JP2004208217A - Calling unit of portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a calling unit of a portable telephone which is enriched in convenience and for which a user feels pleasure. <P>SOLUTION: The calling unit of the portable telephone having, on a screen, a display means DIS for performing an indication corresponding to an entry and a selection key Ks for selecting any one of contents indicated on the display screen, is characterized in that the calling unit is provided with: a my-member key Km which is operated when calling at least one predetermined party; an icon output means for displaying at least one icon having features of the predetermined called party on the screen of the display means; a communication menu output means for imparting a menu output of a communication method to the display means when desired icon is selected from among the icons displayed on the display means by operating the selection key; and a communication means for starting transmission by means of a selected communication method when the desired communication method is selected from among the menu displayed on the communication menu output means by operating the selection key. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a calling device for a mobile phone, and more particularly to a device for easily calling a specific partner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In addition to the method of calling by a mobile phone by operating a numeric keypad of a keyboard, there is a case where data stored in advance is read by operating a keyboard and a calling operation is performed based on the data. In order to call a specific person who frequently talks, a shortcut method is employed, which includes a method using hardware and a method using software.
[0003]
In the case of hardware, a call partner is registered in advance for each key, and when the key is pressed, the call partner can be called. In the case of software, as shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3, a partner is called by using a pre-registered icon instead of a key in the case of hardware.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-184041 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-127872 A [Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-271477 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Of the shortcuts described above, hardware-based services are actually provided, but have the following problems (1) to (4).
(1) It is not possible to visually recognize who registered which key, and it must be remembered.
(2) E-mail cannot be sent only by telephone call.
(3) Although the number of key operations can be reduced, it is not fun to use.
(4) The operation method is different for each company, so if you change the model, you will have to remember the operation again.
[0006]
On the other hand, those using software have the following problems (1) to (3).
(1) The design of the icon is mineral, and there is no fun in using it.
(2) The operation method is different for each manufacturer, and it is necessary to remember the operation when changing the model.
(3) Only one partner or function can be registered per icon.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a portable telephone calling apparatus that is highly convenient and enjoyable for a user to use.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
When calling at least one predetermined call partner in a mobile phone having a display means for performing display according to an input on a screen and a selection key for selecting any of the contents displayed on the display screen A my member key, an icon output means for displaying at least one icon having each characteristic of the predetermined call partner on the screen of the display means when the my member key is operated, and When a desired one of the icons displayed on the display means is selected by an operation, a communication menu output means for providing a menu output of a communication method to the display means, and a communication menu output means by operating the selection key. When a desired communication method is selected from the displayed menu, a communication means for starting transmission by the selected communication method is provided. Call device of the portable telephone, characterized in that the,
Is provided.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a state of using the mobile phone according to the present invention. This mobile phone is provided with a keyboard KB on the main body side, one of which is a selection key Ks pressed when performing a selection operation, and the other one being a member who operates when calling a specific party. The key Km.
[0010]
The keyboard KB is also provided with an outgoing button Ke that is operated when starting voice communication, an e-mail button Kt that is operated when transmitting an e-mail, and the like. Of these buttons, the e-mail button transmits an e-mail when the button is shortly pressed, and transmits a sky message (a simple message containing pictograms) when the button is pressed long.
[0011]
On the other hand, a display DIS and an antenna ANT are provided on a cover that is normally folded so as to overlap the main body and is deployed in the illustrated state when used. In addition to having all the general functions of a mobile phone, it also has a function of registering image data as an icon, a function of using the icon, a menu of a communication method, and a function of using the menu.
[0012]
The key operation of the keyboard KB in the mobile phone is often performed while looking at the display contents of the display DIS, and the operation of the My Member key Km displays an icon group of a call partner registered in advance as a My Member in the display DIS. The operation of the selection key Ks is performed to select one icon from the group of icons stored in the folder displayed on the display DIS.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a pre-registration operation of My Member for performing a calling operation in the present invention.
[0014]
To call a My Member, press the My Member Key Km. Thus, the display setting menu is displayed on the display DIS (step S01). This menu includes “1. Display setting 2. Change display position 3. Change display group name 4. Cancel display setting”, and select one of them by operating the cursor or numeric keys.
[0015]
In this case, "1. Display setting" is selected. By selection, two filling-up displays of “setter []” and “icon []” are displayed (step S02). If “setter []” is selected from these two displays by cursor operation or the like (step S03), the process proceeds to step S05, and the address book is displayed.
[0016]
When a member is selected from the displayed address book (step S06), the process proceeds to step S07. If the icon corresponding to the selected setter has been selected, the setting operation ends.
[0017]
On the other hand, if an icon has not been selected, the process returns to step S03. If an “icon” is selected with a cursor or the like, the process proceeds to step S08 via step S04, and a list of selectable icons is displayed.
[0018]
When one of them is selected by operating the cursor or the like (step S09), the process proceeds to step S10, where it is confirmed that "setter" has been selected (step S10), and the setting operation ends.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram graphically displaying an operation content for calling a specific party using the mobile phone shown in FIG.
[0019]
To call a specific caller, the user first presses the My Member key Km by operation [1] to switch to the call mode of the specific caller. Thereby, on the display DIS of the mobile phone, character icons of several specific persons (eight in the illustrated example) are displayed in the upper and lower two rows at the center of the screen. In FIG. 3, the circles are simply indicated by circles. However, in reality, each one is different, and an animal character icon or an animation character icon is displayed (operation [2]).
[0020]
In the figure, it is assumed that the character icon in the second row from the upper left is selected, and this character icon indicates Mr. [Katsuo Maruyama]. In order to select Mr. Katsuo Maruyama, an operation of selecting an icon is performed by pressing the selection key Ks.
[0021]
When the icon is selected, the operation shifts to operation [3], and one of "(1) make a call, (2) send an e-mail, (3) send a sky message" can be selected.
[0022]
Here, "(1) Make a call" is selected by operating the selection key Ks. As a result, the operation shifts to operation [4], and a call is made possible. If "(2) Send E-mail" or "(3) Send Sky Message (SMS)" is selected in operation [3], the mail or message is sent and then sent.
[0023]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation content described with reference to FIG. The operation will be described again with reference to this flowchart.
[0024]
First, when an operation including turning on the power of the mobile phone is performed and the My Member key Km is pressed, the process proceeds from Step S21 to Step S22, and as shown in the operation [2] of FIG. 3, the user is a My Member. Each character icon of a specific person is displayed on the display DIS of the mobile phone. The character icon is downloaded or taken by a camera and registered in advance.
[0025]
One of the displayed character icons is selected by operating the selection key Ks (step S23). When selected, the process moves to step S25 via step S24, and displays three types of communication method menus as shown in operation [3] of FIG.
[0026]
When one communication method is selected from the displayed menu (step S26), the process proceeds to step S27, and the determination is performed. If the call is a telephone call, the process proceeds to step S28 to make a telephone call. If a mail is selected, the process proceeds to step S29 to create a mail, and when completed (step S30), the process proceeds to step S33 and is transmitted. Further, if a sky message is selected, the process proceeds to step S31 to create a sky message. When the sky message is completed (step S32), the process further proceeds to step S33 and is transmitted.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation contents that are simpler than the operation contents shown in FIG. In this case, the communication method is selected by a so-called one-touch operation of a hard button provided on the mobile phone. The hard buttons are, in the example of FIG. 1, a call button Ke (for voice communication) and a mail button Kt (e-mail transmission when short-pressed, Sky message transmission when long-pressed).
[0028]
In the flowchart of FIG. 5, steps S24 to S26 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 are omitted. In this omitted part, the selection operation from the menu in FIG. 4 is replaced with the pressing operation of the dedicated key in FIG. 5, and it is determined which dedicated key is pressed (either Ke or Kt is pressed). An operation corresponding to menu selection is not required at each stage.
[0029]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration for executing the operation contents of the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0030]
That is, when the My member key Km is pressed, an output command is given to the icon output means ICON, and an output signal for displaying each icon of My member is output to the display DIS.
[0031]
When one of, for example, eight icons displayed on the display DIS is selected by operating the selection key Ko, a menu output command is given from the display DIS to the communication menu output means MENU. In response to this, a menu output signal is given from the communication menu output means MENU to the display DIS, and a menu of, for example, three types of communication methods is displayed on the display DIS.
[0032]
When one communication method is selected from the displayed menu by operating the selection key Ko, a communication signal is supplied from the communication means COM to the antenna ANT to perform communication.
[0033]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the pre-registration operation of My Member for performing the calling operation in the present invention. This flowchart is basically based on the operation content shown in FIG. 2, and is newly added with steps S11 to S14 in FIG.
[0034]
In this modified example, the operation content when a captured image is used as an icon is shown. For this purpose, when an icon is selected in step 04, selection of a pictogram or an image is further performed in step S11 and subsequent steps. In the case of a pictogram, the process proceeds to step S08 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. The following operations will be performed.
[0035]
Now, an icon is selected in step S04, and the process proceeds to step S11, where "pictographs" and "images" are displayed as menus on the display DIS.
[0036]
When "image" is selected from these, the process moves to step S14, and a list of images stored in the data folder is displayed. When one of the images displayed in the list is selected (step S15), the process proceeds to step S16, where the icon size is converted to the icon size predetermined for the My member. This conversion may be performed before or after photographing. Before shooting, the image may be shot using a predetermined frame, and after shooting, the icon size may be cut out to the icon size for my members.
[0037]
Next, the process proceeds to step S10, and if the setter has been set, the setter is associated with the icon. If the setter has not been set, the process returns to step S03 to set the setter.
[0038]
8A and 8B show a method of displaying image data stored in a data folder. FIG. 8A shows a display example of a captured image, and FIG. 8B shows a downloaded image. 9 shows a display example of an image.
[0039]
One of these list displays (FIG. 7, step S14) is selected (FIG. 7, step S15).
[0040]
FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 are flowcharts showing the operation of capturing image data stored in the image folder. As image data, in addition to those set in advance in the mobile phone, images to be taken from outside are taken as images taken by a camera provided in the mobile phone, downloaded images downloaded via the Internet or the like, and transmitted as mail attachments. There is an image.
[0041]
FIG. 9 shows the contents of operation when using a captured image, FIG. 10 shows the contents of operation when downloading via the Internet, and FIG. 11 shows the contents of operation when opening a file attached to a mail.
[0042]
First, in FIG. 9, a photographing operation is started by pressing a photographing button which is a dedicated button provided on the mobile phone, and photographing is performed (step S51). Next, a save / delete selection operation displayed on the display is performed (step S52). According to the determination in step S53, if "save", the process proceeds to step S54 to save the data. If "delete", the process proceeds to step S54. Returning to S51, the photographing is performed again.
In FIG. 10, when the Internet connection button is operated, a list of sites is displayed on the display (step S61). One of the displayed sites is selected by operating the cursor (step S62). When a site is selected, the process proceeds to step S63, where data is stored.
[0043]
Then, in FIG. 11, when the mail communication button is operated, a list of received mails is displayed on the display (step S71). The user selects one of the received mails with the attached file by operating the cursor and opens the attached file (step S72). When the attached file is opened, the process shifts to step S73 to save the data.
[0044]
The image data acquired as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is stored in the icon folder. When registering the icons shown in FIG. 2, the stored icons are registered in association with the setter.
[0045]
(Modification)
In the above embodiment, two examples of the communication method combined with the telephone, e-mail and sky message, have been described. However, other communication methods, such as data transmission, may be used, and the number of communication methods may be increased or decreased. .
[0046]
The selection key, my member key, call button, mail button, and the like in the above embodiment are called so-called soft keys, and the functions of the hard keys are switched by software so that one hard key is provided with a plurality of functions. You can also.
[0047]
Further, the portable telephones in the above-mentioned embodiments include portable information devices called PDAs and personal computers having a telephone function such as personal computers. The present invention can be applied to these portable telephones and used similarly.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention displays an icon having the characteristics of a predetermined call partner on the display of the mobile phone, and performs a call operation by selecting a desired one of the icons, which is convenient and convenient. A call can be made by an operation in which the user feels fun. In addition, since the icons are displayed as images, the icons can be selected intuitively, making the mobile phone easy for the elderly to use.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an external configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation for registering a My Member using the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram graphically displaying an operation content for calling a specific party using the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation contents described with reference to FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation content by a dedicated key operation instead of the flowchart of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a modified example of a pre-registration operation of My Member for performing a calling operation in the present invention.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing a method of displaying image data stored in a data folder.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of capturing image data, showing a case of a captured image.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of capturing image data, and is a diagram illustrating a case of a download image.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of capturing image data, showing a case of a mail attached file.
[Explanation of symbols]
KB Keyboard DIS Display Ks Select key Km My Member key ANT Antenna ICON Icon output unit MENU Communication menu output unit COM Communication unit S01 to S33 Operation flow steps

Claims (3)

In a mobile phone provided with a display means for performing a display according to an input on a screen and a selection key for selecting any of the contents displayed on the display screen,
My member key operated when calling at least one predetermined call partner,
When the My Member key is operated, an icon output unit that displays at least one icon having each feature of the predetermined call partner on the screen of the display unit,
Communication menu output means for providing a menu output of a communication method to the display means when a desired one of the icons displayed on the display means is selected by operating the selection key;
A communication means for starting transmission by the selected communication method when a desired communication method is selected from a menu displayed on the communication menu output means by operating the selection key; Phone ringer. In the calling device of the mobile phone according to claim 1,
The icon is a mobile phone calling device having a character design. In the calling device of the mobile phone according to claim 1,
A calling device for a mobile phone, wherein the display means has a function of forming an icon using input image data.

Images