Patent Publication Number: US-2003227900-A1

Title: Portable terminal supporting apparatus, data synchronizing method, and portable terminal apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1) Field of the Invention  
       [0002] This invention relates to a potable terminal supporting apparatus which supplies power to at least a potable terminal apparatus, a portable terminal apparatus, and a data synchronization method.  
       [0003] 2) Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] In recent years, as PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) have spread and the functions of cellular phones have advanced, it has become important to accomplish data synchronism between one portable terminal apparatus and a computer. Data synchronism means that a portable terminal apparatus and a computer exchange data therebetween and the consistency of information which is held by both the portable terminal apparatus and the computer is thereby maintained.  
       [0005] Data on an address book or a schedule of a PIM (Personal Information Manager), for example, is required by both the portable terminal apparatus and the computer, and it is important to synchronize data between these apparatuses.  
       [0006] These pieces of data are synchronized with each other by connecting the portable terminal apparatus to the computer by a wire or wireless communication and holding data communication therebetween. The wire connection involves, for example, serial connection such as RS-232C or USB and TCP/IP using the Ethernet(R). The wireless connection involves, for example, IrDA, Bluetooth and wireless LAN.  
       [0007] Further, data synchronism is accomplished by temporarily copying data stored in the portable terminal apparatus to a memory card and fetching the data by the computer. Conversely, data synchronism is accomplished by temporarily copying the data stored in the computer to a memory card and fetching the data by the portable terminal apparatus.  
       [0008] However, there is a problem that an inconsistent state in which such data synchronism is not sufficiently accomplished and data updated in one apparatus is not sufficiently reflected in the other apparatus, frequently occurs.  
       [0009] A cause for the occurrence of this problem is as follows. To accomplish data synchronism, it is necessary that both the computer and the portable terminal apparatus can hold data communication while they operate, that data synchronism software run on both the computer and the portable terminal apparatus, and that both are set so that a user starts data synchronism or so that data synchronism is regularly accomplished. However, it rarely occurs that all of these conditions are satisfied when data is updated.  
       [0010] As a result, the frequency of data synchronism decreases, that of data synchronous processing cannot follow up that of data update and data inconsistency occurs between the computer and the portable terminal apparatus.  
       [0011] It is possible to provide a server on a network and to synchronize data between the computer and the portable terminal apparatus through this server. Again, this method has the following problems. Since it is necessary to connect the portable terminal apparatus to the network, it takes time and labor to do so and the frequency of utilization decreases. Furthermore, if communication is set to be held any time, power consumption increases accordingly, and it is substantially difficult to automatically realize data synchronism in this state. In addition, it requires cost to install and operate the server for data synchronism.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] It is an object of this invention to provide a portable terminal supporting apparatus, a data synchronization method and a portable terminal apparatus that can increase the frequency of data synchronism by enabling data synchronism by simple operation and that can enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
       [0013] According to the apparatus and method of one aspect of the present invention, when a portable terminal supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the portable terminal apparatus, down data that is data to be passed from the computer to the portable terminal apparatus is transferred to the portable terminal apparatus, and up data that is data to be passed from the portable terminal apparatus to the computer is received from the portable terminal apparatus. Thus, data synchronization can be achieved between the portable terminal apparatus and the PC.  
       [0014] According to the apparatus and method of another aspect of the present invention, when a portable terminal supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the portable terminal apparatus, down data that is data to be passed from some other portable terminal apparatus to this (electrically connected one) portable terminal apparatus is transferred to the portable terminal apparatus, and up data that is data to be passed from this portable terminal apparatus to the other portable terminal apparatus is received from the portable terminal apparatus.  
       [0015] The computer programs according to still another aspect of the present invention realize the methods according to the present invention on a computer.  
       [0016] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are specifically set forth in or will become apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017]FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the system configuration of a data synchronization system according to a first embodiment of the present invention,  
     [0018]FIG. 2 shows one example of a synchronous state storage section,  
     [0019]FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are explanatory views that explain data synchronization from a PDA to a PC according to the first embodiment,  
     [0020]FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are explanatory views that explain data synchronization from the PC to the PDA according to the first embodiment,  
     [0021]FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of a data synchronization processor of the PDA according to the first embodiment,  
     [0022]FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation of a data synchronization processor of the PC according to the first embodiment,  
     [0023]FIG. 7 is a block diagram which shows the system configuration of a data synchronization system according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  
     [0024]FIG. 8 shows one example of a master data synchronous state storage section, and  
     [0025]FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of a data synchronization processor of a PDA according to the second embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS  
     [0026] Embodiments of the portable terminal supporting apparatus, the data synchronization method, and the portable terminal apparatus according to the present invention will be explained hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0027] In a first embodiment, a data synchronization system which accomplishes data synchronism between the portable terminal apparatus according to the present invention and a personal computer (PC) will be explained. In a second embodiment, a data synchronization system which accomplishes data synchronism between a plurality of portable terminal apparatuses according to the present invention will be explained.  
     [0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram which shows the system configuration of the data synchronization system according to the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, this data synchronization system consists of a PDA  210 , a PC  220  and a cradle  230 .  
     [0029] The PDA  210  is a portable terminal apparatus which needs to accomplish data synchronism with the PC  220 . The PDA  210  includes a data synchronization processor  211 , a cradle communicator  212 , a PC communicator  213 , a synchronization target data storage section  214 , and a synchronous state storage section  215 .  
     [0030] The data synchronization processor  211  is a processor which accomplishes data synchronism with the PC  220 . If communication is possible with the PC  220 , this data synchronization processor  211  directly communicates with the PC  220  to accomplish data synchronism. If communication is not possible with the PC  220 , this data synchronization processor  211  transmits synchronization target data updated by the PDA  210  to the cradle  230  through the cradle communicator  212 , receives synchronization target data updated by the PC  220  from the cradle  230  and updates the corresponding synchronization target data in the PDA  210 . In addition, this data synchronization processor  211  manages the synchronous states of synchronization target data including those of the updated data in the cradle  230  using the synchronous state storage section  215 .  
     [0031] The cradle communicator  212  is a processor which transmits and receives updated data to and from the cradle  230  in response to a request from the data synchronization processor  211 . The PC communicator  213  is a processor which communicates with the PC  220  for data synchronism, and the synchronization target data storage section  214  is a storage section which stores synchronization target data.  
     [0032] The synchronous state storage section  215  is a storage section which stores the synchronous states of synchronization target data. The synchronous states include “updated”, “unprocessed”, “completed” and “conflicting” states. If synchronization target data is updated by the PDA  210 , this synchronization target data is newly registered in the synchronous state storage section  215  in a synchronous state of “updated”. If this synchronization target data is transmitted to the cradle  230 , the synchronous state thereof is changed from “updated” to “unprocessed”.  
     [0033] If synchronization target data is updated by the PC  220 , the updated data is fetched by the PDA  210  through the cradle  230  and if the synchronization target data in the PDA  210  is updated, this synchronization target data is newly registered in the synchronous state storage section  215  in a synchronous state of “completed”. If the synchronization target data is updated by the PC  220 , the updated data is fetched by the PDA  210  through the cradle  230  and the PDA  210  separately updates this synchronization target data to cause a data conflict, then the synchronous state of this synchronization target data is changed from the “updated” to “conflicting”.  
     [0034]FIG. 2 shows one example of the synchronous state storage section  215 . The figure shows that data A, which is synchronization target data, is updated by the PDA  210  and transmitted to the cradle  230 , i.e., the data A is in an“unprocessed” state, that data B, which is synchronization target data, is updated by the PC  220  and fetched by the PDA  210  through the cradle  230 , i.e., the data B in the PDA  210  is in an updated, “completed” state.  
     [0035] The figure also shows that data C, which is synchronization target data, is updated by the PC  220  and fetched by the PDA  210  through the cradle  230 , the data C is separately updated by the PDA  210  and a data conflict occurs, i.e., the data C is in a “conflicting” state.  
     [0036] The PC  220  is an apparatus which requires to accomplish data synchronism with the PDA  210 , and functions as a master apparatus which resolves a data conflict if synchronization target data in the PC  220  conflicts with that in the PDA  210 . This PC  220  includes a data synchronization processor  221 , a cradle communicator  222 , a PDA communicator  223 , a synchronization target data storage section  224 , and a synchronous state storage section  225 .  
     [0037] The data synchronization processor  221  is a processor which accomplishes data synchronism with the PDA  210 . If communication is possible with the PDA  210 , this data synchronization processor  221  directly communicates with the PDA  210  to accomplish data synchronism. If communication is not possible with the PDA  210 , this data synchronization processor  221  transmits synchronization target data updated by the PC  220  to the cradle  230  through the cradle communicator  222 , receives synchronization target data updated by the PDA  210  from the cradle  230  and updates the corresponding synchronization target data in the PC  220 . In addition, this data synchronization processor  221  manages the synchronous states of synchronization target data including those of the updated data in the cradle  230  using the synchronous state storage section  225 .  
     [0038] If communication is possible with the PDA  210 , this data synchronization processor  221  directly accomplishes data synchronism with the PDA  210 , and then deletes the updated data which is completed with data synchronism and is stored in the cradle  230 . The data synchronization processor  221  requests a user to designate a resolution method for the data for which a conflict occurs and resolves the conflict based on the method designated by the user.  
     [0039] The cradle communicator  222  is a processor which transmits and receives updated data to and from the cradle  230  in response to a request from the data synchronization processor  221 . The PDA communicator  223  is a processor which communicates with the PDA  210  for data synchronism, and the synchronization target data storage section  224  is a storage section which stores synchronization target data.  
     [0040] The synchronous state storage section  225  is a storage section which stores the synchronous states of synchronization target data, and is used by the data synchronization processor  221 . This synchronous state storage section  225  stores the same data as that of the synchronous state storage section  214  of the PDA  210  except that the PDA  210  is replaced by the PC  220 . That is, if the synchronization target data is updated by the PC  220 , the synchronization target data is newly registered in the synchronous state storage section  225  in a synchronous state of “updated”. If this synchronization target data is transmitted to the cradle  230 , the synchronous state of this synchronization target data is changed from “updated” to “unprocessed”.  
     [0041] If the synchronization target data is updated by the PDA  210  and fetched by the PC  220  through the cradle  230  and the synchronization target data in the PC  220  is updated, then this synchronization target data is newly registered in the synchronous state storage section  225  in a synchronous state of “completed”. If the synchronization target data is updated by the PDA  210  and fetched by the PC  220  through the cradle  230  and the synchronization target data in the PC  220  is separately updated to cause a data conflict, then the synchronous state of this synchronization target data is changed from “updated” to “conflicting”.  
     [0042] The cradle  230 , which is an apparatus which mediates data synchronism between the PDA  210  and the PC  220 , includes a communication controller  231  and an updated data storage section  232 . The communication controller  231  is a processor which transmits and receives updated data stored in the updated data storage section  232  to and from the PDA  210  and the PC  220 .  
     [0043] The updated data storage section  232  is a storage section which stores updated data of the synchronization target data in the PDA  210  and the PC  220 . The updated data storage section  232  stores the synchronization target data updated by the PDA  210  or the PC  220  together with information such as the name of the data and update time thereof.  
     [0044] Even if the PDA  210  and the PC  220  cannot directly communicate with each other, the PDA  210  or the PC  220  can transmit the updated data to this cradle  230 , receive the updated data from this cradle  230  when the counterpart apparatus becomes operable and update its own synchronization target data by using this cradle  230 . Therefore, both the PDA  210  and the PC  220  can increase the frequency of data synchronism.  
     [0045] The data synchronism between the PDA  210  and the PC  220  using this cradle  230  will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B,  4 A, and  4 B. FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory views that explain the data synchronization from the PDA  210  to the PC  220  according to the first embodiment. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views that explain the data synchronization from the PC  220  to the PDA  210  according to the first embodiment.  
     [0046] In FIGS. 3A, 3B,  4 A, and  4 B, the PDA  210  and the cradle  230  are connected to each other by a wire or wireless communication. If the PDA  210  is installed to or provided near the cradle  230  while the PDA  210  is active, data can be transmitted and received between the PDA  210  and the cradle  230 .  
     [0047] If the PC  220  and the cradle  230  are connected to each other by a wire or wireless communication, the cradle  230  is provided near the PC  220 , and if the PC  220  is active, then data can be always transmitted and received between the PC  220  and the cradle  230 .  
     [0048] As shown in FIG. 3A, if the PC  220  is stopped or suspended and the PDA  210 , which is active, is installed to the cradle  230 , synchronization target data updated by the PDA  210  is transferred to the cradle  230 . As shown in FIG. 3B, if the PC  220  turns active, the updated data stored in the cradle  230  is transmitted to the PC  220 .  
     [0049] As can be seen, by frequently performing the simple operation of installing the PDA  210  in an active state to the cradle  230 , it is possible to store the updated data in the PDA  210 , which is changed when a user goes outside or the like, in the cradle  230  without activating the PC  220 . If the PC  220  is activated to be used, the updated data stored in the cradle  230  is automatically reflected in the corresponding synchronization target data in the PC  220 , making it possible to increase the frequency of data synchronism.  
     [0050] As shown in FIG. 4A, whenever synchronization target data is updated in the PC  220 , the updated synchronization target data is transferred to the cradle  230 . As shown in FIG. 4B, the PDA  210  receives the updated data stored in the cradle  230  when the PDA  210  is installed to the cradle  230 , thereby updating the corresponding synchronization target.  
     [0051] Processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  211  of the PDA  210  according to the first embodiment will next be explained. FIG. 5 is a flowchart which shows processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  211  of the PDA  210  according to the first embodiment. It is noted that this data synchronization processor  211  is activated if the PDA  210  is installed to the cradle  230  and also regularly activated at certain time intervals.  
     [0052] As shown in the figure, this data synchronization processor  211  of the PDA  210  determines whether the PDA  210  is in a position to communicate with the PC  220  with which it is necessary to accomplish data synchronism (at step S 501 ) If the communication is not possible, it is determined whether the PDA  210  is connected to the cradle  230  (at step S 502 ).  
     [0053] If the PDA  210  is connected to the cradle  230 , the data synchronization processor  211  acquires data stored in the cradle  230  (at step S 503 ) and determines whether there is data update in the PC  220  (at step S 504 ).  
     [0054] If there is data update in the PC  220 , the data synchronization processor  211  refers to the synchronous state storage section  215  and determines whether the same synchronization target data is separately updated by the PDA  210 , i.e., whether a data conflict occurs. If a data conflict occurs, the data synchronization processor  211  changes the synchronous state of this synchronization target data from “updated” to “conflicting”. If no data conflict occurs, the data synchronization processor  211  updates the synchronization target data in the PDA  210  to the updated data acquired from the cradle  230  (at step S 505 ) and newly registers this synchronization target data in the synchronous state storage section  215  in a synchronous state of “completed”.  
     [0055] The data synchronization processor  211  refers to the synchronous state storage section  215  and determines whether there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected in the PC  220 , i.e., whether there is synchronization target data in a synchronous state of “updated” (at step S 506 ). If there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected the data synchronization processor  211  transmits the updated data of to the cradle  230  (at step S 507 ) and changes the synchronous state of the data from “updated” to “unprocessed”. If there is no synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected in the PC  220 , and if the synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected in the PC  220  has been processed, the data synchronization processor  211  waits for the next activation (at step S 508 ).  
     [0056] On the other hand, if the PDA  210  is not connected to the cradle  230  (“No” at step S 502 ), the data synchronization processor  211  waits for the next activation without doing anything (at the step S 508 ). If communication is possible with the PC  220  (“Yes” at step S 501 ), then the data synchronization processor  211  starts communicating with the PC  220  (at step S 509 ), directly accomplishes data synchronism with the PC  220  (at step S 510 ), ends communicating with the PC  220  (at step S 511 ) and waits for the next activation (at step S 508 ).  
     [0057] Processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  221  of the PC  220  according to the first embodiment will next be explained. FIG. 6 is a flowchart which shows processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  221  of the PC  220  according to the first embodiment. It is noted that this data synchronization processor  221  is activated if synchronization target data is updated and also regularly activated at certain time intervals.  
     [0058] As shown in the figure, this data synchronization processor  221  of the PC  220  determines whether communication is possible with the PC  220  (at step S 601 ). If communication is not possible, the data synchronization processor  221  acquires data stored in the cradle  230  (at step S 602 ) and determines whether there is data update in the PDA  210  (at step S 603 ).  
     [0059] If there is data update in the PDA  210 , the data synchronization processor  221  refers to the synchronous state storage section  225  and determines whether the same synchronization target data is separately updated by the PC  220 , i.e., whether a data conflict occurs. If a data conflict occurs, the data synchronization processor  221  changes the synchronous state of this synchronization target data from “updated” to “conflicting”. If no data conflict occurs, the data synchronization processor  221  updates the synchronization target data in the PC  220  to the data acquired from the cradle  230  (at step S 604 ) and newly registers this synchronization target data in the synchronous state storage section  225  in a synchronous state of “completed”.  
     [0060] The data synchronization processor  221  refers to the synchronous state storage section  225  and determines whether there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected, in the PDA  210 , i.e., whether there is synchronization target data in a synchronous state of “updated” (at step S 605 ). If there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected, the data synchronization processor  221  transmits the updated data to the cradle  230  (at step S 606 ) and changes the synchronous state of the data from the “updated” to “unprocessed”. If there is no synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected in the PDA  210 , and if the synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected has been processed, the data synchronization processor  221  waits for the next activation (at step S 607 ).  
     [0061] On the other hand, if communication is possible with the PDA  210  (“Yes” at step S 601 ), the data synchronization processor  221  starts communicating with the PDA  210  (at step S 608 ) and directly accomplishes data synchronism with the PDA  210  (at step S 609 ). During the data synchronization processing which is performed with the PDA  210 , the synchronous state storage sections  215  and  225  are initialized. In addition, if there are conflicting data, the data synchronization processor  221  inquires the user about this data and resolves the data conflict. Further, the data synchronization processor  221  deletes the data in the cradle  230  (at step S 610 ), ends communicating with the PDA  210  (at step S 611 ) and waits for the next activation (at the step S 607 ).  
     [0062] As explained so far, in the first embodiment, if the PDA  210  and the PC  220  which need to accomplish data synchronism cannot communicate with each other, the PDA  210  or the PC  220  transmits updated data to the cradle  230 , receives this updated data when the counterpart apparatus can be connected to the cradle  230 , and updates the synchronization target data. Therefore, even if there is a little occasion that the PDA  210  and the PC  220  is in a position to communicate with each other, it is possible to frequently accomplish data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of the synchronization target data.  
     [0063] If the synchronization target data which is updated by the PDA  210  or the PC  220  is updated again after being transmitted to the cradle  230  and before the counterpart apparatus receives the updated data, it is possible to always store the latest updated data in the cradle  230  by replacing the updated data in the cradle  230  by the data updated again.  
     [0064] In the first embodiment, an example in which the PDA  210  and the PC  220  accomplish data synchronism with each other using the cradle  230  has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited thereto but can be applied to an example in which data synchronism is accomplished among an arbitrary number of PDA&#39;s. In a second embodiment, therefore, a data synchronization system which accomplishes data synchronism among an arbitrary number of PDA&#39;s using a cradle  230  will be explained.  
     [0065]FIG. 7 is a block diagram which shows the system configuration of the data synchronization system according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, this data synchronization system consists of an arbitrary number of PDA&#39;s  710  and one cradle  230 . If each PDA  710  cannot communicate with the other PDA&#39;s  710 , the PDA  710  accomplishes data synchronism through the cradle  230 .  
     [0066] However, to avoid a data conflict, a master PDA which manages each synchronization target data is determined for the synchronization target data. Only this master PDA can resolve the conflict state of synchronization target data. For the convenience of explanation, functional sections which act similarly to those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference symbols, respectively and will not be explained herein in detail.  
     [0067] The PDA  710  is a portable terminal apparatus which needs to accomplish data synchronism with the other PDA  710 . The PDA  710  includes a data synchronization processor  711 , a cradle communicator  212 , a PDA communicator  712 , a synchronization target data storage section  214 , a synchronous state storage section  215 , and a master data synchronous state storage section  713 .  
     [0068] The data synchronization processor  711  is a processor which accomplishes data synchronism with the other PDA  710 . If communication is possible with the other PDA  710 , the data synchronization processor  711  directly communicates with the other PDA  710  to accomplish data synchronism. If communication is not possible with the other PDA  710 , the data synchronization processor  711  transmits synchronization target data updated by its own PDA  710  to the cradle  230  through the cradle communicator  212 , receives synchronization target data updated by the other PDA  710  from the cradle  230  and updates the corresponding synchronization target data in its own PDA  710 . In addition, this data synchronization processor  711  manages the synchronous states of synchronization target data including those of the updated data in the cradle  230  using the synchronous state storage section  215 .  
     [0069] If communication is possible with the other PDA  710 , this data synchronization processor  711  directly synchronizes data with the other PDA  710 , and determines whether the synchronization target data in its own PDA which is the master PDA has been synchronized with data in all the PDA&#39;s  710  using the master data synchronous state storage section  713 . If the synchronization target data has been synchronized, the data synchronization processor  711  deletes the updated data stored in the cradle  230 . Further, the PDA communicator  712  is a processor which allows the PDA&#39;s  710  to directly hold communication with each other for data synchronism.  
     [0070] The master data synchronous state storage section  713  is a storage section which stores the synchronous states of synchronization target data in its own PDA  710  which is the master PDA and those of synchronization target data in the other PDA&#39;s  710 . The synchronous states include “unprocessed” and “completed” states. If the synchronization target data in its own PDA  710 , which is the master PDA, is updated and the synchronization target data in a certain PDA  710  is not updated, the synchronous state of the synchronization target data for the PDA  710  is in an “unprocessed” state.  
     [0071] If the synchronization target data in its own PDA  710 , which is the master PDA, is updated and the synchronization target data in the PDA  710  is updated through the direct communication with the certain PDA  710  or through the cradle  230 , the synchronous state of the synchronization target data for the PDA  710  is a “completed” state.  
     [0072]FIG. 8 shows one example of the master data synchronous state storage section  713 . The figure shows that the PDA  710  which includes this master data synchronous state storage section  713  is a master PDA for data X and data Y which are synchronization target data, the synchronism of the data X is completed between the PDA  710  and a PDA-A but not completed between the PDA  710  and a PDA-B. FIG. 8 also shows that the synchronism of the data Y is not completed either between the PDA  710  and the PDA-A or between the PDA  710  and the PDA-B.  
     [0073] Processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  711  of the PDA  710  according to the second embodiment will next be explained. FIG. 9 is a flowchart which shows processing procedures for the data synchronization processor  711  of the PDA  710  according to the second embodiment. It is noted that this data synchronization processor  711  is activated if the PDA  710  is installed to the cradle  730  and also regularly activated at certain time intervals.  
     [0074] As shown in the figure, this data synchronization processor  711  of the PDA  710  first determines whether the PDA  710  is in a position to communicate with the other PDA  710  (at step S 901 ). If the PDA  710  cannot communicate with the other PDA  710 , the data synchronization processor  711  determines whether the PDA  710  is connected to the cradle  230  (at step S 902 ). If the PDA  710  is connected to the cradle  230 , the data synchronization processor  711  acquires updated data from the cradle  230  (at step S 903 ) and determines whether there is data update in the other PDA  710  (at step S 904 ).  
     [0075] If there is data update in the other PDA  710 , the data synchronization processor  711  updates synchronization target data in its own PDA  710  using the updated data acquired from the cradle  230  (at step S 905 ) and newly registers this synchronization target data in the synchronous state storage section  225  in a synchronous state of “completed”.  
     [0076] The data synchronization processor  711  refers to the synchronous state storage section  225  and determines whether there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected in the other PDA  710 , i.e., whether there is synchronization target data in a synchronous state of “updated” (at step S 906 ). If there is synchronization target data, the updated data of which needs to be reflected, then the data synchronization processor  711  transmits the updated data of the synchronization target data to the cradle  230  (at step S 907 ), changes the synchronous state of the data from “updated” to “unprocessed” and waits for the next activation (at step S 908 ).  
     [0077] On the other hand, if the PDA  710  is not connected to the cradle  230  (“No” at the step S 902 ), the data synchronization processor  711  waits for the next activation without doing anything (at the step S 908 ). If the PDA  710  is in a position to communicate with the other PDA  710  (“Yes” at the step S 901 ), then the data synchronization processor  711  starts communicating with the other PDA  710  (at step S 909 ), directly accomplishes data synchronism with the other PDA  710  (at step S 910 ) and updates the synchronous state storage section  215 . The data synchronization processor  711  then updates the master data synchronous state storage section  713 , deletes the updated data in the cradle  230  for the synchronization target data for which a synchronous processing with all the PDA&#39;s  710  is completed (at step S 911 ), ends communicating with the PDA  710  (at step S 912 ) and waits for the next activation (at the step S 908 ).  
     [0078] As explained so far, in the second embodiment, if the PDA&#39;s  710  that need to accomplish data synchronism cannot directly communicate with each other, then the PDA  710  which updates the synchronization target data transmits the updated data to the cradle  230 , receives the updated data when the other PDA  710  can be connected to the cradle  230  and updates the synchronization target data. Therefore, even if there is a little occasion that a plurality of PDA&#39;s  710  can mutually communicate, it is possible to frequently accomplish data synchronism among them and to enhance the consistency of the synchronization target data.  
     [0079] As explained so far, according to the present invention, the portable terminal supporting apparatus stores up and down data. When the portable terminal supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the portable terminal apparatus, the portable terminal supporting apparatus receives the up data from the portable terminal apparatus to store the up data and transmits the down data stored to the portable terminal apparatus. Therefore, it is advantageously possible to enable accomplishing data synchronism by simple operation, to thereby increase the frequency of data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
     [0080] Further, according to the present invention, the portable terminal supporting apparatus stores up and down data. When the portable terminal supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the portable terminal apparatus, the portable terminal supporting apparatus receives the up data from the portable terminal apparatus to store the up data and transmits the down data stored to the portable terminal apparatus. Therefore, it is advantageously possible to enable accomplishing data synchronism by simple operation, to thereby increase the frequency of data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
     [0081] Further, according to the present invention, if the portable terminal supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the portable terminal apparatus, the portable terminal supporting apparatus receives up data, which is data to be passed from the portable terminal apparatus to the computer, from the portable terminal apparatus and transmits down data, which is data to be passed from the computer to the portable terminal apparatus, to the portable terminal apparatus. Therefore, it is advantageously possible to enable accomplishing data synchronism by simple operation, to thereby increase the frequency of data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
     [0082] Further, according to the present invention, the main body apparatus of the portable terminal apparatus constituted with the main body apparatus and the supporting apparatus, receives down data, which is data to be passed from the computer to the main body apparatus, from the supporting apparatus and transmits up data, which is data to be passed from the main body apparatus to the computer, to the supporting apparatus if the main body apparatus cannot directly communicate with the computer and the main body apparatus is electrically connected to the supporting apparatus, and the supporting apparatus stores the down data and the up data, receives the up data from the main body apparatus to store the up data and transmits the down data stored to the main body apparatus. Therefore, it is advantageously possible to enable accomplishing data synchronism by simple operation, to thereby increase the frequency of data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
     [0083] Further, according to the present invention, the main body apparatus of the portable terminal apparatus constituted with the main body apparatus and the supporting apparatus, receives down data, which is data to be passed from the other main body apparatus to the main body apparatus, from the supporting apparatus and transmits up data, which is data to be passed from the main body apparatus to the other main body apparatus, to the supporting apparatus if the main body apparatus cannot directly communicate with the other main body apparatus and the main body apparatus is electrically connected to the supporting apparatus, and the supporting apparatus stores the down data or the up data, and, if the supporting apparatus is electrically connected to the main body apparatus, the supporting apparatus receives the up data from the main body apparatus to store the up data and transmits the down data stored to the main body apparatus. Therefore, it is advantageously possible to enable accomplishing data synchronism by simple operation, to thereby increase the frequency of data synchronism and to enhance the consistency of synchronization target data.  
     [0084] Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.