IP Library Granted Patent US 8,180,325
Granted Patent B2
US 8,180,325 · App. 12/439,948 · Granted May 15, 2012

Terminal unit, device unit, illicit use prevention system, method and program

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,180,325
App. No.
12/439,948
Granted
May 15, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide the safety of preventing the illicit use of others by using a state as to whether or not the essential function of the device is not in use in locking the terminal to prohibit the use. A user terminal 10 makes a determination whether or not a device unit 20 is in a use state, the terminal unit 10 is locked after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the device unit 20 , if the device unit 20 is not in use, irrespective of the network connection.

Claims (43)

1. A terminal unit capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a head set as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked, if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected; and

the terminal unit determines a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the terminal unit determines that the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication

wherein:

a report signal of lock advance notice is transmitted to the head set after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time, and

a control signal of suppressing the lock is received from the head set including a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use, after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness and the lock is suppressed.

2. A head set capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a terminal unit as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected;

the terminal unit determines a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the terminal unit determines that the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication;

wherein:

a report signal of lock advance notice is received from the terminal unit after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time and a lock advance notice is reported to a user, and

the head set comprises a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use, and a control signal of suppressing the lock is transmitted to the terminal unit after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness.

3. The head set according to claim 2 , further comprising a unit that determines whether or not the head set is mounted on a user's head, and issues a control signal to the terminal unit at a predetermined interval shorter than the predetermined second time, wherein the control signal suppresses the lock when the head set is mounted on the user's head.

4. An illicit use prevention system comprising a terminal unit capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a head set as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked, if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected; and

the terminal unit determines a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the terminal unit determines that the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication;

wherein:

the head set receives a report signal of lock advance notice from the terminal unit after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time and reports the lock advance notice to a user, and

the head set comprises a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use, and transmits a control signal of suppressing the lock to the terminal unit after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness.

5. An illicit use prevention method for a terminal unit capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a head set as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked, if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected; and

the terminal unit determines a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the terminal unit determines that the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication;

wherein:

the head set receives a report signal of lock advance notice from the terminal unit after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time and reports the lock advance notice to a user, and

the head set comprises a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use, and transmits a control signal of suppressing the lock to the terminal unit after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for performing a process on a terminal unit capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a head set as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked, if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected;

the process comprises determining a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and locking the terminal unit after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication; and

the process further comprises:

transmitting a report signal of lock advance notice to the head set after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time, and

receiving a control signal of suppressing the lock from the head set including a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness and suppressing the lock.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for performing a process on a head set capable of performing short distance wireless communication to a terminal unit as a designated communication counterpart, wherein:

the terminal unit is not locked if the terminal unit is playing back music and is transmitting music data corresponding to the played back music to the head set in a communication state by the short distance wireless communication;

the terminal unit is locked after a predetermined first time, if the short distance wireless communication is disconnected;

the process comprises determining a use state of the head set by determining whether or not the terminal unit is playing back music, and locking the terminal unit after a predetermined second time from a last operation signal from the head set, if the head set is not in the use state, irrespective of the short distance wireless communication; and

the process further comprises:

receiving a report signal of lock advance notice from the terminal unit after a predetermined third time shorter than the predetermined second time and reporting the lock advance notice to a user, and

transmitting a control signal of suppressing the lock to the terminal unit after a predetermined fourth time shorter than the predetermined second time when in the state of readiness, with a unit that determines whether or not the head set is in a state of readiness to use.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2014
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INNOVATIONS LIMITED (HONG KONG)
Reel/Frame 033720/0767 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2009
From: UCHIDA, KAORU
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022344/0987 →