JP2005020541A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile terminal in which a user easily notice receiving of a new mail even if the cabinet or the cover is closed, and the user can close the cabinet or the cover during mail reception. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile terminal is provided with a 1st cabinet with a operation part 3 which is operated by the user, a display part 4 which displays an operation result of the user, and a 2nd cabinet connected with the 1st cabinet through a connection member. When a mail list is received from a server, or when mail reception has finished, a detection part 9 detects status of the 1st cabinet and the 2nd cabinet. When the detection part 9 detects that the 1st cabinet and the 2nd cabinet are in the closed state, a control part 10 outputs notification directions for the user to the display part 4, a speaker 6, or a vibrator 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable terminal or an operation unit including a first housing having an operation unit and a second housing having a display unit and connected to the first housing via a connection unit. A portable terminal including a casing having a display unit and a cover coupled to the casing and capable of covering a part of the casing, and selected by a user from mails on a server The present invention relates to a portable terminal that performs a selective mail receiving operation for receiving received mail.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A first casing and a second casing connected to the first casing via a coupling portion are provided, and the first casing and the second casing are folded so as to overlap each other. There are portable terminals that can be used (hereinafter referred to as foldable portable terminals). Usually, one of the first and second casings has an operation unit operated by a user, and the other casing is a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel provided on a surface facing the operation unit. And a display lamp such as an LED provided on the other surface.
[0003]
4A and 4B are external views showing the configuration of such a portable terminal. FIG. 4A is a front view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 4C is a rear view. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a transmission / reception antenna. Reference numeral 5 denotes a microphone to which the user's voice is input. Reference numeral 6 denotes a speaker, which generates a musical sound for notifying the user when an incoming call is received. Reference numeral 7 denotes a vibrator motor that generates vibration. Reference numeral 9 denotes a detection unit that detects opening and closing of the housing. Reference numeral 21 denotes a receiving speaker, which generates the voice of the other party. Reference numeral 22 denotes a liquid crystal panel that displays characters, figures, and the like. A function button 23 has functions such as an input mode switching function, a redial function, and a character clear function during character input. Reference numeral 24 denotes a four-way button which is pressed when the user selects certain information from a plurality of information displayed on the liquid crystal panel 22. A call button 25 is pressed when the user detects an incoming call and starts a call. A power button 26 is pressed when the user switches on / off the portable terminal. Reference numeral 27 denotes a dial button which is pressed when the user inputs characters or numbers. A display lamp 28 notifies the user of various states of the portable terminal. This display lamp includes a plurality of display lamps for incoming calls, incoming mails, and charging. In addition, there is a portable terminal in which a liquid crystal panel is also provided on the back surface of a housing provided with the display lamp 28.
[0004]
In the portable terminal described above, the casing provided with the liquid crystal panel 22 is folded in close contact with the casing provided with the dial button 27 and the opened state shown by the dotted line as shown in FIG. And a closed state. The user can open and operate the case when making a call or receiving mail, and can fold the case and put it in a pocket of clothes when the portable terminal is not used.
[0005]
There is also a portable terminal that opens and closes when one casing rotates with respect to the other about a rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the casing through a connecting portion that connects the two casings. Furthermore, there is a portable terminal that includes a housing provided with both an operation unit and a display unit, and a cover that covers the operation unit, and the user can open and close the cover.
[0006]
Among the mobile terminals as described above, there is a mobile terminal having a selection mail receiving function for accessing a server by a user operation and receiving a mail selected by the user from mails on the server. The user can set the mobile terminal to receive all mails received by the server automatically and collect mail received by the mobile terminal or can receive selected mail. The mail receiving operation when the setting of the mail receiving operation of the mobile terminal is set to the selected mail receiving is as follows. First, if a portable terminal that has received a mail list transmitted from a server that has received a new mail displays the message that a new mail list has arrived from the server on the display unit if the housing or cover is open. . When the user confirms this, the portable terminal accesses the server, and when a user selects a mail to be received from the mails on the server, the mobile terminal starts receiving those mails.
[0007]
In Patent Document 1, there is an unread mail in the received e-mail in the above-described foldable portable terminal, a portable terminal including a casing provided with an operation unit and a display unit and a cover covering the operation unit. In this case, the contents of unread mail and the name list are displayed as soon as the lid member is opened without performing any special key operation.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-366485
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the mobile terminal as described above receives a mail list transmitted from a server that has received a new mail, if the housing or cover is in a closed state, the mobile terminal determines that the user does not perform an operation, The user was not notified that the mail list was received. Therefore, the user is not aware of the presence of new mail when the housing or cover is closed.
In addition, the mobile terminal that has started the mail receiving operation stops the mail receiving operation when the casing or the cover is closed by the user during the mail receiving operation. Accordingly, when the user selects and receives mail on the server, the user cannot close the casing or cover until the mail receiving operation of the mobile terminal is completed, and cannot take caution from the mobile terminal.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a mobile terminal that allows a user to notice the presence of a new mail even when a housing or a cover is closed. The first purpose. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal that allows a user to close a casing or a cover while receiving a mail.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 displays a first housing having an operation unit operated by a user and an operation result by the user. An openable / closable second housing connected to the first housing via a connecting portion, and receiving a mail selected by the user from mails on a server In the mobile terminal, receiving means for receiving a mail list transmitted from the server, detecting means for detecting open / closed states of the first casing and the second casing, and the first means by the detecting means A notification means for notifying the user of reception of the mail list when the mail list is received by the receiving means when it is detected that the case and the second case are in a closed state; To do It is a mobile terminal which is butterflies.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a casing having an operation section operated by a user and a display section for displaying an operation result by the user, and is connected to the casing and covers a part of the casing. A portable terminal for receiving a mail selected by a user from among mails on the server, receiving means for receiving a mail list transmitted from the server, and opening and closing the cover A detection means for detecting a state, and a notification for notifying the user of reception of the mail list when the receiving means receives the mail list when the detection means detects that the cover is closed. A portable terminal.
[0013]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal according to the first or second aspect, the control means for continuing the mail reception when the detection means detects the closed state during the mail reception. Furthermore, it is characterized by comprising.
[0014]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal according to any one of the first to third aspects, the notification means further includes a point in time when the reception of the mail selected by the user is completed. The end of mail reception is notified to the user.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the notification means specifies the reception of the mail list or the end of mail reception on the display unit. It is characterized by comprising first display means for displaying the characters or patterns.
[0016]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the notification means turns on a display lamp that indicates reception of the mail list or completion of mail reception. Alternatively, second display means for blinking is provided.
[0017]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the portable terminal according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the notification means generates a musical sound that indicates reception of the mail list or completion of mail reception. A generating means is provided.
[0018]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the mobile terminal according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the notification means generates a vibration indicating the reception of the mail list or the end of mail reception. A generating means is provided.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a foldable portable terminal that includes two housings and can be opened and closed by a user will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a transmission / reception antenna. A communication unit 2 processes transmission / reception data. 3 is an operation unit operated by a user, such as a numeric keypad used for character input, function keys having functions such as power on / off switching, call start / end instruction, input mode switching at the time of character input, etc. It comprises. Reference numeral 4 denotes a display unit, which includes two liquid crystal panels provided on the front and rear surfaces of the housing and a display lamp provided on the rear surface of the housing. Reference numeral 5 denotes a microphone to which the user's voice is input. Reference numeral 6 denotes a speaker, which generates a musical sound based on a musical sound signal output from the control unit 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a vibrator, which generates vibrations by driving a built-in vibrator motor.
[0020]
8 is a memory unit, notification setting information indicating whether the mobile terminal notifies the user of the timing of the mail selection operation after receiving the mail list, and whether to notify the user of the end of mail reception; The notification unit information indicating which of the display unit 4, the speaker 6, and the vibrator 7 is used for notification when notification is performed, and the musical tone data related to the musical tone generated by the speaker 6 are stored. The user can set in advance settings related to notifications and musical sounds generated by the speaker 6. Reference numeral 9 denotes a detection unit that detects whether the housing is in an open state or a closed state. A control unit 10 controls each unit. Reference numeral 11 denotes a power supply unit that supplies driving power to the above-described units.
[0021]
Next, the operation of the mobile terminal configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. FIG. 2 shows the operation from the start of the mobile terminal to the start of mail reception. FIG. 3 shows the operation from the start of the mobile terminal reception of the mail until the end of the mail reception and the communication disconnection process. Shows the operation.
[0022]
After the operation starts, the communication unit 2 receives the mail list transmitted from the server via the antenna 1 and outputs it to the control unit 10 (step S10). The control unit 10 reads the notification setting information from the memory unit 8 and determines whether notification to the user is necessary (step S20). If notification to the user is not required, the mobile terminal does not notify the user. On the other hand, if notification to the user is necessary, the control unit 10 instructs the detection unit 9 to detect the state of the housing, and the detection unit 9 that has received the instruction detects the state of the housing and sends the detection result to the control unit. 10 is output. Based on the detection result, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the housing is in a closed state (step S30).
[0023]
When the housing is in the closed state, the control unit 10 reads the notification unit information from the memory unit 8 and refers to the setting of the notification unit. When the notification means is set on the display unit 4, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 that has received the notification has received the mail list on the liquid crystal panel on the back of the casing. Message is displayed, or the indicator lamp is turned on or blinked. When the notification means is set to the speaker 6, the control unit 10 reads out the musical sound data from the memory unit 8, converts it into a musical sound signal, and outputs it to the speaker 6. The speaker 6 generates a musical sound based on this musical sound signal. When the notification means is set to the vibrator 7, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the vibrator 7, and the vibrator 7 receiving the instruction generates vibration (step S40). As described above, the user is notified that the mobile terminal has received the mail list.
[0024]
Subsequently, the casing is opened by the user who senses this notification. At this time, the detection unit 9 detects that the housing has been opened, and outputs a detection result to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is notified by the detection result that the housing has been opened (step S50). On the other hand, when the housing is in the open state in step S30, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the user to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 that has received this instruction displays a mail list on the liquid crystal panel on the front surface of the housing. Is displayed (step S41).
[0025]
Subsequently, the control unit 10 outputs a message of a selection operation instruction to the user to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 that has received the message prompts the user to select a mail on the display panel on the front surface of the housing. Is output. When the operation unit 3 is operated by a user who has confirmed this message, the operation unit 3 notifies the control unit 10 that an operation by the user has been detected. Receiving the notification, the control unit 10 outputs the received mail list information to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 receiving the notification displays a list of receivable mails on the liquid crystal panel on the front surface of the housing. The user can select one or a plurality of mails from the displayed receivable mails. When the mail received by the user is selected by operating the operation unit 3, the operation unit 3 outputs the result of the mail selection by the user to the control unit 10 (step S60).
[0026]
Upon receiving this result, the control unit 10 instructs the communication unit 2 to connect a line to the server, and the communication unit 2 performs call processing, thereby establishing a line for connecting the portable terminal and the server and starting communication. Is done. The control unit 10 outputs the result of the mail selection by the user to the wireless unit 2, and the wireless unit 2 that receives the result transmits the result to the server via the antenna 1. Then, the mail selected by the user is transmitted from the server, and the communication unit 2 receives this mail via the antenna 1 (step S70). At this time, the control unit 10 stores in the memory unit 8 as information related to the communication state of the mobile terminal that the mobile terminal is receiving mail. When the case is closed by the user during the mail reception, the detection unit 9 notifies the control unit 10 that the case has been closed. The control unit 10 reads out and refers to information related to the communication state (call / mail reception) of the mobile terminal stored in the memory unit 8, and continues to receive mail when mail reception is currently being performed.
[0027]
Next, the operation from when the mail reception operation is performed until the mail reception is terminated and the communication disconnection process is performed will be described with reference to FIG. When mail reception ends, the communication unit 2 notifies the control unit 10 of the end of mail reception (step S80). The control unit 10 notified of the end of mail reception outputs an instruction to detect the state of the housing to the detection unit 9, and the detection unit 9 that has received this instruction detects the state of the housing, and the detection result is sent to the control unit 10. Output to. Based on the detection result, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the housing is in a closed state (step S90). When the casing is in the closed state, the control unit 10 reads the notification setting information from the memory unit 8 and determines whether notification is necessary for the user (step S100).
[0028]
When notification to the user is necessary, the control unit 10 reads the notification unit information from the memory unit 8 and refers to the setting of the notification unit. When the notification means is set on the display unit 4, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 that has received the notification has notified the liquid crystal panel on the back of the housing that mail reception has been completed. Message is displayed, or the indicator lamp is turned on or blinked. When the notification means is set to the speaker 6, the control unit 10 reads out the musical sound data from the memory unit 8, converts it into a musical sound signal, and outputs it to the speaker 6. The speaker 6 generates a musical sound based on this musical sound signal. When the notification means is set to the vibrator 7, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the vibrator 7, and the vibrator 7 receiving this instruction generates vibration (step S110). As a result, the user is notified that mail reception has been completed. Subsequently, the casing is opened by the user who senses this notification. At this time, the detection unit 9 detects that the housing has been opened, and outputs a detection result to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 is notified by the detection result that the housing has been opened (step S120).
[0029]
On the other hand, if the housing is in the open state in step S90, the control unit 10 reads the notification setting information from the memory unit 8 and determines whether notification is required for the user (step S101). If notification to the user is not required, the mobile terminal does not notify the user. On the other hand, if notification to the user is necessary, the control unit 10 outputs a notification instruction to the display unit 4, and the display unit 4 that has received the instruction displays a message that the mail list has been received on the liquid crystal panel on the front surface of the housing. To do. (Step S111)
[0030]
When the mail reception is completed, the control unit 10 compares the mail list received from the server with the mail list selected by the user from the list, and determines whether or not all mails on the server have been received (step S10). S130). As a result of the determination, if it is determined that all mails have been received, the control unit 10 outputs a communication disconnection command to the communication unit 2, and the communication unit 2 that has received the command transmits a control signal to the base station. Cutting. At this time, in response to a command from the control unit 10, the display unit 4 displays a message indicating that the mail reception is completed on the liquid crystal panel on the front surface of the housing (step S140). On the other hand, if it is determined in step S130 that mail remains on the server, the process returns to step S10 to receive the mail list from the server again.
[0031]
If the user presses a specific key for disconnecting the line provided on the operation unit 3 during the above-described operation, the line is disconnected even when the mail is being received, and the mail reception is stopped. As a result, even if the user needs to make a call with a specific party while receiving mail, or the user needs to send mail to a specific party, the user stops receiving mail and communicates with the server. Can be stopped.
[0032]
In addition, when notifying a user in step S40 and step S110, when a predetermined time elapses after the notification is started by the timer function of the control unit 10, the control unit 10 notifies the display unit 4, the speaker 6, or the vibrator 7. An instruction to stop the notification may be given, and each unit that receives the instruction may be set to stop the notification. Thereby, even when the user is not near the mobile terminal, useless power consumption due to continued notification to the user can be reduced.
[0033]
In step S41 and step S111, even when the housing is in the open state, the display unit 4 displays a message indicating that the mail list has been received on the liquid crystal panel on the back of the housing, and turns on or blinks the display lamp. It may be set so that the speaker 6 generates a musical sound, or the vibrator 7 generates vibration. Accordingly, the user can remove his / her attention from the casing even when the casing remains open.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, the foldable portable terminal has been described as an example. However, as described above, one casing is centered on the rotation axis that extends in the thickness direction of the casing through the connecting portion that connects the two casings. A portable terminal that opens and closes by rotating with respect to the other, a portable terminal that includes a casing provided with both an operation unit and a display unit, and a cover that covers the operation unit, and allows the user to open and close the cover The same operation is possible.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a mail notification is received from the server with the housing or cover closed, the display of characters and the like on the display unit and the display provided on the back of the housing Since the lighting or blinking of the lamp, the generation of musical sound from the speaker, or the generation of vibration from the vibrator is performed, an effect that the user can easily notice the presence of a new mail is obtained.
In addition, since reception of mail is continued even after the user closes the casing or cover after the reception of the mail selected by the user is started, the casing or cover does not have to wait for the user to finish receiving the mail. Can be closed and attention can be removed from the portable terminal.
Therefore, the user can keep the portable terminal in a breast pocket or a bag of clothes while the case or cover is closed during standby or mail reception.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the mobile terminal until the start of mail reception in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation from the end of mail reception to the communication disconnection process of the mobile terminal in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an external view showing a configuration of a conventional portable terminal.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Antenna, 2 ... Communication part, 3 ... Operation part, 4 ... Display part, 5 ... Microphone, 6 ... Speaker, 7 ... Vibrator, 8 ... Memory Part, 9 ... detection part, 10 ... control part, 11 ... power supply part, 21 ... receiving speaker, 22 ... liquid crystal panel, 23 ... function button, 24 ... 4 directions Button, 25 ... Call button, 26 ... Power button, 27 ... Dial button, 28 ... Indicator lamp

Claims (8)

A first housing having an operation unit operated by a user and a display unit for displaying an operation result by the user, and a second openable / closable connected to the first housing via a connecting unit. A portable terminal that receives the mail selected by the user from among the mails on the server,
Receiving means for receiving a mail list transmitted from the server;
Detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the first casing and the second casing;
The user receives the mail list when the receiving means receives the mail list when the detecting means detects that the first casing and the second casing are closed. A notification means for notifying
A portable terminal comprising: A housing having an operation section operated by a user and a display section for displaying an operation result by the user; and an openable / closable cover connected to the casing and covering a part of the casing. In the mobile terminal that receives the mail selected by the user from the mails on the server,
Receiving means for receiving a mail list transmitted from the server;
Detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the cover;
A notification means for notifying the user of receipt of the mail list when the mail list is received by the receiving means when the detection means detects that the cover is closed;
A portable terminal comprising: The portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control unit that continues to receive a mail when the detection unit detects that the mail is closed during reception of the mail. The notification means further notifies the user of the end of mail reception when the reception of the mail selected by the user is completed. The portable terminal described. The said notification means is equipped with the 1st display means to display the specific character or pattern which shows the reception of the said mail list, or completion | finish of mail reception on the said display part, The 1st aspect of Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The mobile terminal according to any one of the items. 6. The notification means according to claim 1, further comprising second display means for turning on or blinking a display lamp indicating reception of the mail list or completion of mail reception. The portable terminal as described in. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the notification unit includes a musical tone generation unit that generates a musical tone indicating reception of the mail list or completion of mail reception. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the notifying unit includes a vibration generating unit that generates a vibration indicating reception of the mail list or completion of mail reception.

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