JP2004064124A - Portable information terminal and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive portable information terminal having a simple construction, for performing control caused by communication with an external device, and to provide a control method thereof. <P>SOLUTION: In this cellular telephone 10, when a current value flowing through an IC chip 30 changes due to communication between the IC chip 30 and an IC chip reader/writer 40, a change in current value is detected by a detecting circuit 12. Upon detecting the change in current value by the circuit 12, latest communication history information is read out of a history information database 32 of the IC chip 30 by a detecting program 18. As described above, according to the cellular telephone 10, the communication between the IC chip 30 and the IC chip reader/writer 40 can be detected without any delay, and contents of the communication can also be discriminated. Furthermore, the cellular telephone 10 has a simple construction, and can be inexpensively manufactured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable communication terminal for performing communication with an IC chip reader / writer and a control method therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is a technique disclosed in JP-A-2002-27551. The portable communication terminal and the control method described in this publication are described in the following. An automatic ticket gate functioning as an IC chip reader / writer transmits a control signal to a portable telephone having a built-in IC chip. Transmits the control signal to the CPU of the mobile phone. Then, the CPU controls the operation of the mobile phone according to the control signal. Thus, use of the mobile phone can be prohibited regardless of the user's intention.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional mobile communication terminal and its control method need to incorporate a transmission means for transmitting a control signal to the CPU in the IC chip, or separately provide an interface for transmitting a control signal to the CPU in the IC chip. There is a problem that a significant design change of the IC chip is required, which leads to an increase in the cost of the IC chip.
[0004]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a portable communication terminal and a control method thereof that can realize control based on communication with an external device with a simple configuration and at low cost. Make it an issue.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a portable communication terminal according to the present invention detects an IC chip having a history information storage unit for storing communication history information with an IC chip reader / writer, and detects a change in a current value flowing through the IC chip. Detecting means for detecting the change in the value of current flowing through the IC chip by the current detecting means, and reading out the latest communication history information stored in the history information storage unit when the current detecting means detects a change in the value of the current flowing through the IC chip. It is characterized.
[0006]
In this portable communication terminal, when the value of the current flowing through the IC chip changes due to the communication between the IC chip and the IC chip reader / writer, the change in the current value is detected by the current detecting means. When the change in the current value is detected by the current detecting means, the latest communication history information is read from the history information storage unit of the IC chip by the IC chip use detecting means. As described above, according to the portable communication terminal of the present invention, communication between the IC chip and the IC chip reader / writer can be detected without delay, and the content of the communication can be determined. Further, since there is no need to incorporate a transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to the CPU in the IC chip or separately provide an interface for transmitting a control signal to the CPU, the portable communication terminal has a simple configuration and is inexpensive. Can be manufactured.
[0007]
Further, the portable communication terminal of the present invention further includes an application storage unit in which one or a plurality of applications are stored, and the IC chip use detection unit performs one or more applications based on the communication history information read from the history information storage unit. It is preferable to start a specific application from a plurality of applications. In this case, by preparing various applications, various functions can be realized in the mobile communication terminal.
[0008]
In order to solve the above problems, a control method of a portable communication terminal according to the present invention is directed to a method of controlling a portable information terminal including an IC chip having a history information storage unit for storing communication history information with an IC chip reader / writer. Wherein the current detecting means detects a change in the value of the current flowing through the IC chip; and the IC chip use detecting means detects a change in the current value when the change in the current value flowing through the IC chip is detected by the current detecting means. Reading the latest communication history information stored in the information storage unit.
[0009]
In the control method of the portable communication terminal, when the value of the current flowing through the IC chip changes due to the communication between the IC chip and the IC chip reader / writer, the change in the current value is detected by the current detecting means. When the change in the current value is detected by the current detecting means, the latest communication history information is read from the history information storage unit of the IC chip by the IC chip use detecting means. As described above, according to the method for controlling a portable communication terminal according to the present invention, it is possible to detect the communication between the IC chip and the IC chip reader / writer without delay and to determine the contents of the communication. It is. Further, since there is no need to incorporate a transmission means for transmitting a control signal to the CPU in the IC chip or separately provide an interface for transmitting a control signal to the CPU, the portable communication terminal can have a simple configuration and be inexpensive. Can be manufactured.
[0010]
Further, in the method for controlling a portable communication terminal according to the present invention, the portable information terminal further includes an application storage unit in which one or more applications are stored, and the IC chip use detection unit reads the latest information read from the history information storage unit. It is preferable to further include a step of starting a specific application from one or a plurality of applications based on the communication history information. In this case, by preparing various applications, various functions can be realized in the mobile communication terminal.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a mobile communication terminal and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
First, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile phone (portable communication terminal) 10 has an IC chip 30 built therein. The IC chip 30 has a wireless communication function. Specifically, an IC chip reader / writer 40 as an external device reads data from the IC chip 30 and writes data into the IC chip 30. The configuration is such that it can be performed wirelessly. The IC chip reader / writer 40 is built in, for example, an automatic ticket gate 42 for railways, and the IC chip 30 is exchanged with the IC chip reader / writer 40 of the automatic ticket gate 42 by exchanging data. It is possible to make the chip 30 function as an electronic ticket.
[0014]
The IC chip 30 mainly includes a CPU, a memory, and the like, and a history information database 32 is stored in the memory. The history information database 32 stores communication history information with the IC chip reader / writer 40. The communication history information is, for example, the name of the station where the automatic ticket gate 42 is installed, which is wirelessly transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 of the automatic ticket gate 42 on the exit side, and includes identification information described later. I have. The history information database 32 stores a plurality of pieces of communication history information. Each time data is written from the IC chip reader / writer 40 of the automatic ticket gate 42, the communication history information stores the latest information and the oldest information. Information is deleted.
[0015]
The mobile phone 10 includes an information transmitting / receiving device, a CPU, a detection circuit 12, a storage unit 14, a display 16, an input button, and the like, in addition to the IC chip 30.
[0016]
The detection circuit 12 is a current detection circuit having a bridge circuit as shown in FIG. When wireless communication between the IC chip 30 and the IC chip reader / writer 40 is performed, a current (standby current) i of about 1 μA flowing through the IC chip 30 by electromagnetic induction (standby current) is 1 A in the detection circuit 12. A detection terminal 12a for detecting that the current I has changed to about the same level is provided. The detection terminal 12a outputs a logical value "0" (0 V) when the current I flows in the IC chip 30 in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the standby current i flows in the direction of the arrow in the figure in the IC chip 30. Output a logical value "1" (about 5 V).
[0017]
The storage unit 14 stores a detection program 18 and three programs A20, B22, and C24 controlled by the detection program 18. The detection program 18 is a program that is executed by the CPU of the mobile phone 10 and functions as an IC chip use detection unit. The detection program (IC chip use detection means) 18 is a program for reading the latest communication history information from the history information database 32 of the IC chip 30 when the detection terminal 12a of the detection circuit 12 outputs a logical value “0”. It is.
[0018]
The program A20 is, for example, an application that, when given station name data (station name data), displays on the display 16 peripheral map information of a specific station included in the station name data. The program B22 is, for example, an application that turns off the power of the mobile phone 10 when terminal control data is given. Further, the program C24 is, for example, an application that, when given electronic money information, performs addition / subtraction processing based on the electronic money information and displays the processing result on the display 16.
[0019]
For example, when the communication history information read from the history information database 32 of the IC chip 30 by the detection program 18 is station name data, a program A20 which is a map display application based on the identification information included in the station name data. To launch selectively. The identification information is information included in the communication history information and information associated with a specific application. For example, when the identification information is “01”, the communication history information is stored in the program A20. Similarly, if the identification information is "02" or "03", it can be determined that the communication history information is information related to the program B22 and the program C24, respectively.
[0020]
The display 16 displays output results of the program A20 and the program C24, which are application programs.
[0021]
Next, a method of controlling the mobile phone 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 by taking an example in which the above-described mobile phone 10 receives station name data from the automatic ticket gate (IC chip reader / writer) 40 on the exit side. explain.
[0022]
First, when the station name data is transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 to the IC chip 30 (S10), a change in the value of the current flowing through the IC chip 30 is detected by the detection circuit 12 built in the main body of the mobile phone 10 (S10). S12). Next, the station name data transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 is stored in the history information database 32 of the IC chip 30 (S14), and the detection program 18 stored in the storage unit 14 reads the station name data (S14). S16).
[0023]
The detection program 18 that has read out the station name data activates the program A20, which is a map display application, and sends the station name data to the program A20 (S18). The program A20 acquires map information associated with the station name based on the received station name data (S20). As a method of acquiring the map information, for example, there are a method of reading map information stored in advance in the storage unit 14 and a method of downloading map information using the Internet connection function of the mobile phone 10. Then, the program A20 displays the acquired map information on the display 16 (S22).
[0024]
As described above, when the station name data is transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 to the mobile phone 10 due to the action of holding the mobile phone 10 over the IC chip reader / writer 40 built in the automatic ticket gate 42, the automatic A map around the station where the ticket gate 42 is installed is displayed on the display 16 of the mobile phone 10. As described above, the mobile phone 10 can selectively start the various programs 20, 22, and 24 due to the signal transmission from the IC chip reader / writer 40. At that time, since the IC chip 30 itself does not need to transmit a signal, the mobile phone 10 can be manufactured with a simple configuration and at low cost.
[0025]
By storing the latest (for example, three) pieces of communication history information in the history information database 32, the user can also confirm and use the control signals previously received by the IC chip 30.
[0026]
Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile terminal 50 differs from the mobile terminal 10 in that an electronic value database 34 is further stored in the memory of the IC chip 30. Further, the IC chip reader / writer 40 in the present embodiment is built in, for example, the POS register 44 and can exchange electronic money by communicating with the IC chip 30.
[0028]
Hereinafter, a method of controlling the mobile phone 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 5, taking an example in which the mobile phone 50 receives the electronic money information from the IC chip reader / writer 40. The electronic money information is information including the above-described identification information, and the detection program 18 activates the program C24 based on the identification signal. The electronic money information includes electronic value information. The electronic value information is, for example, "-1000 yen" and is information necessary for electronic money addition / subtraction processing.
[0029]
First, when electronic money information is transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 to the IC chip 30 (S30), a change in a current value flowing through the IC chip 30 is detected by the detection circuit 12 built in the main body of the mobile phone 50. (S32). The electronic money information transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 is stored in the history information database 32 of the IC chip 30, and the electronic value information included in the electronic money information is stored in the electronic value database 34 (S34). The electronic money information is read by the detection program 18 stored in the storage unit 14 (S36).
[0030]
Then, the detection program 18 that has read the electronic money information activates the program C24, which is an electronic money viewer (S38). The activated program C24 reads the electronic value information stored in the electronic value database 34 (S40), and displays the read electronic value information on the display 16 (S42).
[0031]
As described above, when electronic money information is transmitted from the IC chip reader / writer 40 to the mobile phone 50 due to, for example, an action of holding the mobile phone 50 over the IC chip reader / writer 40 of the POS cash register 44, the electronic money information is transmitted to the POS cash register. , Electronic money is transferred, and the amount of the transferred electronic money is displayed on the display 16 of the mobile phone 50. As described above, in the mobile phone 50, similarly to the mobile phone 10, the various programs 20, 22, and 24 can be selectively activated due to the transmission of the control signal from the IC chip reader / writer 40. At that time, since the IC chip 30 itself does not need to transmit a signal, the mobile phone 10 can be manufactured with a simple configuration and at low cost.
[0032]
It is needless to say that the cooperation between the mobile phone 50 and the automatic ticket gate 40 according to the second embodiment enables not only the display of the map around the station but also the payment of the fare by electronic money.
[0033]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the portable communication terminal only needs to be able to mount an IC chip, and may be a portable device such as a PDA, a portable personal computer, an AV player, a clock, etc., in addition to a portable telephone. Further, the IC chip 30 may be detachably attached to the portable terminals 10 and 50. Further, the detection program may start up a plurality of programs by associating the identification information included in the communication history information with a plurality of applications.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the portable communication terminal which can implement | achieve the control based on communication with an external device with a simple structure and low cost, and its control method are provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a detection circuit.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control method of the mobile phone of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram of a mobile phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control method of the mobile phone in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 50 mobile phone, 12 detection circuit, 14 storage unit, 18 detection program, 20, 22, 24 program, 30 IC chip, 32 history information database, 40 IC chip reader / writer.

Claims (4)

An IC chip having a history information storage unit in which communication history information with an IC chip reader / writer is stored;
Current detection means for detecting a change in a current value flowing through the IC chip;
IC chip usage detecting means for reading out the latest communication history information stored in the history information storage unit when a change in the value of the current flowing through the IC chip is detected by the current detecting means. Mobile communication terminal. An application storage unit in which one or more applications are stored;
2. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the IC chip use detection unit activates a specific application from the one or more applications based on the communication history information read from the history information storage unit. Information terminal. A method for controlling a portable information terminal including an IC chip having a history information storage unit in which communication history information with an IC chip reader / writer is stored,
Current detecting means for detecting a change in a current value flowing through the IC chip;
Reading out the latest communication history information stored in the history information storage unit when the current detection means detects a change in the value of the current flowing through the IC chip. A method for controlling a mobile communication terminal. The portable information terminal further includes an application storage unit in which one or more applications are stored,
The method further comprises a step in which the IC chip use detection unit starts a specific application from the one or more applications based on the latest communication history information read from the history information storage unit. The method for controlling a portable information terminal according to claim 3.

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