WO2015107986A1

WO2015107986A1 - Portable communication terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2015107986A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/050462
Authority: WO
Inventors: 佐藤　直紀; 聖治海道; 勝弘牟田口
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2014-01-15
Filing date: 2015-01-09
Publication date: 2015-07-23
Also published as: JP2015133662A

Abstract

Provided is a portable communication terminal capable of appropriately selecting a communication method even if a GPS function cannot be used and even if the portable communication terminal is outside the range of communication. A portable communication terminal (100) is provided with: a reception unit (210) which receives radio waves including a standard radio wave for a radio-controlled watch and/or a digital broadcast wave; a specification unit (220) which, when the reception unit (210) has received the radio waves, specifies an area where the portable communication terminal (100) is currently present from frequency information relating to the radio waves and/or data obtained by demodulating the radio waves; a storage device (20) which associates, with each other, and stores each of a plurality of pieces of area information and each of a plurality of communication methods; and a selection unit (230) which, on the basis of area information related to the area specified by the specification unit (220), selects a communication method corresponding to the area information from among the plurality of communication methods.

Description

Mobile communication terminal

The present disclosure relates to a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile communication terminal capable of wireless communication using a plurality of communication methods.

In recent years, portable communication terminals capable of wireless communication using a plurality of communication methods have become widespread. The communication method is determined by the radio wave laws of each country (or each region). For this reason, when a user moves to another country, the mobile communication terminal must perform communication using a communication method defined in that country. Accordingly, a technique for automatically setting a communication method when a user moves to another country has been developed.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-274723 (Patent Document 1) is a wireless communication device for setting a frequency band, a signal format, and a transmission output in accordance with a national radio wave law without bothering a user. A communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device identifies location information where the wireless communication device currently exists using position information obtained by GPS (Global Positioning System), and sets a communication method based on the location information.

JP 2004-274723 A

However, the wireless communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot specify the current location under circumstances where GPS cannot be used, such as when the GPS function is turned off, and the communication method is set appropriately. Can not do it.

In addition, as a method of specifying the current location without using GPS, it may be possible to specify the current location using the country identification code or the region identification code included in the signal transmitted from the base station, but the mobile communication terminal is out of range. In some cases, the current location cannot be specified, and the communication method cannot be set appropriately.

For this reason, there is a need for a technology that can identify the current location even when the GPS function cannot be used or the mobile communication terminal is out of the service area.

This disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to appropriately select a communication method even when the GPS function cannot be used or the mobile communication terminal is out of service area. It is providing the portable communication terminal which can do.

According to one embodiment, a mobile communication terminal capable of wireless communication using a plurality of communication methods is provided. A receiver for receiving radio waves including at least one of a standard radio wave for a radio clock and a digital broadcast wave, and when the receiver receives the radio wave, the frequency information of the radio wave and the radio wave are demodulated. The identification unit for identifying the region where the mobile communication terminal currently exists from at least one of the obtained data, each of the plurality of region information, and each of the plurality of communication methods are stored in association with each other And a selection unit for selecting a communication method corresponding to the region information from a plurality of communication methods based on the region information related to the region specified by the specifying unit.

In a certain aspect, even when the GPS function cannot be used or the mobile communication terminal is out of the service area, the communication method can be appropriately selected.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention which is to be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows a mode that the user holding the portable communication terminal according to 1st Embodiment is moving from A country to B country. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the portable communication terminal according to 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of radio wave information. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a communication system table. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the mobile communication terminal according to 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing a part of process which the portable communication terminal according to 1st Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart showing a part of process which the portable communication terminal according to 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart showing a part of process which the portable communication terminal according to 3rd Embodiment performs. It is a figure which shows a mode that the user holding the portable communication terminal according to 4th Embodiment is moving from A country to C country. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the mobile communication terminal according to 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing a part of process which the portable communication terminal according to 4th Embodiment performs.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. Moreover, each embodiment described below may be selectively combined.

[First Embodiment]
<Overview>
With reference to FIG. 1, the situation where the mobile communication terminal 100 (refer FIG. 2) which concerns on 1st Embodiment is used is demonstrated. FIG. 1 shows a state where a user holding a mobile communication terminal 100 is moving from A country to B country.

As described above, the wireless communication methods that can be used in each country are determined by the radio laws of each country. For this reason, for example, when the user moves from the point P0 within the base station 61A within the country A to P1 within the base station 61B within the country B, the mobile communication terminal 100 can be used in the country A. It is necessary to switch from a new communication method to a communication method that can be used in Country B. In order to switch the communication method appropriately, the mobile communication terminal 100 needs to specify the country in which the mobile terminal currently exists. Hereinafter, a method for specifying the country in which the terminal is present will be described. In the following description, the term “country” may include the concept of “region”. In addition, when the term “region” is used below, the concept of “country” may be included.

As shown in FIG. 1, there are a base station 61B and a transmitting station 71B in country B. The mobile communication terminal 100 can exchange data such as mail and call signals with other communication terminals via the base station 61B. The range 60B indicates a range in which the mobile communication terminal 100 can receive a signal transmitted from the base station 61B. When the mobile communication terminal 100 is outside the range 60B, the mobile communication terminal 100 is out of range.

The standard radio wave for the radio clock is transmitted from the transmitting station 71B. The standard radio wave is a radio wave managed by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Japan, for example. The mobile communication terminal 100 can acquire information such as the standard time of each country based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) by receiving the standard radio wave. A range 70B indicates a range in which the mobile communication terminal 100 can receive a signal transmitted from the transmission station 71B.

If the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the present embodiment can receive the standard radio wave, it can specify the country where the terminal is located. More specifically, even when the mobile communication terminal 100 cannot receive a signal transmitted from the base station 61B like the point P1 ′ (that is, when the mobile communication terminal 100 is outside the range 60B). When the signal transmitted from the transmitting station 71B is received (that is, when the mobile communication terminal 100 is within the range 70B), the country in which the mobile communication terminal 100 currently exists is specified based on the standard radio wave. Details of the country identification method based on the standard radio wave will be described later.

Thus, since the mobile communication terminal 100 can identify the country in which the terminal is present based on the standard radio wave, even if the terminal is out of the service area, the mobile communication terminal 100 can be switched to a communication method suitable for the country. In addition, since the mobile communication terminal 100 can identify the country in which the terminal is present based on the standard radio wave, not only when the terminal is out of service area but also when the GPS function cannot be used, The position can be specified, and the communication method can be set appropriately.

<Functional configuration>
An example of a functional configuration of the mobile communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the mobile communication terminal 100. Examples of the mobile communication terminal 100 include a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a digital camera, a game machine, an electronic dictionary, a personal computer, and other electronic devices having a wireless communication function.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile communication terminal 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 2, a storage device 20, and a receiving unit 210. The CPU 2 includes a specifying unit 220 and a selection unit 230. The storage device 20 stores radio wave information 21 and a communication method table 22. Details of the radio wave information 21 and the communication method table 22 will be described later.

The receiving unit 210 can receive a radio wave (first radio wave) transmitted from the base station and a standard radio wave (second radio wave) for a radio clock. The receiving unit 210 functions as, for example,

antennas

6A and 7A described later. The receiving unit 210 outputs the received radio wave to the specifying unit 220.

The identifying unit 220 identifies an area where the mobile communication terminal 100 currently exists (hereinafter also referred to as “current area”). More specifically, when the receiving unit 210 receives the standard radio wave, the specifying unit 220 determines the current region from at least one of the frequency information of the standard radio wave and the data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave. Identify. Details of the region specifying method of the specifying unit 220 will be described later. The identification unit 220 outputs the identified area to the selection unit 230.

The selection unit 230 selects a communication method that can be used in the area specified by the specifying unit 220. More specifically, the selection unit 230 selects a communication method corresponding to the region information from a plurality of communication methods based on the region information related to the region specified by the specifying unit 220. Details of the communication method selection method of the selection unit 230 will be described later. The selection unit 230 outputs the selected communication method to the reception unit 210. The receiving unit 210 switches from the currently set communication method to the communication method selected by the selection unit 230.

<Radio wave information 21>
The radio wave information 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of the radio wave information 21. The radio wave information 21 defines information related to standard radio waves. More specifically, the radio wave information 21 includes area information 21A, a call code 21B, and frequency information 21C.

The regional information 21A includes information for identifying the transmitting station that transmits the standard radio wave of the radio clock. For example, in Japan, there are two transmission stations for standard radio waves, and these two transmission stations are defined in the area information 21A. One transmitting station is Otakadoyayama of Otaka Toriyayama, Fukushima Prefecture, and a mountain standard radio wave transmitting station, and the standard radio wave transmitted from the transmitting station can be received in eastern Japan. The other transmitting station is the Haganeyama standard radio wave transmitter station of Haganeyama located at the prefectural border between Fukuoka Prefecture and Saga Prefecture, and the standard radio wave transmitted from the transmitter station can be received in western Japan.

In addition, there are many transmitting stations other than Japan, and transmitting stations other than Japan, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, and Switzerland, are defined in the regional information 21A. Note that the countries defined in the regional information 21A are not limited to these countries. For example, a country having a standard radio wave transmission station, such as China or France, may be defined in the regional information 21A.

The call code 21B is also called a call sign and is a code for identifying the nationality of the transmitting station. The call code 21B is defined in the radio communication rules by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). For example, a call code “JJY” is assigned to Japan, and a call code “WWVB” is assigned to the United States of America.

The frequency information 21C includes the frequency of the standard radio wave transmitted by the transmission station in each country. For example, a standard radio wave of 40 kHz is transmitted from Otakado and the mountain standard radio wave transmission station, and a standard radio wave of 60 kHz is transmitted from the Haganeyama standard radio wave transmission station.

(Region identification method)
With further reference to FIG. 3, a method of specifying a region by the specifying unit 220 will be described. The identifying unit 220 demodulates the standard radio wave received by the receiving unit 210. Data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave (hereinafter also referred to as “demodulated data”) includes date and time information, time information, a calling code, and the like.

The identifying unit 220 identifies the current region from the call code included in the demodulated data. For example, when the calling code included in the demodulated data is “WWVB”, the identifying unit 220 refers to the radio wave information 21 and identifies the current region as “USA”.

In addition, the frequency of standard radio waves differs in each country or region. For this reason, the specifying unit 220 can specify the current region using the frequency information of the standard radio wave. For example, when the frequency of the received standard radio wave is 50 kHz, the specifying unit 220 specifies the current region as “Russia”.

In another aspect, the specifying unit 220 may specify the current region from both the call code and the frequency information. For example, when the call code is “JJY” and the frequency of the received standard radio wave is 60 kHz, the specifying unit 220 specifies the current region as “West Japan”.

Since the format of the demodulated data of the standard data is different in each country, the specifying unit 220 may specify the current region based on the format of the demodulated data. In this case, the data format information of the demodulated data of each country or each region is stored in advance in the storage device 20, and the specifying unit 220 compares the demodulated data format with the data format information to specify the current region.

<Communication method table 22>
The communication method table 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an aspect of the data structure of the communication method table 22. The communication method table 22 defines a call code 22A, area information 22B, and communication methods (frequency band 22C, signal format 22D, transmission output 22E). Since call code 22A is the same as call code 21B described above, description thereof will not be repeated. Moreover, since the area information 22B is the same as the above-mentioned area information 21A, description is not repeated.

The communication method table 22 defines communication methods that can be used in each country or region. For example, the communication method table 22 defines a frequency band 22C, a signal format 22D, and a transmission output 22E that can be used in the region defined by the region information 22B.

In addition, although only “United States” and “Japan” are defined in the regional information of the communication method table 22 shown in FIG. 4, other countries may be defined. For example, the same area as the area information 21 </ b> A defined in the radio wave information 21 of FIG. 3 may be defined in the communication method table 22.

(Communication method identification method)
With further reference to FIG. 4, the selection method of the communication method by the selection unit 230 will be described.

The selection unit 230 compares the region specified by the specifying unit 220 with the communication method table 22 and selects a communication method usable in the region. For example, when the identifying unit 220 identifies the current region as “East Japan”, the selecting unit 230 selects the frequency band “Plan B”, the signal format “Plan C”, and the transmission output “Level E” as the communication method. The communication method is output to the receiving unit 210. The receiving unit 210 communicates with other communication devices using the communication method selected by the selection unit 230.

<Hardware configuration>
With reference to FIG. 5, an example of a hardware configuration of mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile communication terminal 100.

As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile communication terminal 100 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1, a CPU 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, a clock 4, a monitor 5, and a network interface (I / F). 6, a digital tuner 7, and a storage device 20.

The ROM 1 stores an operating system (OS), an initial program (boot program) that is executed when the mobile communication terminal 100 is activated, and the like.

The CPU 2 controls the operation of the mobile communication terminal 100 by executing various programs such as an operating system and a control program for the mobile communication terminal 100 stored in the ROM 1 and the storage device 20.

The RAM 3 functions as a working memory for executing the program by the CPU 2 and temporarily stores various data necessary for executing the program.

The watch 4 functions as a radio clock, for example. That is, the timepiece 4 automatically corrects the time based on the received standard radio wave. Note that the mobile communication terminal 100 does not necessarily include the clock 4. The timepiece 4 may be substituted by a timepiece function that the CPU 2 has, for example.

The monitor 5 displays a television program based on the video signal output from the digital tuner 7. The monitor 5 may be configured as a touch panel in combination with a touch sensor (not shown).

The network I / F 6 transmits / receives data to / from other communication devices via the antenna 6A. Other communication devices are, for example, smart phones, personal computers, server devices, and other electronic devices having communication functions.

Digital tuner 7 receives one-segment broadcasting, full-segment broadcasting, and other digital broadcasting waves via antenna 7A. The digital tuner 7 outputs a video signal and an audio signal to the CPU 2 according to the channel selected by the user.

The storage device 20 includes a storage medium such as eMMC (Embedded MultiMediaCard). The eMMC includes a NAND flash memory and a control circuit. Storage device 20 stores a program and the like for realizing various processes according to the present embodiment. Further, the storage device 20 may store a program such as an operating system.

<Control structure>
The control structure of the mobile communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of the process executed by mobile communication terminal 100. The processing in FIG. 6 is realized by the CPU 2 executing a program. In other aspects, some or all of the processing may be performed by circuit elements or other hardware.

In step S500, the CPU 2 searches the currently receivable frequency via the receiving unit 210. In step S510, the CPU 2 determines, as the specifying unit 220, whether or not the mobile communication terminal 100 is out of the range of the base station with which communication has been performed so far. For example, the CPU 2 determines that the mobile communication terminal 100 is out of service when the reception sensitivity of the received signal is lower than a predetermined value or when communication cannot be performed due to reasons such as different communication methods. When CPU 2 determines that mobile communication terminal 100 is out of range (YES in step S510), CPU 2 switches control to step S520. If not (NO in step S510), CPU 2 continues communication without changing the communication method.

In step S520, the CPU 2 determines, as the specifying unit 220, whether or not the standard radio wave has been received via the receiving unit 210. For example, the CPU 2 determines that the standard radio wave has been received when the reception sensitivity of the received standard radio wave is larger than a predetermined value. When CPU 2 determines that receiving unit 210 has received the standard radio wave (YES in step S520), CPU 2 switches control to step S522. If not (NO in step S520), CPU 2 returns control to step S500.

In step S522, the CPU 2 refers to the radio wave information 21 as the identifying unit 220, and identifies the region where the mobile communication terminal 100 currently exists (that is, the current region). Note that the CPU 2 may specify the current location or coordinate value of the mobile communication terminal 100 instead of the area.

In step S530, the CPU 2 determines whether the communication method corresponding to the current region is defined in the communication method table 22 as the selection unit 230. When CPU 2 determines that the communication method is defined in communication method table 22 (YES in step S530), CPU 2 switches control to step S532. If not (NO in step S530), CPU 2 returns control to step S500.

In step S532, the CPU 2 selects the communication method corresponding to the current region as the selection unit 230. For example, if the current communication method and the newly selected communication method are different, the CPU 2 switches the communication method from the current communication method to the newly selected communication method. When the current communication method is the same as the newly selected communication method, the CPU 2 does not switch the communication method.

<Advantages>
As described above, mobile communication terminal 100 according to the present embodiment can identify the current region using the standard radio wave. For this reason, even when the mobile communication terminal 100 is out of the service area or when the GPS function cannot be used, the current region can be specified, and the communication method can be set appropriately. Further, since the frequency of the standard radio wave is relatively low, the standard radio wave can go around obstacles. For this reason, even when the user is in a place surrounded by an obstacle such as a building, the mobile communication terminal 100 can identify the current region, and thus the usable range of the mobile communication terminal 100 is expanded. Furthermore, since the radio timepiece uses an analog frequency, the circuit configuration is relatively simple. For this reason, the mobile communication terminal 100 can be manufactured at a low price.

[Second Embodiment]
<Overview>
Hereinafter, mobile communication terminal 100A according to the second embodiment will be described. Mobile communication terminal 100A according to the present embodiment differs from mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment in that the current region is specified from a digital broadcast wave instead of a standard radio wave. Since other points are the same as those of mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated.

The mobile communication terminal 100A can receive a digital broadcast wave via the receiving unit 210 (for example, the antenna 7A). The data obtained by demodulating the digital broadcast wave includes various data in addition to information on the television program. For example, the data includes a data group called TOT (Time Offset Table) as a part of the data. Each broadcasting station that transmits digital broadcast waves is obliged to multiplex-transmit TOT without compression into its own video signal by an encoding method different from video and audio. The TOT includes PID (Packet Identified Packet Factor), Japan Standard Time (JST), date (offset value if daylight saving time is introduced), and the like.

The identifying unit 220 (see FIG. 5) identifies the current region from the local standard time included in the data obtained by demodulating the digital broadcast wave. The standard time is included in the TOT, for example. For example, when Japan Standard Time (JST) is included in the TOT, the mobile communication terminal 100A determines that the current region is Japan. If the Japan Standard Time (JST) is not included in the TOT, the mobile communication terminal 100A determines that the current region is other than Japan.

Note that the mobile communication terminal 100A may specify the current region by determining which country the standard time included in the TOT is. For example, the mobile communication terminal 100A may measure the standard time of each country, compare the time measured with the standard time included in the TOT, and specify the current region.

<Control structure>
With reference to FIG. 7, a control structure of portable communication terminal 100A will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the process executed by mobile communication terminal 100A. The processing in FIG. 7 is realized by the CPU 2 executing a program. In other aspects, some or all of the processing may be performed by circuit elements or other hardware. Of the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100A, the processes of steps S500 to S532 are the same as the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

In step S600, the CPU 2 determines, as the specifying unit 220, whether a digital broadcast wave has been received via the receiving unit 210. For example, the CPU 2 determines that the digital broadcast wave has been received when the reception sensitivity of the received digital broadcast wave is greater than a predetermined value. When CPU 2 determines that receiving unit 210 has received a digital broadcast wave (YES in step S600), CPU 2 switches control to step S602. If not (NO in step S600), CPU 2 returns control to step S500.

In step S602, the CPU 2 demodulates the digital broadcast wave as the identifying unit 220, and acquires data relating to the television program, data such as TOT. When the Japan Standard Time (JST) is included in the TOT, the CPU 2 determines that the current region is Japan. In addition, when the Japan Standard Time (JST) is not included in the TOT, the mobile communication terminal 100A determines that the current region is other than Japan. At the same time, if the current time information is included in the TOT, the CPU 2 adjusts the clock 4 based on the current time information.

<Advantages>
As described above, mobile communication terminal 100A according to the present embodiment specifies an area where the terminal currently exists based on the digital broadcast wave. For this reason, even when the mobile communication terminal 100A is out of the service area or when the GPS function cannot be used, the mobile communication terminal 100A can identify the current area if it is in an area where digital broadcast waves can be received. The method can be set appropriately. Further, since the TOT included in the digital broadcast wave is not compressed into the video signal as described above, there are cases where the TOT can be received even in an area where the television video cannot be received. For this reason, the usable range of the mobile communication terminal 100A is further expanded.

[Third Embodiment]
<Overview>
Hereinafter, mobile communication terminal 100B according to the third embodiment will be described. Mobile communication terminal 100B according to the present embodiment differs from mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment in that the current region is specified based on both standard radio waves and digital broadcast waves. Since other points are the same as those of mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated.

The mobile communication terminal 100B according to the present embodiment specifies the current area using the standard radio wave when the standard radio wave can be received, and specifies the current area using the digital broadcast wave when the standard radio wave cannot be received. More specifically, when receiving the standard radio wave, the specifying unit 220 includes identification information (for example, a call) indicating the transmitting station that is transmitting the standard radio wave, included in the data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave. The current region is specified from the code. When the standard radio wave cannot be received and the digital broadcast wave is received, the specifying unit 220 specifies the current area from the standard time of the area (for example, TOT) included in the data obtained by demodulating the digital broadcast wave. To do. In the following description of the present embodiment, a case where the current area is specified using a digital broadcast wave when a standard radio wave cannot be received will be described. Conversely, the mobile communication terminal 100B uses a digital broadcast wave. In the case where reception is not possible, the current area may be specified using standard radio waves.

<Control structure>
With reference to FIG. 8, a control structure of portable communication terminal 100B will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a part of the process executed by mobile communication terminal 100B. The processing in FIG. 8 is realized by the CPU 2 executing a program. In other aspects, some or all of the processing may be performed by circuit elements or other hardware. Of the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100B, the processes of steps S500 to S532 are the same as the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated. Of the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100B, the processes in steps S600 to S604 are the same as the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100A according to the second embodiment, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

In step S <b> 700, the CPU 2 determines whether the standard radio wave is received via the receiving unit 210 as the specifying unit 220. When CPU 2 determines that receiving unit 210 has received the standard radio wave (YES in step S700), CPU 2 switches control to step S604. Otherwise (NO in step S700), CPU 2 can switch control to step S600.

Although FIG. 8 shows an example in which the CPU 2 executes step S600 after step S700, step S700 may be executed after step S600. That is, if the mobile communication terminal 100B can receive a digital broadcast wave, the mobile communication terminal 100B specifies the current area using the digital broadcast wave. If the digital communication wave cannot be received, the mobile communication terminal 100B can specify the current area using the standard radio wave. Good.

<Advantages>
As described above, when the standard radio wave cannot be received, the mobile communication terminal 100B specifies the current region using the digital broadcast wave. For this reason, since the mobile communication terminal 100B can identify the current region when either one of the standard radio wave and the digital broadcast wave can be received, the usable range of the mobile communication terminal 100B is further expanded.

[Fourth Embodiment]
<Overview>
Hereinafter, mobile communication terminal 100C according to the fourth embodiment will be described. The mobile communication terminal 100C according to the present embodiment is different from the mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment in that the mobile longitude of the user is calculated and the current area is specified. Since other points are the same as those of mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, description thereof will not be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 9, a situation where the mobile communication terminal 100C is used will be described. FIG. 9 shows a state in which a user holding mobile communication terminal 100C is moving from country A to country C. The mobile communication terminal 100C further specifies the area specified using the standard radio wave by calculating the moving longitude of the user. Hereinafter, an example of a method for specifying the current area of the mobile communication terminal 100C will be described.

When the user is at point X, the clock 4 (see FIG. 4) that functions as a radio clock is adjusted with the time information included in the standard radio waves of country A. The user turns off the mobile communication terminal 100C in country A. While the power of the mobile communication terminal 100C is turned off, the timepiece 4 to which power is supplied inside the mobile communication terminal 100C continues to operate. The user turns on the mobile communication terminal 100C in the region C2 of country C. The mobile communication terminal 100C receives the standard radio wave of the region C2 in country C.

The mobile communication terminal 100C calculates the difference between the time information included in the standard radio wave of the region C2 and the time of the clock 4. That is, the mobile communication terminal 100C calculates the time difference between the region C2 of the country C and the country A. Since the time difference occurs for one hour every 15 degrees of longitude, the mobile communication terminal 100C can calculate the moving longitude by multiplying the calculated time difference by 15 degrees. The mobile communication terminal 100C sets a value obtained by adding the moving longitude to the longitude before moving (that is, the longitude D0 of country A) as the longitude of the current location (hereinafter also referred to as “current longitude”). Note that the longitude before the movement may be stored in the storage device 20 when the power is turned off. Further, the longitude before movement may be continuously recorded together with time information based on a signal transmitted from the base station, a positioning signal by GPS, and other outputs while the user is in country A.

The mobile communication terminal 100C uses the current longitude when there are two or more areas specified by the specifying unit 220 from the call code included in the data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave of the area C2 in the country C. You can further narrow down the current region.

In the above example, the case where the user turns off the mobile communication terminal 100C in A country has been described. However, the user moves from A country to C country while the mobile communication terminal 100C is on. Can also calculate the moving longitude.

<Functional configuration>
An example of the functional configuration of the mobile communication terminal 100C will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the mobile communication terminal 100C. The mobile communication terminal 100C according to the fourth embodiment is different from the functional configuration of 100 according to the first embodiment in that it further includes an adjustment unit 240, a calculation unit 250, and a correction unit 260. Since the other configuration is the same as the configuration of mobile communication terminal 100, description thereof will not be repeated.

The receiving unit 210 can receive standard radio waves in the first region and a second region different from the first region. The adjustment unit 240 adjusts the timepiece 4 with the standard time included in the received standard radio wave data. When the timepiece 4 is adjusted with the standard radio wave received in the first region and when the timepiece 4 is adjusted with the standard radio wave received in the second region, the calculation unit 250 performs adjustment before and after the adjustment of the timepiece 4. The moving longitude of the mobile communication terminal 100C is calculated from the time difference between the two. The correction unit 260 can further narrow down the current area using the current longitude when there are two or more areas specified by the specifying unit 220.

<Control structure>
With reference to FIG. 11, a control structure of portable communication terminal 100C will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a part of processing executed by portable communication terminal 100C according to the fourth embodiment. The processing in FIG. 11 is realized by the CPU 2 executing a program. In other aspects, some or all of the processing may be performed by circuit elements or other hardware. Of the processes executed by mobile communication terminal 100C, the processes of steps S500 to S532 are the same as those of mobile communication terminal 100 according to the first embodiment, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

In step S710, when mobile communication terminal 100C is within a communicable range with the base station (NO in step S510), CPU 2 identifies the current position based on the signal received from the base station. If the GPS function is usable, the CPU 2 may specify the current position using the GPS function. In step S712, the mobile communication terminal 100C records the specified position and the time of positioning as a range history.

In step S722, when mobile communication terminal 100C is out of service area (YES in step S510), when receiving unit 210 receives the standard radio wave (YES in step S520), CPU 2 changes clock 4 based on the standard radio wave. Correct it.

In step S730, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the receiving unit 210 has received a new standard radio wave. For example, the CPU 2 determines that a new standard radio wave has been received when it is determined that the standard radio call code has changed compared to the previously received standard radio call code. When CPU 2 determines that receiving unit 210 has received a new standard radio wave (YES in step S730), CPU 2 switches control to step S732. If not (NO in step S730), CPU 2 returns control to step S500.

In step S732, the CPU 2 calculates a moving longitude as the calculation unit 250. For example, the CPU 2 calculates the time difference between the time information included in the newly received standard radio wave and the time of the watch 4 before correction. The CPU 2 calculates the moving longitude from the time difference, and calculates the current longitude by adding the moving longitude to the longitude before moving obtained by referring to the area history. In step S734, the CPU 2 specifies the current area from the area specified by the specifying unit 220 and the moving longitude.

<Advantages>
As described above, since mobile communication terminal 100C according to the present embodiment can calculate the moving longitude, it is possible to specify the area where the terminal is currently present in more detail.

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.

1 ROM, 2 CPU, 3 RAM, 4 clock, 5 monitor, 6 network I / F, 6A, 7A antenna, 7 digital tuner, 20 storage device, 21 radio wave information, 21A, 22B area information, 21B, 22A call code, 21C frequency information, 22 communication method table, 22C frequency band, 22D signal format, 22E transmission output, 60B, 70B range, 61B base station, 71B transmission station, 100, 100A to 100C mobile communication terminal, 210 reception unit, 220 identification unit 230 selection unit, 240 adjustment unit, 250 calculation unit, 260 correction unit.

Claims

A mobile communication terminal capable of wireless communication with a plurality of communication methods,
A receiver for receiving radio waves including at least one of a standard radio wave for a radio clock and a digital broadcast wave;
When the receiving unit receives the radio wave, for specifying an area where the mobile communication terminal currently exists from at least one of frequency information of the radio wave and data obtained by demodulating the radio wave A specific part,
A storage unit for storing each of the plurality of regional information and each of the plurality of communication methods in association with each other;
A mobile communication terminal comprising: a selection unit for selecting a communication method corresponding to the region information from among the plurality of communication methods based on region information related to the region specified by the specifying unit.
When the specific unit receives the standard radio wave, the mobile communication terminal is currently identified from the identification information indicating the transmitting station transmitting the standard radio wave, which is included in the data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein an existing area is specified.
The receiving unit can receive the standard radio wave in a first region and a second region different from the first region,
The portable communication terminal further includes:
A clock unit for measuring time,
An adjustment unit for adjusting the clock unit at a standard time included in the standard radio wave data;
Before and after adjustment of the timepiece unit when the timepiece unit is adjusted with the standard time wave received in the first region and when the timepiece unit is adjusted with the standard time wave received in the second region A calculation unit for calculating the moving longitude of the mobile communication terminal from the time difference of
The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: a correction unit configured to correct the area specified by the specifying unit according to the moving longitude.
The specifying unit, when receiving the digital broadcast wave, specifies a region where the mobile communication terminal currently exists from a standard time of a region included in data obtained by demodulating the digital broadcast wave. Item 2. A mobile communication terminal according to Item 1.
The specific part is:
If the standard radio wave is received, the area where the mobile communication terminal currently exists is identified from the identification information indicating the transmitting station that is transmitting the standard radio wave included in the data obtained by demodulating the standard radio wave And
When the standard radio wave cannot be received and the digital broadcast wave is received, the area where the mobile communication terminal currently exists from the standard time of the area included in the data obtained by demodulating the digital broadcast wave The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal is specified.