JP2006217269A - Portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable telephone available for inhibiting the generation of a situation leaking the contents of a call to other persons in a periphery on the contrary to an intention on the call opposite side, by a changeover to an unexpected large sound volume mode on the call opposite side in the portable telephone having a hand-free function. <P>SOLUTION: The portable telephone 100 having a visual-telephone function updates a sound-volume mode information indicating whether or not a sound-volume mode is the large sound-volume mode in a sound-volume mode storage 151 in response to a user operation, and changes over the sound volume of a sound from the call opposite side in response to the sound-volume mode information by an output control unit 121. The portable telephone 100 transmits the sound-volume mode information to the portable telephone on the call opposite side in the case of the start of a call, the case of the change of the sound-volume mode information or the like, or synthesizes a mark indicating the sound-volume mode information to an image sensed by a camera, and transmits the synthesized data. The transmitted sound-volume mode information is displayed to an LCD in order to be known to a user in the portable telephone on the call opposite side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile phone having a function of switching an external output volume of received call voice, such as a so-called hands-free function.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mobile phone having a so-called hands-free function and capable of making the volume when outputting sound transmitted from the other party to the outside sufficiently larger than usual according to a user operation is known (for example, patents) Reference 1).
Such a mobile phone is, for example, a small speaker (hereinafter referred to as a “receiver”) that is disposed in a portion where the user of the mobile phone will use the earphone close to the mobile phone. In the normal mode, the voice from the other party is output from the receiver at a relatively low volume so that the user can increase from the normal mode. When an operation for switching to the volume mode is performed, the voice from the other party is output from the speaker at a volume that is large enough to be heard even if the user is away from the cellular phone.

Therefore, the user can listen to the other party's voice by moving the mobile phone away from the ear by performing an operation to switch to the high volume mode, and other people are close to the user of the mobile phone. If so, other people can listen to the voice of the other party with the user.
JP 2003-319062 A

  However, since the telephone is a communication means that is often used to talk with one person, for the other party who is talking to the user who is using the mobile phone in the high volume mode. Suppose you are talking to only one user, say, for example, that you do not want to be heard by someone other than that user, and that the conversation is heard by other people near the user. Things can happen. Also, when the normal mode is switched to the high volume mode due to a user's mistaken operation during a call, the conversation content is heard by other people against the intention of the other party, so to speak, Leaks can occur.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has a function of switching the external output volume of received call voice, and the occurrence of a situation in which the call contents are leaked directly unintentionally. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile phone having a function useful for suppression.

  In order to solve the above problems, a mobile phone according to the present invention has a reception means for receiving a predetermined operation for switching the volume to any one of a plurality of levels, and a volume at the time of outputting sound from the other party through a speaker. Voice output control means for controlling switching according to the predetermined operation; and sending means for sending volume information related to the volume to the other party when the predetermined operation is accepted during a call. To do.

The mobile phone according to the present invention having the above-described configuration has a function of switching the volume at the time of externally outputting the voice uttered by the call partner transmitted from the call partner through the phone, and the volume is reduced. It also has a function to transmit the information shown to the other party, so that the other party can recognize the information indicating the volume via the other party's telephone. By speaking in a low voice, it becomes possible to prevent leakage of highly confidential conversation contents directly to a third party.

The predetermined operation is an operation for switching a volume lower than a predetermined volume to a volume higher than or equal to a predetermined volume. The control performed by the audio output control unit is performed after the transmission unit transmits the volume information. The sound volume when the sound is output through a speaker may be switched from less than the predetermined sound volume to more than the predetermined sound volume with a time delay.
As a result, volume information indicating that the volume is high is transmitted to the other party before switching to a high volume that is equal to or higher than a predetermined volume, and then the output volume is switched to a high volume after a predetermined time delay. If the predetermined time is set appropriately in consideration of human reaction speed, etc., the output volume will actually increase after waiting for the time the call partner will fully recognize that it will change to a loud volume. Thus, it is possible to further suppress the occurrence of a situation where the content of the call leaks directly against the will.

Furthermore, it is good also as providing the delay time change means which changes the length of the said predetermined time according to specific operation.
As a result, the user can appropriately determine or adjust the predetermined time until the output volume is switched according to the volume information after transmitting the volume information, assuming the reaction speed of the other party. Will be able to.

In addition, the mobile phone has a videophone function, and includes an imaging unit that continuously captures images, and the transmission unit transmits voice input by the user to the other party during a call. A synthesized image in which the volume information is included in a viewable manner in a moving image obtained by the imaging means may be sent to the other party.
Thereby, when making a videophone call, the change in volume can be easily transmitted to the other party. For example, even when a mobile phone having a conventional videophone function is the other party, It will be possible to convey the volume change to the other party.

Further, the sending means may send the volume information relating to the volume to the other party at the start of the call.
As a result, even if the output volume is set to be high before the start of the call, the fact is transmitted to the other party at the start of the call, and the other party By recognizing, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the content of the conversation leaks directly to a third party from the start of the call.

  Further, the mobile phone includes a first speaker and a second speaker having a higher maximum output sound pressure level, and the reception means sets the sound volume to any one of the first sound volume and the second sound volume higher than the first sound volume. The voice output control means receives the voice from the other party when the operation for switching from the first volume to the second volume is accepted by the acceptance means. When an operation for switching from outputting through the first speaker to outputting through the second speaker and switching from the second volume to the first volume is received by the receiving means, the voice from the other party is May be switched so that the output from the second speaker is output through the first speaker.

As a result, even in a mobile phone having a function of switching between a receiver, which is a small output speaker, and a normal speaker and performing external output, when the output is performed using the normal speaker, the other party is informed. Thus, the conversation content can be prevented from being heard directly by a third party, for example, by reducing the voice of the other party.
Further, the apparatus may further comprise volume information receiving means for receiving volume information transmitted from the mobile phone according to claim 1 and volume information output means for outputting the volume information in a manner that can be recognized by a user of the own device. Good.

As a result, when the volume information indicating that the volume is high or the like is received, the mobile phone outputs the volume information in a recognizable manner. Therefore, the user recognizes the volume information and increases the confidential information. You can be careful not to speak with your voice, and this can prevent the occurrence of situations where confidential information leaks directly to third parties.
Further, the mobile phone may have a screen, and the volume information output means may display the volume information on a part of the screen.

As a result, a mark or the like indicating the volume is displayed on the screen of the LCD or the like, so that the user can easily know the volume of the mobile phone at the other end of the call simply by looking at the screen.
Furthermore, it is good also as a suppression means which suppresses the magnitude | size of the audio | voice which is input by a user and is transmitted to a call party side for a predetermined period after the said volume information is received by the said volume information receiving means.

  As a result, the volume of the input voice can be temporarily suppressed and muted even when the user does not notice it immediately after the other party's mobile phone becomes loud. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a secret leak occurring due to, for example, speaking a secret matter over the phone without knowing it.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, the mobile phone according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
<Overview>
The mobile phone 100 according to the first embodiment has a so-called hands-free function, and a user operation switches between a normal mode in which the output volume of the call voice is relatively low and a high volume mode in which the volume is relatively high. Is possible. The mobile phone 100 sends volume mode information indicating whether the volume mode is the normal mode or the volume mode information to the other party in addition to the voice data corresponding to the content of the call.

In addition, when the volume mode information is sent from the call partner, the mobile phone 100 enters the high volume mode on the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) of its own device based on the received volume mode information. If it is, a predetermined mark indicating that is displayed.
Therefore, when two parties are talking via the mobile phones, one of them can recognize that the other party is in the high volume mode by looking at the LCD of his mobile phone, By reducing the volume of the spoken voice or changing the content of the conversation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the content of the call is heard by other people who are present around the other party. It becomes like this.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a functional configuration diagram of the mobile phone 100 according to the first embodiment.
A cellular phone 100 is an improvement over a conventional cellular phone having a so-called hands-free function and a videophone function. As shown in the figure, an antenna 101, an LCD 102, a camera 103, a key group 104 such as a numeric keypad, and a speaker 105 are provided. , Receiver 106, microphone 107, radio unit 110, audio processing unit 120, image processing unit 130, control unit 140, volume mode storage unit 151, delay time storage unit 152, partner volume mode storage unit 153, and timer 160.

  Here, the receiver 106 is disposed in a part of the casing of the mobile phone 100 where the user usually comes close to his / her ear when making a call, and is used for outputting sound from the other party in the normal mode. The speaker 105 has a maximum output sound pressure level higher than that of the receiver 106, and is used to output sound from the other party in the large volume mode. In addition, the microphone 107 is used as a voice input unit that is uttered by the user for a call in the casing of the mobile phone 100.

  The volume mode storage unit 151 indicates, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) for storing volume mode information which is a 1-bit flag indicating whether the own apparatus is in a large volume mode or a normal mode. The delay time storage unit 152 is a delay time from when a user operation for changing to the large volume mode is received until the call voice is output at a large volume, for example, a delay time. Is a non-volatile memory area that can be read and written, and the other party volume mode storage unit 153 is sent from the other party, and the other party's mobile phone is in the high volume mode. This is an area of a memory for storing volume mode information indicating whether there is a normal mode or not.

  The radio unit 110 generates a local locked frequency signal that determines a carrier frequency to be transmitted and received, a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) frequency synthesizer, and a radio frequency (RF) signal input from an antenna at the time of reception as an intermediate frequency (IF) A circuit that converts a baseband signal via a frequency signal, a circuit that converts the baseband signal to a high frequency during transmission, a modulation / demodulation circuit that performs modulation and demodulation by π / 4 shift QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying), etc. A circuit for performing time-division multiplexing control for transmission and reception, a circuit for multiplexing and demultiplexing audio and image data, and the like. Under the control of the control unit 140, the wireless unit 110 basically transmits audio data generated by the audio processing unit 120 and image data generated by the image processing unit 130, and receives the received audio data. Is transmitted to the audio processing unit 120, and the received image data is transmitted to the image processing unit 130. Further, the volume mode information transmitted from the control unit 140 is transmitted, and the received volume mode from the other party is received. It has a function of transmitting information to the control unit 140.

  The voice processing unit 120 is controlled by the control unit 140 during a call, amplifies the voice signal obtained from the microphone 107, generates voice data, and transmits the voice data to the radio unit 110. An output control unit that has a function of generating and amplifying an audio signal based on the audio data transmitted from 110 and outputting the signal via the speaker 105 or the receiver 106, and controlling output destination switching and amplification amount change. 121 is a circuit including 121.

  The image processing unit 130 includes a synthesizing unit 131 that generates a synthesized image for displaying a high volume mark for indicating a high volume on the image indicated by the image data. The image data obtained from the camera 103 is transmitted to the wireless unit 110 under the control of the wireless communication unit 110, and the other party is stored in the other party volume mode storage unit 153 in the image indicated by the image data transmitted from the wireless unit 110. This is a circuit having a function of synthesizing a large volume mark in accordance with the volume mode information on the side and displaying it on the LCD 102. Similar to the conventional mobile phone, the image processing unit 130 receives the control of the control unit 140 to display a mark indicating the reception status of radio waves, a mark indicating the remaining battery level, and other various characters and images on the LCD. It also has a display function.

The control unit 140 is a circuit including a CPU and a memory, and realizes a function of controlling each unit of the mobile phone 100 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the memory. Based on the function for updating the delay time in the delay time storage unit 152 in accordance with the delay time designation operation via the key group 104 by the key group 104 and the control program, the outgoing / incoming processing related to telephone communication is performed. In the incoming call processing, the function for acquiring the volume mode information transmitted from the wireless unit 110 and storing it in the other party volume mode storage unit 153 and the operation for changing the mode related to the volume via the key group 104 by the user. Accordingly, the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 is updated, the output destination of the sound is switched, and the volume mode information is transmitted. To demonstrate the features and that.

<Operation>
Hereinafter, an operation related to outgoing / incoming processing, which is a feature of the mobile phone 100 having the above-described configuration, will be described. Here, the description will be made assuming that the other party is also using a mobile phone equivalent to the mobile phone 100 having the videophone function.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing outgoing / incoming processing performed by the mobile phone 100.

This outgoing / incoming process is performed by the user when an operation for making a call request, that is, an operation for making a call to a specific partner is performed through the key group 104 or when there is an incoming call from a certain partner. This process is mainly executed by the control unit 140 due to an off-hook operation, that is, an operation for answering a call.
First, the control unit 140 controls the radio unit 110 to perform a communication procedure for line connection, and controls the audio processing unit 120 and the image processing unit 130 to start videophone communication (step S11). .

  As a result, the image of the user of the mobile phone 100 sequentially captured by the camera 103 and the voice emitted by the user and input via the microphone 107 are communicated via the radio base station or telephone network of the telephone communication system. It will begin to be sent to the other party's mobile phone. The image sent from the other party is displayed on the LCD 102, and the sent voice is output to the output control unit 121 by the control unit 140 according to the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151. By controlling the amount of amplification of the destination and the sound, the sound is output from the speaker 105 or the receiver 106. That is, when the volume mode information is set to the normal mode by the user, the control unit 140 and the output control unit 121 output a sound with a relatively low volume from the receiver 106, and when the volume mode information is set to the high volume mode, the speaker 105 is output. Sound is output at a relatively high volume.

At the start of the videophone communication, the control unit 140 controls the wireless unit 110 to send the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 to the other party in addition to video and audio. (Step S12). For example, the volume mode information is transmitted by being included in a header portion of a packet for transmitting audio.
Accordingly, the mobile phone on the other side of the call can determine whether the mode is the high volume mode or the normal mode by receiving the volume mode information.

  Subsequently, when the volume mode information is received from the call partner during the videophone communication (step S13), the control unit 140 performs a volume display process (to be described later) (step S14), and the user performs a key group. When an operation related to the change of the volume mode is performed via 104 (step S15), a volume mode operation corresponding process described later is performed (step S16).

  When there is a line disconnection request (step S17), that is, when the user performs an on-hook operation, that is, an operation to hang up the telephone, or when the other party receives a notification to hang up, the control unit 140 Then, the audio processing unit 120 and the image processing unit 130 are controlled to terminate the videophone communication, and the radio unit 110 is controlled to perform a communication procedure for disconnecting the line (step S18), and the outgoing / incoming processing is terminated. To do.

Hereinafter, the volume display process shown in step S14 of FIG. 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the volume display process.
The control unit 140 of the mobile phone 100 stores the volume mode information received from the call partner side and transmitted by the wireless unit 110 in the partner volume mode storage unit 153 (step S21).
When the volume mode information stored in the other party volume mode storage unit 153 indicates the high volume mode (step S22), the synthesis unit 131 of the image processing unit 130 transmits from the other party of the call transmitted from the radio unit 110. The image is synthesized so that a large volume mark is displayed in front of the image represented by the received image data, and is displayed on the LCD 102 (step S23). The large volume mark is not displayed in front of the image represented by the received image data, and the image from the other party is displayed on the LCD 102 (step S24).

With this volume display processing, a high volume mark is displayed on the LCD that displays images sent sequentially from the other party to realize the videophone function when the other party's mobile phone is in the high volume mode. It will be displayed in a part of.
Hereinafter, the volume mode operation corresponding process shown in step S16 of FIG. 2 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the volume mode operation handling process.

  When the user performs an operation related to changing the volume mode via the key group 104, the control unit 140 of the mobile phone 100 determines whether the operation is an operation for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode. Determination is made (step S31). For example, in the case where the key group 104 includes a large volume mode instruction key for performing an instruction operation for switching to the large volume mode and a normal mode instruction key for performing an instruction operation for switching to the normal mode. The control unit 140 switches from the normal mode to the high volume mode when the high volume mode instruction key is operated and the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 indicates the normal mode. It is determined that the operation is for change.

  When it is determined in step S31 that the operation is for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode, the control unit 140 indicates the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 to indicate the large volume mode. Update (step S32), the wireless unit 110 transmits the updated volume mode information to the call partner (step S33), and then waits for a predetermined delay time to elapse (step S34).

  In step S34, control unit 140 sets timer 160 to measure the lapse of the delay time indicated by the numerical value stored in delay time storage unit 152, and receives notification of the lapse of delay time from timer 160. In step S35, the output control unit 121 in the audio processing unit 120 switches the output destination from the receiver 106 to the speaker 105, and the amplification amount of the audio signal is increased to a predetermined amount. A sound is output from the speaker 105 at a volume (step S35). As a result, the call voice is output at a loud volume equal to or higher than a predetermined volume.

  In steps S33 to S35, the sound output is increased after a certain delay time has elapsed since the change to the high volume mode is notified to the mobile phone on the other end of the call. Is set to a reasonable level, the mobile phone 100 on the other end of the call detects that the mobile phone 100 has changed to the high volume mode, and informs the user, i. The mobile phone 100 becomes louder after the other party starts to switch conversation contents or speak quietly, and the occurrence of a situation such as leakage of confidential information to other people can be prevented.

If it is not determined in step S31 that the operation is for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode, the control unit 140 determines whether the operation is for changing from the large volume mode to the normal mode. When the determination is made (step S36) and the operation is for changing from the large volume mode to the normal mode, the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 is updated to indicate the normal mode (step S37). ), The wireless unit 110 transmits the updated volume mode information to the other party (step S38), and the output control unit 121 switches the output destination from the speaker 105 to the receiver 106, and sets the amplification amount of the audio signal in advance. The audio signal is output from the receiver 106 at a small volume by reducing the specified amount to the specified amount (step S39). As a result, the call voice is output at a volume lower than a predetermined volume.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing transition of a screen displayed on the LCD 102 during a videophone call.
The screen 251 is a screen that displays an image of the other party at 10:11, and the screen 252 is a mobile phone in which the other party has a function equivalent to that of the mobile phone 100 at 10:12 thereafter. Is a screen on which a high volume mark 253 is displayed together with an image of the other party of the call when switching to the high volume mode by operating.
<Embodiment 2>
Hereinafter, a mobile phone according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.

<Overview>
The mobile phone 500 according to the second embodiment is a partial modification of the mobile phone 100 shown in the first embodiment, and is similar in that the volume mode information is sent to and from the other party. Unlike the telephone 100, when the mobile phone 500 receives volume mode information indicating the high volume mode from the other party, the mobile phone 500 does not display a high volume mark on the LCD and does not input a voice for a predetermined time from the reception. Is muted, that is, the amount of amplification of the audio signal input from the microphone is reduced. In addition, when the user performs an operation to switch to the high volume mode during a videophone call, the mobile phone 500 generates a composite image in which the high volume mark is combined with the image captured by the camera and transmits the composite image to the other party. To do.

<Configuration>
FIG. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of the mobile phone 500 according to the second embodiment.
A mobile phone 500 is an improvement over a conventional mobile phone having a so-called hands-free function and a videophone function. As shown in the figure, an antenna 101, an LCD 102, a camera 103, a key group 104 such as a numeric keypad, and a speaker 105 are provided. , Receiver 106, microphone 107, radio unit 110, audio processing unit 520, image processing unit 530, control unit 540, volume mode storage unit 151, mute time storage unit 552, partner volume mode storage unit 153, and timer 160. Note that, among the components of the mobile phone 500, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the mobile phone 100 shown in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Here, the mute time storage unit 552 temporarily suppresses the audio signal input from the microphone 107 when the call partner changes to the high volume mode, that is, the mute time for muting, for example, the mute time. Is a readable / writable non-volatile memory area for storing a numerical value in seconds.
The voice processing unit 520 receives control of the control unit 540 during a call, amplifies the voice signal obtained from the microphone 107, generates voice data, and transmits the voice data to the radio unit 110. 110 has a function of generating and amplifying an audio signal based on the audio data transmitted from 110 and outputting it through the speaker 105 or the receiver 106, and controls the change in the amplification amount of the audio signal obtained from the microphone 107. This is a circuit including an input control unit 522 that performs an output control and a control of an output destination switching and an amplification amount change.

The image processing unit 530 includes a combining unit 131 that generates a combined image for displaying a large volume mark for displaying a large volume on the image indicated by the image data obtained by capturing with the camera 103. In the case of a call, the control unit 540 receives control to transmit the generated composite image image data to the wireless unit 110 and display the image indicated by the image data transmitted from the wireless unit 110 on the LCD 102. This circuit has a function to

  The control unit 540 is a circuit including a CPU and a memory, and realizes a function of controlling each unit of the mobile phone 500 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the memory. The function of updating the numerical value indicating the mute time in the mute time storage unit 552 in accordance with the mute time designation operation via the key group 104 is provided. Further, the control unit 540 performs outgoing / incoming processing related to telephone communication based on the control program, acquires volume mode information transmitted from the wireless unit 110 in the outgoing / incoming processing, and stores it in the other party volume mode storage unit 153. When the volume mode information is stored and the volume mode information indicates the volume mode, the synthesis unit 531 generates a synthesized image for displaying the volume mark in an overlapping manner, and the input control is performed for the mute time from when the volume mode is switched. The unit 522 is controlled to mute the sound, and when the normal mode is indicated, the function of preventing the image composition from being performed is exhibited, and the mode change related to the volume via the key group 104 by the user is performed. The volume mode information is transmitted by updating the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 and switching the output destination of the sound according to the operation for It serves the function of.

<Operation>
Hereinafter, an operation related to outgoing / incoming processing, which is a feature of the mobile phone 500 having the above-described configuration, will be described. Here, it is assumed that the other party is using a mobile phone equivalent to the mobile phone 500 having a videophone function.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing outgoing / incoming processing performed by the mobile phone 500.

This outgoing / incoming process is performed by the user when an operation for making a call request, that is, an operation for making a call to a specific partner is performed through the key group 104 or when there is an incoming call from a certain partner. This process is mainly executed by the control unit 540 due to an off-hook operation, that is, an operation for answering a call.
First, the control unit 540 controls the wireless unit 110 to perform a communication procedure for line connection, and controls the audio processing unit 520 and the image processing unit 530 to start videophone communication (step S51). .

  As a result, an image obtained by the user of the mobile phone 500 sequentially captured by the camera 103 and a sound that is emitted from the user and input through the microphone 107 are amplified by a predetermined amplification amount. It will start to be sent to the mobile phone on the other end of the call via the base station or telephone network. In addition, the image sent from the other party is displayed on the LCD 102, and the sent voice is output to the output control unit 121 by the control unit 540 according to the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151. By controlling the amount of amplification of the destination and the sound, the sound is output from the speaker 105 or the receiver 106. That is, when the volume mode information is set to the normal mode by the user, the control unit 540 and the output control unit 121 output a sound with a relatively small volume from the receiver 106, and when the volume mode information is set to the high volume mode, the speaker 105 is output. Sound is output at a relatively high volume.

At the start of the videophone communication, the control unit 540 controls the wireless unit 110 to send the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 to the other party of the call in addition to video and audio. (Step S52). Accordingly, the mobile phone on the other side of the call can determine whether the mode is the high volume mode or the normal mode by receiving the volume mode information.
Subsequently, when the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 indicates the high volume mode (step S53), the control unit 540 controls the synthesis unit 531 to send it to the call partner side. A synthesis of a loud sound mark indicating that the loud sound mode such as the mark 253 shown in FIG. 5 is in an image picked up by the camera 103 is started (step S54). Therefore, in the high volume mode, the captured image including the large volume mark is transmitted to the other party, and the large volume mark is displayed on the other party's LCD on the captured image. become.

When volume mode information is received from the other party during videophone communication (step S55), input volume control processing described later is performed (step S56), and the volume mode information is set by the user via the key group 104. When an operation related to the change is performed (step S57), a volume mode operation corresponding process described later is performed (step S58).
Further, when there is a line disconnection request (step S59), that is, when an on-hook operation, that is, an operation to hang up the telephone is performed by the user, or when the other party receives a notification to hang up, the control unit 540 Then, the audio processing unit 520 and the image processing unit 530 are controlled to terminate the videophone communication, and the radio unit 110 is controlled to perform a communication procedure for disconnecting the line (step S60), and the outgoing / incoming processing is terminated. To do.

Hereinafter, the input sound volume control process shown in step S56 of FIG. 7 will be described.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the input volume control process.
The control unit 540 of the mobile phone 500 compares the volume mode information received from the call partner side and transmitted by the wireless unit 110 with the volume mode information already stored in the other party volume mode storage unit 153. It is determined whether or not the other party's mobile phone has been changed from the normal mode to the high volume mode (step S71). At the start of the call, the other party volume mode storage unit 153 stores volume mode information indicating the normal mode as an initial value.

  If it is determined in step S71 that the mode has been changed from the normal mode to the large volume mode, the timer 160 is set to measure the elapse of the mute time indicated by the numerical value stored in the mute time storage unit 552, and the input When the control unit 522 is configured to amplify the audio signal from the microphone 107 with a predetermined amplification amount smaller than the predetermined amplification amount at the beginning of the call, and thereafter receives notification of the elapse of the mute time from the timer 160, the input control is performed. The unit 522 is made to return to the predetermined amplification amount at the beginning of the call and amplify the audio signal from the microphone 107 (step S72). As a result, the voice input from the microphone is kept small until the mute time elapses after the mobile phone at the other end of the call is informed that the mode has been changed to the high volume mode. If it is determined to the extent, the user notices the loud volume mark in the composite image that the mobile phone 500 receives and displays on the LCD 102, and the conversation partner is copied, the user switches the conversation content or speaks quietly. Until the start, the voice sent from the mobile phone 500 to the other party is reduced, and the occurrence of a situation such as a secret leak to other people can be prevented.

After step S72 and after making a negative determination in step S71, the control unit 540 overwrites the volume mode information in the partner volume mode storage unit 153 with the volume mode information transmitted by the wireless unit 110 described above. (Step S73), the input volume control process is terminated.
Hereinafter, the volume mode operation corresponding process shown in step 58 of FIG. 7 will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the volume mode operation handling processing.
When the user performs an operation related to the change of the volume mode via the key group 104, the control unit 540 of the mobile phone 500 determines whether the operation is an operation for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode. If it is determined (step S81) and it is determined that the operation is for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode, the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 is updated to indicate the large volume mode. (Step S82), the wireless unit 110 transmits the updated volume mode information to the call partner side (Step S83), and the composition unit 531 sequentially captures images captured by the camera 103 for sending to the call partner side. Is started (step S84), the output control unit 121 is made to switch the output destination from the receiver 106 to the speaker 105, and the audio signal The amount of amplification by increasing, to output a sound from the speaker 105 at a high volume (step S85).

If it is not determined in step S81 that the operation is for changing from the normal mode to the large volume mode, the control unit 540 determines whether the operation is for changing from the large volume mode to the normal mode. If the operation is for changing from the high volume mode to the normal mode, the volume mode information stored in the volume mode storage unit 151 is updated to indicate the normal mode (step S87). ), Causing the wireless unit 110 to transmit the updated volume mode information to the other party (step S88), and causing the synthesis unit 531 not to synthesize a loud volume mark on images sequentially captured by the camera 103. (Step S89), the output control unit 121 switches the output destination from the speaker 105 to the receiver 106, thereby reducing the amplification amount of the audio signal and And outputs sounds from the receiver 106 in an amount (step S90).
<Supplement>
The mobile phone according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment. However, the mobile phone can be modified as follows, and the present invention is of course not limited to the mobile phone shown in the first and second embodiments. It is.

  (1) In the first and second embodiments, a mobile phone having a videophone function is shown. However, the videophone function is not always necessary, and a mobile phone capable of only voice calls may be used. However, in the case of a mobile phone that can only carry out voice calls, the process of combining the high volume mark with the image captured by the camera and transmitting it is not performed, and when the volume mode information is received, the volume mode information is A specific mark that can identify whether the mode is indicated or the normal mode may be displayed on the LCD instead of being combined with an image as a videophone in particular.

(2) In the first and second embodiments, the call voice from the other party is output from the receiver in the normal mode and from the speaker in the high volume mode. However, it is not always necessary to switch the output device. Only the sound volume may be changed and output from the same speaker in any mode.
(3) In the first and second embodiments, whether or not the call partner is in the high volume mode is displayed with a mark on the LCD, but a method for informing the user whether or not the call partner is in the high volume mode Is not limited to the display of the mark, and may be notified to the user by a specific sound, a specific vibration pattern, a specific light emission pattern, or the like, for example.

(4) The division of functions of the wireless unit, the control unit, the synthesis unit, the output control unit, the input control unit, etc. in the mobile phone shown in the first and second embodiments is merely an example, and the functions are divided into hardware and software. However, the hardware and software functions may be shared in any way.
(5) In the first and second embodiments, the external output volume of the call voice is classified into two stages, that is, the high volume mode and the normal mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The volume may be identified more than the stage. That is, a predetermined operation for switching the volume to any one of a plurality of levels is accepted, and the volume at the time of outputting the voice from the other party through the speaker is controlled to be switched according to the predetermined operation. Any mobile phone may be used as long as it transmits volume information regarding the volume to the other party when the operation is accepted.

(6) The memory that is the volume mode storage unit 151 and the like shown in the first and second embodiments is not particularly limited to the memory, and may be a small hard disk or other recording medium that can be mounted on a mobile phone. .
(7) In the first and second embodiments, it has been shown that the mobile phone transmits the volume mode information. However, the transmission timing may be transmitted only when the volume mode information changes in addition to the start of the call. Alternatively, the current volume mode information may be periodically transmitted. Further, the volume mode information may be transmitted when a call is made before the other party's telephone goes off-hook.

  (8) In the first embodiment, after a delay time has elapsed after receiving a change operation to the large volume mode by the user, the call voice is output at a large volume. It may be omitted, and when a change operation is received, the call voice may be immediately output at a high volume. However, it is preferable to wait for the delay time and output at a high volume because it functions effectively when the other party's reaction is slow. Further, instead of waiting for the delay time and outputting at a high volume, the volume may be gradually increased over the delay time.

  (9) In the second embodiment, the mobile phone performs the mute control that temporarily suppresses the amplification amount of the audio signal input from the microphone. However, the mute control may be omitted. Further, a mechanism for performing processing related to transmission and reception of volume mode information may be omitted. Assuming that a mobile phone having a videophone function performs a call, at least one mobile phone omits a mechanism for performing processing related to transmission and reception of volume mode information from the mobile phone 500 of the second embodiment. If this is the case, since the high volume mark can be synthesized by the synthesis unit 531 or the like according to the volume mode, even if the other is a mobile phone having a conventional videophone function, The received and displayed image shows whether one of the mobile phones is in the high volume mode.

  (10) Recording a control program composed of program codes for causing the processor and various circuits connected thereto to execute the processes in Embodiments 1 and 2 (see FIGS. 2 to 4 and 7 to 9). Or can be distributed and distributed via various communication channels. Examples of such a recording medium include an IC card, a hard disk, an optical disk, a flexible disk, and a ROM. The distributed and distributed program is used by being stored in a memory or the like that can be read by the processor, and when the processor executes the program, the various functions of the mobile phone shown in the first and second embodiments are performed. It will be realized.

  The mobile phone according to the present invention is used for telephone communication.

2 is a functional configuration diagram of a mobile phone 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing outgoing / incoming processing performed by the mobile phone 100. It is a flowchart which shows a volume display process. It is a flowchart which shows a volume mode operation corresponding | compatible process. It is a figure which shows the transition of the screen displayed on LCD102 at the time of a videophone call. 6 is a functional configuration diagram of a mobile phone 500 according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing outgoing / incoming processing performed by the mobile phone 500. It is a flowchart which shows an input volume control process. It is a flowchart which shows a volume mode operation corresponding | compatible process.

Explanation of symbols

100, 500 Mobile phone 101 Antenna 102 LCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 103 Camera 104 Key group 105 Speaker 106 Receiver 107 Microphone 110 Radio | wireless part 120,520 Sound processing part 121 Output control part 130,530 Image processing part 131,531 Synthesis | combination part 140,540 Control part 151 Volume mode storage part 152 Delay time storage part 153 Counter volume mode storage unit 160 Timer 522 Input control unit 552 Mute time storage unit

Claims (9)

Accepting means for accepting a predetermined operation for switching the volume to any of a plurality of levels;
A sound output control means for controlling the sound volume at the time of outputting the sound from the other party through the speaker to be switched according to the predetermined operation;
Sending means for sending volume information related to the volume to the call partner when the predetermined operation is accepted during a call. The predetermined operation is an operation for switching a volume lower than a predetermined volume to a volume higher than a predetermined volume,
The control performed by the sound output control means is such that the sound volume when the sound is output through a speaker is changed from less than the predetermined sound volume to greater than or equal to the predetermined sound volume after a predetermined time delay after the sound output means sends the sound volume information. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is switched as follows. The mobile phone according to claim 2, further comprising delay time changing means for changing the length of the predetermined time according to a specific operation. The mobile phone has a videophone function, and includes an imaging means for continuously imaging,
The sending means sends a voice input by a user to the other party during a call, and also includes a composite image in which the volume information is included in a visible manner in a moving image obtained by the imaging means. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is sent to the other party. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the sending means sends the volume information about the volume to the other party at the start of a call. The mobile phone includes a first speaker and a second speaker having a higher maximum output sound pressure level,
The accepting means accepts a predetermined operation for switching the sound volume to either the first sound volume or a larger second sound volume,
When the operation for switching from the first sound volume to the second sound volume is accepted by the accepting means, the sound output control means outputs the sound from the call partner side through the first speaker. When the operation for switching from the second volume to the first volume is accepted by the accepting means, the voice from the other party is being outputted through the second speaker. The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is switched so as to output through the speaker. Volume information receiving means for receiving volume information sent from the mobile phone according to claim 1;
Volume information output means for outputting the volume information in a manner that can be recognized by the user of the own device. The mobile phone has a screen;
The mobile phone according to claim 7, wherein the volume information output means displays the volume information on a part of the screen. The apparatus further comprises a suppression unit that suppresses a volume of a voice that is input to the user and transmitted to the other party during a predetermined period from when the volume information is received by the volume information receiving unit. 7. The mobile phone according to 7.

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