JP2002244866A - Portable information equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an object audio output application output sound without having a currently using window as background even when a plurality of audio output applications are activated. SOLUTION: This portable information equipment is provided with a selecting means for selecting one of plural audio output application programs, a retrieving means for retrieving currently activated application programs, an extracting means for extracting the audio output application programs of the application programs retrieved by the retrieving means, an ending means for ending all the audio output application programs extracted by the extracting means, and a starting means for starting the application program selected by the selecting means when all the audio output application programs are ended by the ending means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information device for outputting audio using an audio output application program, and more particularly to a notebook personal computer for outputting audio using an audio output application program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional notebook personal computer, when a plurality of sound output applications are activated, sound is output from each sound output application.

[0003] Also, when another audio output application is activated while one audio output application is activated, the audio is similarly output from each audio output application.

In order to cope with such a problem, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-129356, when a plurality of audio programs are running on a plurality of windows, one window is opened by a mouse. There is an invention that selects and activates only the audio program that runs on the selected window.

[0005]

However, according to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-129356, the user must activate a target window with a mouse, which complicates the operation. There was a problem.

Further, by activating a window in which a voice application is being executed, for example, when a user uses word processing software, the window in which the word processing software is running becomes background. As a result, there is a problem that the operation is interrupted.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if a plurality of audio output applications are activated, the target audio can be output without setting the currently used window to the background. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information device capable of outputting a sound from an output application.

[0008]

Therefore, first, in order to achieve the above object, a first invention of the present invention provides a first audio reproduction application program for reproducing first audio data, and a first audio reproduction application program for reproducing first audio data. A second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data, detecting means for detecting that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program has been instructed, and a second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data. When the first audio data is being reproduced, and when the detection means detects that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program is instructed, the first music reproduction application is executed. Ending the reproduction of the first audio data by the program; A portable information equipment, characterized by comprising a reproduction control means for causing the reproduction of the second audio data to the program.

The first invention includes the following inventions.

(1) A main display, a sub-display provided separately from the main display, a jog device for generating a plurality of events, and a title of an application program to be activated is displayed on the sub-display. A display unit, wherein the detection unit detects that the jog device instructs the display unit to execute the second audio reproduction application displayed on the sub-display.

(2) The detecting means detects activation of the second audio output application program.

(3) The detecting means detects that the second audio output application program has been activated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a selection means for selecting one of a plurality of audio output application programs, a search means for searching for an application program currently running, and a search by the search means Extracting means for extracting a voice output application program from the selected application programs, ending means for ending all of the voice output application programs extracted by the extracting means, and activating the application program selected by the selecting means. Portable information equipment comprising:

Further, a third aspect of the present invention provides a voice output application activation detecting means for detecting activation of a voice output application, and an audio output application activation detecting means for detecting activation of the voice output application. Search means for searching for the currently running application program, extraction means for extracting a voice output application program among the application programs searched for by the search means, and all of the voice output application programs extracted by the extraction means The portable information device comprises: an ending means for ending the processing; and an activating means for activating the audio output application detected by the audio output application activation detecting means.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a selection means for selecting one application program from a plurality of application programs, and a first means for judging whether or not the application program is selected by the selection means. Judging means; second judging means for judging whether or not the selected application program is an audio output application program when the first judging means judges that the application program has been selected; When the selected application program is determined to be a voice output application program by the determination means,
Means for causing only the selected audio output application to reproduce audio and turning off audio reproduction by another audio output application.

Furthermore, a fifth invention of the present invention provides a first audio reproduction application program for reproducing first audio data and a second audio reproduction application program for reproducing second audio data. In the audio reproduction method for a portable information device comprising: detecting that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program is instructed, and reproducing the first audio data by the first audio reproduction application program. And when it is detected that execution of the second audio reproduction application program has been instructed, the reproduction of the first audio data by the first music reproduction application program ends. Let
The second audio reproduction application program has a second
A sound reproduction method in a portable information device, characterized in that the sound data is reproduced.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, one of a plurality of audio output application programs is selected, an application program currently running is searched, and among the searched application programs,
A sound reproduction method in a portable information device, comprising extracting a sound output application program, terminating all of the extracted sound output application programs, and activating the selected application program.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the activation of the audio output application is detected, and when the activation of the audio output application is detected, the currently activated application program is searched for. Extracting audio output application programs from the application programs, terminating all of the extracted audio output application programs, and activating the detected audio output applications; Is the way.

Further, an eighth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that it is determined whether or not one application program among a plurality of application programs is selected, and when it is determined that the application program is selected, the selection is made. It is determined whether the selected application program is an audio output application program, and if it is determined that the selected application program is an audio output application program, audio is reproduced only to the selected audio output application. This is a sound reproducing method for a portable information device, characterized by turning off sound reproduction by another sound output application.

Further, a ninth invention of the present invention relates to a main display, a sub-display provided at a position observable from the outside even when the main display is closed, and a jog device for generating a plurality of events. ,
Display means for displaying a title name of an application program to be started on the sub-display;
The first audio reproduction application program for reproducing the audio data of the second, the second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data, and the execution of the second audio reproduction application program are instructed. Detecting that the first audio data is being reproduced by the first audio reproduction application program, and executing the second audio reproduction application program by the detection means. When the instruction is detected, the reproduction of the first audio data by the first music reproduction application program is ended, and the second audio reproduction application program reproduces the second audio data. Playback control means for controlling the jog operation. The location, a portable information device and detects that the execution of the said second audio reproduction application displayed on the sub-display is instructed by the display means.

The above invention includes the following inventions.

(1) The sub-display is provided at a rear end of the portable information device.

(2) The sub-display is provided at a front end of the portable information device.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the basic structure of a notebook personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the computer with the display unit opened, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the computer with the display unit closed.

This computer has a computer body 11
And a display unit 12.

The display unit 12 incorporates a display screen 12a composed of an LCD. The display unit 12 includes the computer body 1
1 is rotatably mounted between a release position and a closed position.

The computer main body 11 has a thin box-shaped housing, on which a keyboard, a pointing stick and the like are arranged.

An operation button 13, a sub-display (sub-LCD) 14, a jog device 15, and a volume control device 16 are provided on the upper surface of the computer main body 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation buttons 13, the sub display (sub LCD) 14, the jog device 15, and the volume control device 16 are arranged so as to be exposed to the outside even when the display panel 12 is closed. Have been.

In this embodiment, a notch is provided between the left and right hinges at the lower part of the display panel 12 so that the back (rear) on the upper surface of the computer main body 11 even when the display panel 12 is closed.
The side region is configured to be exposed to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the sub-display 14, the jog device 15 and the volume control device 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sub-display 14 includes an AC power supply state, a system ON / OFF state,
Information such as the access state of the hard disk, the state of the battery of the notebook personal computer, and the mute state is indicated, and a text display section 14a is provided. The text display section 14a displays various information to be notified to the user as described later.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the operation of the jog device 15 and an event. Here, the lower event when the projection 31 of the jog switch 15 is tilted downward will be described. However, when the projection 15a is tilted upward, an upper event occurs.

As shown in the figure, when the jog switch 15 is moved down (up), a down (up) event occurs. When the state in which the jog switch 15 is tilted downward (upward) continues for a predetermined time, for example, 1 second,
A lower (upper) continuation event occurs.

On the other hand, when the jog switch 15 is released immediately after the lower (up) event occurs and the jog switch 15 returns to the neutral state, a return event occurs. Similarly, a return event also occurs when returning to a neutral state after a lower (upper) continuation event has occurred.

The jog device 15 can also be pressed, and in this case, a press event occurs.
Various events from these jog devices 15 are transmitted to the BIO
It is detected by the S program and passed to the application program.

The volume control device 16 controls the volume of audio output from a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the details of the operation button 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation button 13 has a rewind button 13a, a play / pause button 13b, a stop button 13c, and a fast forward button 13d.

The rewind button 13a is for rewinding the music being reproduced to the previous music, and the play / pause button 13b is for reproducing the music and when the button is pressed during the reproduction, the music is reproduced. The pause button 13c is used to temporarily stop the playback, and the stop button 13c is used to stop the song when it is pressed during the playback of the song. It is for fast forward.

The operation button 13 is used to operate an operation target, and the operation target is switched by a program. For example, the operation target may be a CD / DVD medium or a digital audio medium.

The operation button 13 is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 4, and may be, for example, a web update button. That is, the operation button 13 is used to operate an operation target (application program).

A disk drive (not shown) is provided on the right side of the computer main body 11. This disc drive has a CD-R on which audio data is recorded.
A disk medium such as an OM, a DVD-ROM, a CD-ROM in which audio and video data are recorded, and a DVD-ROM are mounted as reproduction targets.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG.
21, BIOS ROM 22, main memory 23, display controller 24, keyboard controller 2
7, CD / DVD player, HDD 29, battery 3
0 and the power supply unit 31 are connected.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 21 controls the entire system, and executes a program stored in a main memory 23.

BIOS (Basic Input / Ou)
(put system) The ROM 22 has a role of detecting an event generated from the jog device 15 or the like.
Stores an IOS program.

The main memory 23 stores a program for realizing the processing of the flowchart described in this embodiment. The main memory 42 stores the OS
(Operating System), and a control program and an application program for controlling display of the sub-display 14 are stored.

The display controller 24 controls display of the main display 25 and the sub-display 26.

The main display 25 is a main display of the notebook personal computer, and corresponds to the display screen 12a shown in FIG.

The sub-display 26 is provided separately from the main display 25 and corresponds to the sub-display 14 shown in FIG.

The keyboard controller (27) controls the operation buttons 13, the keyboard 27a and the jog device 15.

The CD / DVD player 28 reproduces CD / DVD media.

The HDD 29 is for storing application programs and the like developed in the main memory 23.

The battery 30 supplies power to the components of the notebook personal computer when power is not supplied from the power supply unit 31. The power from the battery 30 and the power supply 31 is supplied to the element that controls the display of the sub-display 26 even when the power of the notebook personal computer is in the off state or the sleep state. Display control is maintained.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment has a voice output application selecting section 51, a startup application search section 52, a voice output application extraction section 53, a voice output application end section 54, and an application startup. A portion 55 is provided.

The audio output application selecting section 51
The user is presented with the audio output application program to be selected. Specifically, the audio output application selection unit 51 displays the title of the application program to be selected and activated by the jog device 15 on the sub-display 14 and selects the title by operating the jog device 15 by the user. The started application program is notified to the start application search unit 52.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the title of the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 may be registered in advance or registered by the user.

Here, as the title name, 1. CD /
DVD 2. Digital audio3. TV 4. 4. Application name specified by user 5. Application name specified by user Email
7. It is assumed that the Internet is registered. The applications corresponding to these title names are activated by the jog device 15.

FIG. 9 is a diagram in which digital audio (MP3 file) is displayed on the sub-display 14 as a title name. In the state shown in FIG. 9, digital audio is to be selected by the jog device 15.

The startup application selection section 52 searches for an application program that is currently running. The method of searching for the currently running application program is performed, for example, by preparing a table as shown in FIG. 10 and referring to this table. For searching for running application programs,
Since it is not the gist of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted here.

The audio output application extraction unit 53
The voice output application is extracted from the running application program searched by the running application selection unit 52.

The audio output application program may be extracted by extracting only the audio output application program from predetermined applications, or may be identified by an identifier of a file to be activated. The extraction method does not matter.

Next, the operation of the notebook personal computer according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the audio output application selecting section 51 displays the jog device 1 on the sub-display 14.
5 displays the title of the application program to be started and to be started, and notifies the start application search unit 52 of the application program selected by the user operating the jog device 15 (S1).

Next, the starting application selecting section 52
Searches for the currently running application program (S2). Then, the voice output application extracting unit 53 extracts a voice output application from the currently running application program searched by the running application search unit 52 (S3).

Next, the extracted voice output application program is terminated (S4), and the voice output application program selected by the jog device is started (S5). Thereby, only the sound of the selected sound output application program can be reproduced.

Therefore, according to the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment, a plurality of audio output applications are activated only by selecting the audio output application program displayed on the sub-display 14 from the jog device 15. Even in this case, the sound of only the selected sound output application program can be reproduced.

<First Modification> Next, a first modification of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to the first modification of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer according to the present modification includes a sound output application starting unit 61, a starting application searching unit 62, a sound output application extracting unit 63, a sound output application ending unit 64, and an application starting. It has a portion 65.

The audio output application starting unit 61
Detect that the program has been started. The activation of the program is an activation while the application program currently used is kept active, for example, when the application program is activated from a start menu in the case of Windows which is an OS manufactured by Microsoft Corporation. Specifically, a Hook routine that is generated when the program is started is registered so that the start of the program can be detected.

The start application search section 62 searches for an application program that is currently running. The method of searching for the running application program is as described in the above-described embodiment.

The audio output application extraction unit 63
The audio output application program is extracted from the currently activated application programs searched by the started application search unit 62. The method for extracting the audio output application program is as described in the above-described embodiment.

The audio output application ending unit 64
All the sound output application programs extracted by the sound output application extraction unit 63 are terminated.

The application activating section 65 activates the audio output application program whose activation has been detected by the audio output application activation detecting section after the application program is terminated by the audio output application ending section 64.

Next, the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the first modification of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the voice output application activation detecting section 61 determines whether or not the activation of the voice output application program has been detected (S21).

If it is determined in S21 that the activation of the voice output application program has been detected, the activation application retrieval unit 62 retrieves the currently activated application program (S2).
2).

Next, an audio output application program is extracted from the currently activated application program searched in S22 (S23), and the extracted audio output application program is terminated (S2).
4).

Then, in S21, the voice output application program whose startup is detected is started (S21).
25).

Therefore, according to the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment, by incorporating the routine for detecting the activation of the audio output application program, the activation can be performed without bringing the currently used application program into the background. Only the detected voice output application program can be started.

<Modification 2> Next, Modification 2 of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to a second modification of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the notebook personal computer according to the second modification includes a program active instruction detecting section 71, an audio output instruction section 72, a CD reproducing application program 73, and an MP3 reproducing application program 74. are doing.

The program active instruction detecting section 71
An instruction to activate the program specified by the user is detected and notified to the audio output instruction unit 72.
Specifically, the program active instruction detection unit 71
The title of the application program to be selected is displayed on the sub-display 14.

Here, the program active instruction detecting section 71 displays the title of the application program for reproducing CD and the title of the application for reproducing MP3 on the sub-display 14. Then, the user operates the sub display 14 by using the jog device 15.
When the title of the application program displayed above is selected, that is, when an instruction to activate the application program is detected,
It is determined whether or not the designated application program is a voice output application program. If it is determined that the application program is not a voice output application program, the voice output instructing unit 72 is determined.
Of the specified application program is activated.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the designated application program is an audio output application program, and if the designated application program is a CD playback application program, the sound of the CD playback application program is output. An instruction to turn on the output and turn off the audio output of the MP3 playback application program is issued by the audio output instructing unit 7.
Output to 2.

If the specified application program is an MP3 playback application program, an instruction to turn off the audio output of the CD playback application program and turn on the audio output of the MP3 playback application program is issued. Output instruction unit 7
Output to 2.

The audio output instructing section 72 outputs an instruction to the CD reproducing application program 73 and the MP3 reproducing application program 74 based on the instruction from the program selection detecting section 72.

Specifically, when the selected application program is a CD playback application program, the audio output of the CD playback application program is turned on, and the audio output of the MP3 playback application program is turned off.

If the selected application program is an MP3 playback application program, the audio output of the CD playback application program is turned off, and the audio output of the MP3 playback application program is turned on.

Next, the operation of the notebook personal computer according to the second modification of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the program active instruction detecting section 7
In step S3, it is determined whether the user has instructed activation of the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 (S3).
1).

If it is determined in S31 that the activation of the application program displayed on the sub-display 14 has been instructed, then it is determined whether or not the designated application program is a voice output application program. A decision is made (S
32).

If it is determined in S32 that the designated application program is not a voice output application program, the designated application program is activated (S33).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S32 that the designated application program is a voice output application program, it is determined whether or not the designated application program is a CD reproduction application program (S32). S34).

In S34, if it is determined that the designated application program is a CD playback application program, the sound output instructing section 72
Outputs an instruction to turn on the audio output of the CD reproduction application program and turn off the audio output of the MP3 reproduction application program to the CD reproduction application program 73 and the MP3 reproduction application program 74 (FIG. 16: S35). . As a result, audio can be output only from the CD reproduction application program.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S34 that the selected application program is not the CD reproduction application program, the audio output instructing unit 72 turns off the audio output of the CD reproduction application program, and performs MP3 reproduction. An instruction to turn on the audio output of the application program for CD is output to the application program 73 for CD reproduction and the application program 74 for MP3 reproduction (FIG. 17: S36).
Thus, audio can be output only from the MP3 playback application program.

In the above description of the embodiment, a case is described in which the sub-display is provided on the upper surface of the notebook personal computer main body and can be observed from the outside even when the main display is closed. However, the sub-display may be provided at the rear end or the front end of the notebook personal computer main body.

Therefore, according to the notebook personal computer of the present embodiment, when a plurality of voice output applications are activated, when an instruction to activate a certain voice output application is issued, another voice output application is activated. The audio output of the application can be turned off.

In addition, since such processing can be performed in the background of the application program that the user is performing, the processing efficiency of the user does not decrease.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, when an invention is extracted by omitting some constituent elements from all constituent elements described in the embodiment, when implementing the extracted invention, the omitted part is appropriately supplemented by well-known conventional techniques. It is something to be done.

[0106]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
Even when a plurality of audio output applications are activated, audio can be output from the target audio output application without setting the currently used window in the background.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary front view of a computer with a display unit opened;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary front view of the computer with a display unit closed;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sub-display 14, a jog device 15, and a volume control device 16.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of an operation button 13;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between an operation of the jog device 15 and an event.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a notebook personal computer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the notebook personal computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing title names of application programs displayed on a sub-display 14.

FIG. 9 is a diagram in which digital audio is displayed on the sub-display 14 as a title name.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table used for searching for an application program currently running.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the notebook personal computer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to a first modification of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the notebook personal computer according to the first modification of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a notebook personal computer according to a second modification of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a notebook personal computer according to a second modification of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a notebook personal computer according to a second modification of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the notebook personal computer according to Modification 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... computer body, 12 ... display unit, 12a ... display screen, 13 ... operation buttons, 13a ... rewind button, 13b ... play / pause button, 13c ... stop button, 13d ... fast forward button, 14 ... sub display (sub LCD), 14a text display unit, 15 jog device, 15a projection, 16 volume control device, 20 bus, 21 CPU, 22 BIOS ROM, 23 main memory, 23a OS, 23b control program 23c: Application program, 24: Display controller, 25: Main display, 26: Sub display, 27: Keyboard controller, 27a: Keyboard, 28: CD / DVD player, 29: HDD, 30 ... Battery, 31 ... Power supply unit, 51 ... Sound output application selection unit, 52 ... Start-up application search unit, 53 ... Sound output application extraction unit, 54 ... Sound output application end unit, 55 ... Application start unit, 61 ... Sound output application Activating unit, 62: Activated application searching unit, 63: Voice output application extracting unit, 64: Voice output application ending unit, 65: Application activating unit, 71: Program active instruction detecting unit, 72: Voice output instruction unit, 73: CD Playback application program 74... MP3 playback application program.

Claims (14)

[Claims] A first audio data reproducing device for reproducing first audio data;
An audio reproduction application program, a second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data, a detection means for detecting that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program is instructed, When the first audio data is being reproduced by the first audio reproduction application program, and when the execution of the second audio reproduction application program is instructed by the detection means is detected. Terminating the reproduction of the first audio data by the first music reproduction application program,
The second audio reproduction application program has a second
And a reproduction control means for reproducing the audio data. 2. A main display; a sub-display provided separately from the main display; a jog device for generating a plurality of events; and a display for displaying a title of an application program to be started on the sub-display. Means, and the detecting means, the jog device, the second means displayed on the sub-display by the display means
2. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein it is detected that execution of the audio reproduction application has been instructed. 3. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein said detection means detects activation of said second audio output application program. 4. The portable information device according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means detects that said second audio output application program has been activated. 5. A selection means for selecting one of a plurality of audio output application programs; a search means for searching for a currently activated application program; and an audio output among the application programs searched by the search means. Extracting means for extracting an application program; terminating means for terminating all of the audio output application programs extracted by the extracting means; when all of the sound output application programs have been terminated by the terminating means, the selecting means A portable information device comprising: a start unit for starting a selected application program. 6. An audio output application activation detecting means for detecting activation of an audio output application, and when the audio output application activation detecting means detects activation of the audio output application, searching for an application program currently activated. Searching means; extracting means for extracting a voice output application program from the application programs searched by the searching means; ending means for ending all voice output application programs extracted by the extracting means; and ending means Starting means for activating the sound output application detected by the sound output application start-up detecting means when all of the sound output application programs are terminated. Portable information devices to be. 7. A selecting means for selecting one application program from a plurality of application programs; a first determining means for determining whether an application program has been selected by the selecting means; and a first determining means. Second determining means for determining whether the selected application program is a voice output application program when the application program is determined to be selected by the means, and the selected application program is determined by the second determining means. Means for, when it is determined that the program is an audio output application program, causing only the selected audio output application to reproduce audio and turning off audio reproduction by another audio output application. To Characteristic portable information equipment. 8. A first audio data reproducing apparatus for reproducing first audio data.
And a second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data in a portable information device, wherein execution of the second audio reproduction application program is instructed. That the first audio data is being reproduced by the first audio reproduction application program, and that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program has been instructed. In this case, the reproduction of the first audio data by the first music reproduction application program is terminated, and the second audio reproduction application program reproduces the second audio data. A sound reproduction method for portable information devices. 9. Selecting one of the plurality of audio output application programs, searching for a currently running application program, extracting an audio output application program from the searched application programs, and extracting Ending all of the selected audio output application programs and activating the selected application programs. 10. A voice output application is detected, and when the voice output application is detected, a currently running application program is searched for, and among the searched application programs, a voice output application is detected. A sound reproducing method in a portable information device, comprising: extracting a program; terminating all of the extracted sound output application programs; and activating the detected sound output application. And determining whether one of the plurality of application programs has been selected. If it is determined that the application program has been selected, the selected application program is switched to an audio output application program. Determining whether or not the selected application program is an audio output application program, causing only the selected audio output application to reproduce audio, and outputting audio from another audio output application. A sound reproducing method in a portable information device, characterized by turning off reproduction of a sound. 12. A main display, a sub-display provided at a position observable from the outside even when the main display is closed, a jog device for generating a plurality of events, and an activation target for the sub-display. Display means for displaying a title name of the application program; a first audio reproduction application program for reproducing the first audio data; a second audio reproduction application program for reproducing the second audio data; Detecting means for detecting that the execution of the second audio reproduction application program has been instructed; and wherein the first audio data is being reproduced by the first audio reproduction application program, and Means for providing said second audio playback application If the execution of the Deployment program is detected to have been instructed to end the reproduction of the first audio data by the first music playback application program,
The second audio reproduction application program has a second
Playback control means for playing back the audio data of the second, and the detection means, the jog device, the second means displayed on the sub-display by the display means
A portable information device for detecting that an instruction to execute a voice reproduction application has been issued. 13. The portable information device according to claim 12, wherein the sub-display is provided at a rear end of the portable information device. 14. The portable information device according to claim 12, wherein the sub-display is provided at a front end of the portable information device.