JP2012213204A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to release in a simple operation a lock state in which a start of a predetermined function is prohibited in an electronic apparatus.SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus that has operating means for inputting characters and keys for inputting characters and that can assume a first state in which the operating means is exposed out and the keys are not exposed and a second state in which the operating means and the keys are exposed out includes a lock control section for, in a lock state in which a start of a predetermined function is prohibited, comparing a character string including characters input by the operating means and characters input by the keys with a predetermined character string to determine whether or not to release the lock state.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  In recent years, electronic devices such as mobile phones have been miniaturized and improved in performance, and a plurality of housings can be freely opened and closed. When not in use, they are carried in a closed and compact state and opened when used. The number of electronic devices used in the state is increasing. In such an electronic device, in order to prevent an erroneous operation when not in use, an operation key for inputting characters, numbers, and the like is not exposed to the outside when the electronic device is closed.

  In addition, when these electronic devices are not used, an operation lock is often applied to prevent an erroneous operation, and the user needs to input a specific lock number to release the operation lock. There are many. To enter a lock number in an electronic device that is in a closed state, it is necessary to enter the lock number after transforming the electronic device to an open state, and the user can use only one hand. In some cases, or when it is desired to perform only possible simple operations even when the electronic device is closed, it is troublesome to open the electronic device and enter the lock number one by one.

  Therefore, in a device having a configuration in which the relative positional relationship between the two housings can be changed by a connecting portion such as a hinge, it is possible to input characters, numbers, a password, etc. without using a key operation. An electronic device that can be used has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). This electronic device detects, in an electronic device in which a plurality of housings are connected by a hinge mechanism, a rotation operation state when the user relatively rotates the plurality of housings for four times, and the rotation for the four times. The information of the combination of operations and the password information registered in advance are compared, and when they match, the function of this electronic device is made available.

  An electronic device that can be opened and closed. Especially, a slide-type electronic device with the display exposed to the outside even when it is closed has the advantage of being able to see the display screen even when it is closed. When it is necessary to release, the numeric key cannot be operated unless it is deformed to the open state, so the advantage of the slide method that the screen can be viewed while being closed has to be sacrificed.

  In addition, when a mail is received when the lock is set on these electronic devices, even if the user wants to send a simple reply mail such as “OK” or “Thank you”, the electronic device It was inconvenient because it was necessary to input the body of the mail after transforming it into an open state.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-303797

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an electronic device that allows a user to release the locked state with a simple operation when the electronic device is in a locked state in which activation of a predetermined function is prohibited It is an issue to provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first state having an operation means for inputting characters and a key for inputting characters, wherein the operation means is exposed to the outside and the keys are not exposed, and the operation means, The electronic device capable of taking the second state in which the key is exposed to the outside is input by the character and the key input by the operation means in a locked state in which activation of a predetermined function is prohibited. A lock control unit that determines whether or not the lock state can be released by comparing a character string including a character with a predetermined character string.

  When a lock state in which a predetermined function is not activated in the electronic device is set, the user can release the lock state with a simple operation.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a closed state of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing an open state of the mobile phone according to the embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the mobile phone of the embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a key arrangement in the closed state of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a key arrangement in the opened state of the mobile phone in the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the key arrangement | sequence table of the mobile telephone of embodiment. FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of inputting a numerical value using a rotary key in the mobile phone of the embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a numerical value using the rotary key in the mobile phone of the embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating the method to input. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of performing the lock release process in the mobile telephone of embodiment. FIG. 7A to FIG. 7E are screen transition diagrams when performing unlocking processing in the mobile phone of the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of performing the lock number input process in the mobile telephone of embodiment. FIG. 9A to FIG. 9G are screen transition diagrams when the lock number input process is performed in the mobile phone according to the embodiment. 10A to 10C are screen transition diagrams when the lock number input process is performed in the mobile phone according to the embodiment. FIG. 11A to FIG. 11D are screen transition diagrams when the lock number input process is performed in the mobile phone according to the embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of performing the mail reply process in the mobile telephone of embodiment. FIG. 13A to FIG. 13E are screen transition diagrams when mail reply processing is performed in the mobile phone of the embodiment. FIG. 14A is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of inputting a numerical value using a rotary key in the mobile phone of the embodiment, and FIG. 14B is an input using direction keys in the mobile phone of the embodiment. It is the schematic for demonstrating the method of confirming / clearing.

[First Embodiment]
An embodiment of a mobile phone as an example of an electronic device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example of the mobile phone according to the embodiment, an openable / closable mobile phone 1 in which a plurality of casings are slidably coupled to each other will be described as an example.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the mobile phone 1 in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the mobile phone 1 in an open state. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the mobile phone 1 includes a rectangular plate-shaped upper housing 10 and a lower housing 11 having substantially the same shape as the upper housing 10. In a closed state, they are formed by being laminated so as to cover one surface. The upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11 are coupled so as to be slidable by a predetermined length in a predetermined direction, and are closed by sliding the upper housing 10 with respect to the lower housing 11. It is transformed from an open state to an open state, or from an open state to a closed state.

  On the outer surface of the upper housing 10 (the surface not facing the lower housing 11), a display 12 for displaying a screen made up of characters, images, etc., a speaker 13 for outputting sound, and a user inputs instructions A plurality of operation keys 14 are provided. The display 12, the speaker 13, and the operation keys 14 are provided so as to be exposed to the outside regardless of whether the cellular phone 1 is closed or opened. Therefore, even when the cellular phone 1 is closed or opened, the user can visually recognize the display 12 and press (rotate) the operation key 14.

  On the inner surface of the lower housing 11 (the surface facing the upper housing 10), a plurality of operation keys 15 for a user to input instructions and a microphone 16 for collecting sound are provided. These operation keys 15 and microphone 16 are covered with the upper casing 10 and not exposed to the outside when the cellular phone 1 is closed, but the upper casing 10 is slid with respect to the lower casing 11. When it is deformed into an open state, it is exposed to the outside. Therefore, the user can press the operation key 15 when the mobile phone 1 is open, but the user cannot press the operation key 15 when the mobile phone 1 is closed.

  A plurality of side keys 17 for a user to input instructions are provided on the side surface of the lower housing 11. These side keys 17 are provided so as to be exposed to the outside regardless of whether the cellular phone 1 is closed or opened. Therefore, the user can press the side key 17 regardless of whether the cellular phone 1 is closed or opened.

  Next, functions of the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 includes a main control unit 20, a power supply circuit unit 21, an operation input control unit 22, a display control unit 23, a voice control unit 24, a communication control unit 25, a storage unit 26, and a lock. The control unit 27 is configured to be connected to each other by a bus.

  The main control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), performs overall control of the mobile phone 1, and performs mail reply processing, which will be described later, and various other arithmetic processing and control processing. The power supply circuit unit 21 switches the power on / off state based on an input by the user via the operation key 14, and supplies power to each unit from a power supply source (battery or the like) when the power is on. Thus, the mobile phone 1 is made operable.

  The operation input control unit 22 includes an input interface for the operation keys 14 and 15 and the side key 17. When the operation key 14, the operation key 15 and the side key 17 are detected to be pressed (rotated), the operation input control unit 22 is pressed (rotated). A signal indicating the key is generated, and this signal is transmitted to the main control unit 20. The display control unit 23 includes a display interface for the display 12 and displays information such as documents and images on the display 12 based on the control of the main control unit 20.

  The voice control unit 24 generates an analog voice signal from the voice collected by the microphone 16 based on the control of the main control unit 20 and converts the analog voice signal into a digital voice signal. Further, when acquiring the digital audio signal, the audio control unit 24 converts the digital audio signal into an analog audio signal based on the control of the main control unit 20 and outputs the analog audio signal as audio from the speaker 13.

  Based on the control of the main control unit 20, the communication control unit 25 performs spectrum despreading processing on the received signal received from the base station (not shown) via the antenna 25a to restore the data. This data is transmitted to the sound control unit 24 and output from the speaker 13 according to an instruction from the main control unit 20, transmitted to the display control unit 23 and displayed on the display 12, or recorded in the storage unit 26. To do. Further, the communication control unit 25 is stored in the voice data collected by the microphone 16 and the data input via the operation keys 14 and 15 and the side key 17 and the storage unit 26 based on the control of the main control unit 20. When the acquired data is acquired, the data is subjected to spread spectrum processing and transmitted to the base station via the antenna 25a.

  The storage unit 26 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a hard disk, a non-volatile memory, a database, and a main control unit 20 that store processing programs and data necessary for the processing performed by the main control unit 20 and the lock control unit 27. And a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data used when the lock control unit 27 performs processing. A processing program when the main control unit 20 performs mail reply processing described later, and a processing program when the lock control unit 27 performs unlocking processing and lock number input processing described later are stored in the ROM, for example. Shall.

  The lock control unit 27 locks each function of the mobile phone 1 and prohibits the use, or releases the lock and permits the use of each function. For example, the lock control unit 27 sets a lock on the mobile phone 1 based on a predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds) elapsed from the no-operation state of the mobile phone 1. The lock control unit 27 releases the lock of the mobile phone 1 based on the input of a predetermined lock number by the user when the lock is set on the mobile phone 1. The predetermined lock number is stored in advance in the storage unit 26, for example.

  3A is a diagram showing a key arrangement of the operation keys 14 when the mobile phone 1 is in a closed state, and FIG. 3B is an operation key 14 when the mobile phone 1 is in an open state. It is a figure which shows 15 key arrangements. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a key layout table of the operation keys 14 and 15 of the mobile phone 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, for example, the operation key 14 includes a mail key 14a for activating a mail function, a web key 14b for activating a web browsing function, and calling a telephone. A call key 14c for making a call, a call end key 14d for making a call end or switching power ON / OFF, a clear key 14e for deleting input information, and a menu screen for displaying A menu key 14f, an OK key 14g for confirming an instruction, a direction key 14h for moving a cursor, a screen, and the like up and down, left and right, a rotation key 14i for inputting information by rotating, and the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, the operation key 15 includes dial keys 15a such as “1”, “2”,..., “9”, “0”, “*”, “#”, and the like. Has been.

  The direction key 14h and the rotation key 14i are formed of the same donut type key. When a part of the donut type key (for example, four points on the top, bottom, left and right) is pressed, the direction key 14h When this donut key is rotated, it is accepted as an input from the rotation key 14i.

  The mobile phone 1 has an operation lock function. That is, when the lock is set on the mobile phone 1, activation of each function of the mobile phone 1 is prohibited. Therefore, in the mobile phone 1 in a state where the lock is set, when the user gives an instruction to start any of the functions, the mobile phone 1 does not start the indicated function unless the lock is released. . Therefore, the lock control unit 27 prompts the user to input the lock number when the activation of any function is instructed during the lock, and the input lock number matches the lock number stored in advance. Only when this is done, the lock set in the mobile phone 1 is released, and the function designated by this user is activated.

  In a conventional mobile phone that can be opened and closed, when the user enters a lock number, the dial key must be used to enter a number, so that the dial key is closed when the user is closed. In the case of a telephone, when the user enters a number and the cellular phone is in a closed state, it is necessary to press the dial key after transforming the cellular phone into an opened state. Therefore, when the user wants to release the lock in a hurry, wants to perform only a simple process that does not require opening the mobile phone, or when the user needs to operate with one hand when the mobile phone is closed, etc. The user is troublesome because the user cannot unlock the cellular phone unless it is deformed to the open state.

  Therefore, the portable cellular phone 1 is provided with the rotation key 14i at a position that is always exposed to the outside, and the user can input a number corresponding to the rotation angle by rotating the rotation key 14i. It is configured. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), 360 °, which is the rotation angle of one round, is divided into eight, and the mobile phone 1 detects 45 ° rotation of the rotation key 14i. Then, add “1”.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5A, assuming that “1” is input first, when the rotation key 14i rotates 45 ° clockwise, “2” is input instead of “1”. Then, when it is further rotated by 45 ° clockwise and then rotated by 90 °, “3” is input instead of “2”, and “1” is sequentially added every 45 ° rotation in this manner. To go. When the OK key 14g is pressed or when the rotation direction is reversed and rotated counterclockwise, the mobile phone 1 finalizes the currently input number as the finally input number. To do.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, when “1” is input first, when the rotation key 14i rotates 45 ° counterclockwise, “2” is displayed instead of “1”. When it is input and further rotated counterclockwise by 45 ° and rotated by 90 ° in total, “3” is input instead of “2”, and in this way, for every 45 ° counterclockwise rotation, “1” is sequentially added. Will be added. When the OK key 14g is pressed, or when the rotation direction is reversed and the cell phone 1 is rotated clockwise, the mobile phone 1 finalizes the number input at that time as the finally input number. .

  As described above, even when the portable cellular phone 1 is in the closed state, the user can input the number one by one by rotating the rotation key 14i or pressing the OK key 14g. Based on this, it has a function of releasing the lock.

  Here, when the lock is set on the mobile phone 1, when the user gives an instruction to start any of the functions of the mobile phone 1 (for example, a voice call function or a mail function), the lock control unit 27 6 is a flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 shows a procedure for activating the instructed function by performing the unlocking process for releasing the lock based on the lock number inputted through the rotation key 14i. This will be described based on the screen transition diagram. Hereinafter, for example, “step S101” is described as “S101”, and the term “step” is omitted.

  It is assumed that the mobile phone 1 is first set to lock. Further, on the display screen 30 of the display 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, information such as a radio wave state, a remaining battery level, and the current date and time is displayed. For example, when the user wants to send a mail or view a mail using the mobile phone 1, the user instructs the mobile phone 1 to activate the mail function by pressing the mail key 14a.

  Therefore, the lock control unit 27 determines whether activation of any function such as a mail function is instructed (S101). At this time, the lock control unit 27 determines that the activation of one of the functions is instructed based on the operation key 14 such as the mail key 14a, the Web key 14b, or the call key 14c being pressed. . When activation of any function is not instructed (No in S101), the lock control unit 27 stands by as it is.

  When activation of any function is instructed (Yes in S101), the lock control unit 27 prompts the user to input a lock number in order to release the lock set in the mobile phone 1 ( S103). At this time, the lock control unit 27 displays an input field 31 for inputting the lock number on the display screen 30 of the display 12, for example, as shown in FIG. Prompt for input. It should be noted that the number “1” is first entered in the input target digits in the input field 31.

  When the user wants to end the input of the lock number halfway, the user instructs the mobile phone 1 to end the input of the lock number by, for example, pressing the end call key 14d. Therefore, the lock control unit 27 determines whether or not an instruction to end the input of the lock number is given (S105). At this time, the lock control unit 27 determines that the end of the input of the lock number is instructed based on, for example, pressing of the operation key 14 such as the call end key 14d.

  When the end of the input of the lock number is instructed (Yes in S105), the lock control unit 27 ends the display of the input field 31 on the display screen 30 of the display 12 even during the input of the lock number. At the same time, the unlocking process is terminated without unlocking the mobile phone 1.

  When the end of the input of the lock number is not instructed (No in S105), the lock control unit 27 performs a lock number input process for inputting the lock number based on the rotation of the rotation key 14i (S107). A procedure when the lock control unit 27 performs the lock number input process will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8 and screen transition diagrams shown in FIGS. 9 to 11.

  When the user wants to change the number input in the input field 31, the user can rotate the rotation key 14i in a certain direction to thereby enter the input field 31 as shown in FIGS. 9 (A) and 9 (B). The numbers are switched while sequentially adding “1” from “1” to “2”, “3”,. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 9 (C) and 9 (D), when the number “9” is input, if the rotation key 14i is further rotated in the forward direction, the value returns to “0” and again. Numbers are switched while “1” is sequentially added to “1”, “2”, “3”,.

  In addition, when the user wants to confirm the number inputted in the input field 31, the user rotates the rotation key 14i in the opposite direction (when it is clockwise, it is rotated counterclockwise). , If it is counterclockwise, it is rotated clockwise), as shown in FIG. 9 (E), the digit of the input target digit input at that time in the input field 31 is confirmed, Move the input target to the next digit. At this time, the digit of the digit that has been confirmed to be input is represented by an asterisk “*”, and the number “1” is displayed in the digit that is newly input. When the rotation key 14i is rotated again in the forward direction (when the rotation direction is changed to confirm the input, the rotation direction after the change), the digit of the input target is switched. .

  Further, when the user wants to once delete the number determined in the input field 31 and input again, the user presses the clear key 14e and becomes an input target as shown in FIG. 9 (F). Digits can be deleted. Then, when the user further presses the clear key 14e, as shown in FIG. 9G, the digit immediately before the deleted digit becomes an input target, and the number “1” is input to this digit. .

  When the user changes the mobile phone 1 to the open state and presses the dial key 15a while inputting the lock number using the rotary key 14i, the input is made in the input field 31. 9 is replaced with the number input using the dial key 15a, and the digit to be input is determined with this number, and the digit to be input is shown in FIG. 9H. The number is indicated with an asterisk “*”. In this case, since both the input using the rotation key 14i and the input using the dial key 15a are accepted, the user can input the lock number by an arbitrary input method. Therefore, the user can directly input a number using the dial key 15a while inputting a number while rotating the rotation key 14i, or can rotate while inputting a numerical value directly using the dial key 15a. The number can be changed by rotating the key 14i.

  First, the lock control unit 27 determines whether or not the rotation key 14i has been rotated (S201). At this time, the lock control unit 27 determines that the rotation key 14i has been rotated based on, for example, 45 ° rotation of the rotation key 14i clockwise or counterclockwise. When the rotation key 14i is not rotated (No in S201), the lock control unit 27 ends the lock number input process.

  When the rotation key 14i is rotated (Yes in S201), the lock control unit 27 determines whether or not a predetermined number of digits has been input (S203). The predetermined number of digits here is the maximum number of digits that can be set as the lock number, for example, eight digits.

  If a predetermined number of digits has been input (Yes in S203), the lock control unit 27 warns the user that the number of digits that can be input is exceeded (S205). FIG. 10A is a screen diagram of the display screen 30 of the display 12 showing a state in which a 7-digit number has already been input / confirmed and a “6” number has been input. FIG. 10B is a screen view of the display screen 30 of the display 12 showing a state in which the rotation key 14i is rotated in the reverse direction and the number “6” is confirmed. After that, if the user further rotates the rotary key 14i to input the ninth digit, the lock number can be input only by eight digits. For example, as shown in FIG. The user is warned by vibrating the mobile phone 1 or the like. Then, the lock control unit 27 ends the lock number input process.

  If the predetermined number of digits has not been input (No in S203), the lock control unit 27 determines whether or not the rotation in step S201 is in the forward direction (S207). At this time, the lock control unit 27 determines that the rotation is the forward direction when the rotation in step S203 is the same direction as the previous rotation direction. When the user wants to change the number being input, the user continuously rotates the rotation key 14i in the same direction. Therefore, when the rotation in step S203 is the forward direction (Yes in S207), the lock control unit 27 Then, “1” is added to the number input in the digit to be input (S209).

  In addition, when the user confirms the entered number and wants to newly input the next digit, the rotation key 14i is rotated in the opposite direction, so that the rotation in step S203 is in the opposite direction. If this is the case (No in S207), the lock control unit 27 first determines the number input in the digit that is the input target (S211).

  The lock control unit 27 describes the number displayed on the display screen 30 of the display 12 (the number entered in the digit that has been confirmed to be input) with an asterisk “*” (S213). Thereby, even if the display 12 is seen by a third party while the user is inputting the lock number, the confirmed lock number is prevented from leaking. Then, the lock control unit 27 moves the number to be input to the next digit (S215), and ends the lock number input process.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, when a lock number is input using the rotation key 14i, invalid operation keys 14 (for example, a mail key 14a, a Web key b, etc.) that are not related to numbers are used. ) Is invalid, this input is invalid. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11B, the display on the display screen 30 of the display 12 is not changed, and the state is maintained as it is.

  Then, when the rotation key 14i is rotated in the forward direction thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11A, for example, when the number “3” is input before the rotation, the rotation key 14i is changed to FIG. ), The number “4” obtained by adding “1” to the number “3” is input. On the other hand, when the rotation key 14i is rotated in the reverse direction thereafter, for example, as shown in FIG. 11A, when the number “3” is input before the rotation, 11 (D ), The input of the number “3” is confirmed, the number is displayed as an asterisk “*”, the input object is moved to the next digit, and the next digit is “1”. Will be entered.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, when the user finishes inputting all the digits of the lock number, for example, the user presses the OK key 14g to complete the input of the lock number. The lock control unit 27 determines whether the input is completed (S109). At this time, the lock control unit 27 determines that the input of the lock number is completed based on, for example, pressing the OK key 14g. If the input of the lock number has not been completed (No in S109), the process returns to step S105, and the lock control unit 27 determines again whether or not the end of the input of the lock number has been instructed.

  When the input of the lock number is completed (Yes in S109), the lock control unit 27 authenticates the lock number (S111). That is, the lock control unit 27 compares the input lock number with the lock number stored in the storage unit 26 in advance, and determines whether or not both match.

  If the authentication fails, that is, if the input lock number and the lock number stored in advance in the storage unit 26 do not match (No in S111), the lock control unit 27 warns the user. It occurs (S113). At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 7D, the lock control unit 27 displays a character string indicating that the lock number is incorrect on the display screen 30 of the display 12, or generates a warning sound. The user is warned that the lock number is wrong. Then, the lock control unit 27 ends the unlocking process without releasing the lock.

  When the authentication is successful, that is, when the input lock number matches the lock number stored in advance in the storage unit 26 (Yes in S111), the lock control unit 27 releases the lock of the mobile phone 1. (S115). Then, the main control unit 20 activates the function instructed to activate in step S101 (S117). For example, when activation of the voice call function is instructed in step S101, the main control unit 20 activates the mail function, and the mail function is displayed on the display screen 30 of the display 12 as shown in FIG. Display the screen.

  In this way, when the cellular phone 1 is locked in the closed state, the user can input a number by rotating the rotary key 14i that is installed so as to be exposed to the outside by the user. Authentication is performed using the input lock number, and if the authentication is successful, the lock can be released in a closed state.

  Further, when the mobile phone 1 is kept closed and a lock number is input using the rotary key 14i, the mobile phone 1 is transformed into an open state, and the lock number is set using the dial key 15a. Can be received at the same time as input from the dial key 15a. Similarly, when the mobile phone 1 is opened and a lock number is input using the dial key 15a, if the lock number is input using the rotation key 14i, the rotation key 14i Can be accepted at the same time.

  When the mobile phone 1 receives a mail when the lock is set in the closed state and the lock is released by the processing of steps S101 to S117, a reply mail can be easily and quickly responded to the received mail. The function to transmit. A procedure when the mobile phone 1 performs this mail reply process will be described based on a flowchart shown in FIG. 12 and a screen transition diagram shown in FIG. It is assumed that the mobile phone 1 is locked in the closed state at the beginning.

  First, the main control unit 20 determines whether the mobile phone 1 has received an email (S301). When the mobile phone 1 has not received the mail (No in S301), the main control unit 20 stands by as it is. When the mobile phone 1 receives the mail (Yes in S301), the main control unit 20 determines whether or not the lock set in the mobile phone 1 is released (S302).

  That is, when the mobile phone 1 receives a mail, the main control unit 20 displays, for example, on the display screen 30 of the display 12 that the mail has been received, and whether or not to view the received mail for the user. Encourage them to judge. When the user presses the predetermined operation key 14 to view the received mail, the lock control unit 27 performs the processes of steps S101 to S117 to release the lock set in the mobile phone 1. To do.

  At this time, in step S103, the lock control unit 27 displays a lock number input field 31 on the display screen 30 of the display 12, for example, as shown in FIG. When the user inputs a lock number in step S107, the input lock number and the lock number stored in advance in the storage unit 26 are authenticated in step S111, and the authentication is successful. In that case, in step S115, the lock set in the mobile phone is released.

  When the lock is not released (No in S302), the main control unit 20 ends the mail reply process without browsing the received mail. The main control unit 20 determines that the lock has not been released, for example, when the user has not instructed to browse the received mail or when the mobile phone 1 has not been unlocked within a predetermined time. good.

  When the lock set in the mobile phone 1 is released (Yes in S302), the main control unit 20 displays the mail received in Step S301 on the display screen 30 of the display 12 (S303). At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the display screen 30 displays mail information such as the reception date and time, the transmission source, the title, and the text, and creates a reply mail for the received mail. A reply button 32 for receiving, an OK button 33 for ending the display of received mail, and a submenu button 34 for performing various processes on the received mail are displayed. When the operation key 14 corresponding to the submenu button 34 is pressed, the display screen 30 has submenus such as “Reply” and “Quick Reply” as shown in FIG. 13C, for example. Is displayed.

  The main control unit 20 determines whether or not creation of a reply mail for the received mail received in step S301 has been instructed (S305). At this time, for example, when the operation key 14 corresponding to the reply button 32 or the sub menu button 34 is pressed, the main control unit 20 determines that the creation of the reply mail has been instructed, and corresponds to the OK button 33. When the operation key 14 is pressed, it is determined that creation of a reply mail is not supported. When the reply is not instructed (No in S305), the main control unit 20 finishes displaying the mail information displayed in Step S303, and finishes the mail reply process without creating a reply mail.

  When creation of a reply mail is instructed (Yes in S305), the main control unit 20 determines whether it is a quick reply that is instructed in step S305 (S307). The quick reply is a reply method in which a reply mail is created by inputting the body of the mail and the mail is replied only by the user selecting from a plurality of options for the received mail.

  At this time, the main control unit 20 selects “Quick” from the submenu displayed when the operation key 14 corresponding to the reply button 32 is pressed for a long time or when the operation key 14 corresponding to the submenu 33 is pressed. When “reply” is selected, it is determined that a quick reply is instructed. In addition, the main control unit 20 receives “Reply” from the submenu displayed when the operation key 14 corresponding to the reply button 32 is pressed for a short time or when the operation key 14 corresponding to the submenu 34 is pressed. When selected, it is determined that a normal reply that is not a quick reply is instructed.

  When the quick reply is instructed in step S305 (Yes in S307), the main control unit 20 displays a list of fixed phrases used as the body of the reply mail on the display screen 30 of the display 12 (S309). ). At this time, as shown in FIG. 13D, for example, fixed phrases such as “Thank you”, “Thank you”, and “OK” are listed and displayed, and the category of fixed phrases is set. A category button 35 for selecting and a selection button 36 for determining the selected fixed phrase are displayed. For example, the fixed phrases are classified into categories such as “greeting” and “answer”, and the fixed phrases belonging to this category are displayed at the same time based on the category selected by the user.

  For example, the user presses the operation key 14 (for example, the mail key 14a) corresponding to the category button 35 to determine the category of the fixed phrase, and rotates the rotation key 14i or presses the direction key 14h. By selecting a standard sentence and pressing an operation key 14 (for example, an OK button 14g) corresponding to the selection button 36, the standard sentence to be input to the body of the mail is determined.

  The main control unit 20 determines whether or not a fixed phrase input in the mail text has been selected (S311). When the fixed sentence is not selected (No in S311), the main control unit 20 waits until the fixed sentence is selected. When the standard text is selected (Yes in S311), the main control unit 20 sets the selected standard text in the body of the reply mail (S313).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13D, when the “Thank you” fixed phrase is selected in step S311, a mail creation screen as shown in FIG. 13E is displayed on the display screen 30 of the display 12. In this mail creation screen, a fixed phrase “thank you” is set as the body of the reply mail in step S313. Then, the main control unit 20 transmits this reply mail to the sender of the mail received in step S301 (S315).

  When it is not a quick reply that is instructed in step S305 (No in S307), the main control unit 20 displays a normal mail creation screen on the display screen 30 of the display 12 (S317). Then, the user transforms the cellular phone 1 into an open state and inputs the text of the reply mail using the dial key 15a.

  The main control unit 20 determines whether a text has been input (S319). At this time, the main control unit 20 determines that the text has been input, for example, based on the text being input on the normal mail creation screen and the OK button 14g being pressed. When the text is not input (No in S319), the main control unit 20 waits until the text is input. When the text is input (Yes in S319), the main control unit 20 transmits the created reply mail to the sender of the mail received in Step S301 (S315).

  Then, the main control unit 20 sets the lock on the mobile phone 1 again (S321). At this time, even if the main control unit 20 sets the lock on the mobile phone 1 based on the fact that a predetermined time has passed since the e-mail was transmitted in step S315, A lock may be set on the telephone 1. Alternatively, the mobile phone 1 may be locked based on input via the user's operation keys 14 and side keys 17.

  In this way, when the mobile phone 1 receives a mail when the lock is set, the mobile phone 1 remains in the closed state and releases the lock based on the numerical value input using the rotation key 14i. When the user wants to easily create a reply mail for the received mail, a standard sentence is presented and selected using the rotation key 14i, and a reply mail in which the selected fixed sentence is set in the text is transmitted. Thereby, the user can transmit a reply mail to the received mail while keeping the cellular phone 1 closed.

As a method of inputting a numerical value using the rotation key 14i, “1” is added to the numerical value input to the input target digit in the forward rotation, and input to the input target digit in the reverse rotation. Although the method of confirming the numerical value currently described was demonstrated, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14A, “1” is added to the numerical value input to the input target digit by clockwise rotation, and input to the input target digit by counterclockwise rotation. “−1” is added to the numerical value (“1” is subtracted), and as shown in FIG. 14B, the numerical value input to the digit to be input by pressing the right side of the direction key 14h in front view. It is also possible to clear the numerical value input to the input target digit by confirming and moving to the next digit and pressing the left side of the direction key 14h in front view.

  According to the mobile phone 1 of the embodiment, the rotation key 14i is provided at a position that is always exposed to the outside, and when the lock is set, the user inputs the lock number by rotating the rotation key 14i to lock. Can be released.

  In addition, according to the mobile phone 1 of the present invention, the rotation key 14i is provided at a position that is always exposed to the outside, and when a mail is received when the lock is set, the user rotates the rotation key 14i. Thus, the lock number can be input to release the lock, and a reply mail can be easily transmitted.

  As an explanation of the present invention, the cellular phone 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any electronic device having a rotation key and a lock function such as a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Any electronic device may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone, 10 ... Upper housing | casing, 11 ... Lower housing | casing, 12 ... Display 12 ... Speaker, 14, 15 ... Operation key, 16 ... Microphone, 17 ... Side key, 20 ... Main control part, 21 ... Power supply circuit , 22 ... operation input control part, 23 ... display control part, 24 ... voice control part, 25 ... communication control part, 25a ... antenna, 26 ... storage part, 27 ... lock control part, 30 ... display screen, 31 ... input Field, 32 ... Reply button, 33 ... OK button, 34 ... Submenu button, 35 ... Category button, 36 ... Selection button.

Claims (2)

Operation means for inputting characters;
A key for inputting characters,
A first state in which the operating means is exposed to the outside and the key is not exposed;
An electronic device capable of taking a second state in which the operation means and the key are exposed to the outside,
A character string including a character input by the operation means and a character input by the key is compared with a predetermined predetermined character string in a locked state where activation of the predetermined function is prohibited. A lock control unit for determining whether the lock state can be released,
An electronic device comprising: The string is
A first character input by the operating means in the first state;
And a second character input by the key when transitioning from the first state to the second state after receiving the input of the first character. 1. The electronic device according to 1.

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