detection section for detecting grouping registration information which is provided to each of a plurality of apparatuses to be grouped and registered; a storage section for storing group information which indicates that the apparatus and the other apparatus are in the same group; and a control section for controlling the communication section, the registration detection section and the storage section. The control section generates connection ID information based on the detected grouping registration information, receives first connection information transmitted from the other apparatus, determines whether or not the first connection information matches with second connection information which is based on the connection ID information and, if it is determined that the first connection information matches with the second connection information, stores the first connection information as the group information in the storage section.
In one embodiment of the invention, the storage section is capable of storing the group information even after a power supply is turned OFF.
In one embodiment of the invention, the storage section is capable of deleting the group information stored in the storage section by turning OFF a power supply.
In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes a cancellation detection section for detecting grouping registration cancellation information which is provided to an apparatus to be canceled from the grouping. The control section generates connection ID information based on the detected grouping registration cancellation information, determines whether or not the first connection information stored in the storage section matches with the second connection information and, if it is determined that the first connection information matches with the second connection information, deletes the first connection information stored in the storage section.
In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes a location detection section for detecting location information which indicates a location of the apparatus. The control section deletes the first connection information stored in the storage section depending upon the detected location information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes a time detection section for detecting an elapsed time. The control section deletes the first connection information stored in the storage section depending upon the detected elapsed time.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control section measures the number of times the apparatus has been connected to the other apparatus and, if the measured number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times, deletes the first connection information stored in the storage section.
In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus further includes a display section for displaying a list of at least one connection information including the first connection information stored in the storage section.
In one embodiment of the invention, the storage section stores an operation procedure of the apparatus. At least one of the plurality of apparatuses which have been grouped and registered operates according to the operation procedure stored in the storage section.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the plurality of apparatuses which have been grouped and registered operates depending upon a combination of the plurality of apparatuses which have been grouped and registered.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control section authenticates the connection ID information when performing at least one of the grouping registration and grouping registration cancellation.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the grouping registration and grouping registration cancellation is performed by a dedicated grouping apparatus.
In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the grouping registration information and the grouping registration cancellation information represents at least one of: the number of times a button is depressed within a predetermined period and a timing of button depression: a timing of turning ON/OFF a light: sound information: a timing of vibration; wind force information; temperature information; speed information; and image information.
In one embodiment of the invention, the control section notifies a user that at least one of the grouping registration information and the grouping registration cancellation information has been performed.
According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided a method for grouping together a plurality of apparatuses including a first apparatus and a second apparatus. Each of the plurality of apparatuses includes a communication section for communicating with the other apparatuses. The method includes the steps of: providing the same grouping registration information to the plurality of apparatuses; generating, in each of the plurality of apparatuses, the same connection ID information based on the same grouping registration information provided; transmitting to the second apparatus first connection information which is based on the connection ID information generated in the first apparatus; and determining whether or not the first connection information transmitted from the first apparatus matches with second connection information which is based on the connection ID information generated in the second apparatus and, if it is determined that the first connection information matches with the second connection information, storing the first connection information in the second apparatus as group information which indicates that the first apparatus and the second apparatus are in the same group.
According to still another aspect of this invention, there is provided a recording medium in which a program is recorded, the program being provided for controlling a computer to perform a grouping process for grouping together a plurality of apparatuses including a first apparatus and a second apparatus. Each of the plurality of apparatuses includes a communication section for communicating with the other, apparatuses. The grouping process includes the steps of: providing th
Nakao Atsushi
Suetsugu Junji
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Pathak Sudhanshu C.
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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