Patent Abstract:
There is a demand for a technique that enable plural terminals devices to be easily paired with plural mobile terminals possessed by their respective users in a room where the terminal devices that can be shared among the users are installed. Each terminal device searches for mobile terminals present within the wireless range. If the plural mobile terminals are present within a searchable area, the search result indicates plural mobile terminals, making it difficult to determine with what mobile terminal should the terminal device be paired. The current states of various sensors of the mobile terminals are included in information indicating the names of the mobile terminals and are searched by the terminal device. Under circumstances where the plural terminal devices and the plural mobile terminals exist within short distances, the mobile terminal unit to be paired with the terminal device can be found with ease.

Full Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese applications JP2012-085124 filed on Apr. 4, 2012 the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The disclosed subject matter relates to a terminal coordination system for coordinating terminal devices and mobile terminal units. 
         [0003]    In recent years, various devices and appliances have had networking functions, and there are an increasing number of devices which are coordinated and receive services. For example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) devices are coordinated. A terminal device and a Wi-Fi router are coupled together. Game machines are coordinated. Where terminal devices are coordinated, it is necessary to form pairs of terminal devices. An operation for causing terminal devices to recognize each other and to share a key used for communications is hereinafter referred to as pairing. 
         [0004]    A method used by a mobile terminal unit (hereinafter referred to as the subject mobile terminal) to make other terminal devices recognize the subject mobile terminal is known, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-2008-311889 (especially, its claim 1). In particular, the subject mobile terminal is shaken to emit a signal in order to urge other terminals (wireless base stations) to recognize the subject mobile terminal. If there are plural mobile terminal units emitting signals, a priority is given to a mobile terminal unit first approaching the subject mobile terminal within a predetermined distance. Furthermore, there is a known method of identifying a communicating party by placing one mobile terminal unit on top of another and shaking them simultaneously as disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2010-21810 (especially, its claim 1). 
         [0005]    Under circumstances where there are plural users each possessing a mobile terminal unit in a room in which there are mounted plural terminal devices capable of being shared by the users, there is a strong demand for a technique of easily pairing the mounted terminal devices with the mobile terminal units possessed by the users. 
         [0006]    The above-cited JP-A-2008-311889 discloses a method of coupling plural mobile terminal units with one system. The above-cited JP-A-2010-21810 discloses a method of pairing mobile units that can be shaken together. 
         [0007]    In the conventional art, terminal equipment searches a range that can be wirelessly covered for any mobile terminal unit. If there are plural mobile terminal units within the searched range, the search will produce results indicating plural units. Thus, it is not easy to choose which one of the mobile terminal units is paired with the searching equipment. 
         [0008]    In the conventional art, any method of easily pairing plural terminal devices with plural mobile terminal units is not disclosed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing circumstances, the present disclosure has been made. There is herein disclosed a technique used by terminal equipment to search for mobile terminal units in such a way that the current states of various sensors of the mobile terminal units can be known and that information about these current states is included in information indicative of the names of the mobile terminal units. 
         [0010]    One of the aspects disclosed herein is a terminal coordination system for pairing one terminal device with one mobile terminal unit from plural terminal devices and plural mobile terminal units and sending and receiving data between the paired terminal device and mobile terminal unit. In this terminal coordination system, the terminal device and the mobile terminal unit are paired together such that a key is shared between these device and unit. Using the shared key, a login to the OS (Operating System) of the terminal device is performed. Then, the terminal device and the mobile terminal unit are decoupled from each other. A logout from the OS of the terminal device is performed. One terminal device and one mobile terminal unit which were paired together at least once are recoupled together. In a case where data is sent and received between one terminal device and one mobile terminal unit which were once paired together, the terminal device and mobile terminal unit are then coupled together and the terminal device logs out of the OS using the shared key employed for the pairing. Where the record of the pairing between the terminal device and the mobile terminal unit which were once paired together is erased, the shared key is discarded. 
         [0011]    More specifically, the terminal coordination system performs a pairing process. During this process, a first terminal device sends a search request to plural mobile terminal units. Each mobile terminal unit receiving the search request performs an operation for obtaining sensor information, and sends information about the unit itself and the sensor information to the first terminal device. The first terminal device displays the mobile terminal information and sensor information about plural mobile terminal units. A selection performed by a user regarding a mobile terminal unit in response to the displayed information is accepted. If such a selection is not performed, the process returns to the aforementioned operation for searching for mobile terminal units. If the selection is done, pairing with the selected mobile terminal unit is done. A pairing request is sent to the selected mobile terminal unit. The selected mobile terminal unit performs a pairing operation in response to the received pairing request. Information about the created pair is stored in the mobile terminal unit itself. Information about the created pair is sent back to the first terminal device. The first terminal device stores the sent information about the pair. The first terminal device and the selected mobile terminal unit may be configured to send and receive data to and from each other. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, the terminal coordination system performs an operation for recoupling the first terminal device and the mobile terminal unit which were paired together at least once. During this operation, the first terminal device displays sensor request information. The mobile terminal unit obtains sensor information in response to a user&#39;s manipulation and according to the sensor request information displayed on the first terminal device. Information about the terminal unit itself and the sensor information is sent to the first terminal device. The first terminal device compares the displayed sensor request information with the sensor information received from the mobile terminal unit. If the result of the comparison indicates that there is no coincidence, the process is repeated from the operation for displaying the sensor request information. If the result of the comparison indicates that there is a coincidence, the stored information about the pair is acquired, and the communicating party to be coupled is determined as a mobile terminal unit. A coupling request is sent to the mobile terminal unit, which in turn obtains stored information about the pair and sends a coupling response to the first terminal device. The first terminal device and the mobile terminal unit may be so configured that data is sent and received between them. 
         [0013]    In addition, the terminal coordination system may further include server equipment coupled via a network. In an operation for storing the information about the pair, each of the first terminal device and the mobile terminal unit may send information about the pairing of the device or unit itself to the server equipment. In an operation for obtaining information about the pairing, information about the pairing of the device or unit itself may be obtained from the server equipment. 
         [0014]    In the terminal coordination system, the terminal device may be so configured that it has a communication portion for sending and receiving data to and from a mobile terminal unit via wireless communications, a display portion for displaying information about the mobile terminal unit searched for, a pairing operation portion for pairing this terminal device with the mobile terminal unit such that a key is shared between them, a coupling operation portion for performing recoupling using the shared key after the pairing, and a pairing information storage portion for storing information about the pair used by both pairing operation portion and coupling operation portion. The mobile terminal unit may be so configured that it has a communication portion for sending and receiving data to and from the terminal device via wireless communications, a pairing operation portion for paring the mobile terminal unit with the terminal device, a coupling operation portion for performing recoupling using the shared key after the pairing, a pairing information storage portion for storing information about pairing used by both the pairing operation portion and the coupling operation portion, and a sensor processing portion for obtaining sensor information from a sensor device. 
         [0015]    The server equipment of the terminal coordination system may be so configured as to have a communication portion for performing communications with the terminal device and with the mobile terminal unit via a network, a pairing information storage portion for receiving pairing information created by pairing of the terminal device and the mobile terminal unit from these device and unit and storing the received information, and a pairing information delivery portion for obtaining the stored pairing information according to a request from the terminal device and mobile terminal unit and sending the pairing information to the terminal device and mobile terminal unit. 
         [0016]    According to the disclosure, even under circumstances where plural terminal devices and plural mobile terminal units are present close to each other, the terminal devices can be easily paired with the mobile terminal units. 
         [0017]    The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in the specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the following description provided in relation to the accompanying drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a diagram exemplifying configurations of terminal devices and mobile terminal units of a terminal coordination system. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram exemplifying the configuration of a terminal coordination system of embodiment 1. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram exemplifying the hardware configurations of terminal devices, mobile terminal units, and server equipment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart exemplifying the whole sequence of processing performed by the terminal coordination system. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart exemplifying a sequence of operations performed to search for a single mobile terminal unit during (an initial) pairing operation. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart exemplifying a sequence of operations performed to search for plural mobile terminal units during (an initial) pairing operation. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart exemplifying a sequence of operations performed to search for a single mobile terminal unit when recoupling is done. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart exemplifying a sequence of operations performed to search for plural mobile terminal units when recoupling is done. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view exemplifying a display of sensor request information. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view exemplifying another display of sensor request information. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  exemplifies a data structure of sensor information (paring information). 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  exemplifies the display screen of a mobile terminal unit on which the results of a search are shown. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram exemplifying the configuration of a terminal coordination system of embodiment 2. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
       [0031]      FIG. 1  exemplifies terminal devices and mobile terminal units of a terminal coordination system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the terminal coordination system of the present embodiment, the plural terminal devices  10  (such as  10   1 ,  10   2 , . . . ,  10   n ) and the plural mobile terminal units  20  (such as  20   1 ,  20   2 , . . . ,  20   m ) are coupled together via short-distance wireless communications  80 . Data is sent and received as described below by paring one terminal device such as  10   n  and one mobile terminal unit such as  20   m  with each other out of the plural terminal devices  10  and the plural mobile terminal units  20 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the terminal coordination system of the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the terminal coordination system of the present embodiment, the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m  are coupled to each other via the short-distance wireless communications  80 . 
         [0033]    The terminal device  10   n  includes a communication portion  101  for sending and receiving data to and from the mobile terminal unit  20   m  via the short-distance wireless communications  80 , a display portion  102  for displaying information about the mobile terminal units  20  searched for, a pairing operation portion  104  for paring this terminal device  10   n  with the mobile terminal unit  20   m  and sharing a key used when data is sent and received, a coupling operation portion  103  for performing recoupling using the already shared key after the device and unit have been paired together, and a pairing information storage portion  105  for storing pair information (such as the address of the communicating party and shared key) used by both pairing operation portion  104  and coupling operation portion  103 . 
         [0034]    The mobile terminal unit  20   m  includes a communication portion  201  for sending and receiving data to and from the terminal device  10   n  via the short-distance wireless communications  80 , a pairing operation portion  204  for pairing this mobile terminal unit  20   m  with the terminal device  10   n , a coupling operation portion  203  for performing recoupling using the key already shared after the pairing operation, a pairing information storage portion  205  for storing pairing information (such as the address of the communicating party and shared key) used by both pairing operation portion  204  and coupling operation portion  203 , and a sensor processing portion  206  for obtaining sensor information from a sensor device  13  (see  FIG. 3 ) and converting this information into sensor information of which a notice is given to the terminal device  10   n . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows the hardware configuration of the mobile terminal unit  20   m . In this configuration, a CPU  11 , a main storage unit  12 , the aforementioned sensor device  13 , an auxiliary storage unit  14 , a communication device  151  for performing the short-distance wireless communications  80 , another communication device  152  coupled to a network  90 , an input/output device  16 , and a reader  17  for a storage medium  18 . These components are interconnected by internal communication lines  19  such as buses. 
         [0036]    A server equipment  30  may be coupled to the network  90 . The terminal devices  10  and the server equipment  30  are similar in hardware configuration to the mobile terminal units  20  except for size and performance in an unillustrated manner. The terminal devices  10  and the server equipment  30  are dispensed with the sensor device  13 . 
         [0037]    The coordinating operations of the present embodiment are described. A computer program stored in the auxiliary storage unit  14  of each device or unit is loaded into the main storage unit  12  and executed by the CPU, whereby operations of the various components are carried out. Programs may be previously stored in the auxiliary storage unit  14  or loaded as the need arises via other storage medium or communication medium (such as a network or carrier wave or digital signal conveyed along the network). 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of the whole sequence of operations performed by the terminal coordination system. 
         [0039]    First, the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1  are paired together (SS 101 ). As the result of the pairing, a shared key is created and shared (SS 1021  and SS 1022 ). Then, information for a login to the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  to the terminal device  10   1  using the shared key (SS 103 ). A login to the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is carried out (SS 1041 ). Subsequently, arbitrary data is sent or received (SS 105 ). Then, the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1  are decoupled (SS 106 ). Under this condition, a logout from the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is performed (SS 1071 ). 
         [0040]    In the case of a combination of the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1  which were once paired together, recoupling is then performed (SS 108 ). Then, information about a login to the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  to the terminal device  10   1  using the key shared by the key sharing operations (SS 1021  and SS 1022 ) (SS 109 ). A login to the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is performed (SS 1041 ). Then, arbitrary data is sent and received (SS 110 ). Thereafter, the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1  are decoupled (SS 111 ). Then, a logout from the OS of the terminal device  10   1  is performed (SS 1071 ). 
         [0041]    Where the record of the pairing between the terminal device  10   1  and mobile terminal unit  20   1  which were once paired together should be erased, a pairing cancel operation is performed (SS 112 ) and the shared key is discarded (SS 1131  and SS 1132 ). 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations performed to pair plural terminal devices  10  with plural mobile terminal units  20 . In particular, the flowchart of  FIG. 5  illustrates operations when a single mobile terminal unit  20  responds to a search request from any one of the terminal devices  10  when a pairing operation is performed. 
         [0043]    First, a terminal device  10   1  makes a search request to search for mobile terminal units  20  (S 1011 ). The search request A 1011  is sent to plural mobile terminal units  20   1  to  20   m . Upon receiving the search request A 1011 , the mobile terminal unit  20   1  performs an operation for obtaining sensor information (S 2011 ). Terminal information A 2011  about the terminal device  10   1  itself and sensor information A 2012  obtained at the step S 2011  is sent to the terminal device  10   1 . The mobile terminal unit  20   m  other than the mobile terminal unit  20   1  also sends terminal information A 20   m   1  and sensor information A 20   m   0  to the terminal device  10   1 . Since the mobile terminal unit  20   m  obtains no sensor information, the sensor information A 20   m   0  is empty. The display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   1  displays the results of the searches for the mobile terminal units  20  (S 1012 ). At this time, the sensor information A 2012  is included in the terminal information A 2011  sent from the mobile terminal units  20   1  and displayed. If the sensor information A 2012  represents a condition in which vibrations are occurring, the terminal information A 2011  may be displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   1  while being vibrated. Then, the terminal information A 2011  displayed together with the sensor information A 2012  is selected (S 1013 ). If no selection is performed (S 1014 ), the process returns to the step S 1011  for searching for mobile terminal units. If the decision at the step S 1013  for selecting a paired terminal is that the mobile terminal unit  20   1  is selected, the pairing operation portion  104  of the terminal device  10   1  performs a pairing operation (S 1015 ), and sends a pairing request A 1012  to the selected mobile terminal unit  20   1 . The pairing operation portion  204  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1  performs a pairing operation (S 2012 ), creates pairing information, and stores the information in the pairing information storage portion  205  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1  (S 2013 ). Then, a pairing response A 2013  including the created pairing information is sent back to the mobile terminal unit  10   1 . The terminal device  10   1  stores the pairing information contained in the received pairing response A 2013  into the pairing information storage portion  105  (S 1016 ). Then, arbitrary data A 2014  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . 
         [0044]    Then, the terminal device  10   n  makes a search request for searching for mobile terminal units  20  (S 10   n   1 ). The search request A 10   n   1  is sent to the plural mobile terminal units  20   1  to  20   m . The mobile terminal units  20   m  receiving the search request A 10   n   1  performs an operation for obtaining sensor information (S 20   m   1 ) and sends terminal information A 20   m   1  about the terminal device  10   n  itself and sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   1  to the terminal device  10   n . The mobile terminal unit  20   1  other than the mobile terminal unit  20   m  also sends terminal information A 2011  and sensor information A 2010  to the terminal device  10   n . Since the mobile terminal unit  20   1  has obtained no sensor information, the sensor information A 2010  is empty. The results of the searches for the mobile terminal unit  20  are displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   n  (S 10   n   2 ). At this time, the sensor information A 20   m   2  is included in the terminal information A 20   m   1  sent from the mobile terminal units  20  and displayed. If the sensor information A 20   m   2  indicates that the unit is vibrating, the terminal information A 20   m   1  may be displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal unit  10   n  while being displayed. Then, the terminal information A 20   m   1  displayed along with the sensor information A 20   m   2  is selected (S 10   n   3 ). If no selection is performed (S 10   n   4 ), the process goes back to the aforementioned step S 10   n   1  for searching for mobile terminal units. If the result of the operation of the step S 10   n   3  for selecting a paired terminal is that the mobile terminal unit  20   m  is selected as a paired one, the pairing operation portion  104  of the terminal unit  10   n  performs a pairing operation (S 10   n   5 ) and sends a pairing request A 10   n   2  to the selected mobile terminal unit  20   m . The pairing operation portion  204  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  performs a pairing operation (S 20   m   2 ), generates pairing information, and stores the information in the pairing information storage portion  205  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  (S 20   m   3 ). Then, the pairing operation portion sends a pairing response A 20   m   3  including the generated pairing information back to the terminal device  10   n . The terminal device  10   n  stores the pairing information contained in the received pairing response A 20   m   3  into the pairing information storage portion  105  (S 10   n   6 ). Then, arbitrary data A 10   n   3  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations performed to pair plural terminal devices  10  with plural terminal units  20 . The difference between  FIGS. 6 and 5  is that  FIG. 6  illustrates operations performed when the plural mobile terminal units  20  respond to a search request from the terminal devices  10  when a pairing operation is performed. 
         [0046]    First, the terminal device  10   1  makes a search request to search for mobile terminal units  20  (S 1011 ). The search request A 1011  is sent to the plural mobile terminal units  20   1  to  20   m . Then, the terminal unit  10   n  makes a search request to search for the mobile terminal units  20  (S 10   n   1 ). The search request A 10   n   1  is sent to the plural mobile terminal units  20   1  to  20   m . 
         [0047]    The mobile terminal unit  20   1  receiving the search request A 1011  and search request A 10   n   1  performs an operation for obtaining sensor information (S 2011 ), and sends terminal information A 2011  about the terminal unit itself and sensor information A 2012  obtained at the step S 2011  to the terminal device  10   1  and to the terminal unit  10   n . Furthermore, the mobile terminal unit  20   m  receiving the search request A 1011  and search request A 10   n   1  performs an operation for obtaining sensor information (S 20   m   1 ), and sends terminal information A 20   m   1  about the terminal unit itself and the sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   1  to the terminal devices  10   1  and  10   n . 
         [0048]    The results of the searches for the mobile terminal units  20  are displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   1 . At this time, the sensor information A 2012  is included in the terminal information A 2011  sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  and displayed. Furthermore, the sensor information A 20   m   2  is included in the terminal information A 20   m   1  sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   m  and displayed (S 1012 ). 
         [0049]    Then, the terminal information A 2011  displayed along with the sensor information A 2012  is selected (S 1013 ). If no selection is made at this time, the process goes back to the aforementioned step S 1011  for searching for a mobile terminal unit. If the result of the step S 1013  for selecting a paired terminal is that the mobile terminal unit  20   1  is selected (S 1014 ), the pairing operation portion  104  of the terminal device  10   1  performs a pairing operation (S 1015 ), and sends a pairing request A 1012  to the selected mobile terminal unit  20   1 . The pairing operation portion  204  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1  performs a pairing operation (S 2012 ) and stores the pairing information in the pairing information storage portion  205  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1 (S 2013 ). Then, the pairing operation portion sends a pairing response A 2013  containing the generated pairing information to the terminal device  10   1 . The terminal device  10   1  stores the pairing information contained in the received pairing response A 2013  into the pairing information storage portion  105  (S 1016 ). Arbitrary data A 1014  is then sent and received between the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . 
         [0050]    The results of the searches for the mobile terminal units  20  are displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   n  (S 10   n   2 ). At this time, the sensor information A 20   m   2  is included in the terminal information A 20   m   1  sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   m  and displayed. Furthermore, the sensor information A 2012  is included in the terminal information A 2011  sent from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  and displayed. 
         [0051]    Then, the terminal information A 20   m   1  displayed together with the sensor information A 20   m   2  is selected (S 10   n   3 ). If no selection is made at this time (S 10   n   4 ), the process returns to the above-described step S 10   n   1  for searching for a mobile terminal unit. If the result of the operation of the step S 10   n   3  for selecting a paired terminal is that the mobile terminal unit  20   m  is selected as a paired unit, the pairing operation portion  104  of the terminal device  10   n  performs a pairing operation (S 10   n   5 ). A pairing request A 10   n   2  is sent to the selected mobile terminal unit  20   m . The pairing operation portion  204  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  executes a pairing operation (S 20   m   2 ) and stores pairing information in the pairing information storage portion  205  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  (S 20   m   3 ). Then, the pairing operation portion sends a pairing response A 20   m   3  containing the generated pairing information back to the terminal device  10   n . The terminal device  10   n  stores the pairing information contained in the received pairing response A 20   m   3  into the pairing information storage portion  105  (S 10   n   6 ). Then, arbitrary data A 10   n   3  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m . 
         [0052]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a sequence of operations performed when the plural terminal devices  10  and the plural mobile terminal units  20  are recoupled. In particular,  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when a single mobile terminal unit  20  responds to a search request from any one of the terminal devices  10  when recoupling is done. 
         [0053]    First, the terminal device  10   1  displays sensor request information (S 10112 ). Also, the terminal device  10   n  displays the sensor request information (S 10   n   12 ). The mobile terminal unit  20   1  obtains sensor information obeying the sensor request information displayed on the terminal device  10   1  (S 2016 ). 
         [0054]    The mobile terminal unit  20   1  sends the terminal information A 2011  about the terminal device itself and the sensor information A 2012  obtained at the step S 2016  to the terminal device  10   1 . Furthermore, the mobile terminal unit  20   1  sends the terminal information A 2011  about the terminal unit itself and the sensor information A 2012  acquired at the step S 2016  to the terminal device  10   n . 
         [0055]    The terminal device  10   1  compares the sensor request information displayed by this device itself at the step S 10112  and the sensor information A 2012  received from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  (S 1017 ). If the result of the comparison indicates that there is no coincidence (S 1018 ), the process is repeated from the step S 10112  for displaying sensor request information. If there is an agreement, pairing information stored at the step S 1016  for storing pairing information is obtained (S 1019 ). A communicating party to be coupled is determined (S 10110 ). The coupling operation portion  103  of the terminal device  10   1  performs an operation for coupling (S 10111 ) and sends a coupling request A 1016  to the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . The coupling operation portion  203  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1  obtains pairing information from the pairing information storage portion  205  (S 2017 ), performs an operation for coupling (S 2018 ), and sends the coupling response A 2018  to the terminal device  10   1 . Then, arbitrary data A 1014  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . 
         [0056]    The mobile terminal unit  20   m  obtains sensor information obeying the sensor request information displayed on the terminal device  10   n  (S 20   m   6 ). 
         [0057]    The mobile terminal unit  20   m  sends the terminal information A 20   m   1  about the device itself and the sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   6  to the terminal device  10   1 . The mobile terminal unit  20   m  sends the terminal information A 20   m   1  about the unit itself and the sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   6  to the terminal device  10   n . 
         [0058]    The terminal device  10   n  compares the sensor request information displayed by the device itself at the step S 10   n   12  and the sensor information A 20   m   2  received from the mobile terminal unit  20   m  (S 10   n   7 ). If the result of the comparison indicates that there is no coincidence, the process is repeated from the step S 10   n   12  for displaying sensor request information. If the result of the comparison is that there is a coincidence, the pairing information stored at the step S 10   n   6  for storing pairing information is obtained (S 10   n   9 ) and a communicating party to be coupled is determined (S 10   n   10 ). The coupling operation portion  103  of the terminal device  10   n  performs a coupling operation (S 10   n   11 ) and sends a coupling request A 10   n   6  to the mobile terminal unit  20   m . The coupling operation portion  203  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  obtains pairing information from the pairing information storage portion  205  (S 20   m   7 ), performs a coupling operation (S 20   m   8 ), and sends a coupling response A 20   m   8  to the terminal device  10   n . Then, arbitrary data A 10   n   3  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m . 
         [0059]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when the plural terminal devices  10  and the plural mobile terminal units  20  are recoupled. The difference between  FIGS. 8 and 7  is that  FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating operations performed when plural mobile terminal units  20  respond to a search request from any one of the terminal devices  10  when the recoupling is done. 
         [0060]    First, the terminal device  10   1  displays sensor request information (S 10112 ). The terminal device  10   n  also displays the sensor request information (S 10   n   12 ). 
         [0061]    The mobile terminal unit  20   1  acquires sensor information according to the sensor request information displayed on the terminal device  10   1  (S 2016 ). The mobile terminal unit  20   1  sends terminal information A 2011  about the device itself and the sensor information A 2012  obtained at the step S 2016  to the terminal device  10   1 . The mobile terminal unit  20   1  sends terminal information A 2011  about the unit itself and the sensor information A 2012  obtained at the step S 2016  to the terminal device  10   n . 
         [0062]    The mobile terminal unit  20   m  obtains sensor information obeying the sensor request information displayed on the terminal device  10   n  (S 20   m   6 ). The mobile terminal unit  20   m  sends terminal information A 20   m   1  about the unit itself and the sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   6  to the terminal device  10   1 . Furthermore, the mobile terminal unit  20   m  sends the terminal information A 20   m   1  about the unit itself and the sensor information A 20   m   2  obtained at the step S 20   m   6  to the terminal device  10   n . 
         [0063]    The terminal device  10   1  compares the sensor request information displayed by the device itself at the step S 10112  and the sensor information A 2012  received from the mobile terminal unit  20   1  (S 1017 ). If the result of the comparison is that there is no coincidence (S 1018 ), the process is repeated from the step S 10112  for displaying sensor request information. If the result of the comparison is that there is a coincidence, the pairing information stored at the step S 1016  for storing pairing information is obtained (S 1019 ) and a communicating party to be coupled is determined (S 10110 ). The coupling operation portion  103  of the terminal device  10   1  performs a coupling operation (S 10111 ) and sends a coupling request A 1016  to the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . The coupling operation portion  203  of the mobile terminal unit  20   1  obtains pairing information from the pairing information storage portion  205  (S 2017 ), performs a coupling operation (S 2018 ), and sends the coupling response A 2018  to the terminal device  10   1 . Then, arbitrary data A 1014  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   1  and the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . 
         [0064]    The terminal device  10   n  compares the sensor request information displayed by the device itself at the step S 10   n   12  and the sensor information A 20   m   2  received from the mobile terminal unit  20   m  (S 10   n   7 ). If the result of the comparison indicates that there is no coincidence, the process is repeated from step S 10   n   12  for displaying sensor request information. If the result of the comparison indicates that there is a coincidence (S 10   n   8 ), the pairing information stored at the step S 10   n   6  for storing pairing information is obtained (S 10   n   9 ) and a communicating party to be coupled is determined (S 10   n   10 ). The coupling operation portion  103  of the terminal device  10   n  performs a coupling operation (S 10   n   11 ) and sends the coupling request A 10   n   6  to the mobile terminal unit  20   m . The coupling operation portion  203  of the mobile terminal unit  20   m  obtains pairing information from the pairing information storage portion  205  (S 20   m   7 ), performs a coupling operation (S 20   m   8 ), and sends a coupling response A 20   m   8  to the terminal device  10   n . Then, arbitrary data A 10   n   3  is sent and received between the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m . 
         [0065]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  show examples of the display of sensor request information provided as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         [0066]    For example, the manner in which each mobile terminal unit  20  is vibrated may be represented by characters on the display portion of the terminal device  10   n  as shown in example 1. Furthermore, as shown in example 2, the sense of the mobile terminal unit  20  may be shown to be tilted in a predetermined direction. 
         [0067]    It is to be understood that the sensor request information is not restricted to this. Other types of sensor information such as obtained from an accelerator sensor, a microphone (voice), a camera (photographs), or GPS (positions) may also be requested. Graphical figures such as triangles or circles may also be drawn. An input from a keyboard or a touch pad may also be requested. 
         [0068]      FIG. 10  shows an example of data structure of terminal information and sensor information. As shown, terminal information and sensor information sent from the mobile terminal units  20  to the terminal devices  10  assumes a data structure in which a terminal name is partitioned from sensor information converted into a character string by a semicolon. Consequently, all information can be treated as strings of characters. Hence, the information can be directly applied to existing communication specifications. 
         [0069]      FIG. 11  shows one example of the display screen of the terminal device  10   n  after a search for the mobile terminal unit  20   1 . Information about the mobile terminal unit  20   1  searched for may be displayed either as icons or in tabular form. Furthermore, under conditions where sensor information about the mobile terminal unit  20   1  indicates vibrations, an icon indicative of the corresponding mobile terminal unit which is displayed on the display portion  102  of the terminal device  10   n  may be vibrated. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0070]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a terminal coordination system of embodiment 2. In the terminal coordination system of the present embodiment, a terminal device  10   n  and a mobile terminal unit  20   m  are coupled to each other via short-distance wireless communications  80 . Also, the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m  are coupled to server equipment  30  via a network  90 . 
         [0071]    The server equipment  30  includes a communication portion  301  for sending and receiving data to and from the terminal device  10   n  and mobile terminal unit  20   m  via the network  90 , a pairing information storage portion  303  for storing pairing information after the terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m  are paired together, and a pairing information delivery portion  302  for sending the pairing information at a request from the terminal device  10   n  or the mobile terminal unit  20   m . 
         [0072]    The terminal device  10   n  and the mobile terminal unit  20   m  are similar in configuration with their counterparts of embodiment 1. 
         [0073]    In embodiment 1, in the steps S 1016 , S 10   n   6 , S 2013 , and S 20   m   3  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  for storing pairing information, pairing information is stored in their respective pairing information storage portions  105  and  205 . In contrast, in embodiment 2, pairing information is stored in the pairing information storage portion  303  of the server equipment coupled via the network  90 . 
         [0074]    Furthermore, in the steps S 1019 , S 10   n   9 , S 2017 , and S 20   m   7  of embodiment 1 illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  for obtaining pairing information, pairing information is obtained from their respective pairing information storage portions  105  and  205 . In contrast, in embodiment 2, pairing information is obtained from the pairing information storage portion  303  of the server equipment  30  coupled via the network  90 . 
         [0075]    In the step S 1013  of  FIGS. 5 and 6  for selecting a terminal to be paired, if a mobile terminal unit already paired is selected, an error message may be displayed and the pairing operation may be interrupted. 
         [0076]    Immediately prior to the pairing operation (S 2012 ) of  FIGS. 5 and 6  performed by mobile terminal units, the user of each mobile terminal unit  20  may be asked to make a check. Alternatively, the user may be asked to make an input of secret information such as a password, and the input may be confirmed. 
         [0077]    Furthermore, immediately prior to the coupling operation (S 2018 ) of  FIGS. 7 and 8  performed by mobile terminal units, the user of each mobile terminal unit  20  may be required to make a check. Alternatively, the user may be required to make an input of secret information such as a password, and the input may be confirmed. 
         [0078]    In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each mobile terminal unit  20  sends terminal information and sensor information in response to a search request from any one of the terminal devices  10 . Subsequently to the pairing operations (S 2012  and S 20   m   2 ) performed by mobile terminal units, any reply may not be made in response to a search request from any terminal device  10 . Also, after vibrating the mobile terminal unit  20 , a reply to a search request from any terminal device  10  may be made. 
         [0079]    In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each mobile terminal unit  20  obtains sensor information (S 2016  and S 20   m   6 ) and sends terminal information and sensor information to the terminal devices  10 . Subsequently to the coupling operations S 2018  and S 20   m   8  performed by the mobile terminal units, transmission of terminal information and sensor information to the terminal units  10  may be inhibited. Furthermore, after vibrating the mobile terminal unit  20  of interest, terminal information and sensor information may be sent to the terminal devices  10 . 
         [0080]    It should be further understood by those skilled in the art that although the present description has been made on example embodiments, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0081]    Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to example embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7