JP2004080584A - Personal digital assistance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a personal digital assistance capable of avoiding the problem that a battery runs out when needed and communication becomes impossible. <P>SOLUTION: The personal digital assistance which periodically communicates with a base station and registers a present position is provided with a decision means for deciding that it is moving / not moving and a control means for stopping the communication with the base station or extending a communication interval when it is decided that it is not moving by the decision means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal such as a cellular phone that periodically communicates with a base station and registers a current position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, portable information terminals such as mobile phones and PHS have been widely used, and these portable information terminals often have various functions. In particular, recently, there is a mobile phone with a camera, and it is also possible to send and receive a photographed video or video attached to an e-mail. In addition, there are devices that can be connected to the Internet to browse homepages, play games, and have a videophone function.
[0003]
However, when such a function is added, there is a problem that a battery as a power source is significantly consumed. That is, since a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone is usually carried around (carried), a battery charged by a charger is built in, and is operated with the power of the battery. Therefore, when the above function is used frequently, the battery may have run out without knowing, and there may be a problem that communication is not possible when necessary.
[0004]
In general, since a mobile phone needs to register its current position in the nearest base station, it regularly communicates with that base station. In other words, the mobile phone communicates the current position to a communicable base station and registers it on the base station side, so that the base station Can call the mobile phone. Therefore, when the radio wave of the communicable base station becomes weak, the mobile phone transmits the radio wave to search for the next base station. Then, registration is performed for the responding base station.
[0005]
However, depending on the type of mobile phone, if the received radio wave from the base station is weak or out of service area by placing it on the floor or in a drawer, try to catch the received radio wave by raising the output on the mobile phone side There are some that will drain the battery extremely. Therefore, even in the case of such a mobile phone, there is a problem that the battery runs out without knowing and communication is not possible when necessary.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to obtain a portable information terminal that can avoid a problem that communication becomes impossible when a battery runs out when necessary.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the portable information terminal according to claim 1 according to the present invention periodically communicates with the base station and determines whether the portable information terminal that registers the current position is moving or not moving. And a control unit that stops communication with the base station or extends a communication interval when the determination unit determines that the mobile station is not moving.
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the invention, when not moving, communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. When the mobile station is not moving, the base station whose current position has been registered does not change in a short time, so no problem occurs even if the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. Accordingly, since consumption of the battery (power consumption) is suppressed by this, it is possible to avoid a problem that communication is not possible because the battery runs out when necessary.
[0009]
Moreover, the portable information terminal according to claim 2 has a vibrator function that notifies an incoming call by vibration of a weight attached to a motor, periodically communicates with a base station, and registers a current position in the portable information terminal. When the electromotive force generated by the swing of the weight is detected, it is determined that the mobile station is moving. When the electromotive force is not detected, it is determined that the mobile station is not moving. And a control means for stopping the communication or extending the communication interval.
[0010]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is determined by the vibrator function whether it is moving or not moving, and when it is not moving, the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. When the mobile station is not moving, the base station whose current position has been registered does not change in a short time, so no problem occurs even if the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. Accordingly, since consumption of the battery (power consumption) is suppressed by this, it is possible to avoid a problem that communication is not possible because the battery runs out when necessary.
[0011]
Further, the portable information terminal according to claim 3 has a GPS function capable of recognizing the current position, communicates with the base station periodically, and registers the current position. When it is determined, the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended.
[0012]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is determined by the GPS function whether the vehicle is moving or not moving. When the vehicle is not moving, communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. When the mobile station is not moving, the base station whose current position has been registered does not change in a short time, so no problem occurs even if the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. Accordingly, since consumption of the battery (power consumption) is suppressed by this, it is possible to avoid a problem that communication is not possible because the battery runs out when necessary.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail based on examples shown in the drawings. First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a cellular phone as a portable information terminal. The cellular phone 10 includes a power supply unit 20, and a ROM 14, a RAM 16, a power supply control unit 18, a vibrator 22, an electromotive force detection unit 24, a wireless control unit 26, a wireless transmission / reception unit 28, an external interface unit 30, and an operation unit 32. Various controls in the display unit 34 and the like are performed.
[0014]
The power supply unit 20 is for supplying power to the entire mobile phone 10, and normally, the mobile phone 10 has a built-in battery (not shown) as the power supply unit 20 charged by a charger (not shown). . The remaining capacity of the battery is calculated by the power control unit 18.
[0015]
The vibrator 22 has a function of notifying an incoming call or the like when the mobile phone 10 itself vibrates. The vibrator 22 has a predetermined weight (not shown) on the rotating shaft of an electromagnetic motor (not shown) built in the mobile phone 10. The mobile phone 10 itself is configured to vibrate by utilizing the fact that the weight swings when the center of gravity is shifted and the rotation shaft is driven to rotate. An electromotive force detection unit 24 is connected to the vibrator 22.
[0016]
That is, when the weight is swung while the rotating shaft of the electromagnetic motor is in a non-rotating drive state, an electromotive force is generated although it is weak due to electromagnetic induction. This electromotive force is detected by the electromotive force detection unit 24. Since the weight swings while moving, the electromotive force can be detected. When the weight is not moving, the weight is stationary. The electric power is not detected (even if the electromotive force is detected very slightly while still, the electromotive force in that case is less than or equal to a predetermined value and can be determined as noise). Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the user carrying the mobile phone 10 is moving or not moving.
[0017]
That is, when the electromotive force is detected by the electromotive force detection unit 24 at a predetermined value or more, it is determined that the mobile is moving, and communication with the base station that registers the current position is performed in a normal state. If no more is detected, it is determined that the mobile station is not moving (stationary), and communication with the base station is stopped, or the communication interval is extended by a predetermined time from the normal state. For example, when the communication is normally performed once every 5 minutes, the communication is extended once every 30 minutes or once every hour. During non-moving (stationary), the base station that registers the current position is not changed in a short time, so there is no need to communicate as much as in the normal state. Thereby, battery consumption (power consumption) can be suppressed.
[0018]
Next, a description will be given based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S1, it is determined whether a certain time has elapsed. This time is a time for roughly determining whether the vehicle is currently moving or not moving, and may be set appropriately. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it waits until the predetermined time elapses. . If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined in step S2 whether the vibrator 22 is in use. When the vibrator 22 is in use, that is, when there is an incoming call, it is determined again whether the vibrator 22 is in use after a predetermined time has elapsed.
[0019]
If it is determined that the vibrator 22 is not in use, the electromotive force detection unit 24 measures the electromotive force. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the measured electromotive force is larger than a predetermined level as a predetermined value (a level allowed as noise). If it is determined that the measured electromotive force is greater than the predetermined level, it can be determined that the vehicle is moving, and the position registration mode (communication interval with the base station) is “normal”. On the other hand, if it is determined that the measured electromotive force is not greater than the predetermined level, it can be determined that the measured electromotive force is not moving (stationary), so the position registration mode (communication interval with the base station) is “stationary”.
[0020]
Thus, when it is determined whether it is moving or not moving (still), the communication interval with the base station is then changed. The process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S4, it is determined whether or not the position registration mode is “normal”, that is, whether or not the user is moving. At this time, if it is already determined whether it is “normal” or “still”, step 4 may be omitted. In any case, if it is determined to be “normal”, since it is moving, the communication interval (position registration interval) is also “normal”, and communication is performed every relatively short L time (for example, every 5 minutes). .
[0021]
On the other hand, if it is determined that it is not “normal” (“still”), it is not moving (still), so the communication interval (position registration interval) is “still” and a relatively long M time. Communication (every hour, for example). Note that, instead of extending the communication interval with the base station for a predetermined time from the normal state, the communication may be stopped. When moving, an electromotive force is naturally generated. Therefore, the electromotive force detection unit 24 detects the electromotive force, and the position registration mode is automatically changed from “stationary” to “normal”.
[0022]
In any case, with such a configuration, when not moving (stationary), communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended, so battery consumption (power consumption) is suppressed as much as possible. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a problem in which communication becomes impossible when the battery runs out when necessary. Moreover, in the first embodiment, it is determined whether the vehicle is moving or not moving (stationary) by connecting the electromotive force detection unit 24 to the existing vibrator 22 that has been conventionally equipped. Since it was made possible, there is an advantage that it can be easily configured.
[0023]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, whether the vehicle is moving or not moving (stationary) is determined by using the GPS function. As shown in FIG. 36 is provided. Otherwise, the same components as those shown in FIG. Note that when the current position is confirmed by the GPS function, the power consumed thereby is less than the power consumed by communication with the base station.
[0024]
In the case of the mobile phone 10 shown in FIG. 4, it is determined whether the mobile phone 10 is moving or non-moving (stationary) by the GPS function, so that it can be determined more reliably and easily. . If the GPS function determines that the mobile station is moving, the communication interval with the base station is set to a normal short L time (for example, every 5 minutes). If it is determined that the mobile station is not moving, communication with the base station is performed. Since the communication can be stopped or the communication interval can be set to M (M> L) time longer than usual (for example, every hour), battery consumption (power consumption) can be suppressed. Therefore, the problem that the battery runs out and communication cannot be performed can be avoided when necessary.
[0025]
Note that the present invention only determines whether the mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone is moving or not moving, and when not moving, stops communication with the base station, or The communication interval is extended more than usual to suppress battery consumption (power consumption). Therefore, any means may be adopted as means for determining whether the user is moving or not moving. For example, it may be configured to determine whether it is moving or not moving with an electronic compass or a gyro.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the mobile station is not moving (stationary), the communication with the base station is stopped or the communication interval is extended. Can do. Therefore, when necessary, it is possible to avoid the problem that the battery runs out and communication is impossible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a mobile phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
10 cellular phone 22 vibrator 24 electromotive force detection unit 36 GPS control unit

Claims (3)

In mobile information terminals that regularly communicate with base stations and register their current location,
A determination means for determining whether the vehicle is moving or not moving;
Control means for stopping communication with the base station or extending a communication interval when it is determined by the determination means that the mobile station is not moving;
A portable information terminal comprising: In the portable information terminal that has a vibrator function to notify the incoming call by the vibration of the weight attached to the motor, periodically communicates with the base station, and registers the current position,
A judging means for judging that the electromotive force generated by the swinging of the weight is moving, and for judging that it is not moving when not detecting;
Control means for stopping communication with the base station or extending a communication interval when it is determined by the determination means that the mobile station is not moving;
A portable information terminal comprising: With a GPS function that can recognize the current position, communicate with the base station periodically, and register the current position,
A portable information terminal configured to stop communication with the base station or extend a communication interval when it is determined that the mobile station is not moving by the GPS function.

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