Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information recording medium

An information processing method, comprising:

• making a first determination periodically, at a time T after a current periodic reference time interval has passed, whether a user has carried out a predetermined action;
• making no attempt to exchange data with a communication counterpart over a network at the time T after the periodic reference time interval when the first determination is positive;
• automatically attempting to exchange data with the communication counterpart over the network at the time T after the current periodic reference time interval has passed when the first determination is negative, and making a second determination whether the attempt to exchange data was successful;
• making no adjustment to the time T when the second determination is positive such that a next time at which the first determination is made is the time T after a next periodic reference time interval has passed;
• adjusting the time T by a first delay time t1 when the second determination is negative, such that a next time at which the decision unit makes the first determination is T+t1 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed;
• and
• adjusting the time T by a second delay time t2 when the first determination is positive, where t2 is substantially less than t1, such that a next time at which the first determination is made is T+t2 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed.

A computer having a processor operating to execute a program such that the computer implements actions, comprising:

• making a first determination periodically, at a time T after a current periodic reference time interval has passed, whether a user has carried out a predetermined action;
• making no attempt to exchange data with a communication counterpart over a network at the time T after the periodic reference time interval when the first determination is positive;
• automatically attempting to exchange data with the communication counterpart over the network at the time T after the current periodic reference time interval has passed when the first determination is negative, and making a second determination whether the attempt to exchange data was successful;
• making no adjustment to the time T when the second determination is positive such that a next time at which the first determination is made is the time T after a next periodic reference time interval has passed;
• adjusting the time T by a first delay time t1 when the second determination is negative, such that a next time at which the decision unit makes the first determination is T+t1 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed;
• and
• adjusting the time T by a second delay time t2 when the first determination is positive, where t2 is substantially less than t1, such that a next time at which the first determination is made is T+t2 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed.

A non-transitory, computer-readable information recording medium in or on which a program is stored, the program for causing a computer implement actions, comprising:

• making a first determination periodically, at a time T after a current periodic reference time interval has passed, whether a user has carried out a predetermined action;
• making no attempt to exchange data with a communication counterpart over a network at the time T after the periodic reference time interval when the first determination is positive;
• automatically attempting to exchange data with the communication counterpart over the network at the time T after the current periodic reference time interval has passed when the first determination is negative, and making a second determination whether the attempt to exchange data was successful;
• making no adjustment to the time T when the second determination is positive such that a next time at which the first determination is made is the time T after a next periodic reference time interval has passed;
• adjusting the time T by a first delay time t1 when the second determination is negative, such that a next time at which the decision unit makes the first determination is T+t1 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed;
• and
• adjusting the time T by a second delay time t2 when the first determination is positive, where t2 is substantially less than t1, such that a next time at which the first determination is made is T+t2 after the current periodic reference time interval has passed.