JP2008283444A - Portable information device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable information device which can simply re-output operation explanation during operation which mets the operation explanation. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 140 of the portable information device 100 makes a memory part 120 memorize specific information 123 which specifies an output operation explanation when it makes an output part 130 output the operation explanation 122. After the output of the operation explanation is finished, if a user carries out instruction for reconfirmation of the operation explanation to an instruction receiving part 110 during execution of an operation which mets the operation explanation after the output of the operation explanation is finished, the control part 140 makes the output part 130 re-output the operation explanation 122 output based on the specified information 123 memorized in the memory part 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration of a portable information device having a function of outputting an operation description, and more particularly to a portable information device that allows a user to easily perform an operation performed based on the operation description.

  Mobile information devices such as mobile phones are becoming more sophisticated year by year, and their usage is becoming more complicated. For this reason, these devices often have a function of confirming an operation description such as help information on the device.

  Conventionally, such a portable information device has at least two display parts, a main display part and a sub display part, and help information in the display information displayed on the main display part is displayed on the sub display part and used. A person can view the help information on the sub-display unit at the same time while viewing the display information on the main display unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this portable information device, the user can improve the operability by using the sub-display unit when referring to the help information, so that the key operation can be performed while using both display units.
JP 2005-310005 A

  The invention described in Patent Document 1 is not applicable to a portable information device that does not have a plurality of display units that can be viewed simultaneously.

  In such a portable information device, in order to perform an operation according to the operation description, the output of the operation description has to be once ended, and when it is desired to confirm the operation description again during the operation according to the operation description, the operation is performed. There was a problem that convenience was bad, such as the need to re-search the explanation.

  Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable information device that can easily re-output an operation description during an operation according to the operation description regardless of whether or not the display unit has a plurality of display units that can be viewed simultaneously. Is an issue.

  The portable information device of the present invention includes an instruction receiving unit for receiving an instruction from the outside, a storage unit for storing an operation description of each operation mode of the portable information device, and outputting information in the portable information device to the outside Output control means, and control means for controlling the operation of the portable information device, the control means is an explanation control means for causing the output means to output an operation description in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving means; And a writing means for storing in the storage means specific information for specifying the outputted operation explanation, and the explanation control means sends an instruction to the instruction receiving means during the activation of the operation mode related to the outputted operation explanation. When the instruction is given, the output means outputs the operation explanation output based on the specific information.

  In the portable information device of the present invention, the control means may further include means for continuing to execute the operation that was executed before the re-output in the operation mode related to the output operation description after the re-output. .

  The control means may further include means for automatically performing a part of the operation according to the output operation description.

  Further, the control means may further include means for automatically performing all the operations in accordance with the output operation description.

  In the portable information device of the present invention, the writing means may automatically store the specific information in the storage means.

  The writing means may store the specific information in the storage means in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving unit.

  Further, when storing the specific information in the storage unit according to the instruction to the instruction receiving unit, the control unit further includes a unit for associating the specific information with the operation mode and storing the association information in the storage unit. In addition, the explanation control means may cause the output unit to re-output the operation explanation output based on the association information during the activation of the associated operation mode in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving unit.

  In the portable information device of the present invention, the instruction receiving unit may include a key input unit, and the explanation control unit may cause the output unit to re-output the operation explanation output in response to the instruction to the key input unit.

  The instruction receiving means includes an inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the portable information device and receiving the inclination as an instruction, and the explanation control means retransmits the operation explanation output in response to the instruction to the inclination detecting means to the output means. It may be output.

  The instruction receiving means includes voice recognition means for recognizing an external voice and receiving the voice as an instruction. The explanation control means re-outputs the operation explanation output in response to the input to the voice recognition unit to the output means. You may let them.

  The portable information device of the present invention further includes a housing whose external form is variable according to a user's operation, and the instruction receiving unit detects a change in the external form of the housing and detects the change in the external form. The explanation control means may include the state change detection means received as an instruction, and cause the output means to re-output the operation explanation output in response to the input to the state change detection unit.

  Further, in the portable information device of the present invention, the output means includes a multi-screen display means for displaying two or more types of screens depending on the angle viewed by the user, and the explanation control means displays the output operation explanation by the multi-screen display means. You may make it output again to one of the screens.

  In the portable information device of the present invention, the output means includes a transparent screen display means for transparently displaying another screen on the display screen, and the explanation control means causes the transparent screen display means to re-output the output operation explanation. May be.

  By storing the information for specifying the operation description that has been output once, it is possible to easily output the operation description again during the activation of the operation mode related to the output operation description.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the following, a mobile phone will be described as an example of the “portable information device” of the present invention. However, the present invention can be applied to other portable information devices such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and other portable communication terminals.

  With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a mobile phone 100 as an embodiment of the portable information device of the present invention will be described. The mobile phone 100 is not particularly limited, but is assumed to be foldable. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front side of the cellular phone 100 with the casing opened, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side with the casing opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 100 includes a first housing 101, a second housing 103, a main display 132, an input key 111, a microphone 113, and a speaker 131. The first casing 101 and the second casing 103 are foldably connected at the connection portion 102.

  The input key 111 includes a function key group 115 including a plurality of keys and at least a part of the display on the main display 132 (the entire display or a cursor displayed on the main display 132) in a predetermined manner in each of the upper, lower, left and right directions. An up key 116A, a down key 116B, a left key 116C, and a right key 116D for moving by a distance, and a 12 key 117 including a numeric keypad for inputting numbers and the like are provided. The function key group 115 includes a determination key 115A for inputting that the processing corresponding to the moved cursor or the like is determined, a power-off button 115B for turning off the power, and a power-on button 115C for turning on the power. Including.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 100 includes a sub display 133, a camera 161, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 171 in the first housing 101. In addition, the mobile phone 100 includes the antenna 151 in the second housing 103.

  In the mobile phone 100 of this embodiment, the camera 161 is provided on the outer surface side of the first housing 101 (the back side of the surface on which the main display 132 is provided). It is not limited to such a position.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone 100.
Referring to FIG. 3, mobile phone 100 includes an instruction receiving unit 110, a storage unit 120, an output unit 130, a control unit 140, and a communication unit 150.

  The instruction receiving unit 110 receives an instruction from the outside. The instruction receiving unit 110 includes an input key 111, an inclination detection unit 112, a microphone 113, and a state change detection unit 114.

  The input key 111 accepts an external press as an instruction. The inclination detection unit 112 detects the inclination of the mobile phone 100 and accepts the inclination as an instruction. The microphone 113 recognizes external audio and accepts external audio as an instruction. The state change detection unit 114 detects the open / closed state of the mobile phone 100 and accepts it as an instruction. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, since the mobile phone 100 is foldable, for example, such an open / close detection is performed. However, for example, the mobile phone 100 is slidable and the other state. When changing, the state change is detected.

  The storage unit 120 stores a program 121 for the operation of the mobile phone 100, an operation description 122 for each operation mode of the mobile phone 100, specific information 123 for specifying the operation description, and the like.

  Here, the “operation mode” mainly refers to a standby mode that is a state in which application software such as a camera mode and a mail mode is running and a state in which an instruction for moving the application software is awaited.

  The output unit 130 outputs information in the mobile phone 100 to the outside. The output unit 130 includes a speaker 131, a main display 132, and a sub display 133. The speaker 131 outputs sound to the outside. The main display 132 and the sub display 133 display images on the display. These displays may be capable of displaying two or more types of screens depending on the angle viewed by the user. Alternatively, the display screen may be capable of transparently displaying another screen.

  The control unit 140 controls the operation of the mobile phone device 100 by the program 121. However, this control does not necessarily need to be performed according to a program stored in the storage unit. For example, some or all of a plurality of functions implemented by software may be performed by hardware.

  The communication unit 150 performs radio communication with the base station via the antenna 151 and accesses the public telephone line network.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by the mobile phone 100.
The operation starts from the standby mode of the mobile phone 100 (S401).

  In response to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 110, the control unit 140 activates the operation explanation search mode (S402).

  In response to the instruction received by the instruction receiving unit 110 during the operation description search mode, the control unit 140 causes the output unit 130 to output an operation description (S403). This output may be performed via the speaker 131, or may be performed via the main display 132 or the sub display 133.

  Next, the control unit 140 causes the storage unit 120 to store specific information for specifying the output operation description (S404). The control unit 140 may perform this step in accordance with an instruction from the user to the instruction receiving unit 110, or may automatically perform this step without the user's instruction.

  Further, when performing this step in accordance with a user instruction, the control unit 140 associates the specific information with the operation mode related to the output operation description, and causes the storage unit 120 to store the association information. Good. When the operation explanation regarding the plurality of operation modes is output, the control unit 140 causes the storage unit 120 to store specific information that can be identified by each operation mode.

  After specific information is memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 120 in S404, the control part 140 complete | finishes the output of the operation description by the output part 130 according to a user's instruction | indication (S405). After the end of the operation description, the control unit 140 activates an operation mode related to the output operation description in accordance with a user instruction. In this operation mode, the user performs an operation in accordance with the operation description (S406).

  When the operation procedure for the user to realize a desired operation on the mobile phone 100 includes a plurality of operation steps, the user must perform a plurality of operations in S406. In such a case, there is a possibility that the user may make an operation error. In order to solve such a problem, a mode may be provided in which the control unit 140 automatically performs some or all of the plurality of operation steps to be performed by the user instructed in the operation description. . When this mode is provided, the user selects whether to use this mode or perform the operation according to the operation description as described above after outputting the operation description, and instructs the control unit 140 to To do. When the user gives an instruction to use this mode, the control unit 140 ends the output of the operation description by the output unit 130, activates the operation mode related to the output operation description, and performs a plurality of operation steps. Execute part or all. The user can reduce operation errors by using this mode.

  During the operation S406 according to the operation description, the user may need to reconfirm the operation description output. In this case, in response to a user instruction, the control unit 140 causes the output unit 130 to re-output the output operation description (S408).

  Specifically, in response to a user instruction, the control unit 140 reads specific information stored in the storage unit 120, and causes the output unit 130 to output the operation description output in S403 based on the read specific information.

  This re-output may be performed via the speaker 131, or may be performed via the main display 132 or the sub display 133. In addition, when these displays can display two or more types of screens depending on the angle viewed by the user, the output operation explanation may be displayed on one of the screens. Further, when another screen can be displayed transparently on the screen on which these displays are displayed, the output operation description may be displayed transparently.

  Furthermore, when the information on the association between the specific information and the operation mode related to the output operation description is stored in the storage unit 120, the control unit 140, during the activation of the associated operation mode, The operation description output in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving unit 110 made by the user based on the information may be output to the output unit. Specifically, even when the control unit 140 causes the output unit 130 to output operation descriptions for a plurality of operation modes and then activates one of the operation modes, the control unit 140 displays the association information. Based on the instruction to the instruction receiving unit 110 given by the user, an operation description related to the operation mode can be output. In this way, operation descriptions corresponding to a plurality of operation modes can be output again.

  While reconfirming the operation description as necessary, the operation according to the operation description is continued until the desired operation is realized, thereby realizing the desired operation (S409).

  As a specific example, a transition mode in the case of taking a still image using the camera 161 according to the operation description on the mobile phone 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the operation starts from the standby mode. In the standby mode, a standby screen is displayed on the main display 133 (S501).

  First, in the standby mode, the control unit switches the operation mode to the operation explanation search mode when an instruction is given to the input key 111 or the like by the user. In the operation explanation search mode, an operation explanation search screen is displayed on the main display 132 (S502). On the operation explanation search screen, applications that can receive the operation explanation are listed. By pressing the up key 116A, the down key 116B, or the like, an application to receive the operation explanation is selected. Here, the camera is selected. Further, the instruction is continued and an operation explanation screen for taking a still image by the camera is displayed on the main display 132 (S503).

  After the operation explanation screen is displayed, the control unit 140 causes the storage unit 120 to store specific information for specifying the displayed operation explanation screen. Here, it is assumed that the specific information for specifying the operation explanation screen is “<camera> • photographing method”. This storage may be performed in accordance with a user instruction after the operation explanation screen is displayed, or may be automatically performed without a user instruction.

  After the specific information is stored in the storage unit 120, the control unit 140 switches the operation mode from the operation explanation search mode to the standby mode in accordance with a user instruction. When the user presses the enter key 115A during the standby mode, the control unit 140 activates the camera mode. Accordingly, the control unit 140 displays a camera activation screen on the main display 132 (S504).

  However, the control unit 140 may switch the operation mode from the operation search mode to the camera mode without shifting to the standby mode after displaying the operation explanation screen depending on a user instruction.

  In the camera mode, when it is necessary to reconfirm the operation explanation, the user gives an instruction to the input key 111 or the like. In response to this instruction, the control unit 140 reads the specific information stored in the storage unit 120 and displays an operation explanation screen on the main display 132 based on the read specific information (S505).

  After reconfirming the operation explanation on the operation explanation screen, the user gives an instruction to the main input key 111 or the like. With this instruction, the control unit 140 ends the output of the operation explanation screen and returns the operation mode to the camera mode.

  It is assumed that the control unit 140 continues to perform the camera mode task while the control unit 140 performs the task of reading the specific information and displaying the operation explanation screen. Therefore, when returning to the camera mode, the operation performed in the camera mode before the reconfirmation of the operation description can be continued.

  If necessary, a series of operations according to the operation description is continued until the still image shooting using the camera, which is a desired operation, is completed while redisplaying the operation description.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front side of the cellular phone 100 with the housing opened. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back side in a state where the casing of the mobile phone 100 is opened. 2 is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone device 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by the mobile phone device 100. 6 is a flowchart showing a transition mode when a mobile phone 100 captures a still image using a camera 161 according to an operation description.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Mobile phone, 101 1st housing | casing, 102 connection part, 103 2nd housing | casing, 111 input key, 115 function key group, 115A determination key, 115B power on button, 115C power off button, 116A up key, 116B Down key, 116C Left key, 116D Right key, 117 12 key, 113 Microphone, 131 Speaker, 133 Main display, 134 Sub display, 151 Antenna, 161 Camera, 171 LED.

Claims (13)

A portable information device,
Instruction accepting means for accepting instructions from outside;
Storage means for storing an operation description of each operation mode of the portable information device;
Output means for outputting information in the portable information device to the outside;
Control means for controlling the operation of the portable information device,
The control means includes
Explanation control means for causing the output means to output the operation explanation in response to an instruction to the instruction accepting means;
Writing means for storing in the storage means specific information for specifying the output operation explanation;
When the instruction control unit gives an instruction to the instruction receiving unit during the activation of the operation mode related to the output operation description, the description control unit re-sends the output operation description to the output unit based on the specific information. A portable information device for output.   The control means according to claim 1, further comprising means for continuously executing an operation that was performed before the re-output in the operation mode related to the output operation description after the re-output. Portable information equipment.   The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further includes a unit for automatically performing a part of the operation in accordance with the output operation description.   The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further includes a unit for automatically performing all operations according to the output operation description.   The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein the writing unit automatically stores the specific information in the storage unit.   The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the writing unit stores the specific information in the storage unit in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving unit. The control means further includes means for associating the specific information with an operation mode in accordance with an instruction to the instruction receiving unit, and storing the association information in the storage means,
The explanation control means causes the output unit to re-output the output operation explanation based on the association information during the activation of the associated operation mode in response to an instruction to the instruction receiving unit. 6. The portable information device according to 6. The instruction receiving means includes key input means,
The portable information according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output unit to re-output the output operation description in response to an instruction to the key input unit. machine. The instruction receiving means includes an inclination detecting means for detecting the inclination of the portable information device and receiving the inclination as an instruction;
The portable information according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output unit to re-output the output operation description according to an instruction to the tilt detection unit. machine. The instruction receiving means includes a voice recognition means for recognizing an external voice and receiving the voice as an instruction.
The portable information according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output unit to re-output the output operation description in response to an input to the voice recognition unit. machine. In accordance with a user operation, it further includes a housing whose external form is variable,
The instruction receiving means includes state change detection means for detecting a change in the external form of the housing and receiving the change in the external form as an instruction.
The mobile device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output unit to re-output the output operation description in response to an input to the state change detection unit. Information equipment. The output means includes a multi-screen display means for displaying two or more types of screens depending on an angle viewed by the user,
The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output operation description to be displayed on one of the screens by the multi-screen display unit. The output means includes a transparent screen display means for transparently displaying another screen on the display screen,
The portable information device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the re-explanation control unit causes the output operation description to be transparently displayed by the transparent screen display unit.

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