System and method for outputting data

Abstract

A data output system includes an information processing apparatus, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a mounting base device that is electrically connected to one of the first terminal and the second terminal when the one of the first terminal and the second terminal is mounted on the mounting base device, the information processing apparatus includes a storage for storing time-series play data, and a wireless communication unit for communicating with the second terminal in a wireless communication, the first terminal including a storage for storing time-series play data, the second terminal including a first wireless communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication, and the mounting base device including an output unit for outputting time-series play data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an audio system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a portable audio player connected with a cradle and a wireless communication mode connected with a cradle respectively in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the portable audio player in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the wireless communication module in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the cradle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a server in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates the function of the wireless communication module with the portable audio player and the cradle interconnected to each other in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the portable audio player in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the wireless communication module in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the cradle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the server in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a wireless communication module in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the wireless communication module in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication module in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a portable audio player in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication module in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a cradle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A data output system comprising: an information processing apparatus, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a mounting base device that is electrically connected to one of the first terminal and the second terminal when the one of the first terminal and the second terminal is mounted on the mounting base device, the information processing apparatus including a storage for storing time-series play data, and a wireless communication unit for communicating with the second terminal in a wireless communication, the first terminal including a storage for storing time-series play data, the second terminal including a first wireless communication unit for communicating with the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication, and the mounting base device including an output unit for outputting time-series play data,wherein when the mounting base device is electrically connected to the first terminal mounted thereon, the time-series play data stored on the first terminal is output to the mounting base device, and then output from the output unit of the mounting base device, andwherein when the mounting base device is electrically connected to the second terminal mounted thereon, the second terminal acquires the time-series play data from the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication and transfers the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device, and then the output unit of the mounting base device outputs the time-series play data.

2. The data output system according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal comprises an operation unit, and wherein the second terminal, when unconnected to the mounting base device, transmits a command to the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

3. The data output system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base device comprises a wireless communication unit for communicating with the second terminal in a wireless communication, and wherein the second terminal comprises an operation unit and a second wireless communication unit for communicating with the mounting base device in a wireless communication, andwherein the second terminal, when unconnected to the mounting base device, transmits a command to the mounting base device in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

4. The data output system according to claim 1, wherein the first terminal comprises a wireless communication unit for communicating with the second terminal in a wireless communication, and wherein the second terminal comprises an operation unit and a second wireless communication unit for communicating with the first terminal in a wireless communication, andwherein the second terminal, when unconnected to the mounting base device, transmits a command to the first terminal in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

5. The data output system according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal comprises an output unit for outputting time-series play data, and wherein the second terminal, when unconnected to the mounting base terminal, outputs from the output unit thereof the time-series play data acquired from the information processing apparatus.

6. The data output system according to claim 5, wherein when the second terminal with the output unit thereof in the middle of outputting of the time-series play data acquired from the information processing apparatus is mounted on and connected to the mounting base device, the second terminal outputs the time-series play data and then the output unit of the mounting base device outputs the received time-series play data starting with a leading portion of the time-series play data.

7. The data output system according to claim 6, wherein when the second terminal with the output unit thereof in the middle of outputting of the time-series play data acquired from the information processing apparatus is mounted on and connected to the mounting base device, the output unit of the mounting base device outputs the received time-series play data after a predetermined period of time.

8. The data output system according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal acquires management information data of the time-series play data stored on the information processing apparatus, and acquires the time-series play data based on the management information data, and then outputs the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device.

9. The data output system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of information processing apparatuses, wherein the second terminal includes a storage for storing management information data of the time-series play data acquired from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, andwherein the second terminal acquires the management information data of the time-series play data from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, stores the management information data on the storage thereof, acquires the time-series play data from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on the stored management information data, and then transmits the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device.

10. A terminal comprising: a wireless communication unit for communicating with an information processing apparatus in a wireless communication;a storage for storing data;a connection unit for connection with a mounting base unit;anda controller for causing the wireless communication unit to acquire from the information processing apparatus time-series play data, and causing the connection unit to transmit the time-series play data to the mounting base device.

11. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising an operation unit, wherein when the terminal is unconnected to the mounting base device, the controller controls the wireless communication unit to transmit a command to the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

12. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising: an operation unit; andthe other wireless communication unit for communicating with the mounting base device,wherein when the terminal is unconnected to the mounting base device, the controller controls the other wireless communication unit to transmit a command to the mounting base device in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

13. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising: an operation unit; andthe other wireless communication unit for communicating with the other terminal,wherein when the terminal is unconnected to the mounting base device, the controller controls the other wireless communication unit to transmit a command to the other terminal in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to the operation unit.

14. The terminal according to claim 10, further comprising: an output unit for outputting the time-series play data,wherein when the terminal is unconnected to the mounting base device, the controller causes the output unit thereof to output the time-series play data.

15. The terminal according to claim 14, wherein when the terminal with the output unit thereof in the middle of outputting of the time-series play data is connected to the mounting base device, the controller causes the connection unit to transmit the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device starting with a leading portion of the time-series play data.

16. The terminal according to claim 15, wherein when the terminal with the output unit thereof in the middle of outputting of the time-series play data is connected to the mounting base device, the controller causes the connection unit to transmit the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device starting with the leading portion of the time-series play data after a predetermined period of time.

17. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein the controller acquires management information data of the time-series play data stored on the information processing apparatus, causes the communication unit to acquire the time-series play data stored on the information processing apparatus based on the management information data, and then causes the connection unit to output the acquired time-series play data to the mounting base device.

18. The terminal according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of information processing apparatuses is present, and wherein the controllers acquires management information data of the time-series play data from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses, acquires the time-series play data from each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses based on the management information data, and then transmits the time-series play data to the mounting base device.

19. An information processing method comprising steps of: acquiring from an information processing apparatus time-series play data using a wireless communication unit;transmitting the time-series play data to a mounting base device with a connection unit; andcontrolling the wireless communication unit to transmit a command to the information processing apparatus in a wireless communication in response to an operation input entered to an operation unit when the mounting base device is unconnected.

20. An information processing method comprising steps of: acquiring from an information processing apparatus time-series play data using a wireless communication unit;transmitting the time-series play data to a mounting base device using a connection unit;causing an output unit to output the time-series play data when the mounting base device is unconnected; andcausing the connection unit to transmit the time-series play data to the mounting base device starting with a leading portion of the time-series play data when the mounting base device is connected in the middle of the time-series play data being output from the output unit.