JP2005210231A - Opening/closing portable terminal and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal capable of communicating with a server without requiring any key operation on the basis of a record that the main body has broken away from a communication zone, and to provide a communication method. <P>SOLUTION: The opening/closing portable terminal 10 comprises a storage section 20, a control section 30, an off-zone detecting section 40, and an open/close detecting section 50. The off-zone detecting section 40 detects the breakaway of a main body 10 from a communication zone and delivers a first signal 45 indicating breakaway to the control section 30. The open/close detecting section 50 detects opening/closing operation of the main body 10 and delivers a second signal 55 indicating the opening/closing operation to the control section 30. In response to the first signal 45, the control section 30 stores a flag 22 indicative of breakaway from the communication zone in the storage section 20. When the flag 22 is stored in the storage section 20, the control section 30 performs communication with the server 100 in response to the second signal 55. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a communication method, and more particularly, to an openable / closable mobile terminal and a communication method using the same.

  An openable portable mobile terminal is known. The main body of the portable mobile terminal is composed of a first main body and a second main body, and the first main body and the second main body are connected by a hinge or the like. As a result, the portable mobile terminal can be opened and closed. For example, a liquid crystal display panel is installed in the first main body. For example, a button is provided on the second main body.

  The foldable mobile terminal device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a control unit, a memory unit, and a main body opening / closing detection unit that detects that the main body is opened. The memory unit stores setting contents and data related to data communication executed when the main body is opened. When the main body opening / closing detection unit detects that the main body is opened, the control unit reads the setting content from the memory unit and sequentially executes processing based on the setting content. For example, the control unit transmits and receives mail.

  The portable mail terminal device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a foldable casing structure that can fold a main body and a lid. This portable mail terminal device includes a wireless module capable of sending and receiving electronic mail and a detection switch for detecting the open / closed state of the lid. When the detection switch detects a change from the open state of the lid to the closed state, the power supply to the wireless module is stopped. Further, when the detection switch detects a change from the closed state of the lid to the open state, power supply to the wireless module is started. Thereby, power consumption is reduced.

  The foldable mobile phone disclosed in Patent Document 3 includes a memory, a speaker, and an open / close detection unit that identifies and detects an open / close state. According to this foldable mobile phone, after the missed call or the incoming new mail has been stored in the memory, the speaker rings when the open / close detection unit detects that the main body has been opened.

  Other foldable mobile phones are disclosed in Patent Literature 4 and Patent Literature 5.

JP 2003-125077 A JP 2002-229684 A JP 2001-345891 A JP 2001-331419 A JP 2002-141993 A

  The subject of this invention is providing the portable terminal and communication method which can communicate with a server based on the log | history from which the main body left | separated from the communication range.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a communication method capable of communicating with a server without performing a key operation.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a communication method capable of preventing mails received when the main body is out of the communication range from being kept in the server.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal and a communication method that can reduce power consumption.

  [Means for Solving the Problems] will be described below using the numbers and symbols used in [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]. These numbers and symbols are added in parentheses in order to clarify the correspondence between the description of [Claims] and [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]. However, these numbers and symbols should not be used for the interpretation of the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

  The openable portable terminal (10) according to the present invention includes a storage unit (20), a control unit (30), an out-of-service detection unit (40), and an open / close detection unit (50). The out-of-service detection unit (40) detects the departure of the main body (10) from the communication area, and outputs a first signal (45) indicating the departure to the control unit (30). The open / close detection unit (50) detects the open / close operation of the main body (10), and outputs a second signal (55) indicating the open / close operation to the control unit (30). In response to the first signal (45), the control unit (30) causes the storage unit (20) to store a flag (22) indicating departure from the communication area. Further, when the storage unit (20) stores the flag (22), the control unit (30) communicates with the server (100) in response to the second signal (55). This makes it possible to communicate with the server without performing key operations based on the history of the main body leaving the communication range. In addition, in a region where the radio wave state is unstable, the control unit (30) is prevented from repeatedly trying the above processing, and power consumption is reduced.

  In the communication with the server (100), the control unit (30) transmits an incoming mail confirmation signal (15) instructing confirmation of the incoming mail (110) to the server (100). In communication with the server (100), the control unit (30) transmits the mail (24) stored in the storage unit (20) to the server (100). Moreover, a control part (30) deletes a flag (22) from a memory | storage part (20) after communication with a server (100). The open / close detection unit (50) may output the second signal (55) to the control unit (30) only when the main body (10) is opened.

  In such an open / close type portable terminal (10), the communication method according to the present invention includes (A) a step of storing a flag (22) indicating that the portable terminal (10) has left the communication area, and (B) The step of detecting the opening / closing operation of the portable terminal (10) and the step of communicating with the server (100) after the step of (B) detecting when the (C) flag (22) is stored are provided. The communication method according to the present invention further includes (D) a step of deleting the flag (22) after the (C) transmitting step.

  Here, the step (C) of communicating includes a step of transmitting an incoming mail confirmation signal (15) instructing confirmation of the incoming mail (110) to the server (100). The step (C) of communicating includes a step of transmitting a mail (24) to the server (100).

  According to the portable terminal and the communication method of the present invention, it is possible to communicate with the server based on the history of the main body leaving the communication range.

  According to the portable terminal and the communication method of the present invention, it is possible to communicate with the server without performing a key operation.

  According to the portable terminal and the communication method of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the mail received when the main body is out of the communication range from being stored in the server.

  According to the portable terminal and the communication method of the present invention, power consumption is reduced.

  A mobile terminal and a communication method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present invention, the mobile terminal includes a mobile phone, a mobile mail device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the like.

  1A and 1B are overall views showing an openable portable terminal according to the present invention. Here, a mobile phone is shown as an example of the mobile terminal. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main body of the mobile terminal 10 is composed of a first main body 1 and a second main body 2, and the first main body 1 and the second main body 2 are connected by a hinge 3 or the like. Yes. That is, the first main body 1 and the second main body 2 are formed to be rotatable about the hinge 3 as an axis. For example, a liquid crystal display panel is installed in the first main body 1. The second main body 2 is provided with keys and buttons, for example.

  In the present specification, when the first main body 1 and the second main body 2 are overlapped as shown in FIG. 1A, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 10 is in the “closed state”. On the other hand, when the first main body 1 and the second main body 2 are positioned at a predetermined angle as shown in FIG. 1B, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 10 is in the “open state”. For example, when the mobile terminal 10 is in the “open state”, the user can create a mail using a key or set the operating environment of the terminal. Similarly, “open state” and “closed state” are defined for the portable mail device and the portable information terminal. Note that the portable terminal according to the present invention is not limited to the “foldable” portable terminal 10 having the hinge 3 as an axis as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, but the first main body 1 and the second main body 2 are parallel. Including “rotary” mobile terminals that rotate in

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile terminal 10 according to the present invention. The mobile terminal 10 includes a storage unit 20, a control unit 30, an out-of-service detection unit 40, an open / close detection unit 50, a radio unit 60, an input unit 80, and an output unit 90.

  The storage unit 20 includes a memory and stores various data. Examples of the data include environment setting information of the mobile terminal 10, transmission / reception electronic mail 24 (hereinafter referred to as mail 24), an out-of-service flag 22 described later, and the like. The control unit 30 includes an arithmetic processing unit (MPU; Micro Processor Unit). The control unit 30 is connected to the storage unit 20, the out-of-service detection unit 40, the open / close detection unit 50, the radio unit 60, the input unit 80, and the output unit 90, and exchanges various data with them.

  The radio unit 60 includes a transmission unit 62 and a reception unit 64, and communicates with a radio base station, a mail server, a web server, and the like via the antenna 70. The transmission unit 62 transmits transmission data via the antenna 70 based on the signal from the control unit 30. The receiving unit 64 outputs the received data received from the antenna 70 to the control unit 30. For example, the wireless unit 60 transmits / receives the mail 24 to / from the mail server 100 shown in FIG.

  The out-of-service detection unit 40 is connected to the reception unit 64 and the control unit 30. The out-of-service detection unit 40 determines whether the mobile terminal 10 main body is in the communication area or out of the communication area based on the state of the radio wave received by the reception unit 64. When the mobile terminal 10 leaves the communication range (goes out of the communication range), the out-of-service detection unit 40 detects the departure and outputs an out-of-service signal 45 indicating the departure to the control unit 30. Upon receiving this out-of-service signal 45, the control unit 30 stores the out-of-service flag 22 in the storage unit 20. That is, the out-of-service flag 22 stored in the storage unit 20 indicates a history that the mobile terminal 10 has gone out of the communication range. The out-of-service flag 22 is maintained in the storage unit 20 even after the mobile terminal 10 returns to the communication service area.

  The open / close detection unit 50 is connected to the control unit 30. The open / close detection unit 50 operates from the “closed” state (see FIG. 1A) of the mobile terminal 10 to the “open” state (see FIG. 1B) and from the “open” state to the “closed” state of the mobile terminal 10. (Hereinafter referred to as opening / closing operation) is detected. When detecting the opening / closing operation of the mobile terminal 10, the opening / closing detection unit 50 outputs an opening / closing signal 55 indicating the opening / closing operation to the control unit 30. The open / close detection unit 50 may output the open / close signal 55 to the control unit 30 only when the mobile terminal 10 changes from the “closed” state to the “open” state.

  When the control unit 30 receives the opening / closing signal 55, the control unit 30 checks whether the out-of-service flag 22 is stored in the storage unit 20. Here, the control unit 30 may check the out-of-service flag 22 only when the open / close signal 55 indicates a change from the “closed” state to the “open” state of the mobile terminal 10. When the out-of-service flag 22 is stored in the storage unit 20, the control unit 30 executes communication with the mail server 100. For example, the control unit 30 instructs the mail server 100 to confirm the incoming mail or transmits the mail 24. As described above, the mobile terminal 10 of the present invention communicates with the mail server 100 using the opening / closing operation of the main body as a trigger based on the history of the main body leaving the communication range.

  The input unit 80 includes keys, buttons, and a microphone. The user uses this input unit 80 to create e-mail 24, for example. The created mail 24 is stored in the storage unit 20 by the control unit 30. The output unit 90 includes a display unit 92 and an acoustic unit 94. Examples of the display unit 92 include a liquid crystal display panel and LEDs.

  A communication method using the mobile terminal 10 having the above configuration will be described below.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a communication method according to the present invention. When the mobile terminal 10 is in a standby state (standby state), the user uses the input unit 80 to set the environment of the mobile terminal 10 in advance (step S10). Specifically, communication with the mail server 100 triggered by the opening / closing operation described above is set to “permitted” or “impossible” (hereinafter referred to as user setting). When this environment setting is completed, the mobile terminal 10 returns to the standby state again.

  Next, when the mobile terminal 10 goes out of the communication range, the out-of-service detection unit 40 detects that the mobile terminal 10 has gone out of the communication range (withdrawal from the communication range) based on the received radio wave status output by the receiving unit 64 (step S <b> 1). S20). The out-of-service detection unit 40 outputs an out-of-service signal 45 to the control unit 30 when detecting the departure from the communication service area. In response to the out-of-service signal 45, the control unit 30 stores the out-of-service flag 22 in the storage unit 20 (step S21). The out-of-service flag 22 indicates a history that the mobile terminal 10 has gone out of the communication range. When the out-of-service flag 22 is set in the storage unit 20, the mobile terminal 10 returns to the standby state again.

  When the mobile terminal 10 is opened / closed, the open / close detection unit 50 detects the opening / closing operation of the mobile terminal 10 (step S30). When detecting the opening / closing operation, the opening / closing detection unit 50 outputs an opening / closing signal 55 to the control unit 30. Here, the open / close detection unit 50 outputs the open / close signal 55 to the control unit 30 only when the portable terminal 10 changes from the “closed” state (see FIG. 1A) to the “open” state (see FIG. 1B). Also good. When the user setting is set to “impossible” in step S10 (step S31; No), or when the mobile terminal 10 is out of the communication range (step S32; No), communication related to the user setting is not performed, and the mobile terminal 10 Returns to the standby state again.

  When the user setting is set to “permitted” in step S <b> 10 (step S <b> 31; Yes) and the mobile terminal 10 is in the communication range (step S <b> 32; Yes), the control unit 30 stores the out-of-range flag 22 in the storage unit 20. Is set (step S33). When the out-of-service flag 22 is stored in the storage unit 20, that is, when there is a history that the mobile terminal 10 has gone out of the communication range even once (step S <b> 33; Yes), the control unit 30 sets the radio unit 60 and the antenna 70. Then, communication with the mail server 100 is performed (step S40). When the out-of-service flag 22 is not stored in the storage unit 20, that is, when the mobile terminal 10 has never been out of the communication service area (step S33; No), communication with the mail server 100 is not performed, and the mobile terminal 10 Return to standby again.

  After the mobile terminal 10 communicates with the mail server 100, the control unit 30 deletes the out-of-service flag 22 from the storage unit 20 (step S50). In other words, the out-of-service flag 22 remains set in the storage unit 20 until communication with the mail server 100 is performed. When the out-of-service flag 22 is deleted, the process related to the user setting is not executed even when the mobile terminal 10 is opened or closed.

  Specific examples of processing using the communication method as described above and the effects thereof will be described below.

(First Example)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a communication method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the flow after step S40 is shown, and the depiction of other steps is omitted. In step S40, the control unit 30 instructs the mail server 100 to check whether the incoming mail 110 is stored. Specifically, the control unit 30 transmits an incoming mail confirmation signal 15 for instructing confirmation of the incoming mail 110 to the mail server 100 via the wireless unit 60 and the antenna 70 (step S41; see FIG. 2). Thereafter, the control unit 30 deletes the out-of-service flag 22 from the storage unit 20 (step S50). Conversely, the out-of-service flag 22 remains set in the storage unit 20 until the incoming mail 110 is inquired. The effects of such processing are as follows.

  When the mobile terminal 10 is out of the communication range, mail addressed to the mobile terminal 10 is stored in the mail server 100 as an incoming mail 110. This incoming mail 110 is sent to the mobile terminal 10 for the first time when the user makes an inquiry to the mail server 100 after the mobile terminal 10 returns to the communication range (or when a new mail is sent to the same mobile terminal 10). It is done.

  According to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, the inquiry of the incoming mail 110 is automatically executed based on the out-of-service flag 22 with the opening / closing operation of the main body as a trigger. Accordingly, the incoming mail 110 can be confirmed without the user being aware or worried that the mobile terminal 10 has gone out of the communication range, and without the user operating a key. This prevents incoming mail 110 received when the mobile terminal 10 is outside the communication range from being kept in the mail server 100 without being noticed. Further, when the user makes an inquiry to the mail server 100, there is no need to perform troublesome key operations.

  Further, according to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, an inquiry about the incoming mail 110 is executed based on the out-of-service flag 22. That is, if there is no history of the main body leaving the communication range, the incoming mail 110 is not automatically inquired even if the main body is opened and closed. Therefore, useless power consumption is reduced.

  Furthermore, according to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, the inquiry of the incoming mail 110 is executed by using the opening / closing operation of the main body as a trigger, not the movement of the main body from the outside of the communication area to the communication area. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the control unit 30 from repeatedly transmitting the incoming mail confirmation signal 15 to the mail server 100 when the state of the received radio wave is unstable. That is, useless power consumption is reduced. As an area where the state of the received radio wave is unstable, an area near the boundary of the communicable range (boundary outside the service area) can be cited.

  Further, according to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, the out-of-service flag 22 is deleted from the storage unit 20 after the incoming mail confirmation signal 15 is transmitted. In other words, the out-of-service flag 22 remains set in the storage unit 20 until the incoming mail 110 is inquired. Therefore, after the portable terminal 10 goes out of the communication range, the communication with the mail server 100 is reliably executed only once based on the opening / closing operation of the main body. After the out-of-service flag 22 is erased, the inquiry of the incoming mail 110 is not automatically executed even if the main body is opened and closed. Therefore, useless power consumption is reduced.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, after receiving the incoming mail confirmation signal 15, the mail server 100 confirms the status of the incoming mail 110 in the server and sends a confirmation result signal 105 indicating the result to the mobile terminal 10. Send to. The portable terminal 10 receives the confirmation result signal 105 by the wireless unit 60 (step S60). When the incoming mail 110 has arrived while the mobile terminal 10 is out of the communication range (step S61; Yes), the control unit 30 issues an instruction to the display unit 92 and the sound unit 94 and notifies the user of the result. (Step S62). At this time, for example, the content is displayed on the LCD, the LED shines, and the sound unit 94 rings. When there is no incoming mail 110 (step S61; No), the control unit 30 issues an instruction to the display unit 92 and notifies the user of the result (step S63). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 10 again enters the standby state.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a communication method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same steps as those shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In step S40, the control unit 30 transmits the mail 24 (see FIG. 2) created in advance and stored in the storage unit 20 to the server 100 (step S42). Thereafter, the control unit 30 deletes the out-of-service flag 22 from the storage unit 20 (step S50). The mail 24 may be created by the user using the input unit 80 in a state where the mobile terminal 10 is out of the communication range (after step S20) (step S22).

  As described above, according to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, the mail 24 is automatically transmitted based on the out-of-service flag 22 with the opening / closing operation of the main body as a trigger. Therefore, the user can quickly transmit the mail 24 created when the user is out of the communication area after the mobile terminal 10 returns to the communication area.

  Furthermore, according to the mobile terminal 10 and the communication method of the present invention, the out-of-service flag 22 remains set in the storage unit 20 until the mail 24 is transmitted. In addition, transmission of the mail 24 is executed not by the movement of the main body from the outside of the communication area but by the opening / closing operation of the main body as a trigger. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the control unit 30 from repeatedly trying to transmit the mail 24 to the mail server 100 when the state of the received radio wave is unstable. That is, useless power consumption is reduced.

  In step S40 described above, the processing shown in the second embodiment may be executed simultaneously with the processing shown in the first embodiment. In addition, since the mobile terminal 10 is generally in the “closed” state outside the communication range, the processing in the first and second embodiments is changed from the “closed” state to the “open” state in the opening / closing operation of the main body. It is preferable that the change is performed as a trigger.

FIG. 1A is an overall view showing an openable portable terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 1B is an overall view showing an openable portable terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the openable portable terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a communication method using the openable portable terminal according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a communication method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a communication method according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile terminal 15 Incoming mail confirmation signal 20 Storage part 22 Out-of-service flag 24 Mail 30 Control part 40 Out-of-service detection part 45 Out-of-service signal 50 Open / close detection part 55 Open / close signal 60 Wireless part 62 Transmission part 64 Reception part 70 Antenna 80 Input part 90 Output part 92 Display Unit 94 Sound Unit 100 Mail Server 105 Confirmation Result Signal 110 Incoming Mail

Claims (9)

A storage unit;
A control unit;
An out-of-service detection unit that detects a departure from the communication range of the main body and outputs a first signal indicating the departure to the control unit;
An open / close detection unit that detects an open / close operation of the main body and outputs a second signal indicating the open / close operation to the control unit;
The control unit stores a flag indicating the withdrawal in the storage unit in response to the first signal, and a server in response to the second signal when the storage unit stores the flag. An openable mobile terminal that communicates with the device. The openable portable terminal according to claim 1,
The control unit transmits an incoming mail confirmation signal instructing confirmation of incoming mail to the server in the communication. The openable portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The control unit transmits an e-mail stored in the storage unit to the server in the communication. The openable portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The open / close detection unit outputs the second signal to the control unit when the main body is opened. The openable portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control unit deletes the flag from the storage unit after the communication. In an openable portable terminal,
(A) storing a flag indicating that the mobile terminal has left the communication range;
(B) detecting an opening / closing operation of the mobile terminal;
(C) A communication method comprising: (B) a step of communicating with a server after the detecting step when the flag is stored. The communication method according to claim 6,
(C) The communication step includes a step of transmitting an incoming mail confirmation signal instructing confirmation of incoming mail to the server. The communication method according to claim 6 or 7,
The step (C) of communicating includes a step of transmitting mail to the server. The communication method according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
(D) The communication method further comprising: (C) deleting the flag after the transmitting step.

Images