FR2865602A1 - Portable electronic apparatus e.g. wireless telephone, has information analyzing unit to detect positioning of apparatus on table to change to silence/vibrating mode, and to detect apparatus pick-up to activate electroluminescent diodes - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has a control unit (15) controlling an alarm signal generation unit (11) based on information transmitted by an apparatus position/movement detection unit (17). An information analyzing unit (151) of the unit (15) detects whether the apparatus is placed on a table to change the apparatus from a normal mode to a silence/vibrating mode, and detects pick-up of the apparatus by a user to activate electroluminescent diodes. The alarm signal generation unit generates an alarm signal according to a preset event e.g. incoming call, received message, programmed alarm and alert representing battery charge level.

Description

2865602 1

  Portable device with warning means controlled by motion detection means.

  The field of the invention is that of portable electronic devices or devices, and in particular radiotelephones. More specifically, the invention relates to the control of alerting means, and in particular of generating sound signals corresponding for example to an incoming call.

  In certain situations, such a sound signal may be untimely, or at least disturbing. This is for example the case when one is in meeting, table ... Solutions have already been proposed, to solve this problem, or at least limit it. Thus, there are provided vibrators, which warn the user by producing only a limited noise.

  It has also been proposed to define several modes of operation (silence, in meetings, etc.) of the radiotelephone, which make it possible to adapt the warning signals to a particular situation. These modes are usually programmable, and you can for example choose to cut the sound, reduce it, increase it gradually ...

  In disadvantage of this technique is that it involves handling, via the man-machine interface, the radiotelephone. Even if this interface is simplified, this manipulation is generally not direct, and the reduced size of the devices and the limited number of keys can make it not easy.

  In addition, it is necessary to carry out this manipulation voluntarily, for example before and a meeting, and do not forget to return to the previous state afterwards. Often, it is when the device rings that one realizes that one forgot to cut the ring ...

  The device must be taken out of its pocket or bag, if necessary after searching for it. During this time, he continues to ring and disturb the entourage. The user, confused and in a hurry, then tends to pick up quickly, or on the contrary hang up suddenly, to cut the sound signal, without having taken the time to identify the caller and decide the real importance of the call.

  2865602 2 In other cases, users decide, in order not to disturb, to switch off their device. They may, however, lose a call that may be important.

  There is therefore a need for optimizing the processing of warning signals, especially sound signals, which does not require complex actions, via the keyboard, and which can reduce the disturbance induced by the sound signals in certain situations.

  The invention particularly aims to provide solutions in this direction.

  More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a technique for effectively and simply reducing the nuisance caused by the emission of warning signals by devices such as radiotelephones, especially when the user is in a group or in society.

  A particular aim of the invention is thus to reduce the nuisance caused by a ringing sound which is prolonged while a user is searching for his radiotelephone in his pockets or in a bag, while allowing him to have sufficient time to decide whether to take not a communication.

  Another particular objective of the invention is to allow an effective change of mode of alert, especially in meetings or in similar situations, without particular manipulation via a keyboard.

  In general, the invention also aims to provide techniques to overcome the use of a keyboard, and any operation a little complex, requiring a specific approach.

  In other words, the invention particularly aims to simplify the use of a device such as a radiotelephone, and to make its use more respectful of the environment.

  These objectives, as well as others that will appear more clearly later, are achieved with the aid of a portable device comprising means for transmitting at least one warning signal, according to at least one predetermined event. According to the invention, this apparatus comprises control means 2865602 3 for said means for transmitting at least one alert signal, as a function of at least one piece of information delivered by means of motion detection, of position of said apparatus and / or at least one angle formed by said apparatus, with respect to a plane or reference line.

  In other words; according to the invention, the generation of signals by the apparatus is adapted or controlled according to information relating to the displacement or to the position of the latter. As will be seen later, this can include: to suppress the ringing, when the device is in a given position, and for example returned to a table; to interrupt the ring before the user goes off-hook. According to one embodiment of the invention, said movement and / or position detection means comprise at least one accelerometer.

  Preferably, said control means comprise means for analyzing and processing said information, ensuring at least one of the operations belonging to the group comprising: parasitic motion filtering, corresponding for example to walking; the analysis of the direction and / or the amplitude of the movements; recognition of predetermined movements; determining the position of said apparatus in space; determining at least one angle formed between said apparatus and a reference plane or line.

  The at least one alert signal may notably belong to the group comprising: the sound signals; the signals emitted by a vibrator; the light signals.

  They may in particular be representative of a situation belonging to the group comprising: an incoming telephone call; a message received; a programmed alarm; an alert representative of a state of said apparatus, such as a predetermined level of battery charge.

  According to a first advantageous application of the invention, said control means act on said transmission means so as to interrupt the transmission and / or reduce its intensity.

  Advantageously, said control means detect a grip of said device by a user.

  In this case, and when said alert signal is an incoming call sound signal, said control means preferentially interrupt the transmission of this sound signal as soon as said apparatus is taken in hand, before said user makes a control of off hook.

  Thus, it limits the inconvenience caused by the ringing of the device, while retaining a little time to decide to take or refuse the communication.

  At the same time, said control means can, advantageously, activate the illumination of a screen, when a grip of said apparatus is detected.

  According to a second advantageous application, said control means detect a substantially horizontal position associated with an orientation of the main face of said apparatus downwards, and decide a predetermined mode change in this case.

  Said mode change can for example cut off the generation of sound signals.

  Preferably, said control means are programmable.

  According to a third advantageous application, said control means can detect violent movements corresponding to a theft of said device during communication, and consequently control at least one action in said device and / or to an operator.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the accompanying drawings. among which: Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a radiotelephone according to the invention; Figure 2 illustrates the principle of implementation of a first feature of the invention; FIG. 3 illustrates the principle of implementing a second characteristic of the invention.

  As indicated above, the invention proposes an improvement in the implementation of warning signals, especially audible signals, in devices such as radiotelephones, by exploiting movement and / or position information.

  The embodiment described below applies to a radiotelephone, and proposes two features in particular: the suppression (or limitation) of the ring when the apparatus is turned over and placed on a table or desk; the interruption of the ring when the device is taken in hand (without waiting for the user has actually off the hook).

  There are thus two improvements reducing the nuisance due to ringing, and which require no intervention via a keyboard or other interface (second characteristic) or a simple operation, instinctive or easily memorized (first feature).

  The invention can also be applied to other similar devices, and in particular devices of the PDA type.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the radiotelephone of the invention comprises means 11 for generating ringtones, acting on a loudspeaker 12. These means 11 can also drive a vibrator 13 and light means 14 (light-emitting diodes for example) .

  They are controlled by control means 15, which conventionally take account of user-defined programming 16 (types of ringing, volume, modes of operation, etc.).

  According to the invention, these control means 15 furthermore exploit information 170 delivered by means 17 for detecting movement and position. It can for example be one or more accelerometers, determining accelerations in one or more directions. In particular, the information 170 may comprise acceleration information in two or three directions, with indications of amplitude and direction (angles for example).

  The control means 15 comprise means 151 for analyzing this information 170, making it possible to filter the parasitic accelerations (for example the movements simply due to walking) and to detect the movements sought, among a set of desired motions.

  Thus, when the analysis makes it possible to detect that the apparatus has been returned and placed on a table, the control means go into a silent mode (or another preselected mode), without any other operation on the part of the user. .

  The device can therefore remain active, and the user be notified of a call by a light signal or the vibrator, but there will be no ringing. It will be enough to take again in hand the apparatus to return in the normal mode.

  This principle is summarized in Figure 2. The device is in a normal mode (ringing enabled), the user places it on a table facing the table. Motion analysis can detect (21) this situation. This entails, possibly after a confirmation delay 22 during which it is verified that the apparatus remains stationary, the passage 23 in a silent mode. If, during this time, the device is resumed, it remains in the normal mode.

  If a call 24 is received, a light signal is generated, but not a sound signal. The user can take control of his device, which is detected 29 by analyzing the movement, and decide to pick up or otherwise refuse the call. A timer 26 allows time to perform this operation, without reactivating the ring.

  Advantageously, when this grip is detected, the device can automatically activate (210) the illumination of the screen.

  The same timer 26 is activated if the user simply takes over the device, for example because the meeting is over.

  At the end of this delay 26, it remains in the silent mode if the device is returned to its returned position on the table (test 27). Conversely, the normal mode (with ringing) is reactivated 28 if the apparatus is put in another position (for example in a pocket).

  It is thus possible to change ring modes simply, efficiently and intuitively. Of course, both modes can be programmed, classically, both for their activation and for the commands they generate.

  Note also that the accelerometers can be replaced by other means, to detect the movements and / or the position of the device.

  Figure 3 illustrates another feature of the invention, which aims to limit the time during which a radiotelephone rings, especially when an incoming call is received. The invention proposes in fact to separate the stop of the ringing and the taking (or rejection) of the communication. More specifically, the ringing is interrupted as soon as the device has detected that it was taken in hand.

  This second feature is activated when there is an incoming call 31, or another predetermined event. The analysis of the movement 32 carries out a treatment intended to detect this grip, and in particular to distinguish it from other movements such as those of walking, of transport in a bag. This analysis may take into account in particular the regularity and periodicity of the movements, their amplitude and / or their direction.

  Once a grip 321 is detected, the ringing is interrupted 33. It thus limits the nuisance generated by it, and gives time to the user to consult his screen, to decide whether to take or refuse the 2865602 8 34 for example by looking at the caller's number.

  It increases the comfort of the user and those around him, without adding complexity of use: no action other than the grip is necessary. Of course, this application can be programmable, and in particular deactivatable.

  Again, sensing the grip 321 may result in illumination of the screen, and more generally any other suitable action may for example increase the comfort of use.

  Of course, the same approach can be applied to other types of events than incoming calls, for example to the reception of messages, an indication of the state of the device (battery for example), a preprogrammed alarm, ...

  It should be noted that the motion analysis operations may at least partly be shared by the two applications described, or by other applications. This is particularly the case of filtering operations and detection of grip.

  Note also that the motion detection means can also be used for other operations, new or already described in the literature (for example to replace the use of the keyboard). This synergy thus makes it possible to introduce at reduced cost the functions described above, by using the motion detection means already integrated for other functions.

  Furthermore, the lighting application of the screen, and if necessary other elements such as the keyboard, can be implemented independently of the applications related to the warning signals. More generally, the motion analysis means may comprise means for detecting a grip, and associate with this command various actions, such as those already described or others.

  Other applications can also be implemented, from the motion analysis. For example, one can provide an anti-theft application, detecting a violent movement while a communication is 2865602 9 in progress. An analysis of the movements will make it possible to detect that it corresponds to a flight of the apparatus (grab and run in English). The analysis will of course have to be precise enough not to equate to a flight other movements, such as a simple fall of the device.

  When a flight is detected, the aircraft may engage a number of security or deterrence actions, such as: interruption of the current call (possibly with a pre-programmed message warning the caller of the situation ); activation of the ring at a very high level (can only be interrupted by turning off the device, which will then ask for the personal PIN code to restart); blocking the device; the transmission of a message informing the theft to the operator; 2865602 10

Claims (13)

  Portable apparatus comprising means for transmitting at least one warning signal, as a function of at least one predetermined event, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling said transmission means of at least an alert signal, as a function of at least one piece of information delivered by motion detection means, of the position of said apparatus and / or of at least one angle formed by said apparatus, with respect to a plane or a line of reference.   2. Portable apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said motion and / or position detection means comprise at least one accelerometer.   3. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said control means comprise means for analyzing and processing said information, ensuring at least one of the operations belonging to the group comprising: parasitic motion filtering corresponding, for example, to walking; the analysis of the direction and / or the amplitude of the movements; recognition of predetermined movements; determining the position of said apparatus in space; determining at least one angle formed between said apparatus and a reference plane or line.   4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said one or more alert signals belong to the group comprising: the sound signals; the signals emitted by a vibrator; the light signals.   Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said one or more alert signals are representative of a situation belonging to the group comprising: an incoming telephone call; - a message received; - a programmed alarm; an alert representative of a state of said apparatus, such as a predetermined level of battery charge.   6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said control means act on said transmitting means so as to interrupt the transmission and / or reduce its intensity.   7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said control means detect a grip of said device by a user.   8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, said alert signal being an incoming call sound signal, said control means interrupt the emission of this sound signal as soon as said device is taken in hand, before said user performs an off-hook command.   9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said control means activate the lighting of a screen, when a grip of said apparatus is detected.   10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that said control means detect a substantially horizontal position associated with an orientation of the main face of said apparatus downwards, and decide a predetermined mode change in this case.   Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said mode change cuts off the generation of sound signals.   12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said control means are programmable.   13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said control means can detect violent movements corresponding to a theft of said apparatus during communication, and consequently control at least one action in said apparatus and / or to an operator.