초록 ▼

To provide an improved information processing apparatus and a method for controlling the same, which enables to smoothly transfer data, such as processed results obtained from execution of an application program, an HTML file acquired from a Web server in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol or the l

To provide an improved information processing apparatus and a method for controlling the same, which enables to smoothly transfer data, such as processed results obtained from execution of an application program, an HTML file acquired from a Web server in accordance with the TCP/IP protocol or the like, to an external device (PDA) by using an infrared communication function. The disclosed information processing apparatus periodically accesses a predetermined server machine (e.g., a Web server) to acquire a desired file (e.g., an HTML file). This file acquisition operation is carried out without the involvement of operations of an infrared transceiver. In other words, the information processing apparatus attempts to continually perform caching of the most recent download data. As a result, when the PDA as an external device is set into an infrared communication mode and a user simply holds the PDA to a station discoverable region of the information processing apparatus, a connection between them is established, thereby enabling the PDA to receive the most recent data.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared code, a memory for storing download data, input means for allowing a user to input user commands, and connection means for connecting to a network, comp

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of controlling an information processing apparatus having an infrared transceiver for transmitting/receiving an infrared code, a memory for storing download data, input means for allowing a user to input user commands, and connection means for connecting to a network, comprising the steps of:(a) responsive to a data download command from the user, entering and staying in a station search state to transmit an infrared code to search for a destination station to which data is to be downloaded;(b) responsive to receipt of an infrared code that indicates a response of station discovery from the destination station, executing an infrared communication to transmit the download data;(c) responsive to termination of the infrared communication with the destination station, returning to the station search state;(d) without the involvement of execution of any of said steps (a) through (c), acquiring a file from a predetermined server through said network, the file acquisition operation attempting to assure that the file is the most updated version available from the predetermined server; and(e) storing the acquired data as the download data.