Abstract:
Disclosed are the information processing apparatus, its system, and method for control of the apparatuses capable preventing surreptitious reading, falsifying and erasing of data stored in the apparatuses. The system comprises information processing apparatus, portable apparatus and other information terminals having radio transmitting and receiving units. It is judged whether the distance between the two apparatuses is within a predetermined range or not by means of radio field strength detector or global positioning system (GPS). If not existing within a predetermined range or the password is not matched, some of the operations of at least one of the two apparatuses are stopped, or start of the two apparatuses is stopped.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an information processing system including plural devices for radio communications, an information processing system comprising a global positioning system (GPS), and a method for control of these systems.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the communication field, recently, the radio communication technology and its devices are offered at lower prices, the information processing apparatus and system are widely spreading for making radio communications between personal computers (PCs), between a PC and peripheral devices, or between information terminals other than PCs, and transmitting information and controlling devices.  
           [0003]    In particular, as a result of enhancement of integration technology of electronic components, development of small and high performance batteries, and development of new materials for use in the casing, the apparatus is smaller in size and lighter in weight, and is further advanced in portability. Accordingly, opportunities of digital radio communications between a portable device and a stationary device are increasing.  
           [0004]    In such manner of use, a portable device “A” sends an instruction to an installed device “B” by radio communication. The device “B” processes according to the instruction, and sends the result to the device “A”. It seems as if all operations were done in the portable device “A” only.  
           [0005]    In this conventional system, however, the device installed at a remote place may be stolen, or the important data may be read, falsified, or erased surreptitiously.  
           [0006]    Besides the portable device, which is smaller and lighter than a desktop computer, may be lost or stolen easily. In the same manner as in the case of the installed device, the important data may be read, falsified, or erased surreptitiously.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In the light of the above problems, it is hence an object of the invention to present information processing system and apparatus and its control method capable of preventing surreptitious reading, falsifying and erasing of data.  
           [0008]    For this purpose, in the event of communication failure between information devices due to trouble in radio communication system or the like during information processing by using radio communications between the information devices, the data display and input operation in the information devices are stopped.  
           [0009]    The information processing system of the invention is an information processing system containing an information processing apparatus having a radio transmitting and receiving unit, and an information terminal such as a portable device. A measuring unit of the strength of radio wave transmitted from the information terminal and received in the information processing apparatus is provided in the information processing apparatus. It is judged if the strength of the received radio wave is within a predetermined range or not. If the strength is not within the predetermined range, an out-of-range informing signal is generated, and the function of the information processing apparatus is stopped, or a start of the information processing apparatus is locked.  
           [0010]    Also, by disposing a received wave strength measuring unit in the information terminal, similarly, the operation of the information terminal may be stopped or its start may be locked.  
           [0011]    Further, instead of the received wave strength measuring unit, a GPS receiver may be installed in the apparatus so that the present position of the apparatus can be detected. Judging if the present position is within a predetermined range or not, if the result shows out of the predetermined range, an out-of-range informing signal is generated. As a result, in the apparatus incorporating the GPS, the operation of the apparatus may be stopped or its start may be locked.  
           [0012]    Moreover, by transmitting a password by the radio transmitting and receiving unit, it may be designed to start and stop the operation of the function of the receiving side apparatus, or start and stop the apparatuses totally.  
           [0013]    Further a GPS receiver may be installed in a single device, and the present position of the device may be detected to judge if the present position is within a predetermined range or not. Depending on the result, it may be designed to start and stop the operation of the function of this apparatus, or start and stop the apparatuses totally.  
           [0014]    The apparatus control method includes the steps corresponding to the above modes of the information processing system and apparatus.  
           [0015]    Thus, according to this information processing system and apparatus control method, if two information processing devices for mutual radio communications are not in the predetermined range, or if the received password is not matched, the function of the apparatus is stopped, or starting of whole apparatuses is stopped. It hence prevents surreptitious reading, falsifying and erasing of the data stored in the apparatuses.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1A is a block diagram of information processing system in embodiment 1 of the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1B is a block diagram of other example of information processing system in embodiment 1 of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation control method in embodiment 1 of the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3A is a block diagram of information processing system in embodiment 2 of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3B is a block diagram of other example of information processing system in embodiment 2 of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation control method in embodiment 2 of the invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of information processing apparatus in embodiment 3 of the invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation control method in embodiment 3 of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below.  
         [0025]    (Embodiment 1)  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of information processing system in embodiment 1 of the invention.  
         [0027]    In FIG. 1A, an information processing apparatus  110  working as a main controller generates an image signal by specified signal processing, and transmits the image signal to an information terminal  120  which is an image display device by using ratio wave from a first transmitting and receiving unit  113 . The information terminal  120  receives this radio wave in a second transmitting and receiving unit  121 , decodes the radio wave into an image signal, and displays the signal as an image in a second display unit  122 .  
         [0028]    The first display unit  111  is a CRT or liquid crystal display (LCD), and the like. The displayed image is transmitted from the information processing apparatus  110  into the information terminal  120  without any changes. A first input unit  112  includes a keyboard and a mouse, and is manipulated by the user for input operation.  
         [0029]    The first transmitting and receiving unit  113  not only transmits the image signal to the apparatus  120  as mentioned above, but also receives the operation signal from the apparatus  120 . The operation signal is generated by the user&#39;s input manipulation in the second input unit. A radio field strength detector  114  measures the reception strength when the radio wave transmitted from the apparatus  120  is received in the apparatus  110  at a predetermined time interval.  
         [0030]    Based on the measuring result of the detector  114 , an out-of-range determining and informing unit  115  judges if the received radio wave strength is within a normal radio communication range for the apparatus  110  and apparatus  120 . If out of the range, the out-of-range determining and informing unit  115  judges that the apparatus  120  is out of range, and generates an out-of-range informing signal, and outputs the signal to a locking unit  118 . The locking unit  118  instructs stopping of display and invalidity of input to a display controller  116  and an input controller  117 . Responsive to the instruction, the display controller  116  and input controller  117  stop the display of the first display unit  111  and invalidate the input from the first input unit  112 . At this time, alternatively, starting of the information processing apparatus  110  may be stopped.  
         [0031]    The first processing unit  119  processes the user&#39;s operation signal input from the first input unit  112  through the input controller  117 , and the user&#39;s operation signal input from the second input unit  123  through the transmitting and receiving units  121  and  113 . The unit  119  generates image signals of moving image, still image and text, and outputs them to the first display unit  111  through the display controller  116 .  
         [0032]    Receiving this image signal, a desired image is displayed in the first display unit  111 .  
         [0033]    This image signal is also transmitted to the apparatus  120  through the first transmitting and receiving unit  113 , and the same image is displayed in the second display unit  122 , in the same manner as mentioned above.  
         [0034]    The second transmitting and receiving unit  121  receives the image signal generated in the apparatus  110 , and transmits the operation signal generated in the apparatus  120  by means of radio wave.  
         [0035]    The second display unit  122  is an LCD or the like, and the second input unit  123  is a touch panel or the like.  
         [0036]    The second processing unit  124  generates an image signal from the reception signal from the second transmitting and receiving unit  121 , and outputs the image signal to the second display unit  122 . Also the unit  124  outputs the operation signal to the second transmitting and receiving unit  121 . The operation signal is generated by the user&#39;s input operation received in the second input unit  123 .  
         [0037]    In the information processing system of the embodiment, it is supposed that the information processing apparatus  110  is installed in a specified place, and the information terminal  120  is carried, and is usually used in a place remote from the apparatus  110 .  
         [0038]    In the information processing system of the embodiment having such configuration, the operation of the information processing apparatus  110  after the radio field strength detector  114  measures the received radio wave strength is explained according to the flowchart in FIG. 2.  
         [0039]    Step  201 :  
         [0040]    The radio field strength detector  114  measures the radio wave strength and evaluates, for example, as “L”. Then the process proceeds to step  202 .  
         [0041]    Step  202 :  
         [0042]    The out-of-range determining and informing unit  115  judges if the radio wave strength “L” is out of range or not. The process goes to step  203  if out of range, and the process terminates otherwise.  
         [0043]    Step  203 :  
         [0044]    The locking unit  118  instructs stopping of display and inputting to the display controller  116  and input controller  117 . The process proceeds to step  204 .  
         [0045]    Step  204 :  
         [0046]    The display controller  116  stops the output of the image to the first display unit  111 , and the input controller  117  invalidates the input operation of the user from the first input unit  112 . Then the process terminates.  
         [0047]    Thus, according to the embodiment, the radio field strength detector  114  judges if the radio communication with the information terminal  120  is enabled or not at a predetermined time interval. If judging out of range and unable to communicate by radio, the display of image from the first display unit  111  and user input operation from the first input unit  112  provided in the information processing apparatus  110  are invalidated.  
         [0048]    Therefore, if the units fail in communication each other while the information processing apparatus  110  is installed in a specified place and the information terminal  120  is being carried, operation for surreptitious reading, falsifying and erasing of data at the information processing apparatus  110  side can be prevented. If the information processing apparatus  110  itself is stolen, the internal data can be protected.  
         [0049]    In this embodiment, in the combination of information processing apparatus and information terminal, if the units fail in communication each other, display and input of the information processing apparatus are stopped.  
         [0050]    In the case that the information terminal side is provided with radio field strength detector  125 , out-of-range determining and informing unit  126 , locking unit  127 , display controller  128  and input controller  129 ; and the both side fail in communication, it may be also designed to stop display and input at the information terminal.  
         [0051]    In such a system, if the portable information terminal (image display device) is lost, operation for surreptitious reading, falsifying and erasing of data can be also prevented.  
         [0052]    In the embodiment, on the occasion of failure in communication between the information processing apparatus (main controller) and information terminal (image display device), it is designed to stop display and input. As shown in FIG. 1B, the information processing apparatus or information processing apparatus may be provided with a GPS receiver as location detector  134  or  137 . The display may be stopped and the input may be invalidated if the position measured by the GPS receiver is out of a specified range.  
         [0053]    In this case, too, the display and input can be stopped in the apparatus provided with the GPS receiver, or in other apparatus.  
         [0054]    In the embodiment, if failing in communication, it is designed to stop the display and input in the midst of process. It may be also designed not to start if a third party attempts to start operation by using other starting means.  
         [0055]    (Embodiment 2)  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 3A is a block diagram of an information processing system in embodiment 2 of the invention.  
         [0057]    An information terminal  3100  which is a first radio communication apparatus includes a function selector  3101 , a password input unit  3102 , and a transmitting unit  3103 .  
         [0058]    The function selector  3101  has a function of locking operation, unlocking operation, or setting password, according to the user&#39;s instruction.  
         [0059]    Herein, the object of locking or unlocking of operation is an information processing apparatus  3200  which is a second radio communication apparatus. Similarly, the password is used for unlocking the operation of the information processing apparatus  3200 .  
         [0060]    The password input unit  3102  receives input of password from the user.  
         [0061]    The transmitting unit  3103  transmits the signal generated in at least one of the function selector  3101  and the password input unit  3102  to the information processing apparatus  3200  by radio wave.  
         [0062]    A receiving unit  3201  of the information processing apparatus  3200  receives the radio wave signal transmitted from the information terminal  3100 .  
         [0063]    A display unit  3202  displays data such as an image including a moving image and a still image and a text to the user. An input unit  3203  accepts input operation by the user.  
         [0064]    A processing unit  3204  processes the operation signal generated by the input operation of the user in the input unit  3203 , and displays the result of processing in the display unit  3202 .  
         [0065]    A display controller  3205  controls whether to stop or start display of the image or other data output by the processing unit  3204  according to the instruction of a locking unit  3210  or an unlocking unit  3211  in the display unit  3202 .  
         [0066]    An input controller  3206  makes the user&#39;s input operation in the input unit  3203  valid or invalid depending on the instruction of the locking unit  3210  or unlocking unit  3211 .  
         [0067]    A function determining unit  3207  judges the data received in the receiving unit  3201  either the function of locking or unlocking operation or setting the password. Accordingly, the determining unit  3207  instructs locking or unlocking of operation of the information processing apparatus  3200  or setting of password to the locking unit  3210 , unlocking unit  3211 , or password setting unit  3209 . If the instructed function is unlocking, the received password and the content in the password memory  3208  are collated, and when matched, unlocking of operation is instructed to the unlocking unit  3211 .  
         [0068]    Receiving this instruction, the unlocking unit  3211  instructs unlocking of operation to the display controller  3205  and input controller  3206 , and unlocks the display unit  3202  and input unit  3203 .  
         [0069]    If the password is not matched, locking of operation is instructed to the locking unit  3210 .  
         [0070]    Receiving this instruction, the locking unit  3210  instructs locking of operation to the display controller  3205  and input controller  3206 , and locks the display unit  3202  and input unit  3203 . When a locking function is instructed, the display unit  3202  and input unit  3203  are locked.  
         [0071]    The password memory  3208  stores the password necessary for unlocking the operation by the unlocking unit  3211 .  
         [0072]    The password setting unit  3209  changes the content, that is, the password in the password memory  3208  according to the instruction of the function determining unit  3207 .  
         [0073]    In the information processing system of the embodiment having such a configuration, the operation when the information processing apparatus  3200  receives the data transmitted from the information terminal  3100  is explained according to the flowchart in FIG. 4.  
         [0074]    Step  401 :  
         [0075]    The receiving unit  3201  receives data, for example, “D” transmitted by radio communication from the information terminal  3100 , and the process goes to step  402 .  
         [0076]    Step  402 :  
         [0077]    The function determining unit  3207  judges if the function type of data “D” is setting of password or not, and if Yes, password “P” is taken out from data “D”, and the process goes to step  403 , or otherwise the process goes to step  402 .  
         [0078]    Step  403 :  
         [0079]    The function determining unit  3207  instructs registration of password “P” to the password setting unit  3209 , and the password setting unit  3209  stores the password in the password memory  3208  according to the instruction, and the process is terminated.  
         [0080]    Step  404 :  
         [0081]    The function determining unit  3207  judges if the function type of data “D” is locking of operation or not, and if Yes, the process goes to step  405 , or otherwise the process goes to step  406 .  
         [0082]    Step  405 :  
         [0083]    The locking unit  3210  instructs locking of operation to the display controller  3205  and the input controller  3206 , and the display controller  3205  and the input controller  3206  stop display and input of the display unit  3202  and the input unit  3203  respectively according to the instruction, and the process is terminated.  
         [0084]    Step  406 :  
         [0085]    The function determining unit  3207  takes out password “P” from data “D”, and compares password “P” and the contents in the password memory  3208 , and goes to step  407 .  
         [0086]    Step  407 :  
         [0087]    When the password is matched, the process goes to step  408 , or otherwise the process is terminated.  
         [0088]    Step  408 :  
         [0089]    The function determining unit  3207  instructs unlocking of operation to the unlocking unit  3211 . Accordingly, the unlocking unit  3211  instructs unlocking of operation to the display controller  3205  and the input controller  3206 .  
         [0090]    The display controller  3205  starts display of the display unit  3202  and the input controller  3206  starts input of the input unit  3203  according to the instruction, and the process is terminated.  
         [0091]    Thus, according to the embodiment, from the information terminal  3100 , the user sends the operation of locking or unlocking of operation of the information processing apparatus  3200  or setting of password by radio communication to the information processing apparatus  3200 . After judging the function by the function determining unit  3207 , the process based on the judging result is realized by the locking unit  3210 , unlocking unit  3211 , or password setting unit  3209 . Therefore, when the information terminal  3100  is carried by the user and the information processing apparatus  3200  is installed at a place remote from the user, or if the information processing apparatus  3200  is lost or stolen, its operation can be locked or unlocked, or the password can be set by the user from the information terminal. It hence avoids ill-willed operation by third party for surreptitious reading, falsifying or erasing the data in the information processing apparatus  3200 .  
         [0092]    In the embodiment, the password stored in the password memory is used for unlocking the information processing apparatus from the information terminal which is the first radio communication apparatus.  
         [0093]    The same password may be also used for unlocking from the information processing apparatus which is the second radio communication apparatus.  
         [0094]    Or, as shown in FIG. 3B, at the information terminal, in addition to the function selector and the password input unit, a display unit  3104  for displaying the image, an input unit  3105  for accepting user&#39;s general input operation, and a processing unit  3106  for processing these signal may be also provided.  
         [0095]    (Embodiment 3)  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus in embodiment 3 of the invention.  
         [0097]    In FIG. 5, a display unit  501  is a CRT, an LCD or the like, and displays specified images or text.  
         [0098]    An input unit  502  includes a keyboard and a mouse, and accepts user&#39;s input operation.  
         [0099]    A location detector  503  is connected to a GPS receiver or incorporates a GPS receiver, and calculates the own location at a predetermined time intervals, and outputs the present position.  
         [0100]    The output data contains latitude, longitude, altitude, and others, but in the embodiment, only the latitude and longitude are used, and expressed to the third decimal point.  
         [0101]    An range memory  504  stores the usable range of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment of the invention in terms of latitude and longitude.  
         [0102]    The content can be changed by proper means (not shown). An operation controller  505  judges if the output data of the location detector  503  is within a predetermined range stored in the range memory  504  or not. The operation controller  505  informs the judging result to a locking unit  506  or an unlocking unit  507 .  
         [0103]    If the present position is out of specified range, an instruction is given to the locking unit  506  to stop the operation of a processing unit  509 , and the apparatus is disabled. Otherwise, an instruction is given to the unlocking unit  507 , and the operation of the processing unit  509  is started, so that the apparatus is enabled.  
         [0104]    A processing unit  508  processes according to the input of user&#39;s operation from the input unit  502 , and outputs, if necessary, images including a moving image and a still image, and text to the display unit  501 .  
         [0105]    The operation of the processing unit  508  is stopped or started by the instruction from the locking unit  506  or unlocking unit  507 .  
         [0106]    In the information processing apparatus of the embodiment having such a configuration, the operation after the location detector  503  detects the position is explained according to the flowchart in FIG. 6.  
         [0107]    Step  601 :  
         [0108]    The location detector  503  detects the present position of the information processing apparatus as, for example, “P”, and the process goes to step  602 .  
         [0109]    Step  602 :  
         [0110]    The operation controller  505  judges if the present position is within the predetermined range stored in the range memory  504  or not, and if within the predetermined range, the process goes to step  603 , and if out of the range, the process goes to step  605 .  
         [0111]    Step  603 :  
         [0112]    The unlocking unit  507  checks if the processing unit  508  is stopped or not, and if stopped, the process goes to step  604 , or if operating, the process is terminated.  
         [0113]    Step  604 :  
         [0114]    The unlocking unit  507  instructs a start of operation to the processing unit  508 , and terminates the process.  
         [0115]    Step  605 :  
         [0116]    The locking unit  506  checks if the processing unit  508  is operating or not, and if operating, the process goes to step  606 , and if stopped, the process is terminated.  
         [0117]    Step  606 :  
         [0118]    The locking unit  506  instructs stopping of operation to the processing unit  508 , and terminates the process.  
         [0119]    For example, suppose the information processing apparatus of the embodiment is used in an office. The office is located at east longitude of 135 degree 34.350 min., and north latitude of 34 degree 44.550 min., and the range memory  504  is supposed to store the data of “east longitude of 135 degree 34.300 min. to 135 degree 34.400 min., and north latitude of 34 degree 44.500 min. to 34 degree 44.600 min.,”. Then, the apparatus operates normally in the office, but if it is taken out of the office by an ill-willed third party and moved to a place several hundreds meters away, it does not work, hence subsequent illegal uses can be prevented.  
         [0120]    Thus, according to the embodiment, the location detector detects the own present position at a predetermined time intervals, and the apparatus is operated when within a predetermined range, and stopped if out of the range. It therefore prevents removal of the apparatus by third party, or surreptitious operation for reading, falsifying or erasing data in the apparatus.  
         [0121]    In the embodiment, depending on the output of the location detector, examples of changing from an operating state to a stopped state, or from the stopped state to the operating state are shown. Alternatively, if the output of the location detector is out of the predetermined range, it may be designed to control so that the power source of the information processing apparatus cannot be turned on.  
         [0122]    As described herein, according to the invention, in the system comprising apparatuses for mutual radio communication, if one apparatus is judged to be out of a predetermined range by measurement of received radio wave strength or detection of present position of apparatus by GPS, the operation of this apparatus is locked. It prevents third party&#39;s mischievous operation for reading, falsifying or erasing data surreptitiously. Also in the system comprising apparatuses for mutual radio communication, from the apparatus of the user&#39;s side, locking or unlocking of operation and setting of password of the other apparatus can be instructed. It similarly prevents operation for reading, falsifying or erasing data surreptitiously.  
         [0123]    Moreover, in an independent apparatus incorporating a GPS receiver, if the apparatus is out of a predetermined range, its operation is locked, or its start is stopped. Thus, if the apparatus is stolen and moved to a remote place, possibility of third party&#39;s surreptitious operation for reading, falsifying or erasing data can be avoided.