Abstract:
A portable terminal includes an access request receiving section for receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server via a communication apparatus which is installed as an external device at the portable terminal, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request; a commanding section for commanding the communication apparatus to hold power supplied to the communication apparatus after a communication port allocated to the communication apparatus is disconnected, in accordance with the reception of the access request; a communication port disconnecting section for once disconnecting the communication port in accordance with the reception of the access request; and an accessing section for accessing the IP push server by dial-up connection using the communication apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable terminal, a program installed in a portable terminal, a communication method, and a communication apparatus.  
         [0003]     Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-157887, filed May 30, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In recent years, a service called “IP push service” has become widely spread, in which data possessed by an upper device on a network is transmitted to a lower device possessed by a user or the like, at a timing different from a timing required by the lower device.  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the general structure of an IP push service system for providing the IP push service to a portable terminal such as a notebook (or personal) computer to which a wireless communication card can be installed.  
         [0006]     In  FIG. 5 , reference numeral  100  indicates an IP push service terminal, reference numeral  101  indicates an IP push server, reference numeral  102  indicates an SMS (short message service) server, reference numeral  103  indicates a communication network, reference numeral  104  indicates a wireless base station, reference numeral  105  indicates a wireless communication card (i.e., a communication apparatus), and reference numeral  106  indicates a portable terminal.  
         [0007]     The IP push service terminal  100  is a terminal such as a personal computer, possessed by an ISP (Internet service provider) for providing an IP push service to a user. Specifically, the IP push service terminal  100  commands the IP push server  101  via the communication network  103  to provide an IP push service to a user (i.e., the portable terminal  106 ).  
         [0008]     The IP push server  101  stores various data used for the IP push service. When the IP push server  101  is commanded by the IP push service terminal  100  to provide the IP push service to the user, the IP push server  101  sends the above data to the user.  
         [0009]     The SMS server  102  sends an SMS message to the user. The communication network  103  is an analog telephone network spread around various areas of the whole country.  
         [0010]     The wireless base station  104 , provided in each of specific service areas, is a relay station for connecting a portable communication terminal (i.e., the portable terminal  106  to which the wireless communication card  105  is installed) to the communication network  103  via wireless communication.  
         [0011]     The wireless communication card  105  is a PC card for performing wireless communication with the wireless base station  104  by using a CDMA2000 1×EV-DO (code division multiple access 2000 1× evolution data only) method, or the like. The wireless communication card  105  is operated by receiving a power supply from the portable terminal  106 .  
         [0012]     The portable terminal  106  may be a notebook or personal computer possessed by the user. When the wireless communication card  105  is installed to the portable terminal  106 , the portable terminal  106  can access the communication network  103  via the wireless base station  104 .  
         [0013]     The operation of the IP push service system having the above-described structure will be explained. First, the IP push service terminal  100  commands the IP push server  101  to provide the IP push service to the user. When the IP push server  101  does not know the IP address of the portable terminal  106 , the IP push server  101  requests the SMS server  102  to send an SMS message to the portable terminal  106 , where the SMS message is a message for requesting access to the IP push server  101  by dial-up connection.  
         [0014]     In accordance with the request from the IP push server  101 , the SMS server  102  sends the SMS message to the portable terminal  106 . The portable terminal  106  is in an SMS reception standby state, and receives the SMS message from the SMS server  102  via the wireless base station  104  and the wireless communication card  105 . The portable terminal  106  then analyzes the received SMS message, and starts dial-up connection, so as to access the IP push server  101 .  
         [0015]     The IP push server  101  can obtain the IP address of the portable terminal  106  by being accessed by the portable terminal  106 . Therefore, the IP push server  101  can provide the IP push service designated by the IP push service terminal  100  to the portable terminal  106 .  
         [0016]     Published Japanese Translation, No. 2003-509920, of PCT International Publication, No. WO01/019110 discloses a technique relating to the IP push service system.  
         [0017]     In the above operation, before the analysis of the SMS message is completed and the dial-up connection is started, the portable terminal  106  disconnects a modem port (i.e., a communication port) to which the wireless communication card  105  is installed. Accordingly, the wireless communication card  105  determines that usage of itself (i.e., the card) is terminated, and cuts off power supply voltage supplied by the portable terminal  106 , so as to turn off the power of itself. When the portable terminal  106  starts dial-up connection, the wireless communication card  105  determines that usage of itself is started, and turns on the power of itself. In accordance with the turning-on of the power of itself, the wireless communication card  105  starts searching for the wireless base station  104 , and dial-up connection is started after completion of the searching operation. As described above, in accordance with the disconnection of the modem port, power of the wireless communication card  105  is once turned off; thus, the operation of searching for the wireless base station  104  is again performed, thereby increasing the time from the reception of the SMS message to the completion of the dial-up connection.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to eliminate an extra operation of searching for a wireless base station when providing an IP push service to a portable terminal to which a communication apparatus is installed, so as to reduce the time from reception of the SMS message to completion of the dial-up connection.  
         [0019]     Therefore, the present invention provides a portable terminal comprising:  
         [0020]     an access request receiving section for receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server via a communication apparatus which is installed as an external device at the portable terminal, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request;  
         [0021]     a commanding section for commanding the communication apparatus to hold power supplied to the communication apparatus after a communication port allocated to the communication apparatus is disconnected, in accordance with the reception of the access request;  
         [0022]     a communication port disconnecting section for once disconnecting the communication port in accordance with the reception of the access request; and  
         [0023]     an accessing section for accessing the IP push server by dial-up connection using the communication apparatus.  
         [0024]     The present invention also provides a program installed in a portable terminal to which a communication apparatus is installed as an external device, wherein:  
         [0025]     the program makes the portable terminal execute the step of: 
        receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server via a communication apparatus which is installed as an external device at the portable terminal, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request,        
 
         [0027]     the program makes the communication apparatus execute the step of: 
        holding power supplied to the communication apparatus after a communication port allocated to the communication apparatus is disconnected, in accordance with the reception of the access request,        
 
         [0029]     the program also makes the portable terminal execute the steps of: 
        once disconnecting the communication port in accordance with the reception of the access request; and     accessing the IP push server by dial-up connection using the communication apparatus.        
 
         [0032]     The present invention also provides a communication method used in a portable terminal to which a communication apparatus is installed as an external device, wherein the method comprising:  
         [0033]     an access request receiving step, executed by the portable terminal, of receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server via a communication apparatus which is installed as an external device at the portable terminal, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request;  
         [0034]     a commanding step, executed by the communication apparatus, of holding power supplied to the communication apparatus after a communication port allocated to the communication apparatus is disconnected, in accordance with the reception of the access request;  
         [0035]     a communication port disconnecting step, executed by the portable terminal, of once disconnecting the communication port in accordance with the reception of the access request; and  
         [0036]     an accessing step, executed by the portable terminal, of accessing the IP push server by dial-up connection using the communication apparatus.  
         [0037]     The present invention also provides a communication apparatus comprising:  
         [0038]     an access request receiving section for receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server, based on control from a portable terminal to which the communication apparatus is connected, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request;  
         [0039]     an access request output section for outputting the access request to the portable terminal;  
         [0040]     a power holding section for holding power supplied to the communication apparatus when receiving a command from the portable terminal after the output of the access request to the portable terminal and before a communication port, which is allocated to the communication apparatus by the portable terminal, is disconnected by the portable terminal, wherein the command indicates holding the power even when the communication port is disconnected.  
         [0041]     The present invention also provides a communication apparatus comprising:  
         [0042]     an access request receiving section for receiving an access request for accessing an IP push server, based on control from a portable terminal to which the communication apparatus is connected, wherein the access request is sent from an SMS server which is requested by the IP push server to send the access request;  
         [0043]     an access request output section for outputting the access request to the portable terminal;  
         [0044]     a base station data storing section for storing data of a base station, with which the communication apparatus is presently connected to and communicating with, when the access request is received by the receiving section;  
         [0045]     a power disconnecting section for once disconnecting power supplied to the communication apparatus in accordance with disconnection of a communication port, which is allocated to the communication apparatus by the portable terminal, after the access request is output by the access request output section; and  
         [0046]     a communication connecting section for performing communication connection to the base station which corresponds to the data stored in the base station data storing section, when the communication apparatus is again activated in accordance with start of access of the portable terminal to the IP push server.  
         [0047]     In accordance with the present invention, when the portable terminal receives the access request (sent from the SMS server which is requested by the IP push server) for accessing the IP push server via the communication apparatus (installed as an external device), the portable terminal once disconnects the communication port allocated to the communication apparatus and accesses the IP push server by dial-up connection using the communication apparatus. In this process, the portable terminal commands the communication apparatus to hold power supplied to the communication apparatus after the communication port is disconnected.  
         [0048]     Therefore, turning-off of the power of the communication apparatus in accordance with the disconnection of the communication port is prevented; thus, when dial-up connection is performed, an unnecessary operation of searching for the base station is not performed. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the time from the reception of the SMS message to the completion of the dial-up connection. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0049]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the structures of the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106  in a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0050]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the operations of the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106  in the first embodiment.  
         [0051]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the structure of the wireless communication card  105  in a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0052]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing the operations of the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106  in the second embodiment.  
         [0053]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the general structure of a conventional IP push service system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0054]     Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the appended figures. In the embodiments, the structure of the IP push service system is similar to that shown in  FIG. 5 ; thus, the structures and the operations of a wireless communication card  105  and a portable terminal  106  of the embodiments will be explained below.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0055]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the structures of the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106  in a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0056]     As described above, the portable terminal  106  is a portable terminal such as a notebook or a personal computer possessed by the user, and has a PC card slot  106   a . When the wireless communication card  105  is inserted into the PC card slot  106   a , a communication connection can be established between the portable terminal  106  and a communication network  103  via a wireless base station  104 .  
         [0057]     The wireless communication card  105  has a wireless communication section  105   a , an antenna  105   b , a buffer  105   c , a card control section  105   d , a power switch  105   e , a card interface section  105   f , and a connector  105   g.    
         [0058]     The wireless communication section  105   a  performs wireless communication with the wireless base station  104  by using, for example, the CDMA2000 1×EV-DO method, and performs frequency conversion or modulation/demodulation of a data signal, which is transmitted or received via the antenna  105   b.    
         [0059]     The buffer  105   c  is provided for temporarily storing a transmitted data signal before modulation, or a received data signal after demodulation.  
         [0060]     The card control section  105   d  controls the entire operation of the wireless communication card  105  based on a control signal input from the portable terminal  106  via the card interface section  105   f . In addition, based on a card power control signal transmitted from the portable terminal  106 , the card control section  105   d  controls ON/OFF of the power switch  105   e  so as to maintain (or hold) or disconnect the power of the wireless communication card  105 .  
         [0061]     To the power switch  105   e , a power supply voltage is supplied from the portable terminal  106  via a power supply line P. The power switch  105   e  supplies the power supply voltage to each section of the wireless communication card  105 , and performs power supply (or holding) or disconnection under control performed by the card control section  105   d , as described above. The power supply line P is connected to the card control section  105   d  and the power switch  105   e , and the power supply voltage is always supplied to the card control section  105   d.    
         [0062]     The card interface section  105   f  is an interface for performing transmission and reception of a data signal and a control signal to and from the portable terminal  106  via the connector  105   g . The connector  105   g  is of a “32 bit CardBus” type. When this connector is connected to the PC card slot  106   a  of the portable terminal  106 , the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106  are mechanically and electrically connected to each other.  
         [0063]     The portable terminal  106  has a PC card slot  106   a , a PC interface section  106   b , a modem port connecting section  106   c , an SMS analyzing section  106   d , a dial-up connecting section  106   e , a PC control section  106   f , a ROM (read only memory)  106   g , and a RAM (random access memory)  106   h.    
         [0064]     As described above, the PC card slot  106   a  is provided for mechanically and electrically connecting the wireless communication card  105  and the portable terminal  106 , and the PC interface section  106   b  is an interface for performing transmission and reception of a data signal and a control signal to and from the wireless communication card  105 , more specifically, the card interface section  105   f.    
         [0065]     The modem port connecting section  106   c  performs connection and disconnection of a modem port (i.e., a communication port) under control performed by the PC control section  106   f.    
         [0066]     The SMS analyzing section  106   d  analyzes an SMS message sent from the SMS server  102  via the wireless base station  104 , and outputs a result of the analysis to the PC control section  106   f.    
         [0067]     The dial-up connecting section  106   e  performs dial-up connection and disconnection under control performed by the PC control section  106   f.    
         [0068]     The PC control section  106   f  controls operation of each section in the portable terminal  106 , by using a device driver for the wireless communication card  105 , where the device driver is installed in the ROM  106   g  in advance. Accordingly, the PC control section  106   f  performs transmission and reception of a data signal to and from the wireless communication card  105  and outputs control signals via the PC interface section  106   b . In addition, while the SMS message is analyzed, the PC control section  106   f  outputs a card power control signal via the PC interface section  106   b  to the card control section  105   d  so as to request the card control section  105   d  to maintain (or hold) the power (detailed explanations will be provided later).  
         [0069]     The ROM  106   g  stores the device driver, a system program, and various application programs, which are executed by the PC control section  106   f , and other nonvolatile data, or the like. The RAM  106   h  is memory used as a working area of the PC control section  106   f.    
         [0070]     Next, the operation of the portable terminal  106 , to which the wireless communication card  105  having the above-described structure is installed, will be explained with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0071]     First, when the wireless communication card  105  is connected to the PC card slot  106   a  of the portable terminal  106 , power supply voltage is supplied from the portable terminal  106  via the power supply line P to the card control section  105   d  and the power switch  105   e . Accordingly, the card control section  105   d  is activated, and the power switch  105   e  is turned ON, thereby supplying the power supply voltage to each section of the wireless communication card  105  and performing specific initial setting. In this process, the card control section  105   d  searches for the wireless base station  104  via the wireless communication section  105   a , and establishes communication connection with the wireless base station  104 , so that the card control section  105   d  is set to a reception standby state (see step S 1 ).  
         [0072]     In the next step S 2 , the PC control section  106   f  commands the modem port connecting section  106   c  to perform connection of the modem port, and accordingly, the modem port connecting section  106   c  performs connection of the modem port. The PC control section  106   f  then shifts to an SMS reception standby state (see step S 3 ).  
         [0073]     As described above, when an IP push server  101  does not know the IP address of the portable terminal  106 , the IP push server  101  requests an SMS server  102  to send an SMS message to the portable terminal  106 , where the SMS message is a message for requesting access to the IP push server  101  by dial-up connection.  
         [0074]     In accordance with the request from the IP push server  101 , the SMS server  102  sends the SMS message to the wireless communication card  105  via the wireless base station  104 . The received SMS message is transmitted to the PC control section  106   f  via the wireless communication section  105   a , the buffer  105   c , the card interface section  105   f , and the PC interface section  106   b  (see step S 4 ). In step S 4 , the PC control section  106   f  maintains the SMS reception standby state until the SMS message is received.  
         [0075]     When the SMS message is input as described above, the PC control section  106   f  outputs the SMS message to the SMS analyzing section  106   d . The SMS analyzing section  106   d  analyzes the content of the SMS message, and outputs a result of the analysis to the PC control section  106   f  (see step S 5 ). The PC control section  106   f  then outputs a card power holding (or maintenance) request to the card control section  105   d  (see step S 6 ), and simultaneously, commands the modem port connecting section  106   c  to disconnect the modem port (see step S 7 ).  
         [0076]     In the conventional operation, when the modem port is disconnected in step S 7 , the card control section  105   d  determines that usage of itself is terminated, and turns off the power switch  105   e . However, in the portable terminal  106  of the present embodiment, the card power holding request is output to the card control section  105   d  before the disconnection of the modem port, thereby maintaining the ON state of the power switch  105   e , that is, the power ON state of the wireless communication card  105 .  
         [0077]     After the modem port is disconnected, the PC control section  106   f  commands the dial-up connecting section  106   e  to start dial-up connection (see step S 8 ). In this process, the power ON state of the wireless communication card  105  has been maintained even after the disconnection of the modem port; thus, it is unnecessary to search for the wireless base station  104  again (which is necessary in the conventional operation). Therefore, dial-up connection can be immediately started. In addition, when the dial-up connection is started, the card control section  105   d  determines that usage of itself is started, and turns on the power switch  105   e , as performed in the conventional operation. After the power switch  105   e  is turned on, the card power holding request is unnecessary. Therefore, the PC control section  106   f  terminates the card power holding request in accordance with the start of the dial-up connection (see step S 9 ).  
         [0078]     When the dial-up connection is completed, the PC control section  106   f  accesses the IP push server  101  based on the result of the analysis of the SMS message (see step S 10 ), and simultaneously, activates an application program corresponding to the IP push service (see step S 11 ). In accordance with the execution of the application program, the PC control section  106   f  performs data transmission and reception for receiving data for the IP push service from the IP push server  101  via the wireless communication card  105  (see step S 12 ). When the data transmission and reception are completed, the PC control section  106   f  commands the dial-up connecting section  106   e  to disconnect the dial-up connection (see step S 13 ). The operation from step S 2  to step S 13  is repeatedly performed until the IP push service is terminated (see step S 14 ).  
         [0079]     As explained above, in accordance with the first embodiment, the PC control section  106   f  issues the card power holding request to the card control section  105   d  before disconnection of the modem port, so as to maintain the ON state of the power switch  105   e , that is, the power ON state of the wireless communication card  105 . Therefore, when dial-up connection is performed after disconnection of the modem port, it is unnecessary to search for the wireless base station  104  again, thereby reducing the time from reception of the SMS message to completion of the dial-up connection.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0080]     A second embodiment in accordance with the present invention will be explained below.  FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing the structure of the wireless communication card  105  of the present embodiment. In  FIG. 3 , parts identical to those in  FIG. 1  are given identical reference numerals, and explanations thereof are omitted.  
         [0081]     In  FIG. 3 , reference numeral  105   h  indicates an SMS reception detecting section, and reference numeral  105   i  indicates a base station data storage section.  
         [0082]     The SMS reception detecting section  105   h  monitors whether the SMS message has been received, based on the received data demodulated by the wireless communication section  105   a . When reception of the SMS message is detected, the SMS reception detecting section  105   h  outputs an SMS message detection signal to the card control section  105   d . When receiving the SMS message detection signal from the SMS reception detecting section  105   h , the card control section  105   d  stores (i) base station data (such as an ID number) of the wireless base station  104  with which the wireless communication card  105  is presently connected to and communicating with, and (ii) the present time (i.e., SMS reception time) in the base station data storage section  105   i . The relevant operation of the card control section  105   d  will be explained in detail later.  
         [0083]     The base station data storage section  105   i  is memory such as a flash memory, in which stored data is not deleted even when the power is disconnected.  
         [0084]     The structure of the portable terminal  106  of the second embodiment is similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 ; however, in contrast to the first embodiment, the PC control section  106   f  of the present embodiment does not output a card power holding request to the card control section  105   d  before disconnection of the modem port.  
         [0085]     Below, the operation of the portable terminal  106 , to which the wireless communication card having the above-described structure is installed, will be explained with reference to a flowchart shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0086]     In  FIG. 4 , steps S 20  to S 22  are identical to steps S 1  to S 3  in  FIG. 2 ; thus, explanations thereof are omitted.  
         [0087]     The SMS reception detecting section  105   h  monitors whether the SMS message has been received, based on the received data demodulated by the wireless communication section  105   a  (see step S 23 ). When reception of the SMS message is detected, the SMS reception detecting section  105   h  outputs the SMS message detection signal to the card control section  105   d . In synchronism with the SMS message detection signal, the card control section  105   d  stores (i) the base station data (such as the ID number) of the wireless base station  104  with which the wireless communication card  105  is presently connected to and communicating with, and (ii) the present time (i.e., SMS reception time) in the base station data storage section  105   i  (see step S 24 ).  
         [0088]     The SMS message received by the wireless communication section  105   a  is transmitted via the card interface section  105   f  and the PC interface section  106   b  to the PC control section  106   f , and the PC control section  106   f  outputs the SMS message to the SMS analyzing section  106   d . The SMS analyzing section  106   d  analyzes the content of the SMS message, and outputs a result of the analysis to the PC control section  106   f  (see step S 25 ). The PC control section  106   f  then commands the modem port connecting section  106   c  to disconnect the modem port (see step S 26 ). In this process, the card control section  105   d  determines that usage of itself is terminated, and turns off the power switch  105   e  (see step S 27 ). That is, similarly to in the conventional operation, power of the wireless communication card  105  is once turned off.  
         [0089]     After the disconnection of the modem port, the PC control section  106   f  commands the dial-up connecting section  106   e  to start dial-up connection (see step S 28 ). When the dial-up connection is started, the card control section  105   d  determines that usage of itself is started, and turns on the power switch  105   e  (see step S 29 ).  
         [0090]     In the next step S 30 , the card control section  105   d  determines whether the base station data is stored in the base station data storage section  105   i . When the base station data is stored, the card control section  105   d  computes an elapsed time (=present time−SMS reception time) (see step S 31 ). In the next step S 32 , the card control section  105   d  compares the above elapsed time with a predetermined threshold. When the elapsed time is less than the threshold, the card control section  105   d  determines that the portable terminal  106  is still present in a service area of the same base station  104  after the portable terminal  106  has received the SMS message, and reads out the base station data stored in the base station data storage section  105   i , and performs communication connection to the wireless base station  104  corresponding to the base station data (see step S 33 ).  
         [0091]     When the elapsed time is equal to or larger than the threshold in step S 32 , the card control section  105   d  determines that the possibility of the portable terminal  106  still being present in the service area of the same base station  104  after the portable terminal  106  has received the SMS message, is low, and newly searches for the base station  104  (see step S 34 ). Therefore, the above threshold is a parameter for determining whether the portable terminal  106  is still present in the service area of the same base station  104  after the portable terminal  106  has received the SMS message, and the threshold is set in consideration of a time period necessary for the user (who possesses the portable terminal  106 ) to move to another place, or the like.  
         [0092]     When the wireless base station  104  with which the wireless communication card  105  can be connected to and communicate with at present is determined in step S 33  or step S 34 , and dial-up connection is completed (see step S 35 ), the PC control section  106   f  accesses the IP push server  101  based on the result of the analysis of the SMS message (see step S 36 ). The following steps S 37  to S 40  are identical to steps S 11  to S 14  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0093]     As explained above, in accordance with the second embodiment, the base station data obtained when the SMS message is received is stored in the base station data storage section  105   i . Therefore, even when the power of the wireless communication card  105  is turned off after disconnection of the modem port, as performed in the conventional operation, the operation of searching for the base station  104  is unnecessary when dial-up connection is performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time from the reception of the SMS message to the completion of the dial-up connection.  
         [0094]     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.