Patent Publication Number: US-2016227011-A1

Title: Electronic device, and program

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to electronic devices and programs. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There has been conventionally suggested an art that allows two devices to communicate with each other through Near Field Communication and to display information about one device on a display unit of the other device (for example, see Patent Document 1). 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-205547 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, the conventional suggestion lacks the consideration of the situation of a user and the states of two devices, and does not offer sufficient convenience of use. 
     The present invention has been made in the view of the above problems, and aims to provide an electronic device that offers improved convenience of use, and a program to achieve an electronic device that offers improved convenience of use. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     The electronic device of the present invention includes: a communication unit that communicates with, in response to use of an external device, the external device through proximity communication or intra-body communication; and a control unit that displays information relating to the external device on a first display unit during communication with the external device. 
     In this case, a first storage unit that stores data may be provided, and the control unit may provide a display relating to the data stored in the first storage unit on the first display unit. Moreover, the communication unit may receive data stored in a second storage unit included in the external device, and the control unit may provide a display relating to the data stored in the second storage unit on the first display unit. Moreover, the communication unit may receive data relating to a display provided on a second display unit included in the external device, and the control unit may provide a display according to the display provided on the second display unit on the first display unit. In this case, the control unit may provide a display according to the display provided on the second display unit on the first display unit when a user using the external device cannot see the second display unit. 
     In the electronic device of the present invention, the control unit may display a schedule of a user using the external device on the first display unit. Moreover, the control unit may display, when a user uses the external device for a specific user different from the user, a schedule of the specific user on the first display unit. Moreover, the control unit may display information to assist a user using the external device to make contact with another user on the first display unit. Furthermore, the communication unit may receive operation data of an operation unit included in the external device, and the control unit may control a display on the first display unit based on the operation data. Moreover, the control unit may change information displayed on the first display unit depending on a user with whom a user using the external device makes contact. 
     The electronic device of the present invention includes: an operation unit; a communication unit that communicates with, in response to use of an external device, the external device through proximity communication or intra-body communication; and a control unit that causes the external device to operate in accordance with an operation of the operation unit during communication with the external device through the communication unit. 
     In this case, a data transmitting unit that transmits data created by a user through an operation of the operation unit to a predetermined destination may be provided. Moreover, a display unit that provides a display may be provided, and the control unit may control a display on the display unit in accordance with an operation of the operation unit by a user. In this case, the operation unit may include a touch panel provided to the display unit, and the control unit may display an operation screen of the external device on the display unit and causes the external device to operate in accordance with an operation of the touch panel by a user during communication with the external device through the communication unit. 
     The electronic device of the present invention includes: a first display unit that provides a display; a communication unit that communicates with, in response to use of an external device including an operation unit, the external device through proximity communication or intra-body communication; and a control unit that controls a display on the first display unit in accordance with an operation of the operation unit by a user during communication with the external device through the communication unit. 
     In this case, the external device may include a second display unit, and the control unit may control, when a user cannot see the second display unit, the display on the first display unit in accordance with an operation of the operation unit by the user. In this case, the control unit may provide a display according to a display provided on the second display unit on the first display unit. Moreover, the control unit may provide the display provided on the second display unit on the first display unit in a scrollable manner. Moreover, the control unit may control scrolling of the display on the first display unit in accordance with an operation of the operation unit by a user. 
     The program of the present invention is a program causing a computer embedded in an electronic device including a display unit to execute a process, the process including: communicating with, in response to use of an external device, the external device; and displaying information relating to the external device on the display unit during communication with the external device. Moreover, the program of the present invention is a program causing a computer embedded in an electronic device including an operation unit to execute a process, the process including: communicating with, in response to use of an external device, the external device; receiving an operation to the operation unit by a user during communication with the external device; and causing the external device to operate in accordance with the operation by the user. Moreover, the program of the present invention is a program causing a computer embedded in an electronic device including a display unit to execute a process, the process including: communicating with, in response to use of an external device including an operation unit, the external device; acquiring information about an operation of the operation unit by a user from the external device during communication with the external device; and controlling a display on the display unit in accordance with acquired information about the operation. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     The electronic device of the present invention can improve convenience of use. Additionally, the program of the present invention can achieve an electronic device that offers improved convenience of use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system in accordance with a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a process and an operation in the information processing system of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a state of a user when the process of  FIG. 2  is executed; 
         FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating a state before the display of a display unit of a PC is changed,  FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating a state after the display of the display unit is changed, and  FIG. 4C  is a diagram illustrating another example of a state after the display of the display unit is changed; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system in accordance with a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a process and an operation of the information processing system of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a state of a user when the process of  FIG. 6  is executed; and 
         FIG. 8A  is a diagram illustrating a state before the display of a display unit of a watch is changed,  FIG. 8B  is a diagram illustrating a state where a screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display is displayed on the display unit,  FIG. 8C  is a diagram illustrating a state after the display of the display unit is changed, and  FIG. 8D  is a diagram illustrating another example of a state after the display of the display unit is changed. 
     
    
    
     MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of an information processing system in accordance with a first embodiment based on  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system  1  in accordance with the first embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the information processing system  1  includes a phone device  10 , and a PC (Personal Computer)  20 . In the information processing system  1 , the phone device  10  and the PC  20  communicate with each other through proximity communication or intra-body communication to operate in cooperation. 
     (Phone Device  10 ) 
     The phone device  10  is a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like, and has functions for creating, transmitting, and receiving e-mails, for connecting to the Internet, for managing schedule, and the like in addition to a verbal communication function. The phone device  10  includes, as illustrate in  FIG. 1 , a first communication unit  11 , a second communication unit  12 , a sound processing unit  13 , a display unit  14 , an operation unit  15 , a storage unit  16 , a GPS (Global Positioning System) module  17 , a control unit  18 , and the like. 
     The first communication unit  11  includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna, receives a signal transmitted from a base station through a radio channel with the antenna, and converts the frequency by the wireless communication circuit to convert the signal into audio data. 
     The second communication unit  12  communicates through proximity communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Felica (registered trademark), RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), or the like, or through intra-body communication through a user. The second communication unit  12  of the present embodiment includes an electrode unit  12   a  and an intra-body communication unit  12   b , and communicates with the PC  20  (a communication unit  21 ) through intra-body communication. 
     The electrode unit  12   a  includes a signal electrode and a ground electrode, and is an electrode for intra-body communication through the user. The electrode unit  12   a  is located in a gripped part of the phone device  10  so as to easily contact with the hand of the user. 
     The intra-body communication unit  12   b  includes a transmit unit composed of an electric circuit having a bandpass filter, and modulates data to be transmitted to generate a transmission signal. The intra-body communication unit may have a receiving function. In the present embodiment, assume that the intra-body communication between the phone device  10  and the PC  20  is established when the user initiates a call on the phone device  10 . 
     The sound processing unit  13  includes a circuit for D/A conversion and amplification, and outputs a sound from a loudspeaker not illustrated. The voice of the user is collected by a microphone not illustrated, is converted into a transmission signal, and is transmitted to the sound processing unit  13 . The sound processing unit  13  amplifies and A/D converts the transmission signal into digital data, and transmits the digital data to the base station through the first communication unit  11 . 
     The display unit  14  is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various types of information such as information about date and time, Web information (Web pages), schedule data, and the like. The operation unit  15  includes a touch panel and a virtual keyboard. 
     The storage unit  16  includes, for example, a non-volatile flash memory, and stores a table of telephone numbers, schedule data of the user, and the like in addition to various programs. 
     The GPS module  17  is a sensor that detects a position (e.g., a latitude and a longitude) of the phone device  10 . 
     The control unit  18  includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and controls the whole of the phone device  10 . In the present embodiment, when the user makes a phone call, the control unit  18  instructs the control unit  26  to provide the display that has been displayed on the display unit  14  on a display unit  23 , to display data stored in the storage unit  16  (e.g., schedule data, or the table of telephone numbers) on the display unit  23 , or to display schedule data stored in the PC  20  on the display unit  23 . 
     (PC  20 ) 
     The PC  20  is a desktop PC, a notebook PC, a tablet PC, or the like, and includes the communication unit  21 , the display unit  23 , an operation unit  24 , a storage unit  25 , and a control unit  26 . 
     The communication unit  21  communicates with the phone device  10  through proximity communication or intra-body communication. In the present embodiment, the communication unit  21  includes an electrode unit  21   a  and an intra-body communication unit  21   b , and communicates with the phone device  10  through intra-body communication. 
     The electrode unit  21   a  includes a signal electrode and a ground electrode, and is an electrode for intra-body communication through the user. The electrode unit  21   a  is located in a position that easily contacts with the hand of the user, for example, in a part of the operation unit  24  (a keyboard or a mouse). 
     The intra-body communication unit  21   b  includes a transmit unit composed of an electric circuit having a bandpass filter, and modulates data to be transmitted to generate a transmission signal. Assume that the intra-body communication unit also has a receiving function. 
     The display unit  23  is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and provides various displays such as the display of data stored in the storage unit  25 . In the present embodiment, the display unit  23  also provides a display relating to the phone device  10 . The examples of the operation unit  24  include a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like. 
     The storage unit  25  includes, for example, a non-volatile flash memory, and stores various kinds of data such as schedule data of the user in addition to various programs. 
     The control unit  26  includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the whole of the PC  20 . In the present embodiment, the control unit  26  controls the display on the display unit  23  in response to the instruction from the control unit  18  of the phone device  10  when the communication with the phone device  10  is established. 
     (Process/Operation) 
     A detailed description will next be given of a process/an operation in the information processing system  1  along a flowchart of  FIG. 2  with reference to other drawings as appropriate. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart of a process of the control unit  26  of the PC  20  and a flowchart of a process of the control unit  18  of the phone device  10 . The process of the control unit  26  and the process of the control unit  18  are simultaneously executed in parallel. 
     In the process of  FIG. 2 , at step S 10 , the control unit  26  of the PC  20  waits until the intra-body communication with the phone device  10  is established. That is to say, the control unit  26  waits until the user becomes in a state where the user is touching the operation unit  24  of the PC  20  while holding the phone device  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . When the user becomes in the state of  FIG. 3 , the control unit  26  moves to step S 12 . 
     At step S 12 , the control unit  26  inquires the information about the phone device  10  (identification information) and the state of the phone device  10  (whether the user is calling) to the phone device  10 . On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  10  waits until it receives the inquiry from the control unit  26  at step S 102 . Thus, when the inquiry is received, the control unit  18  moves to step S 104 , and transmits the information on the phone device  10  (identification information) and the state of the phone device  10  to the PC  20  (the control unit  26 ). When the user is on the phone with use of the phone device  10 , the control unit  18  transmits the identification information of the phone device  10  and information indicating that the user is on the phone to the control unit  26  through the second communication unit  12 . 
     On the other hand, after receiving the information from the control unit  18 , the control unit  26  of the PC  20  determines whether a phone call is being made on the phone device  10  at step S 14 . When the determination is No, the process returns to step S 12 , and the process and the determination at steps S 12  and S 14  are repeated. That is, it can be said that the control unit  26  continues inquiring whether the line becomes busy in the phone device  10  to the control unit  18  at steps S 12  and S 14 . On the other hand, when the determination at step S 14  is Yes, the control unit  26  moves to step S 16 . 
     At step S 16 , the control unit  26  changes the display on the display unit  23 . More specifically, the control unit  26  provides a display relating to the schedule of the user on the display unit  23 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a state before the display on the display unit  23  is changed, and  FIG. 4B  illustrates a state after the display on the display unit  23  is changed. In the example after the change illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the control unit  26  displays a screen that has been displayed before the phone call is initiated on the left half of the display unit  23  (for example, a screen of a document file (see  FIG. 4A )), and displays schedule data of the user stored in the storage unit  25  on the right half. The schedule is frequently checked during the phone call. When the user holds the phone device  10  in the dominant hand while using the phone device  10 , it becomes difficult to operate the personal computer. Thus, the present embodiment automatically displays the schedule data of the user on the display unit  23  while the user is on the phone, allowing the user to handle the call without feeling stressed. The control unit  26  may make the user select whether to change the display at step S 16 , and then may change the display (or may not change the display). The user may preliminarily set whether to change the display depending on an opposite party. 
     The control unit  26  may receive schedule data stored in the storage unit  16  of the phone device  10  to display it on the display unit  23  as well as schedule data stored in the storage unit  25  of the PC  20 . This configuration allows the user to thoroughly recognize his/her schedule even when the storage unit  25  of the PC  20  stores schedule data relating to business and the storage unit  16  of the phone device  10  stores a private schedule. When either schedule data is displayed, the user may select which data is to be displayed as appropriate, or may preliminarily determine which data is to be displayed with respect to each opposite party. The control unit  26  may display a list (table) of telephone numbers or a list of e-mail addresses stored in the storage unit  16 . This configuration allows the user to give the telephone number or the e-mail address of a mutual acquaintance verbally without keeping the opposite party waiting. 
     Furthermore, for example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , the control unit  26  may receive the contents of the display that has been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  10  before the phone call (for example, a menu screen or a Web page) from the phone device  10 , and displays it on the display unit  23 . This allows the user to recognize the display of the phone device  10  with use of the display unit  23  even when the user cannot check the display on the display unit  14  because the user holds the phone device  10  to user&#39;s ear. When the contents of the display that has been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  10  are the display of the Internet (Web page), the control unit  26  receives the URL from the control unit  18 , acquires the contents of the Web page through an Internet connection not illustrated, and may display it on the display unit  23 . When the display that has been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  10  is displayed on the display unit  23  of the PC  20 , the control unit  18  displays nothing on the display unit  14 . That is to say, when the user is on the phone, and cannot see the display on the display unit  14 , nothing is displayed on the display unit  14 . The control unit  26  of the PC  20  may receive data in the storage unit  16  of the phone device  10 , or may display the contents provided on the display unit  14  on the display unit  23  through intra-body communication or proximity communication between the second communication unit  12  and the communication unit  21 , or through the wireless communication. 
     Back to  FIG. 2 , the control unit  26  of the PC  20  moves to step S 18  after step S 16 , and determines whether a vicarious operation is necessary. Here, the vicarious operation allows the operation through the operation unit  24  of the PC  20  instead of the operation through the operation unit  15  of the phone device  10  to execute the process in the phone device  10 . For example, when the user was creating an e-mail in the phone device  10  before the phone call, the vicarious operation enables the operation for creating the e-mail through the operation unit  24  (a keyboard or a mouse) of the PC  20  during the call. 
     At step S 18 , the control unit  26  provides a display about the vicarious operation on the display unit  23  to confirm user&#39;s will, and determines whether the vicarious operation is necessary, for example. When the determination at step S 18  is No (when the vicarious operation is unnecessary), the control unit  26  moves to step S 28 . When the determination is Yes (when the vicarious operation is necessary), the control unit  26  moves to step S 20 . 
     At step S 20 , the control unit  26  transmits setting information for the vicarious operation to the control unit  18  of the phone device  10 . The setting information for the vicarious operation means information necessary for cooperation between the control unit  26  and the control unit  18  and information about instructions. At step S 22 , the control unit  26  executes alternate processing. 
     On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  10  determines whether it receives the setting information for the vicarious operation at step S 106 . When the determination here is No, the process moves to step S 112 . When the determination here is Yes, the process moves to step S 108 . At step S 108 , the control unit  18  executes the alternate processing. 
     Here, in the alternate processing at steps S 22  and S 108 , the control unit  26  and the control unit  18  cooperate with each other to implement the alternate processing. For example, when the contents of the display that has been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  10  before the phone call (e.g., a menu screen) is displayed on the display unit  23  as illustrated in  FIG. 4C , and an icon for creating an e-mail is selected by the user, the control unit  18  executes a program of creating an e-mail, and transmits the screen for creating an e-mail generated by the execution of the program to the control unit  26 . Then, the control unit  26  displays the screen for creating an e-mail on the display unit  23 . Moreover, the control unit  26  transmits an input text or a transmit instruction to the control unit  18  when the user inputs a text of the e-mail or issues the transmit instruction through the operation unit  24 . In this case, the control unit  18  transmits the created e-mail to a designated destination through an Internet connection. 
     The alternate processing is not limited to a process of creating an e-mail, and may be applied to various processes. For example, when the opposite party is an auto-answer system by a computer, it may be necessary to input numbers after voice. In such a case, if the operation using the operation unit  15  of the phone device  10  is necessary, the phone device  10  needs to be put away from the ear, and the operation is difficult to carry out. Thus, the present embodiment treats the input in the operation unit  24  (such as a numeric keypad) of the PC  20  as the input to the operation unit  15  as the vicarious operation in the aforementioned case. This eliminates the need to put the phone device  10  away from the ear at the time of input, thereby improving user&#39;s convenience. 
     The control unit  26  moves to step S 24  after step S 22 . At step S 24 , the control unit  26  determines whether the vicarious operation is terminated. The control unit  26  can display an icon used to terminate the vicarious operation on the display snit  23  and determine that the vicarious operation is terminated when the icon is selected by the user. When the determination at step S 24  is No, the process returns to step S 22 . When the determination is Yes, the process moves to step S 26 . At step S 26 , the control unit  26  transmits a notification of the termination of the alternate processing to the control unit  18  of the phone device  10 . 
     On the other hand, the control unit  18  determines whether the notification of the termination of the substitute is received at step S 110 . When the determination here is No, the process returns to step S 108 . When the determination is Yes, the process moves to step S 112 . At step  112 , the control unit  18  determines whether the phone call by the user is ended. When the determination here is No, the process returns to step S 106 . When the determination is Yes, the process moves to step S 114 . 
     At step S 114 , the control unit  18  informs the control unit  26  of the PC  20  of the end of the phone call. The entire process of the control unit  18  in  FIG. 2  ends as described above. 
     On the other hand, the control unit  26  determines whether the phone call on the phone device  10  is continuing at step S 28 . In this case, when the end of the phone call is informed from the control unit  18  of the phone device  10  (after step S 114  is executed), the determination at step S 28  is No. When the determination at step S 28  is Yes, the process returns to step S 18 . When the determination at step S 28  is No, the process moves to step S 30 . 
     At step S 30 , the control unit  26  changes the display on the display unit  23 . More specifically, the control unit  26  restores the display on the display unit  23  to the display before the display change at step S 16  was performed (see  FIG. 4A ). The entire process of the control unit  26  in  FIG. 2  ends as described above. 
     In the process of  FIG. 2 , the phone call may end before the vicarious operation is terminated. In such a case, the control unit  26  may execute the process at step S 30  even while executing the loop of the processes at steps S 22  and S 24  to end the entire process of  FIG. 2 , or may give priority to the loop process at steps S 22  and S 24 . 
     As described above, according to the first embodiment, the PC  20  includes: the communication unit  21  communicates with the phone device  10  through proximity communication or intra-body communication in response to the holding of the phone device  10  by the user; and the control unit  26  that displays information relating to the phone device  10  (for example, schedule data frequently used in conversation using the phone device  10 , the screen displayed on the phone device  10  at the last minute, or the like) on the display unit  23  during the communication with the phone device  10 . This allows the information relating to the phone device  10  to be displayed on the display unit  23  during the phone call using the phone device  10 , thereby improving the convenience during the phone call using the phone device  10  by the user. 
     In the present embodiment, the PC  20  includes the storage unit  25  that stores data such as schedule data, and the control unit  26  provides a display relating to the data stored in the storage unit  25  on the display unit  23 . Such automatic displaying of the data held by the PC  20  during the phone call using the phone device  10  can improve user&#39;s convenience. When the PC  20  is a desktop PC, two or more (e.g., two) display units  23  may be provided, and the aforementioned display may be provided with use of two or more display units  23 . 
     In the present embodiment, the communication unit  21  receives data stored in the storage unit  16  of the phone device  10 , and the control unit  26  provides a display relating to the data stored in the storage unit  16  on the display unit  23 . Accordingly, the automatic displaying of the data held by the phone device  10  during the phone call using the phone device  10  can improve user&#39;s convenience. In this case, the user who is on the phone cannot see the display unit  14  of the phone device  10 . Thus, the displaying of information on the display unit  23  of the PC  20  can improve the convenience of the user who is on the phone. In the present embodiment, nothing is displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  10  during the phone call, and thus the battery of the phone device  10  can be saved. 
     In the present embodiment, the communication unit  21  receives data relating to the display on the display unit  14  located in the phone device  10  (e.g., the information that has been displayed on the screen immediately before the phone call), and the control unit  26  provides a display according to the display provided on the display unit  14  on the display unit  23 . Thus, the user can check data relating to the display provided on the display unit  14  (e.g., the information on the screen displayed immediately before the phone call) on the display unit  23  of the PC  20  even during the phone call. 
     In the present embodiment, the PC  20  includes the operation unit  24 , the communication unit  21  that communicates with the phone device  10  through proximity communication or intra-body communication at the time of holding of the phone device  10 , and the control unit  26  that causes the phone device  10  to operate in response to the operation of the operation unit  24  by the user during the communication with the phone device  10  through the communication unit  21 . Accordingly, the user can carry out an operation to software that works in the phone device  10  (the operation to create an e-mail on a mailer or the like), or carry out an operation to an auto-answer system with use of the operation unit  24 . Thus, the present embodiment allows the operation that has been conventionally difficult to carry out during the phone call using the phone device  10  to be carried out with use of the operation unit  24 . 
     The above-described embodiment describes a case where the display is changed or the vicarious operation is executed when the intra-body communication between the PC  20  and the phone device  10  is established and the user is on the phone, but does not intend to suggest any limitation. For example, when the intra-body communication between the PC  20  and the phone device  10  is established, and the user carries out an operation other than the phone call on the phone device  10 , the display may be changed or the vicarious operation may be executed. In this case, the control unit  26  may change the display on the display unit  23  in accordance with the contents of the operation of the phone device  10 . For example, when the user views the list of e-mail addresses on the phone device  10 , the list of e-mail addresses stored in the storage unit  16  of the PC  20  may be displayed on the display unit  23 . Moreover, when the user views schedule data on the phone device  10 , schedule data stored in the storage unit  16  of the PC  20  may be displayed on the display unit  23 . Furthermore, when the user browses a Web page on the phone device  10 , the same Web page (or a Web page for PCs corresponding to the Web page browsed on the phone device  10 ) may be displayed on the PC  20 . 
     The PC  20  of the above-described embodiment may be a mobile terminal (a phone device) such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like. The display unit  23  and the operation unit  24  may be located in a part of the glasses worn by the user. 
     (Variation) 
     The above-described first embodiment describes a case where the phone device  10  is a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a smartphone, but does not intend to suggest any limitation. The phone device  10  may be a land-line phone. In this case, the alternate processing at steps S 22  and S 108  of  FIG. 2  may allow the user to use the numeric keypad of the operation unit  24  of the PC  20  as a substitute when the user wants to forward a call, for example. 
     When the phone device  10  is a land-line phone as described above, the user may handle a house phone for a neighboring user in the office. In such a case, the control unit  26  may receive information about the neighboring user from the phone device  10 , acquire the schedule data of the neighboring user from an unillustrated server (a server managing a schedule), and display the schedule data on the display unit  23  of the PC  20 . As described above, when the user uses the phone device  10  for a specific user different from the user, the control unit  26  displays information (such as schedule) relating to the specific user on the display unit  23 , allowing the user to take proper action. 
     The phone device  10  used by the user may include both a mobile terminal and a land-line telephone. In this case, at step S 12  of  FIG. 2 , the control unit  26  may check the type of the phone device  10  (a mobile terminal or a land-line telephone), and execute control based on the type of the phone device in the alternate processing at step S 22 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of an information processing system in accordance with a second embodiment based on  FIG. 5  through  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system  1 ′ in accordance with the second embodiment. 
     The information processing system  1 ′ illustrated in  FIG. 5  includes a phone device  110 , and a watch  120 . The configuration of the phone device  110  is the same as or similar to that of the phone device  10  of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. The operation unit  15  includes a sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor) located on the side surface of the phone device  110  (e.g., on both side surfaces at the longer sides). 
     The watch  120  includes a communication unit  121 , a clock circuit  122 , a display unit  123 , an operation unit  124 , a storage unit  125 , and a control unit  126 . 
     The communication unit  121  communicates with the phone device  110  through proximity communication or intra-body communication as with the communication unit  21  of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the communication unit  21  includes an electrode unit  121   a  and an intra-body communication unit  121   b , and communicates with the phone device  110  through intra-body communication. 
     The electrode unit  121   a  includes a signal electrode and a ground electrode, and is an electrode for intra-body communication through a user. In the present embodiment, the electrode unit  121   a  is located in a position that easily comes in contact with user&#39;s hand, for example, on a back surface of the main unit of the watch (a position where the battery is present), or a band. 
     The intra-body communication unit  121   b  includes a transmit unit composed of an electric circuit having a bandpass filter, and modulates data to be transmitted to generate a transmission signal. Assume that the intra-body communication unit has a receiving function. 
     The clock circuit  122  includes a frequency dividing circuit and an oscillating circuit, and measures current time. The display unit  123  is, for example, a liquid crystal display, is located in the main unit of the watch (on a dial face part), and displays time measured by the clock circuit  122  and various information such as contents described in the storage unit  125 . Moreover, in the present embodiment, the display unit  123  provides a display relating to the phone device  110 . The operation unit  124  is multiple switches (operating buttons) located in the periphery of the display unit  123  (see  FIG. 8A  and the like). 
     The storage unit  125  includes, for example, a non-volatile flash memory, and stores various programs and various kinds of data. 
     The control unit  126  includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the whole of the watch  120 . In the present embodiment, the control unit  126  controls the contents to be displayed on the display unit  123  when the intra-body communication with the phone device  110  is established, or receives user&#39;s operation to the operation unit  15  of the phone device  110  as the operation to the control unit  126  (the vicarious operation). 
     (Process/Operation) 
     A detailed description will next be given of a process/an operation in the information processing system  1 ′ along a flowchart of  FIG. 6  with reference to other drawings as appropriate. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of a process of the control unit  126  of the watch  120  and a flowchart of a process of the control unit  18  of the phone device  110 . The process of the control unit  126  and the process of the control unit  18  are simultaneously executed in parallel. Assume that the display illustrated in  FIG. 8A  (the display of an analog clock and the display of a digital clock) is provided on the display unit  123  of the watch  120  before the process of  FIG. 6  is started. 
     In the process of  FIG. 6 , the control unit  126  of the watch  120  waits until the communication with the phone device  110  is established at step S 202 . That is to say, the control unit  126  waits until the user wearing the watch  120  holds the phone device  110  in user&#39;s hand as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     When the user becomes in the state illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the process moves to step S 204 . The control unit  126  inquires the information about the phone device  110  (the identification information) and the state of the phone device  110  (whether the user is on the phone) to the phone device  110 . On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  110  waits until it receives the inquiry from the control unit  26  at step S 302 . Thus, when the inquiry is received, the control unit  18  moves to step S 304 , and transmits the information about the phone device  110  (the identification information) and the state of the phone device  110  to the watch  120  (the control unit  126 ). 
     On the other hand, after receiving the information from the control unit  18 , the control unit  126  of the watch  120  determines whether the user is making a phone call on the phone device  110  at step S 206 . When the determination here is No, the process returns to step S 204 , and the process and the determination at steps S 204  and S 206  are repeated. That is, it can be said that at steps S 204  and S 206 , the control unit  126  continues to inquire whether the user starts using the phone device  110  for the phone call to the control unit  18 . On the other hand, when the determination at step S 206  is Yes, the control unit  126  moves to step S 208 . 
     At step S 208 , the control unit  126  transmits setting information (setting information for the vicarious operation) for the operation unit  15  of the phone device  110  to the control unit  18  so that the user can operate the display unit  123  while seeing the display unit  123  of the watch. At step S 210 , the control unit  126  executes the setting for the vicarious operation to the control unit  126 . 
     On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  110  waits until it receives the setting information for the vicarious operation at step S 306 . Thus, when the control unit  126  executes the process at step S 208 , the control unit  18  moves to step S 308 . At step S 308 , the control unit  18  executes the setting for the vicarious operation based on the received setting information for the vicarious operation. 
     On the other hand, the control unit  126  that has executed the setting for the vicarious operation at step S 210  moves to step S 212 , and displays the screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display (see  FIG. 8B ) on the display unit  123 . Here, the screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display is a screen that inquires whether to change the screen displayed on the display unit  123  to a screen that displays information relating to the phone device  110  to the user. The user may not notice that the screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display is displayed on the display unit  123 . Thus, the control unit  126  may inform the user of the displaying of the screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display by vibrating an unillustrated vibrator included in the watch  120 . 
     On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  110  waits until the operation to the screen for inquiring the necessity of changing the display is carried out at step S 310 . Here, the user cannot operate the operation unit  124  of the watch  120  on the left hand while holding the phone device  110  in the right hand as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit  18  detects the position touched by the user with a force equal to a predetermined pressure or greater in the operation unit  15  (among pressure sensors on the side surfaces of the phone device  110 ) during the phone call, and determines that the operation corresponding to the detected position is carried out. When the determination at step S 310  is Yes, the process moves to step S 312 , and the control unit  18  transmits operation information to the control unit  126 . 
     The control unit  126  of the watch  120  that has received the operation information from the control unit  18  determines whether to change the display at step S 214 . For example, assume that a YES function is allocated to a pressure sensor located in an upper part on the right side surface of the phone device  110 , and a NO function is allocated to a pressure sensor located in a lower part on the right side surface. In this case, the control unit  126  can determine whether to change the display based on the operation to the pressure sensor by the user. For example, when the operation information transmitted from the control unit  18  is information indicating that the pressure sensor located in the upper part on the right side surface is pressed with a force equal to a predetermined pressure or greater for a predetermined time (one to two seconds), the control unit  18  of the phone device  110  determines that user&#39;s operation is the YES operation. On the other hand, when the information transmitted from the control unit  18  is information indicating that the pressure sensor located in the lower part on the right side surface is pressed with a force equal to a predetermined pressure or greater for a predetermined time (one to two seconds), or information indicating that no operation is carried out for a predetermined time (e.g., five to ten seconds), the control unit  18  determines that user&#39;s operation is the NO operation. 
     In the present embodiment, in addition to the YES function and the NO function, a selection function may be allocated to a pressure sensor on the right side surface. Moreover, assume that the operation of sweeping the right side surface from the bottom to the top is an upward scroll operation, and the operation of sweeping the right side surface from the top to the bottom is a downward scroll operation. 
     When the determination at step S 214  is No (when the display is not changed), the control unit  126  moves to step S 226 , releases the setting for the vicarious operation, and terminates the entire process of  FIG. 6 . When the determination at step S 214  is Yes (when the display is to be changed), the control unit  126  moves to step S 216 . 
     At step S 216 , the control unit  126  changes the display on the display unit  123 . More specifically, the control unit  126  provides the display illustrated in  FIG. 8C  to display schedule data stored in the storage unit  16  of the phone device  110 . The display region of the display unit  23  of the watch  120  is small compared to the display region of the display unit  14  of the phone device  110 , and may not be able to display the whole of the schedule data. In such a case, the control unit  26  splits the schedule data and displays it (displays it in a scrollable manner) based on the size of the display region of the display unit  23 . 
     On the other hand, the control unit  18  of the phone device  110  determines whether the user has carried out an operation (whether the user has operated the pressure sensor on the right side surface) at step S 314 . When the determination here is No, the process moves to step S 318 . When the determination is Yes, the process moves to step S 316 . 
     At step S 316 , the control unit  18  transmits the information about the operation carried out by the user (e.g., the information about the scroll operation) to the control unit  126 , and moves to step S 318 . At step S 318 , the control unit  18  determines whether the phone call on the phone device  110  is ended. When the determination here is No, the control unit  18  returns to step S 314 . When the determination is Yes, the control unit  18  informs the control unit  126  of the end of the phone call at step S 320 , and terminates the entire process of  FIG. 6  after releasing the setting for the vicarious operation. 
     On the other hand, the control unit  126  of the watch  120  determines whether it has received the operation information at step S 218 . When the determination here is Yes, the process moves to step S 220 , and the control unit  126  controls the display in accordance with the received operation information. For example, when the user sweeps the pressure sensor, the operation of scrolling the schedule data is carried out in accordance with the sweeping direction. This allows the user to check the data of the desired date from the schedule data. 
     After step S 220  or when the determination at step S 218  is No, the process moves to step S 222 , and the control unit  126  determines whether the phone call is continuing. That is to say, the control unit  126  determines whether the process of step S 320  is not executed in the control unit  18 . When the determination here is Yes, the process returns to step S 218 , and the process and the determination of steps S 218  through S 222  are repeated. On the other hand, when the determination at step S 222  is No, the process moves to step S 224 . 
     At step S 224 , the control unit  126  changes the display on the display unit  123 . More specifically, the display illustrated in  FIG. 8C  is changed to (restored to) the display illustrated in  FIG. 8A . After that, the control unit  126  moves to step S 226 , releases the setting for the vicarious operation, and then terminates the entire process of  FIG. 6 . 
     As described in detail, according to the second embodiment, the watch  120  includes the display unit  123  that provides a display, the communication unit  121  that communicates with the phone device  110  through proximity communication or intra-body communication in response to holding of the phone device  110  including the operation unit  15  by the user, and the control unit  126  that controls a display on the display unit  123  in accordance with the operation of the operation unit  15  by the user during the communication with the phone device  110  through the communication unit  121 . This configuration allows the user to control the display on the display unit  123  by operating the operation unit  15  of the phone device  110 . Thus, the user can easily operate the display on the display unit  123  when the user is holding the phone device  110  for a phone call and cannot operate the operation unit  124  of the watch  120 . Therefore, user&#39;s convenience of use is improved. 
     The above-described second embodiment describes a case where schedule data is displayed on the display unit  123  of the watch  120 , but does not intend to suggest any limitation. In addition to the schedule data, the contents that have been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  110  before the phone call may be displayed as illustrated in  FIG. 8D . In this case, the control unit  26  splits the schedule data and displays it (displays the schedule data in a scrollable manner). Accordingly, even when the display region is small as with that of the display unit  123  of the watch  120 , the entire contents that have been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  110  before the phone call can be seen by the scroll operation by the user. 
     In the above-described second embodiment, only the contents that have been displayed on the display unit  14  of the phone device  110  before the phone call may be displayed on the display unit  123 , or schedule data or information other than the contents that have been displayed on the display unit  14  may be displayed on the display unit  123 . The above-described second embodiment describes a case where the display of the analog clock is always provided on the display unit  123 , but does not intend to suggest any limitation. The display of the digital clock may be always provided. The clock may be displayed on the right half of the display unit  123 , and schedule data or the like may be displayed on the left half. 
     At step S 216  of the above-described second embodiment, the display illustrated in  FIG. 8C  is automatically provided, but this does not intend to suggest any limitation. The user may select one of multiple display modes. For example, the control unit  126  may alternately display the screens illustrated in  FIG. 8C  and  FIG. 8D  every predetermined time, and may determine that the screen displayed when the pressure sensor located in the upper part on the right side surface of the phone device  110  is pressed is selected by the user. Alternatively, the control unit  126  may determine that the screen different from the screen being displayed is selected when the pressure sensor located in the lower part on the right side surface is pressed for a predetermined time (one to two seconds). 
     The above-described second embodiment describes a case where the display on the watch is changed in accordance with the operation to the pressure sensor by the user, but does not intend to suggest any limitation. The display on the watch may be changed in accordance with the operation to the touch panel located in the display unit  14  by the user (the move of the finger). 
     As with in the aforementioned second embodiment, operations such as the operation of changing the display on the display unit  23  of the PC  20  may be carried out by the operation of the operation unit  15  of the phone device  10  also in the above-described first embodiment 
     The order of the process described in the above-described embodiments is an example. That is to say, the orders of the processes of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6  may be changed as appropriate. 
     The above-described processing functions are implemented by a computer. In this case, a program in which processing details of the functions that a processing device (CPU) is to have are written are provided. The execution of the program by the computer allows the computer to implement the above described processing functions. The program in which the processing details are written can be stored in a storage medium (however, excluding carrier waves) capable of being read by a computer. 
     When the program is distributed, it may be sold in the form of a portable storage medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) storing the program. 
     The program may be stored in a storage device of a server computer, and the program may be transferred from the server computer to another computer over a network. 
     A computer executing the program stores the program stored in a portable storage medium or transferred from a server computer in its own storage device. The computer then reads the program from its own storage device, and executes a process according to the program. The computer may directly read the program from a portable storage medium, and execute a process according to the program. Alternatively, the computer may successively execute a process, every time the program is transferred from a server computer, according to the received program. 
     While the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and other embodiments, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.