JP2010199753A - Portable terminal, method and program for searching telephone directory, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal which can perform telephone directory search by an intuitive operation only turning the portable terminal to a direction of a user, i.e., a communication partner whose telephone directory information is to be found. <P>SOLUTION: A display unit 16 displays telephone directory information regarding to a user searched as a communication partner on a screen based on a result of directional search which searches the user as the communication partner out of telephone directory information which exists in a direction of the portable terminal detected by an electronic compass 15 in a present position detected by a GPS unit 14 which detects the present position when the user operates a directional search key of an operation unit 17. When searching a user as the communication partner which exists in the direction shown by a direction of the portable terminal, the user as a communication partner whose position information showing that the portable terminal exists in the search area surrounded by vectors apart from a vector direction shown by a direction of the portable terminal detected via the electronic compass 15 by a predetermined angle, is registered as the telephone directory information is searched as a candidate for the screen display. The searched telephone directory information regarding to the user as the communication partner is displayed on the screen of the display unit 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal, a telephone directory search method, a telephone directory search program, and a program recording medium.

  In mobile phones, operations are becoming more complicated with higher functionality, and it is becoming increasingly important to improve operability so that users can operate intuitively.

  For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-317715 “Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program” of Patent Document 1, information is easily registered at a desired position on a map by operating a mobile terminal device. Proposals have also been made to enable this.

JP 2004-317715 A (pages 8-11)

  On the other hand, a telephone directory is registered in the mobile phone, and searching the telephone directory is one of important functions. However, the phone book search by name search or group search as in the prior art is relatively troublesome, and the improvement of the phone book search function will be an important issue for future mobile phones. It is coming.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an intuitive operation of only pointing a portable terminal in a direction in which a user of a communication partner to search for phone book information exists and only one key input. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal, a telephone directory search method, a telephone directory search program, and a program recording medium that can search a telephone directory and greatly improve user convenience.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the mobile terminal according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.

  (1) In a portable terminal having a function of making a telephone call to a communication partner user registered in the phone book information, a position detecting means for detecting the current position of the portable terminal and a direction detecting means for detecting the direction And, as the phone book information, the location information of each user who is a communication partner is registered in advance, thereby the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection unit at the current location indicated by the location detection unit A direction search for searching for a communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the direction from the phone book information is performed, and as a result of the direction search, the phone book information relating to the searched communication partner user is displayed as a direction search result screen. Mobile device to display.

  According to the portable terminal, the telephone directory search method, the telephone directory search program, and the program recording medium of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  Point the mobile terminal in the direction in which the user of the communication partner who wants to search the phone book information exists and press a predetermined key once as a trigger for starting the direction search without much effort in the phone book search. It is possible to search phone book information related to a user of a desired communication partner with the minimum number of operations.

  In addition, the operation of pointing the mobile terminal in the direction in which the user of the communication partner who is searching for the phone book information is present is an intuitive operation for the user of the mobile terminal. The book information can be searched, and the convenience for the user can be greatly improved.

It is a block block diagram which shows an example of the block configuration of the portable terminal which concerns on this invention. It is a control flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of the portable terminal shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the concept of the direction search which searches the telephone directory information regarding the user who exists in the direction which the portable terminal shown in FIG. 1 faces. It is a screen figure which is displaying the example of the mode of the direction search operation | movement of the portable terminal shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a mobile terminal, a telephone directory search method, a telephone directory search program, and a program recording medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the mobile terminal and the phone book search method according to the present invention will be described. However, the phone book search method may be implemented as a phone book search program executable by a computer, or Needless to say, the telephone directory search program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The mobile terminal according to the present invention may be any type of terminal as long as it is a terminal equipped with a telephone function, such as a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-Phone System), or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). good.

(Features of the present invention)
Prior to the description of the embodiments of the present invention, an outline of the features of the present invention will be described first. The present invention includes means for detecting the current position and the direction in which the mobile terminal is facing by mounting a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit and an electronic compass, and in the direction in which the mobile terminal is facing. It has the means to search and call the telephone book information of the subject who is located.

(Configuration example of embodiment)
Next, a configuration example of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an example of a block configuration of a mobile terminal according to the present invention. The mobile terminal shown in FIG. 1 includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the mobile terminal, a memory 12 that stores information, and a communication having a wireless communication function that connects to a wireless network such as an IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000) network. Unit 13, GPS unit 14 that can measure the current position, electronic compass 15 that includes a geomagnetic sensor (orientation sensor) using a semiconductor or the like that can measure the orientation (direction) of the mobile terminal, and various terminals The display unit 16 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like for displaying information, and an operation unit 17 such as a key input device for detecting a user operation.

(Description of operation of embodiment)
Next, the operation of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As a precondition, it is assumed that the position coordinates (longitude, latitude) of each user registered in the phone book are also stored in the memory 12 in advance in the phone book information of the user to be searched. The position coordinates are derived using conversion means for converting the address information of each user registered in the telephone directory into longitude information, latitude information, and the like. In addition, the user of the mobile terminal is directed to the direction search trigger (that is, the phone book information related to the user of the communication partner in a state where the mobile terminal is directed to the direction in which the user of the communication partner who is going to make a call exists. The key operation to be a trigger for performing a search of (1) is performed.

  FIG. 2 is a control flowchart showing an example of the operation of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 1, and shows an example of an operation for performing a telephone directory search (direction search) based on the direction measurement result. Note that each step in FIG. 2 is indicated by a reference numeral “AXXX”. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the concept of direction search for searching for phone book information related to users existing in the direction in which the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 1 is facing. FIG. 4 is a screen view showing an example of the direction search operation of the mobile terminal shown in FIG.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 2, when a trigger for instructing the start of direction search is generated by inputting a key (direction search key) or the like of the operation unit 17 as a direction search trigger (step A101), the processing of FIG. Is activated, and the display screen transitions from a screen displaying a waiting state such as display 1 in FIG. 4A to a direction search start state such as display 2 in FIG. 4B.

  Thereafter, the GPS unit 14 is used to make an inquiry about the current location information of the mobile terminal, and the latitude and longitude of the current location are acquired (step A102). Subsequently, using the electronic compass 15, the direction in which the mobile terminal is facing is acquired as angle information (step A103). Further, a search area to be searched for the phone book is calculated from the acquired latitude and longitude of the current position of the mobile terminal and angle information of the mobile terminal (step A104).

  The search area calculation method will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. The horizontal axis of the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 3 indicates the longitude, and the vertical axis indicates the latitude. The current position coordinates acquired in step A102 are displayed as the origin O. In addition, the angle with the north-south direction acquired as angle information by the electronic compass 15 in step A103 is represented by θ, and the direction (azimuth) of the portable terminal is represented by a vector d.

  In FIG. 3, a straight line extending from the origin O in the direction of the vector d is La, and an angle formed with the straight line La (vector La) is a predetermined angle φ, and a straight line Lb (vector Lb) starting from the origin O ) And a straight line Lc (vector Lc). A region including the vector d (a region indicated by hatching in FIG. 3) sandwiched between the calculated straight line Lb (vector Lb) and the straight line Lc (vector Lc) is calculated as a search area (search region). .

  FIG. 3 also shows the position coordinates (longitude and latitude) of each user A, B, C, D, E, and F registered in advance in the phone book of the portable terminal. The display example of FIG. 3 shows a case where only the user B exists in the search area indicated by the hatched portion among the users of the communication counterpart registered in the telephone directory.

  After calculating the search area in step A104, for each communication partner user registered in the phone book, it is confirmed whether there is a user whose location is registered in the calculated search area (step S104). A105) If there is a user whose location is registered (YES in step A105), the process proceeds to step A106.

  If there are users whose positions are registered in the search area, it is further confirmed whether or not there are a plurality of users whose positions are registered in the search area (step A106). In the display example of FIG. 3, as described above, only the user B exists in the search area. If there is a single user whose location is registered in the search area as shown in the display example of FIG. 3 (NO in A106), user B whose location is registered in the search area is selected as a display candidate for the phone book information. (Step A107).

  Accordingly, the selected phone book information of user B is displayed on the display unit 16 as a search result (direction search result screen) (step A109). In the display example of the search result, as shown in the display 3 of FIG. 4C, the phone book information related to the user B existing in the search area is displayed on the display unit 16 as the direction search result screen as a result of the direction search. Displayed on the screen. When an operation such as selecting a telephone number by pressing the telephone call key on the operation unit 17 (ie, an operation for instructing a telephone call operation) is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed. (YES in step A111), the pressing operation of the telephone call key serves as an end trigger for the direction search process, the direction search control is ended (step A112), and the portable terminal displays display 4 in FIG. Transition to the screen display during outgoing call as shown in FIG.

  If there are a plurality of users whose positions are registered in the search area in step A106 (YES in step A106), among the users in the search area, straight line La in FIG. 3 (that is, the direction of the mobile terminal). The user, for example, the user D registered at the position closest to is searched, and the searched user, for example, the user D is selected as a display candidate of the telephone directory information (step A108).

  Accordingly, the phone book information of the selected user, for example, user D, is displayed on the display unit 16 as a direction search result screen (step A109). Here, as a display example of the direction search result screen, as shown in the display 5 of FIG. 4E, the phone book registration information relating to the user, for example, the user D, present at the position closest to the straight line La is displayed on the display unit 16. Is displayed. When an operation such as a telephone number selection operation by pressing the telephone call key of the operation unit 17 is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed like this (YES in step A111), as described above, The pressing operation of the telephone call key serves as an end trigger for the direction search process, the direction search control is ended (step A112), the mobile terminal transitions to a screen display during a call, and goes to a call transmission operation or the like. Transition.

  On the other hand, when a phone book registration information related to the user D, for example, is displayed on the display unit 16 as a direction search result screen, a predetermined time elapses when a trigger for ending the direction search such as a key press of the operation unit 17 is completed. If not so (NO in step A111), the process returns to step A103, and the direction acquisition operation is again performed by the electronic compass 15 to repeat the direction search.

  Here, prior to the timing of returning to step A103, if the user of the mobile terminal slightly changes the orientation (azimuth) of the mobile terminal and rotates it slightly clockwise, for example, the re-direction search is performed. As a result, the search area is also slightly changed, so that the user who is registered at the position closest to the straight line La (vector La) is also a user different from the user D as shown in the display 5 in FIG. For example, it is changed to the user C, and the user C is selected as a display candidate for the phone book information.

  Therefore, as a result of the re-direction search, the selected user is changed from the user D to the user C, for example, and the phone book information of the user C is displayed on the display unit 16 as a direction search result screen (step A109). . As a display example of the direction search result screen, as shown in the display 6 of FIG. Displayed on the screen.

  If there is a user whose position is registered in the search area in step A105 (NO in step A105), as shown in the display 7 of FIG. “No person” is displayed on the display 16 (step A110).

  Here, when the screen indicating that “the person is not present” is displayed on the display unit 16, there is no trigger for ending the direction search such as key pressing of the operation unit 17 until a predetermined time elapses. (NO in step A111), it is assumed that the user has instructed to perform the direction search again, and the process returns to step A103. In performing the re-direction search operation, the user can re-search for users existing in the changed search area from among the users registered in the phone book by changing the orientation of the mobile terminal. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the phone book information related to the user searched by the direction search according to the direction of the mobile terminal is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen, and the predetermined time during the display of the direction search result screen is displayed. In the meantime, the direction of the mobile terminal was changed and the direction search was performed again without performing the key operation that triggered the direction search, and the direction of the changed mobile terminal was detected to search first. Although it is possible to search and display the phone book information related to another user different from the user, the present invention is not limited to such a case.

  For example, by performing a key operation instructing execution of a redirection search while the direction search result screen is displayed, the redirection search may be started immediately without waiting for a predetermined time to elapse. good.

  Further, in the direction search result screen, a next candidate display trigger means (for example, a key or an acceleration sensor) for displaying the next display candidate is prepared, and each time the next candidate display trigger means is input, the telephone directory Next to the user who is currently displaying the information, the user's telephone directory information that exists at a position close to the straight line La (that is, the direction of the mobile terminal) in FIG. 3 may be sequentially displayed.

  In addition, when the next candidate display trigger means is given instruction information about the rotation direction, and the instruction information about the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means is input, for example, to the right, the phone book information Is displayed in the right rotation direction from the user who is currently displaying, and the user closest to the straight line La (that is, the direction of the mobile terminal) in FIG. When there is an input to rotate in the left direction as the instruction information related to the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means, conversely, it is positioned in the left rotation direction, and the straight line La in FIG. The phone book information related to the user may be displayed with the next closest user as the next candidate user.

  In the above-described embodiment, the orientation of the portable terminal is calculated using the electronic compass 15, but an orientation measuring device other than the electronic compass may be used.

(Description of the effect of this embodiment)
As described in detail above, according to the present embodiment, the mobile terminal is directed in the direction in which there is a communication partner user who wants to search the phone book information without taking a lot of operations in the phone book search. Thus, it is possible to search the phone book information related to the user of the desired communication partner with the minimum number of operations by pressing a predetermined key once as a trigger for starting the direction search.

  In addition, the operation of pointing the mobile terminal in the direction in which the user of the communication partner who is searching for the phone book information is present is an intuitive operation for the user of the mobile terminal. The book information can be searched, and the convenience for the user can be greatly improved.

The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the embodiment of the present invention can be expressed as the following configuration in addition to the configuration (1) in the means for solving the problems.
(2) The mobile terminal according to (1), wherein the position detection unit includes a unit having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the direction detection unit includes an electronic compass.
(3) The above (1) or (1), further comprising a direction search key serving as a trigger for starting the direction search for searching for a communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal from the phone book information. (2) Mobile terminal.
(4) When searching for a communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal, a vector separated by a predetermined angle from the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. Phonebook information related to the searched communication partner user is searched for a communication partner user whose location information indicating that it exists in the enclosed search area is registered as the phonebook information as a screen display candidate. The mobile terminal according to any one of the above (1) to (3), which displays a screen as the direction search result screen.
(5) When a plurality of communication partner users existing in the search area are registered as the phone book information, the user is present at a position closest to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. The mobile terminal according to (4), wherein a user of a communication partner is searched as a screen display candidate, and phone book information related to the searched user of the communication partner is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.
(6) The portable terminal according to (4), wherein when a communication partner user existing in the search area is not registered in the phone book information, a screen is displayed to indicate that there is no communication partner user candidate.
(7) Next candidate display trigger means for instructing to switch to a user as a next display candidate of a communication partner user who is currently displaying a screen as the direction search result screen and to display the direction search result screen on the screen. Each time the next candidate display trigger means is operated, the corresponding communication partner user in order from the communication partner user present at a position close to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means The mobile terminal according to any one of the above (1) to (6), wherein the phone book information relating to the screen is displayed as the direction search result screen.
(8) Instruction information about the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means is given from the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal detected by the direction detection means by giving instruction information about the rotation direction to the next candidate display trigger means. For the communication partner user existing in the rotation direction indicated by the mobile terminal, the phone book information related to the user of the corresponding communication partner is displayed in the direction from the communication partner user existing in a position close to the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal according to (7), which is displayed as a search result screen.
(9) The telephone call key for instructing to make a call to a communication partner user displayed on the screen of the direction search result screen while the screen of the direction search result screen is being displayed ( 1) The portable terminal according to any one of (8).
(10) When a key operation serving as a trigger for ending the direction search is not performed by a predetermined time after the direction search result screen is displayed, the direction search is repeated again. The portable terminal according to any one of (1) to (9).
(11) The portable terminal according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the direction search is repeated when a key operation instructing re-execution of the direction search is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed. .
(12) A telephone directory search method in a mobile terminal having a function of making a telephone call to a communication partner user registered in the telephone directory information, the position detection means for detecting the current position of the mobile terminal; Direction detecting means for detecting the direction, and by registering in advance position information where each user as a communication partner exists as the telephone directory information, the direction detecting means at the current position indicated by the position detecting means The direction of searching for the communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal detected by the mobile phone is searched from the phone book information, and as a result of the direction search, the phone book information related to the searched communication partner is directed. Phonebook search method that displays the search result screen.
(13) The telephone directory search method according to the above (12), wherein the position detection means includes means having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the direction detection means includes an electronic compass.
(14) The above-described (12) or (12) including a direction search key serving as a trigger for starting a direction search for searching for a communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal from the telephone directory information. 13) Phonebook search method.
(15) When searching for a communication partner user existing in the direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal, a vector separated by a predetermined angle from the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. Phonebook information related to the searched communication partner user is searched for a communication partner user whose location information indicating that it exists in the enclosed search area is registered as the phonebook information as a screen display candidate. The telephone directory search method according to any one of the above (12) to (14), wherein the screen is displayed as the direction search result screen.
(16) When a plurality of communication partner users existing in the search area are registered as the phone book information, the user is present at a position closest to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. The telephone directory search method according to (15), wherein a communication partner user is searched as a screen display candidate, and the telephone directory information related to the searched communication partner user is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.
(17) The telephone directory search method according to (15), wherein when a communication partner user existing in the search area is not registered in the phone book information, a message indicating that there is no communication partner user candidate exists. .
(18) Next candidate display trigger means for instructing to switch to a user as a next display candidate of a communication partner user who is currently displaying a screen as the direction search result screen and to display the direction search result screen on the screen. Each time the next candidate display trigger means is operated, the corresponding communication partner user in order from the communication partner user present at a position close to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means The telephone directory search method according to any one of the above (12) to (17), wherein the telephone directory information relating to is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.
(19) Instruction information relating to the rotation direction is given to the next candidate display trigger means, and the instruction information relating to the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means from the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. For the communication partner user existing in the rotation direction indicated by the mobile terminal, the phone book information related to the user of the corresponding communication partner is displayed in the direction from the communication partner user existing in a position close to the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal. (18) The telephone directory search method according to (18) above, which is displayed on the screen as a search result screen.
(20) The telephone call key for instructing to make a call to a communication partner user displayed on the screen of the direction search result screen while the screen of the direction search result screen is displayed. The telephone directory search method according to any one of 12) to (19).
(21) When a key operation serving as a trigger for ending the direction search is not performed by a predetermined time after the direction search result screen is displayed, the direction search is repeated again. The telephone directory search method according to any one of (12) to (20).
(22) The telephone directory according to any one of (12) to (21), wherein the direction search is repeated when a key operation command for re-execution of the direction search is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed. retrieval method.
(23) A telephone directory search program that implements the telephone directory search method of any one of (12) to (22) as a program executable by a computer.
(24) A program recording medium in which the telephone directory search program of (23) is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 12 Memory 13 Communication part 14 GPS part 15 Electronic compass 16 Display part 17 Operation part

Claims (24)

  In a portable terminal having a function of making a telephone call to a communication partner user registered in the telephone directory information, the portable terminal includes a position detecting means for detecting the current position of the portable terminal and a direction detecting means for detecting the direction. In addition, by registering in advance location information where each user who is a communication partner exists as the telephone directory information, the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection unit at the current location indicated by the location detection unit is indicated. A direction search for searching for the communication partner user existing in the direction from the phone book information is performed, and as a result of the direction search, the phone book information relating to the searched communication partner user is displayed as a direction search result screen. A mobile terminal characterized by.   2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit includes a unit having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the direction detection unit includes an electronic compass.   2. A direction search key serving as a trigger for starting the direction search for searching for a communication partner user existing in a direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal from the telephone directory information. Or the portable terminal of 2.   When searching for a communication partner user that exists in the direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal, the user is surrounded by a vector that is separated by a predetermined angle from the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. The communication partner user whose position information indicating that it exists in the search area is registered as the phone book information is searched as a screen display candidate, and the phone book information related to the searched user of the communication partner is displayed in the direction. 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is displayed as a search result screen.   When a plurality of users of communication partners existing in the search area are registered as the phone book information, the communication partner existing at a position closest to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. 5. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein a user is searched as a screen display candidate, and phone book information related to the searched user of the communication partner is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.   5. The mobile phone according to claim 4, wherein, when a communication partner user existing in the search area is not registered in the telephone directory information, a message is displayed to the effect that there is no communication partner user candidate. Terminal.   The next candidate display trigger means for instructing to switch to the user as the next display candidate of the communication partner user who is currently displaying the screen as the direction search result screen and to display the direction search result screen on the screen, Each time the next candidate display trigger means is operated, a telephone directory relating to the corresponding communication partner user in order from the communication partner user existing at a position close to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. 7. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein information is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.   Rotation indicated by the instruction information about the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means is given from the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal detected by the direction detection means by giving instruction information about the rotation direction to the next candidate display trigger means. For the communication partner user existing in the direction, the telephone directory information related to the user of the corresponding communication partner is sequentially displayed from the communication partner user existing in a position close to the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the mobile terminal is displayed as a screen.   A telephone call key for instructing to make a call to a communication partner user displayed on the screen of the direction search result screen while the direction search result screen is displayed is provided. The mobile terminal according to claim 1.   After the display of the direction search result screen, when the key operation serving as a trigger for ending the direction search is not performed until a predetermined time elapses, the direction search is repeated again. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 9.   The mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the direction search is repeated when a key operation instructing re-execution of the direction search is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed. Terminal.   A phone book search method in a mobile terminal having a function of making a phone call to a communication partner user registered in the phone book information, the position detecting means for detecting the current position of the mobile terminal and the direction detection And detecting the position at the current position indicated by the position detecting means by previously registering the position information of each user as a communication partner as the telephone directory information. A direction search for searching for the user of the communication partner existing in the direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal from the phone book information is performed, and as a result of the direction search, the phone book information related to the searched communication partner is displayed as a direction search result screen. A telephone directory search method, characterized in that it is displayed as a screen.   13. The telephone directory search method according to claim 12, wherein the position detecting means comprises means having a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, and the direction detecting means comprises an electronic compass.   13. A direction search key serving as a trigger for starting a direction search for searching for a communication partner user existing in a direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal from the telephone directory information is provided. 14. The telephone directory search method according to 13.   When searching for a communication partner user that exists in the direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal, the user is surrounded by a vector that is separated by a predetermined angle from the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. The communication partner user whose position information indicating that it exists in the search area is registered as the phone book information is searched as a screen display candidate, and the phone book information related to the searched user of the communication partner is displayed in the direction. The telephone directory search method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein a screen is displayed as a search result screen.   When a plurality of users of communication partners existing in the search area are registered as the phone book information, the communication partner existing at a position closest to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. 16. The telephone directory search method according to claim 15, wherein a user is searched as a screen display candidate, and the telephone directory information related to the searched communication partner user is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.   16. The telephone according to claim 15, wherein when a communication partner user existing in the search area is not registered in the telephone directory information, a screen display is displayed indicating that there is no communication partner user candidate. Book search method.   The next candidate display trigger means for instructing to switch to the user as the next display candidate of the communication partner user who is currently displaying the screen as the direction search result screen and to display the direction search result screen on the screen, Each time the next candidate display trigger means is operated, a telephone directory relating to the corresponding communication partner user in order from the communication partner user existing at a position close to the vector direction indicated by the orientation of the mobile terminal detected by the orientation detection means. 18. The telephone directory search method according to claim 12, wherein information is displayed on the screen as the direction search result screen.   Rotation indicated by the instruction information about the rotation direction of the next candidate display trigger means is given from the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal detected by the direction detection means by giving instruction information about the rotation direction to the next candidate display trigger means. For the communication partner user existing in the direction, the telephone directory information related to the user of the corresponding communication partner is sequentially displayed from the communication partner user existing in a position close to the vector direction indicated by the direction of the mobile terminal. 19. The telephone directory search method according to claim 18, wherein the phonebook search method is displayed as a screen.   A telephone call key for instructing to make a call to a communication partner user displayed on the screen of the direction search result screen while the direction search result screen is displayed is provided. The telephone directory search method according to claim 12.   After the display of the direction search result screen, when the key operation serving as a trigger for ending the direction search is not performed until a predetermined time elapses, the direction search is repeated again. The telephone directory search method according to any one of claims 12 to 20.   The telephone according to any one of claims 12 to 21, wherein the direction search is repeated when a key operation instructing re-execution of the direction search is performed while the direction search result screen is displayed. Book search method.   23. A telephone directory search program, wherein the telephone directory search method according to claim 12 is implemented as a program executable by a computer. 24. A program recording medium, wherein the telephone directory search program according to claim 23 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

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