Portable terminal and message notifying system using the same

Abstract

A portable terminal carried by an operator of a target apparatus includes a communicating device for conducting wireless communication and a first information acquiring device for acquiring first information related to the target apparatus from the target apparatus via the communicating device. The portable terminal also includes a second information sending device for sending second information to at least one external information terminal via the communicating device based on the first information. Further, the portable terminal includes a third information acquiring device for acquiring third information from at least one external information terminal responding to the second information via the communicating device and an information outputting device for outputting an information output based on the third information.

1 . A portable terminal carried by an operator of a target apparatus, comprising: 
 communicating means for conducting wireless communication;    first information acquiring means for acquiring first information related to said target apparatus, from said target apparatus via said communicating means;    second information sending means for sending second information to at least one external information terminal via said communicating means based on said first information;    third information acquiring means for acquiring third information from said at least one external information terminal above mentioned responding to said second information via said communicating means; and    information outputting means for outputting information based on said third information.    
   
   
       2 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising means for storing destinations representing a plurality of candidate terminals, 
 characterized in that said second information sending means selects said at least one external information terminal from said plurality of candidate terminals to send.    
   
   
       3 . The portable terminal of  claim 2 , characterized in that said second information sending means accepts a manipulation for selection made by an operator and selects said at least one external information terminals in accordance with said manipulation for selection to send.  
   
   
       4 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said third information contains a plurality of information elements, and 
 said information outputting means selects from said plurality of information elements to output at least one selected information element.    
   
   
       5 . The portable terminal of  claim 4 , characterized in that said information outputting means accepts a manipulation for selection made by an operator and selects from said plurality of information elements in accordance with said manipulation for selection to output.  
   
   
       6 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said information outputting means performs said information output to said target apparatus.  
   
   
       7 . The portable terminal of  claim 6 , characterized in that said information outputting means outputs to said target apparatus a program to be executed in said target apparatus.  
   
   
       8 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said first information contains information regarding malfunction in said target apparatus.  
   
   
       9 . The portable terminal of  claim 8 , characterized in that said second information sending means determines whether a degree of occurrence of malfunction in said target apparatus satisfies a predetermined transmission condition, and when said transmission condition is satisfied, sends said second information.  
   
   
       10 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said target apparatus is an inspection apparatus, and said first information contains an inspection result indicative of abnormality.  
   
   
       11 . The portable terminal of  claim 10 , characterized in that said second information sending means determines whether a degree of acquisition of said inspection result indicative of abnormality satisfies a predetermined transmission condition, and when said transmission condition is satisfied, sends said second information.  
   
   
       12 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said first information is information regarding stockout of components in said target apparatus, said second information is information for inquiring about an inventory of components, and said third information is information regarding an inventory of components.  
   
   
       13 . The portable terminal of  claim 12 , characterized in that said target apparatus is an apparatus for executing production using components, 
 said first information contains information regarding a quantity of remaining components in said target apparatus,    said second information sending means calculates estimated time before stockout based on said first information, and when said estimated time is equal to or shorter than a predetermined period of time, notifies an operator and sends said second information.    
   
   
       14 . The portable terminal of  claim 12 , characterized further by comprising means for specifying one external information terminal based on said third information, and placing an order for components to said one external information terminal via said communicating means.  
   
   
       15 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said first information is information indicative of production progress within said target apparatus.  
   
   
       16 . The portable terminal of  claim 15 , characterized in that said second information sending means compares said first information with production plan information, and when a difference between actual production and a production plan exceeds a predetermined value, sends said second information to said at least one external information terminal.  
   
   
       17 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said first information contains data representing an image acquired by said target apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising display means capable of displaying an image, characterized in that said third information contains data representing an image.  
   
   
       19 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized in that said first information acquiring means acquires said first information from a plurality of target apparatuses.  
   
   
       20 . The portable terminal of  claim 1 , characterized by further comprising means for converting a language of character information.  
   
   
       21 . The portable terminal of  claim 3 , characterized by further comprising means for accepting, in the form of speech, a manipulation for selection made by an operator.  
   
   
       22 - 54 . (canceled)