JP2007135009A - Mobile terminal, function limiting program for mobile terminal, and function limiting method for mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set a manner mode according to presence of persons in the circumference without installing a large-scale device. <P>SOLUTION: A control section 13 performs short range radio communication with mobile phones of other users present in the circumference of a mobile phone through a short range radio communication unit to detect the number of the mobile phones of the other users present in the circumference of the mobile phone. Then when the number of the mobile phones of the other users present in the circumference is larger than a predefined equipment number threshold, it is determined that there are many other users in the circumference of the user of the mobile phone, which is placed in manner mode. Further, the short range radio communication is carried out and then when the number of the mobile phones of the other users present in the circumference of the mobile phone becomes less than the equipment number threshold, the mobile phone is put back into normal mode from the manner mode which is set so far. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes, for example, a mobile phone, a PHS phone (PHS: Personal Handyphone System), a PDA device (PDA) having a short-range wireless communication function such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and an infrared communication function (IrDA: Infrared Data Association). : Personal Digital Assistant), a portable terminal device suitable for application to a portable device such as a notebook personal computer device, a function restriction program for a portable terminal device, and a function restriction method for a portable terminal device, By performing distance wireless communication, when a predetermined number or more of mobile devices exist around the mobile device, the mobile phone is automatically set to the manner mode or in response to a request from the other mobile device. The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device that sets the mobile phone in a manner mode, a function restriction program for the mobile terminal device, and a function restriction method for the mobile terminal device.

  In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-47042 (Patent Document 1), when a mobile phone device enters or exits a use-prohibited area, the power of the mobile phone device is turned on / off or a predetermined function is restricted / released. A wireless communication system for automatically controlling the above is disclosed.

  In this wireless communication system, an instruction signal indicating a use prohibited area is transmitted from a wireless communication module installed at an entrance / exit in a use prohibited area of the mobile phone device to the mobile phone device. When receiving the instruction signal, the control unit of the mobile phone device determines that the mobile phone device is located in the prohibited area and controls the power supply to be turned off or restricts a predetermined function. Control each part.

  In addition, when the instruction signal is not received, the control unit of the mobile phone device determines that the mobile phone device is located outside the prohibited area, and turns on the power source that has been controlled to be off. Each unit is controlled so that a predetermined function that has been restored or restricted can be used.

  Thereby, it is possible to automatically restrict the use of the mobile phone device or the use of a predetermined function in the prohibited area.

JP 2003-47042 A (pages 4 to 5: FIGS. 1 and 4)

  However, in the case of the wireless communication system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the “location” referred to as the “usage-prohibited area” is used as a reference for limiting the power supply and predetermined functions of the mobile phone device. For this reason, there is a problem that it is necessary to install a large-scale device such as the wireless communication module in order to set the “use prohibited area”.

  Here, the reason why a call using a mobile phone or a ringing tone emitted from the mobile phone is annoying to a person is that there is a person around the mobile phone. That is, when there is no person around the mobile phone, even if a call is made on the mobile phone or a ring tone is emitted from the mobile phone, it cannot be a nuisance to the person. For this reason, it is preferable to limit the restriction of calls and predetermined functions of the mobile phone based on the “presence / absence of people” rather than the “location”.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a portable terminal capable of limiting the generation of a call or ringing tone according to the presence or absence of a surrounding person without installing a large-scale device. An object of the present invention is to provide a device, a function restriction program for a portable terminal device, and a function restriction method for a portable terminal device.

The portable terminal device according to the present invention is a means for solving the above-described problems.
Short-range wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a peripheral device; and
By counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication means is performing short-range wireless communication, the number of peripheral devices detecting means for detecting the number of devices existing around,
A function limiting unit for stopping and controlling audio output from at least a speaker unit while the surrounding device number detecting unit detects that a predetermined number or more of the devices are present.

Moreover, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the function restriction program for the mobile terminal device according to the present invention is provided.
Causing the computer to function as a short-range wireless communication control means for controlling the short-range wireless communication means so as to perform short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a peripheral device,
By counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication means is performing short-range wireless communication, the computer functions as a peripheral device number detection means for detecting the number of devices existing in the vicinity,
By causing the computer to function as the peripheral device number detection unit, the computer is caused to function as a function limiting unit that stops and controls at least audio output from the speaker unit while it is detected that a predetermined number or more of the devices are present. .

Moreover, the function limiting method of the portable terminal device according to the present invention is a means for solving the above-described problem,
The short-range wireless communication control means controls the short-range wireless communication means so as to perform short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a device existing around;
A step of detecting the number of devices present in the surroundings by counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication unit is performing short-range wireless communication in the step;
In the above step, while it is detected that a predetermined number or more of the devices are present in the surroundings, the function limiting means includes at least a step of stopping and controlling the sound output from the speaker unit.

  In the present invention, the number of devices capable of performing short-range wireless communication by the short-range wireless communication means is counted around the portable terminal device. When the count number is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, it is recognized that there are a plurality of users around the portable terminal device, and at least the audio output from the speaker unit is controlled to stop. Thereby, function restriction can be achieved according to the presence or absence and the number of persons around the portable terminal device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to limit the generation of a call or a ringing tone according to the presence or absence and the number of surrounding people without installing a large-scale device.

  The present invention can be applied to a mobile phone.

[Configuration of mobile phone]
As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention has an antenna 1 and a communication circuit 2 that perform wireless communication with a base station, and an acoustic output such as a ringtone and a received voice. A speaker unit 3, a microphone unit 4 for collecting transmitted voices, a display unit 5 for displaying images (moving images, still images, etc.) and characters, and predetermined input operations and selection operations And an operation unit 6 for performing the operation.

  In addition, this mobile phone includes a light emitting unit 7 (LED: Light Emitting Diode) for notifying light of incoming and outgoing calls, a camera unit 8 for capturing a still image or a moving image of a desired subject, and the mobile phone. A vibration unit 9 for notifying a user of incoming / outgoing calls by vibrating a housing of the mobile phone, a short-range wireless communication antenna 10 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared (IrDA: Infrared Data Association), and a short-range wireless And a communication unit 11.

  In addition to a communication processing program (communication program) and various application programs for performing communication processing, this cellular phone has a schedule book, a telephone book, incoming and outgoing e-mail data, telephone and e-mail outgoing and incoming history, etc. And a control unit 13 for controlling the operation of the entire mobile phone.

  The application program stored in the memory 12 includes a manner mode for automatically setting the mobile phone to the manner mode by performing short-range wireless communication with a surrounding mobile phone using the short-range wireless communication unit 11. A setting program, a short-range wireless communication program for controlling short-range wireless communication of the short-range wireless communication unit 11, a camera control program for controlling imaging of the camera unit 8, a music player program for controlling reproduction of music data, and the like It is remembered.

  The memory 12 also includes a manner mode automatic switching flag indicating whether or not the cellular phone is automatically set to the silent mode by the manner mode setting program, and a reference value for automatically switching the cellular phone to the silent mode. A device number threshold value indicating the number of mobile phones existing around the mobile phone is stored. Among these, the “manner mode automatic switching flag” is set in the memory 12 when the user selects an automatic switching menu from the setting menu to the manner mode. Further, the “device number threshold value” is stored in the memory 12 when the user selects or inputs a desired number from the setting menu.

  Here, the “manner mode” is a mode in which a ring tone, an operation sound or the like is not output from the speaker unit 3 at the time of outgoing / incoming call or operation. In the “manner mode”, the vibration unit 9 can be driven by the setting of the user (setting not to drive is also possible).

In the following description of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, the description will be made assuming that the mobile phone is automatically set to the manner mode by the manner mode setting program. However, the power of the mobile phone is turned on by the manner mode setting program. Automatic on / off control may be performed. That is, it should be understood that the manner mode setting program automatically shifts the mode of the mobile phone to a mode that does not bother people around.

[Automatic switching to manner mode]
The mobile phone according to such an embodiment automatically shifts to the manner mode according to the number of mobile phones existing around the mobile phone, and any mobile phone existing around the mobile phone. When the request to shift to the manner mode is made, the mode is shifted to the manner mode after confirmation of the user who has made the shift request.

[Automatic switching according to the number of peripheral devices]
First, the flowchart of FIG. 2 shows a flow of an operation for automatically shifting to the manner mode according to the number of mobile phones present around the mobile phone. In this flowchart, when the main power supply of the mobile phone is turned on, the control unit 13 is repeatedly executed, for example, at a cycle of 10 seconds based on the manner mode setting program stored in the memory 12 of FIG. ing.

  First, in the case of the mobile phone according to this embodiment, whether or not to automatically switch to the manner mode is selected and set in advance by the user based on a setting menu. When the user accepts the automatic switching to the manner mode, the manner mode automatic switching flag is set in the memory 12.

  For this reason, in step S1, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the manner mode automatic switching flag is standing in the memory 13 to determine whether or not the manner mode automatic switching is permitted by the user. Determine. If the manner mode automatic switching flag is set in the memory 13, the process proceeds to step S2. If the manner mode automatic switching flag is not set in the memory 13, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. Exit.

  Next, in step S2, since the manner mode automatic switching flag is set in the memory 13, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the mobile phone existing around the mobile phone and the short-range wireless communication based on the short-range wireless communication program. By performing communication and counting the number of mobile phones in which a short-range wireless communication line is established, the number of mobile phone devices existing around the mobile phone is counted.

  Next, in the case of the mobile phone of this embodiment, the user sets the number of mobile phone devices existing in the surroundings, which are used for determining whether to automatically switch to the manner mode, based on a setting menu in advance. It is supposed to be. The number of devices set by the user is stored in the memory 12 as the “device number threshold”.

  For this reason, when the number of mobile phone devices present in the surroundings is counted in step S2, the control unit 13 determines in step S3 that the counted number of devices is equal to or greater than the device number threshold value stored in the memory 12. It is determined whether the number is. If the counted number of devices is equal to or greater than the device number threshold, the process proceeds to step S4. If the counted number of devices is less than the device number threshold, the process proceeds to step S6. .

  That is, the fact that there is no person around the mobile phone according to the embodiment means that even if a ring tone or the like is pronounced from the mobile phone, there is no person who is inconvenienced by this. In addition, the fact that the number of people around the mobile phone of the embodiment is smaller than the predetermined number (= corresponding to the device number threshold value) means that a ring tone or the like has been generated from the mobile phone. However, this means that there is a low possibility that the surrounding people will suffer trouble.

  For this reason, when the counted number of devices is smaller than the device number threshold, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the manner mode is currently set in step S6, and the manner mode is set. If not (= in the normal mode in which a ring tone or the like is output), the process of the flowchart of FIG. 2 is terminated as it is. If the manner mode has already been set, the normal mode is changed from the manner mode in step S7. The mode switching control is performed for the mode, and the processing of the flowchart of FIG. As a result, when there is an incoming call or the like, the output of the ringtone or the like is controlled, but since there are few or few people around, the ringtone or the like may not be annoying to the surrounding people. Absent.

  On the other hand, when the process proceeds to step S4 by determining that the counted number of devices is equal to or greater than the device number threshold, the control unit 13 determines whether the manner mode has already been set for the mobile phone. Is determined. If the manner mode has been set, the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is terminated as it is, and if the manner mode has not been set, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, since the manner mode is not set, the control unit 13 switches the mobile unit to the manner mode in which, for example, the vibration unit 9 is in a drivable state and the sound such as the ringtone output from the speaker unit 3 is not output. The telephone is switched and the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described above, the control unit 13 repeatedly executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 at a cycle of 10 seconds, for example. Thus, when there are many people around the mobile phone, the manner mode is automatically set for the mobile phone, and when there are no people around the mobile phone or when there are few people, the manner mode is set. It is canceled and the normal mode is automatically set.

[Automatic switching in response to a request to switch to manner mode]
Next, when the mobile phone according to the embodiment is requested to shift to the manner mode from any of the mobile phones existing around the mobile phone, the confirmation of the user on the side where the shift request is made After that, the mode changes to manner mode. The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the flow of operations when the mobile phone of the present embodiment is on the side that transmits a request signal for shifting to the manner mode to another mobile phone.

  First, when another mobile phone is to be switched to the manner mode, the user of the mobile phone according to the embodiment operates the operation unit 6 to select, for example, an operation menu transmission request signal transmission operation from the operation menu. To do. When the transmission operation of the request signal for transition to the manner mode is selected, the control unit 13 starts the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3 based on the manner mode setting program. By determining whether or not the mode automatic switching flag is set, it is determined whether or not automatic switching of the manner mode is permitted by the user.

  If it is determined that the manner mode automatic switching flag is set in the memory 12, the process proceeds to step S12. If it is determined that the manner mode automatic switching flag is not set in the memory 12, the manner mode is set. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is terminated without transmitting the shift request signal to.

  That is, the fact that the manner mode automatic switching flag is not set means that the mobile phone is set to not accept a request signal for shifting to the manner mode from another user. And even though it is set not to accept the transition request signal to the manner mode from other users, it is fair to be able to transmit the transition request signal to the manner mode to other users. It is not preferable from the viewpoint. For this reason, in the mobile phone of the embodiment, when the manner mode automatic switching flag is not set in the memory 12, the transition request is issued even when the user requests transmission of the transition request signal to the manner mode. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is terminated without transmitting a signal.

  When the manner mode automatic switching flag is not set in the memory 12, the control unit 13 displays a message such as “Please operate after setting automatic switching to the manner mode” on the display unit 5, for example. If the automatic switching to the manner mode is not set, it is preferable to make the user recognize that the transmission request signal cannot be transmitted.

Next, in step S12, the control unit 13 controls the short-range wireless communication unit 11 so as to establish a short-range wireless communication line with the surrounding mobile phone, and performs processing at the timing when the short-range wireless communication line is established. In step S13, the short-range wireless communication unit 11 is controlled so as to broadcast-transmit a request signal for transition to the manner mode. Thereby, the transition request signal to the manner mode is broadcasted to each mobile phone in the vicinity where the short-range wireless communication line is established.

  Next, the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows the flow of operation when the mobile phone of the present embodiment is on the side that has received the request signal for transition to the manner mode. When the control unit 13 receives the above-described request signal for switching to the manner mode from another mobile phone, the control unit 13 starts the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 4 based on the manner mode setting program.

  In step S21, the control unit 13 determines whether or not the manner mode has already been set for the mobile phone. If the manner mode has already been set, the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. If the manner mode is not set, the process proceeds to step S22.

  In step S22, since the manner mode is not set, the control unit 13 prompts the setting of the manner mode, for example, “The transition to the manner mode is requested. Do you want to set the manner mode?” Is displayed on the display unit 5 and the process proceeds to step S23. When this message is displayed, the control unit 13 drives the vibration unit 9 to vibrate. Thereby, the display of the message can be notified to the user.

  Next, in step S23, the control unit 13 detects the operation state of the operation unit 6 to determine whether or not an instruction to shift to the manner mode is given from the user in response to the message. If the user has not instructed the transition to the manner mode, the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is terminated, and if the user has instructed the transition to the manner mode, the process proceeds to step S24. Switch the phone to silent mode and control it. Thereby, the mobile phone of another user can be shifted to the manner mode only by transmitting the request signal for shifting to the manner mode.

In this example, when a request for shifting to the manner mode is made, the user is allowed to determine whether or not the manner mode is set (step S23). This is a request for shifting to the manner mode. The control unit 13 may automatically set the manner mode at the same timing.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As is apparent from the above description, the mobile phone according to the embodiment of the present invention performs the short-range wireless communication with another user's mobile phone that is present around the mobile phone. When it is determined that there are more than a predetermined number of mobile phones of other users around the phone, the mobile phone can be automatically shifted to the manner mode. Because it is possible to control the transition to the manner mode by short-range wireless communication with surrounding mobile phones, a large-scale communication module such as a wireless communication module is installed at the entrance / exit of the prohibited area of mobile phones. A device can be dispensed with.

  In addition, since the short-range wireless communication unit 11 can be used to transmit a request signal for switching to the manner mode, it is possible to convey to the surrounding users the feelings of uncomfortable ringtones and the like.

On the other hand, by receiving the request signal for switching to the manner mode, it is possible to recognize that surrounding users feel uncomfortable with the ringtone of their mobile phone, It is possible to promptly switch to the manner mode so that the manner can be observed.

[Modification]
In the above description of the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone. However, the present invention is not limited to this mobile phone, but a PHS phone (PHS: Personal Handyphone System), a PDA device (PDA: Personal Digital Assistant). ), And may be applied to other portable terminal devices such as notebook personal computer devices. Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Finally, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment that has been disclosed as an example of the present invention. The above-described embodiment is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. It should be added that various changes can be made according to the design and the like even if other than the above.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile phone according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the automatic switching operation | movement to the manner mode in the mobile telephone of embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the transmission operation | movement of the transfer request signal to the manner mode in the mobile telephone of embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the switching operation | movement to the manner mode in the mobile telephone of embodiment which received the shift request signal to the manner mode.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna, 2 Communication circuit, 3 Speaker part, 4 Microphone part, 5 Display part, 6 Operation part, 7 Light emission part (LED), 8 Camera part, 9 Vibration unit, 10 Near field communication antenna, 11 Near field communication Unit, 12 memory, 13 Control unit

Claims (5)

Short-range wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a peripheral device; and
By counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication means is performing short-range wireless communication, the number of peripheral devices detecting means for detecting the number of devices existing around,
A portable terminal device comprising: function restriction means for stopping and controlling at least audio output from the speaker unit while the number of surrounding equipment detection means detects that a predetermined number or more of the equipments are present. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1,
A function restriction request signal transmitting means for controlling the short-range wireless communication means so as to transmit a function restriction request signal for requesting stop control of audio output from at least the speaker unit to each device existing in the surrounding area; ,
The portable terminal device characterized in that the function restriction means controls to stop at least audio output from a speaker unit when the function restriction request signal is received via the short-range wireless communication means. The mobile terminal device according to claim 2,
When the function restriction request signal is received via the short-range wireless communication means, the function restriction means displays a message asking whether the function is restricted on the display means, or makes a function restriction from the speaker unit. A voice to be inquired is output, and the voice output from at least the speaker unit is controlled to stop when an operation for approving the function restriction is performed from the display or voice output by the user via the operation means. Mobile terminal device. Causing the computer to function as a short-range wireless communication control means for controlling the short-range wireless communication means so as to perform short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a peripheral device,
By counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication means is performing short-range wireless communication, the computer functions as a peripheral device number detection means for detecting the number of devices existing in the vicinity,
By causing the computer to function as the peripheral device number detection unit, the computer is caused to function as a function limiting unit that stops and controls at least audio output from the speaker unit while it is detected that a predetermined number or more of the devices are present. A function restriction program for a portable terminal device. The short-range wireless communication control means controls the short-range wireless communication means so as to perform short-range wireless communication with a short-range wireless communication means provided in a device existing around;
A step of detecting the number of devices present in the surroundings by counting the number of devices in which the short-range wireless communication unit is performing short-range wireless communication in the step;
In the above step, while it is detected that a predetermined number or more of the devices are present in the surroundings, the function limiting means includes a step of stopping and controlling at least the audio output from the speaker unit. .

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