JP2011055392A - Communication terminal, method of receiving light emission pattern in the same, and program of the communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a communication terminal allowing a user to acquire information from the outside without being aware thereof, and capable of starting a specific operation based on the information from the outside, to provide a method of receiving a light emission pattern in the same, and to provide a program of the communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: This communication terminal includes a light reception means 104 to receive a light emission pattern from the outside, and start another application in response to the received light emission pattern. The light emission means 104 is formed as a part of a function of a standby application 105. Thus, the light reception means 104 automatically starts operation and ends the operation with the standby application 105 without consciously starting and ending the operation by a user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication terminal device such as a mobile phone, a method for receiving a light emission pattern in the communication terminal device, and a program for the communication terminal device.

  As portable communication terminal devices such as mobile phone terminals become widespread, apart from the original communication function, a request to send various information from the outside to the communication terminal device and display the information etc. on the communication terminal device Has occurred.

  As a method for transmitting information from the outside, there is known an optical communication technique in which light is emitted by a specific light emission pattern and information is acquired by reading the light emission pattern (for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document). 1). In the techniques disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Non-Patent Literature 1, information is superimposed on visible light such as illumination, and information identification means is provided in a portable device such as a personal computer (PC), so that visible light can be obtained. The information superimposed on is acquired.

JP 2008-204423 A Japanese Patent No. 3574452

Shuji Suzuki, “Current Status and Future Prospects of Visible Light Communication”, Information Processing, Information Processing Society of Japan, May 2009, Vol 50, No. 5, P418-P425

  However, in order to receive optical communication and acquire information, it was necessary to operate a function for receiving a light emission pattern and performing analysis (hereinafter referred to as an optical signal receiving function). . For example, there is a problem that it is not easy to use because it is necessary for the user to start the operation of the optical signal receiving function by actively performing the operation.

  Further, when the user is not allowed to perform an active operation in order to operate the optical signal receiving function, it is necessary to always operate the optical signal receiving function. Therefore, in such a case, even when there is no need to receive the light emission pattern, power is always consumed, and a device that uses a small battery with improved portability is used. There was a problem that it was difficult to apply.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, the power on the passive module side is supplied from the active module through the space, so that reception standby for information detection on the passive module side is unnecessary, and information detection is performed. A non-contact transmission device that does not require constant power supply is disclosed.

  In the technique of Patent Document 2, power for electric power from an external electromagnetic wave is used as an opportunity to operate the device, but the electromagnetic wave cannot be made very strong for safety reasons or legal reasons. Therefore, the distance between the devices is limited, and the electromagnetic head on the signal transmission side needs to be close to the electromagnetic head on the reception side. Therefore, there has been a problem that active information acquisition is required in which the user acts to acquire information by himself / herself.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a communication terminal device that can acquire information from the outside without being conscious of the user and can start a specific operation based on the information from the outside, a light-receiving pattern light receiving method in the communication terminal device, and communication It is to provide a terminal device program.

  The present invention proposes the following matters in order to solve the above problems. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.

(1) The present invention is a communication terminal device (100) having a communication function using radio waves, which receives a light emission pattern from the outside and activates another application in accordance with the received light emission pattern. Optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) is provided, and the optical signal receiving means is automatically activated when a predetermined operating condition is met without intentionally starting and ending the operation by the user. The communication terminal device is characterized in that the operation is started automatically and the operation is automatically terminated when the operation condition is not met.

  According to the present invention, the optical signal receiving means receives a light emission pattern from the outside and activates another application in accordance with the received light emission pattern. In addition, the optical signal receiving means starts the operation automatically when it meets a predetermined operation condition without intentionally starting and ending the operation by the user, and does not meet the operation condition The operation ends automatically. Therefore, information can be acquired from the outside without the user being conscious, and a specific operation can be started based on the information from the outside.

(2) In the communication terminal device according to (1), the optical signal receiving unit (106) includes a light receiving unit (104) that receives a light emission pattern of light from the outside, and the light receiving unit Pattern detecting means (106) for detecting that the light emission pattern is received, and pattern analysis means (107) for associating the other application to be activated according to the specific light emission pattern received by the light receiving means. The communication terminal device is characterized in that, when the optical signal receiving means does not operate, at least one of the light receiving means, the pattern detecting means, and the pattern analyzing means is stopped. .

  According to this invention, the light receiving means receives the light emission pattern of light from the outside. The pattern detecting means detects that the light receiving means has received a specific light emission pattern. The pattern analysis unit associates another application to be activated according to the specific light emission pattern received by the light receiving unit. When the optical signal receiving unit does not operate, at least one of the light receiving unit, the pattern detecting unit, and the pattern analyzing unit is stopped. Therefore, by appropriately setting the function to be stopped according to the configuration of the communication terminal device, power consumption can be effectively reduced without waste.

(3) In the communication terminal device according to (1) or (2), the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) starts operating when the standby application (105) is activated. The communication terminal device is characterized in that the operation is stopped when the standby application ends.

  According to the present invention, the optical signal receiving means starts operating when the standby application is activated, and stops operating when the standby application ends. Therefore, the operation of the optical signal receiving means can be performed only when the user is using the communication terminal device, the power consumption can be reduced, and the presence of an application to be activated according to the light emission pattern can be indicated to the user. Can be easily recognized.

(4) According to the present invention, in the communication terminal device according to (3), the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) is provided as a part of the function of the standby application (105). A communication terminal device is proposed.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means is provided as a part of the function of the standby application. Therefore, it is possible to start and stop the operation together with the standby application.

(5) In the communication terminal device according to (1) or (2), at least a part of the housing (101, 102) is provided to be movable between a use form and a storage form. The optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) starts operating when at least a part of the casing is moved from the storage mode to the usage mode, and at least a part of the casing is The communication terminal device is characterized in that the operation is terminated when moving from the usage mode to the storage mode.

  According to the present invention, at least a part of the housing is provided so as to be movable between the use form and the storage form. The optical signal receiving unit starts operating when at least a part of the housing moves from the storage mode to the usage mode, and ends when at least a part of the housing moves from the usage mode to the storage mode. To do. Therefore, the optical signal receiving means can operate when the user is highly likely to use the communication terminal device.

(6) In the communication terminal device according to (1) or (2), the present invention includes a plurality of operation members (101a), and the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) includes the plurality of operation members (104, 106, 108). The communication terminal device is characterized in that the operation starts when at least one of the operation members is operated.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means starts operation when at least one of the plurality of operation members is operated. Therefore, the optical signal receiving means can operate when the user is highly likely to use the communication terminal device.

(7) The present invention provides the communication terminal device according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) is an operation of the optical signal receiving means. Has proposed a communication terminal device characterized in that the operation is terminated according to the elapsed time from another different operation.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving unit ends the operation in accordance with the elapsed time from another operation different from the operation of the optical signal receiving unit. Therefore, the operation of the optical signal receiving means can be automatically terminated by the timer count after the communication terminal device performs some operation, and the power consumption can be suppressed.

(8) The present invention provides the communication terminal device according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) activates the other application. The communication terminal device is characterized in that the operation ends.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means ends the operation when another application is activated. Therefore, the operation can be shifted to another application in response to reception of the optical signal.

(9) In the communication terminal device according to any one of (1) to (8), the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) receives a light emission pattern by visible light. The communication terminal device characterized by this is proposed.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means receives the light emission pattern by visible light. Therefore, the light emission pattern using visible light can be received.

(10) In the communication terminal device according to any one of (1) to (8), the optical signal receiving unit (104, 106, 108) receives a light emission pattern by infrared light. The communication terminal device characterized by doing is proposed.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means receives a light emission pattern by infrared light. Therefore, the light emission pattern using infrared light can be received.

(11) The present invention is a light emission pattern light receiving method in a communication terminal device having a communication function using radio waves, and receives a light emission pattern of light from the outside, and another application according to the received light emission pattern The optical signal receiving step (S10 to S50) is activated when the user meets a predetermined operating condition without intentionally starting and ending the operation. There has been proposed a light receiving method of a light emission pattern in a communication terminal device, characterized in that the operation is automatically started and the operation is automatically terminated when the operation condition is not met.

  According to the present invention, in the optical signal receiving step, a light emission pattern of light from the outside is received, and another application is activated according to the received light emission pattern. Also, in the optical signal receiving step, the operation is automatically started when it meets a predetermined operation condition without intentionally starting and ending by the user, and does not meet the operation condition. When the operation ends automatically. Therefore, information can be acquired from the outside without the user being conscious, and a specific operation can be started based on the information from the outside.

(12) The present invention is a program used in a communication terminal device having a communication function using radio waves, and the computer of the communication terminal device receives a light emission pattern of light from the outside, and converts the received light emission pattern into a received light emission pattern. In response, the optical signal receiving means (104, 106, 108) is activated in advance, and the optical signal receiving means is determined in advance without intentionally starting and ending the operation by the user. A communication terminal device program is proposed in which an operation is automatically started when an operation condition is met and an operation is automatically terminated when the operation condition is not met.

  According to this invention, the optical signal receiving means receives the light emission pattern of the light from the outside, and activates another application in accordance with the received light emission pattern. In addition, the optical signal receiving means does not consciously start and end the operation by the user, automatically starts the operation when it meets a predetermined operation condition, and does not meet the operation condition. When the operation ends automatically. Therefore, information can be acquired from the outside without the user being conscious, and a specific operation can be started based on the information from the outside.

  According to the present invention, information can be acquired from the outside without the user being conscious, and a specific operation can be started based on the information from the outside.

It is a figure which shows embodiment of the communication terminal device 100 by this invention. It is the figure which extracted from the internal structure of the communication terminal device 100 to the application starting by light reception. It is a figure explaining the light-receiving means 104 in detail. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement regarding the light emission pattern detection of the communication terminal device 100 of this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Note that the constituent elements in the present embodiment can be appropriately replaced with existing constituent elements and the like, and various variations including combinations with other existing constituent elements are possible. Therefore, the description of the present embodiment does not limit the contents of the invention described in the claims.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a communication terminal device 100 according to the present invention.
The communication terminal device 100 of the present embodiment is a mobile phone having a communication function using radio waves, and can receive optical communication from the light emitting device 200 separately from the communication function using radio waves.

  The communication terminal device 100 of this embodiment includes a first housing 101 and a second housing 102. The first casing 101 is provided with operation keys 101a. The second housing 102 is provided with a display unit 102a and an optical sensor unit 104a. The first housing 101 and the second housing 102 are foldably connected via the hinge 103, and can be moved between the usage mode shown in FIG. 1 and the folded storage mode (not shown). It is. In the usage mode shown in FIG. 1, the optical sensor unit 104 a is exposed to the outside and can receive light from the outside. However, in the folded state, the optical sensor unit 104 a is covered with the first housing 101 and receives light from the outside. Will not reach.

FIG. 2 is a diagram excerpted from the internal configuration of the communication terminal apparatus 100 until the application is activated by light reception.
The communication terminal device 100 includes a light receiving unit 104, a standby application 105, a pattern detection unit 106, a pattern analysis unit 107, and an application storage unit 108.

  The light receiving unit 104 includes an optical sensor unit 104a and a driver 104b. The light receiving unit 104 receives a light emission pattern of light emitted from the external light emitting device 200, and activates another application according to the received light emission pattern. Here, the light emission pattern refers to a pattern that combines a length of time during which light is emitted and a length of time during which light is not emitted when instantaneous light emission is repeated continuously in a very short time. Yes.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the light receiving means 104 in more detail.
As shown in FIG. 3, the optical sensor unit 104a includes a light receiving element Tr1, a switch element Tr2, and resistors R1, R2, and R3. Note that the switch element Tr2 is preferably made of a semiconductor having properties like a transistor, for example.

  When the light emission pattern is not detected, no voltage is applied to the terminal T1 from the driver 104b. Therefore, since the switch element Tr2 does not flow current, no current flows through the light receiving element Tr1, and the power consumption is zero.

When detecting the light emission pattern, a voltage is applied to the terminal T1 from the driver 104b. Therefore, the switch element Tr2 can flow a current, the light receiving element Tr1 can flow a current according to the light reception of the light emission pattern, and the terminal T2 corresponds to the light emission pattern received by the light reception element Tr1. A voltage change occurs and can be acquired as a received signal.
Note that the optical sensor unit 104a of the present embodiment has a function of detecting the brightness of the environment where the communication terminal apparatus 100 exists (the brightness of the ambient light) in addition to the detection of the light emission pattern. The brightness of the environment detected by this function is used to adjust the brightness of the display unit 102a or to determine whether or not to turn on the illumination of the operation key 101a.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the standby application 105 is an application that starts up in a state where the communication terminal device 100 is waiting for a user operation or an incoming call (hereinafter referred to as a standby state). The standby application 105 uses the display unit 102a to display various types of information such as radio wave status and date / time, and to display photos, characters, and the like to the user. The standby application 105 is activated in a usage pattern in which the first casing 101 and the second casing 102 are opened, and ends when the first casing 101 and the second casing 102 are folded. In addition, the standby application 105 ends when the operation by the user is not performed for a certain period of time or more even when the housing is in the usage mode. In this way, the standby application 105 operates only when necessary, so that wasteful power consumption can be suppressed.

The pattern detection unit 106 is provided as a part of the function of the standby application 105. Therefore, the pattern detection unit 106 operates only when the standby application 105 is activated.
The pattern detection means 106 starts operating simultaneously with the activation of the standby application 105, and instructs the optical sensor unit 104a to start detection (application of voltage) via the driver 104b.

While the light sensor unit 104 a is detecting the light emission pattern, the pattern detection unit 106 acquires a reception signal from the light receiving unit 104.
When the pattern detection unit 106 obtains the reception signal from the light receiving unit 104, the pattern detection unit 106 determines whether or not the reception signal includes a signal of a specific light emission pattern. Specifically, the pattern detection unit 106 refers to the pattern analysis unit 107 and determines whether or not the received signal matches a specific light emission pattern stored in the pattern analysis unit 107. Here, the specific light emission pattern stored in the pattern analysis unit 107 is a light emission pattern associated with an application stored in the application storage unit 108 described later. Then, when the reception signal acquired from the light receiving unit 104 includes a signal of a specific light emission pattern, the pattern detection unit 106 requests the application associated with the light emission pattern to be activated. .

  The pattern detecting unit 106 ends the operation at the same time as the standby application 105 ends. When the operation ends, the pattern detection unit 106 also stops the application of the voltage applied to the optical sensor unit 104a via the driver 104b (detection). Stop instructions).

  The pattern analysis unit 107 stores a specific light emission pattern in association with each of a plurality of applications stored in the application storage unit 108. For example, a certain light emission pattern (referred to as light emission pattern A) is associated with a television broadcast receiving application, and another light emission pattern (referred to as light emission pattern B) is a web page at an address included as information in the light emission pattern. It is associated with a web connection application that connects to. The pattern analyzing unit 107 starts operating when the pattern detecting unit 106 starts operating, and ends operating when the pattern detecting unit 106 ends.

  The application storage unit 108 stores a plurality of applications, and some of the stored applications are associated with specific light emission patterns in the pattern analysis unit 107, respectively.

  The light receiving means 104, the pattern detecting means 106, and the pattern analyzing means 107 described above form an optical signal receiving means for receiving information sent by the light emission pattern. Here, as described above, the pattern detection unit 106 is provided as a part of the function of the standby application 105. Since the pattern detecting unit 106 controls the light receiving unit 104 and the pattern analyzing unit 107, the function of the optical signal receiving unit is provided as a part of the function of the standby application 105.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation related to light emission pattern detection of the communication terminal apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.
In step (hereinafter referred to as S) 10, the pattern detection means 106 is activated and the detection of the light emission pattern is started. At this time, the pattern detecting unit 106 instructs the light receiving unit 104 to start detection (application of voltage) as described above.

  In S20, the pattern detection unit 106 determines whether or not any light emission pattern has been received. If any light emission pattern is received, the process proceeds to S30. If no light emission pattern is received yet, this S20 is repeated to continue detection of the light emission pattern.

  In S30, the pattern detection unit 106 refers to the pattern analysis unit 107.

  In S <b> 40, the pattern detection unit 106 determines whether a specific light emission pattern (light emission pattern associated with the application) is detected as a result of referring to the pattern analysis unit 107. When a specific light emission pattern is detected, the process proceeds to S50, and when a specific light emission pattern is not detected, the process returns to S20.

  In S50, the pattern detection unit 106 generates an activation request for activating an application associated with the detected specific light emission pattern. The application that has received this activation request is activated and starts operating the application. Simultaneously with the activation of the application, the standby application 105 including the function of the pattern detection unit 106 is terminated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation related to the detection of the light emission pattern is performed only while the standby application 105 is operating. Therefore, useless power consumption can be suppressed. In a notebook personal computer or the like, since a relatively large battery is mounted, it is possible to always detect a light emission pattern. However, the cellular phone as in the present embodiment has only a small battery, and if the light emission pattern is constantly detected, the usable time of the cellular phone may be significantly shortened. However, according to the present embodiment, the power consumption can be greatly reduced without greatly impairing the convenience relating to the detection and use of the light emission pattern. Moreover, the light emission pattern detection can be started when necessary without making the user aware of it. Furthermore, the application can be automatically activated by a specific light emission pattern at a timing when the user can easily notice.

  Note that the processing of the communication terminal device is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, the program recorded on the recording medium is read into the communication terminal device, and executed, thereby executing light emission in the communication terminal device and the communication terminal device of the present invention. A pattern light receiving method can be realized. The computer system here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

  Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW (World Wide Web) system is used. The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.

  The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments, and includes designs and the like that do not depart from the gist of the present invention.

(Deformation)
(1) In the present embodiment, a mobile phone has been described as an example of the communication terminal device. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be a communication terminal device of another form such as a notebook personal computer or a game machine having a communication function.

(2) In the present embodiment, a mobile phone having a foldable casing has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mobile phone may be a mobile phone in which two separate housings are formed so as to be relatively slidable, and a lid member that covers only the operation member is formed to be movable. It may be a mobile phone. Further, the movable housing portion may not be provided.

(3) In the present embodiment, the pattern detection unit 106 has been described as an example provided as a part of the function of the standby application 105. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a function independent of the standby application 105 may be provided. In this case, for example, the pattern detection unit may start and stop the operation with the start and end of the standby application, or set an operation condition different from that of the standby application and start and end the operation at different timings. You may do it.

(4) In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the optical sensor unit 104a, the pattern detection unit 106, and the pattern analysis unit 107 all stop operating when the light receiving unit 104 does not operate. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least one of these operations may be stopped.

(5) In the present embodiment, the pattern detection unit 106 has been described with an example in which the operation is terminated together with the standby application 105. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation may be ended according to an elapsed time (timer count) from another operation different from the operation of the pattern detection unit 106 such as a specific key operation.

  In addition, although this embodiment and modification can also be used in combination as appropriate, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Communication terminal device 101 1st housing | casing 101a Operation key 102 2nd housing | casing 102a Display part 103 Hinge part 104 Light receiving means 104a Optical sensor part 104b Driver 105 Standby application 106 Pattern detection means 107 Pattern analysis means 108 Application memory | storage part

Claims (12)

A communication terminal device having a communication function using radio waves,
An optical signal receiving means for receiving a light emission pattern from the outside and starting another application according to the received light emission pattern,
When the optical signal receiving means does not consciously start and end the operation by the user, automatically starts when the predetermined operating conditions are met, and does not meet the operating conditions Automatically end the operation,
A communication terminal device. The communication terminal device according to claim 1,
The optical signal receiving means includes
A light receiving means for receiving a light emission pattern of light from the outside;
Pattern detecting means for detecting that the light receiving means has received a specific light emission pattern; and
Pattern analysis means for associating the other application to be activated according to the specific light emission pattern received by the light receiving means;
With
When the optical signal receiving means does not operate, stopping at least one of the light receiving means, the pattern detecting means, and the pattern analyzing means;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
The optical signal receiving means starts operating when the standby application is activated, and stops operating when the standby application is terminated;
A communication terminal device. The communication terminal device according to claim 3.
The optical signal receiving means is provided as a part of the function of the standby application;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
At least a part of the housing is provided so as to be movable between the use form and the storage form.
The optical signal receiving means starts operation when at least a part of the casing moves from the storage mode to the usage mode, and at least a part of the casing shifts from the usage mode to the storage mode. End the movement when moving,
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of operation members,
The optical signal receiving means starts operating when at least one of the plurality of operating members is operated;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The optical signal receiving means ends the operation according to the elapsed time from another operation different from the operation of the optical signal receiving means;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The optical signal receiving means terminates the operation when the other application is activated;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The optical signal receiving means receives a light emission pattern by visible light;
A communication terminal device. In the communication terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The optical signal receiving means receives a light emission pattern by infrared light;
A communication terminal device. A method for receiving a light emission pattern in a communication terminal device having a communication function using radio waves,
An optical signal receiving step of receiving a light emission pattern of light from the outside and starting another application according to the received light emission pattern,
The optical signal receiving step starts automatically when the user meets a predetermined operating condition without intentionally starting and ending the operation, and when the user does not meet the operating condition. Automatically end the operation,
A method for receiving a light emission pattern in a communication terminal device. A program used in a communication terminal device having a communication function using radio waves,
The computer of the communication terminal device receives a light emission pattern from the outside, and functions as an optical signal receiving unit that activates another application according to the received light emission pattern,
When the optical signal receiving means does not consciously start and end the operation by the user, automatically starts when the predetermined operating conditions are met, and does not meet the operating conditions Automatically end the operation,
A program for a communication terminal device.

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