JP3076331B1 - Method and apparatus for checking incoming signal in foldable portable communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable portable communication device in which a user can confirm presence / absence of a signal received when a main body is folded by a simple operation at any time thereafter without expanding the main body. Provide an incoming signal confirmation method. SOLUTION: A step S2 for judging whether the main body is in an expanded state or a folded state, a step S5 for judging whether an operation switch for confirming whether or not a call signal has been received, and a step S5 for judging whether the body is in a folded state. If there is an incoming of the signal at the time of the determination, the fact of the incoming is stored in the memory, and if it is determined that the operation switch is operated, the stored contents of the memory are searched to find the fact of the incoming of the signal. The method has a step S7 of judging the presence or absence of the signal and a step S9 of notifying that the signal has been received when it is determined that the signal has been received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a foldable portable communication device such as a foldable portable telephone or PHS.
The present invention relates to an incoming signal confirmation method and an incoming signal confirmation device in a foldable portable communication device that allow a user to easily and easily confirm the presence or absence of a call signal that has arrived in a folded state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the rapid spread of portable communication devices such as portable telephones and PHS, ringing at irregular times in public places such as stations, trains and theaters has become a problem as new noise. Therefore, in order to solve such a manner-related problem, a large number of portable communication devices that notify a user of an incoming call not by a ringing tone but by vibration or light have become available.

[0003] However, in such a portable communication device that notifies an incoming call by vibration or light, there is a problem when the portable communication device is in close contact with the body of the user or when it is within the user's field of view. However, if the phone is placed away from the body or in a place that cannot be seen by the user, such as in a bag, the user does not notice the incoming call and it is difficult to contact It may be. Therefore, in such a mobile communication device, it is common to display on a display that there is an incoming call, so that a user who sees the display later can quickly contact the other party.

[0004] In recent years, a foldable portable communication device in which the main body is folded in two to further improve the portability has been rapidly spreading. Some of such foldable portable communication devices store a display and other display means for displaying an incoming call in the folded main body due to a demand for further miniaturization. In such a portable communication device, not only may the user not notice the incoming call in the folded state, but also the display cannot be seen in the folded state, so the folded main body must be checked each time to check whether there is an incoming call. Must expand. Such an operation is troublesome, and there is a great risk that the driver's concentration may decrease during driving of the vehicle, leading to a serious accident.

[0005] For example, a wireless communication device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-215303 is known as a device that can notify an incoming call in a folded state. This wireless communication device, when the incoming signal is received while the function is switched to the missed call mode, notifies the user of the fact with a display lamp or the like. The user is notified by blinking a lamp or the like.

However, since this radio communication device displays an incoming call simultaneously with the arrival of a signal to notify the user of the incoming call, if the user does not notice the display at the time of the incoming call, An operation of expanding the main body and checking the display on the display or the like must be performed, and the above problem cannot be solved.

Also, for example, in a portable telephone described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-51529, a reflecting mirror or a transmissive reflecting mirror is provided so that an incoming call display by light emission or an incoming call display displayed on a display can be viewed from the outside even in a folded state. The information signal reflected by the reflecting mirror or the transmissive reflecting mirror is displayed on the inner display surface and the outer display surface, so that the presence or absence of an incoming call can be confirmed. Although this mobile phone can solve the above-mentioned problems, its configuration is complicated, and a certain thickness or more is required to form the inner display surface and the outer display surface. There is a drawback that miniaturization is hindered.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible for a user to always check the presence or absence of an incoming signal when the main body is folded and to open the main body. A method of confirming an incoming signal and an apparatus for confirming an incoming signal in a foldable portable communication device which can be confirmed by a simple operation without performing any operation, and which does not hinder the downsizing of the portable communication device without complicating its configuration. For the purpose of providing.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 has a foldable main body, and a telephone call or other signals can be transmitted / received by expanding the main body. In the incoming signal confirmation method for confirming the presence or absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding in a foldable portable communication device, a step of determining whether the main body is in an expanded state or a folded state; and Determining whether an operation switch for confirming the operation has been operated; and, if there is an incoming signal when it is determined that the signal is in the folded state, the fact of the incoming signal is stored in a memory and an incoming call display is waited. Step to let
A flop, the operation switch is operated, and said body
When it is determined that the phone is in the folded state,
Releasing standby and searching the storage contents of the memory to determine whether or not a signal has arrived at the time of folding; and, as a result of searching the storage contents of the memory, the reception of the signal during folding has not occurred. When it is determined that there is an incoming call, there is a step of notifying that there is an incoming call.

According to this method, if the portable communication device is folded when the call signal is received, the incoming call display is displayed.
, The fact that the call signal has arrived is stored in memory. One example of storing the incoming call fact in the memory is to set a flag at the head of a predetermined address in the memory. Users can use the main unit
By operating the operation switch in the folded state ,
Whether or not a signal has arrived when the portable communication device is folded can be easily known anytime thereafter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the step of notifying the presence or absence of an incoming call, a method of notifying by a display means provided at a visible position of the folded main body is provided. The means of notification may be sound or vibration, but is preferably a display means for notifying the presence or absence of an incoming call by light such as a light emitting diode as in this method. The user can know at a glance whether or not there is an incoming call by a display means provided at a visible position of the main body.

A method according to claim 3, wherein after determining whether or not the operation switch is operated, it is determined whether the main body is expanded or folded, and it is determined that the operation switch is operated, and the main body is determined. There is a method of notifying the presence or absence of an incoming call when it is determined that is folded. According to this method, even when the operation switch is also used as another function switch such as a volume control switch, the function of the switch can be switched on the condition that the main body is folded.

According to the present invention, there is provided a foldable portable communication device having a foldable main body, which is capable of transmitting and receiving a call or other signals by expanding the main body. In the checking device, a main body open / close detecting means for detecting whether the main body is in a folded state or an expanded state, and when a signal is received in a state where the main body open / close detecting means detects the folding of the main body, A memory for storing the fact of the incoming call, an operation switch for confirming the presence or absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding, an informing means for informing the presence or absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding, and a detection signal of the main body open / close detecting means Judge whether the main body is in an expanded state or a folded state, and judge whether or not the operation switch is operated, based on a detection result of the main body opening / closing detecting means. In the memory of the fact incoming of the call if the signal when it is determined that the folded state Ri
It stores the incoming call display and waits for the incoming call display, and waits for the incoming call display when it is determined that the operation switch has been operated.
Control means for canceling and retrieving the stored contents of the memory to determine the presence or absence of the arrival of the signal, and when it is determined that the signal has been received, the control means for reporting the fact via the notification means. There is a configuration.

According to this configuration, the fact of the arrival of the signal when folded is stored in the memory. Folded
In this state, no incoming call notification is made. When the operation switch is operated to check the presence / absence of an incoming signal in the folded state , the control means performs a search in the memory to determine the presence / absence of the incoming signal. When a signal is received, the control means notifies the user of the fact via the notification means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the notification means is a display lamp provided at a visible position of the folded main body. According to this configuration, the presence or absence of an incoming signal can be confirmed by turning on a display lamp such as a light emitting diode even in the folded state.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a configuration having a function switching means of an operation switch for switching a function of the operation switch by opening and closing the main body.
According to this configuration, it is possible to function as a switch having another function such as a volume switch when expanded, and to function as an operation switch for confirming an incoming signal when folded. Therefore, one switch can be used for multiple functions, and the configuration of the incoming signal confirmation device can be simplified.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a method for confirming an incoming signal at the time of folding in a foldable portable communication device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described according to the flowchart of FIG. When the power of the portable communication device is turned on in step S1, it is determined in step S2 whether the main body is expanded or folded, and in step S5, an operation for confirming the presence or absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding is performed. It is determined whether the switch has been operated.

[0018] When the signal arrives, the history of the incoming signal,
For example, data such as the time of an incoming call, the telephone number of the other party, and the presence or absence of a message are stored in the memory. In this case, when it is determined that the main body is folded in step S2, wear
In step S3, the fact of the incoming call is stored in the memory without displaying the presence of the communication. As an example of this, a mark such as a flag is provided at the head of a predetermined address of the memory for storing data such as the time of the incoming call, the telephone number of the other party, and the presence or absence of a message. If it is determined that the main body is expanded, the process proceeds to step S4 in order to display the incoming signal at the same time as the incoming signal.

If it is determined in step S5 that the operation switch has not been operated, the operation is in a standby state until the operation switch is operated. If the operation switch is operated, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether the main body is expanded or folded. The reason for providing step S6 after step S5 is that when the operation switch is also used as a switch having another function such as volume adjustment, the function is switched by opening and closing the main body. . If the switch is operated in a state where the main body is folded, the switch is switched so as to exhibit a function as an operation switch for confirming the presence or absence of an incoming signal. Therefore, when the operation switch is provided only for confirming the presence or absence of the incoming signal, the step S6 need not be provided.

If it is determined in step S6 that the main body is folded, the process proceeds to step S7, where the contents stored in the memory are searched in step S7. In this search, only the presence or absence of the incoming call in the memory is searched. This search is performed, for example, by confirming whether a mark such as a flag is set at the head of the address in the memory. If a mark such as the flag is found, it is determined in step S8 that there is an incoming call, and in step S9, the presence of an incoming signal is notified. If a mark such as the flag is not found, it is determined in step S8 that there is no incoming call, and step S10
To notify that there is no incoming signal. The mode of the notification may be any of sound, light, and vibration, but is preferably performed by a display means such as a display lamp provided at a visible position of the folded main body.

When it is confirmed that there is an incoming call, the user can appropriately deploy the portable communication device to display the details of the incoming call, for example, the telephone number of the caller and the contents of the message on the display. For such a completed confirmation, a flag or the like set at the head of the address in the memory may be lowered so that only a new incoming signal received thereafter can be confirmed. If the data in the memory, for which the confirmation has been completed, can be deleted automatically or by the user's selection as in steps S11 and S12, the memory capacity can always be maintained at a certain level or more.

Next, a description will be given of an incoming signal confirmation device which enables the invention of the above method to be implemented. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the incoming signal confirmation device of the present invention. As shown
An incoming signal confirmation device 1 of the present invention includes a control circuit 2 as control means, a memory 4 connected to the control circuit 2 for storing the fact of signal arrival and various data relating to an incoming signal, A display lamp 8 as a notifying means for displaying by light, an operation switch 6 for confirming the presence or absence of an incoming call at the time of folding, and a state where the main body of the portable communication device is folded or unfolded, that is, An opening / closing state detecting circuit 13 as a main body opening / closing detecting means for detecting an opening / closing state of the main body, and an antenna 5 for exchanging signals
And a radio circuit 11 for converting a signal transmitted and received by the antenna 5 into a predetermined signal.

As the display lamp 8, for example, a light emitting diode can be used, and it is possible to display the presence / absence of the arrival of a signal by a difference in blinking interval or a difference in emission color. Further, as the open / closed state detecting circuit 13, various known techniques such as a loop state intermittent method using a magnet used for detecting an on / off hook state of a handset of a mobile telephone can be used.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a portable telephone according to an example of a portable communication device provided with the incoming signal confirmation device shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows a state where the main body of the portable telephone is expanded, and FIG. Is shown folded. The body 20 of the mobile phone can be folded in two by a hinge 23.
The opening / closing of the main body 20 can be detected by the above-described opening / closing detection circuit 13 (see FIG. 2). The main body 20 includes a display 24 for displaying a telephone number, the name of the other party, and the like, and a key operation unit 27 including a plurality of key switches.
Are provided. The display 24 can also display data on the incoming signal received at the time of folding, such as the incoming time and the telephone number of the other party.

The operation switch 6 which is operated to check a signal received when the main body 20 is folded is provided on a side surface of the main body 20. As long as it is easy for the user to operate, it may be provided not only on the side but also in another place such as the front of the main body 20.
This operation switch 6 can also be used as a switch having other functions such as volume adjustment. in this case,
The function may be switched according to a detection signal of the open / closed state detection circuit 13, that is, whether the main body 20 is in the expanded state or the folded state. In this embodiment, the open / closed state detection circuit 13 constitutes a function switching means of the operation switch.

The display lamp 8 for displaying the presence or absence of an incoming call is formed of a light emitting diode or the like, and is fitted into a notch 29 formed in the main body 20. The display lamp 8 is preferably provided on the periphery of the main body 20 so that the lighting of the display lamp 8 can be visually recognized even when the mobile phone is folded and put in a pocket or the like.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the display means has been described as a display lamp that displays the presence of an incoming signal with light under the condition that the operation switch is operated when folded, but this display lamp also functions as a display lamp that displays the incoming signal when the main body is expanded. May be configured. In this case, the switching of the function of the display means can be performed by the detection signal of the open / closed state detection circuit 13, similarly to the function switching of the operation switch 6.

[0028]

Since the present invention is configured as described above , the incoming call display is performed even when there is an incoming call at the time of folding.
Just operate the operation switch in the folded state
Thus, the fact of the incoming call at the time of folding can be easily confirmed at any time thereafter . Therefore, there is no need to deploy the main body to check for the presence or absence of an incoming signal, and the risk during driving of the vehicle can be greatly reduced. Further, by using the operation switches and the display means also as switches and lamps having other functions and switching the functions by opening and closing the main body, it is possible to provide a simpler and less expensive portable communication device. Will be possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for confirming presence of an incoming signal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an incoming signal confirmation device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a portable communication device provided with the incoming signal confirmation device of FIG. 2, showing a state where a main body is developed.

4 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a portable communication device provided with the incoming signal confirmation device of FIG. 2, showing a state in which a main body is folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 incoming signal confirmation device 2 control circuit (control means) 4 memory 5 antenna 6 operation switch 8 display lamp (display means) 13 open / closed state detection circuit (main body open / close detection means) 20 main body 24 display

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-10-215303 (JP, A) JP-A-4-120922 (JP, A) JP-A-9-321839 (JP, A) JP-A 8- 163638 (JP, A) JP-A-6-37697 (JP, A) JP-A-4-111655 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04M 1/00 H04M 1 / 725 H04B 7/26 H04M 1/57 H04M 1/64-1/65

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A foldable portable communication device having a foldable main body, which can be used for transmitting and receiving a call or other signals by expanding the main body, to confirm the presence or absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding. Determining whether the main body is in an expanded state or a folded state; determining whether an operation switch for checking whether or not the call signal has been received has been operated; and a folded state. if the incoming of the signal when it is determined that it stores the fact of the incoming to the memory, wear
Waiting for a communication display, and the operation switch is operated, and the main body is folded.
When it is determined that the
Canceling , searching the storage contents of the memory, and determining whether there is a signal arrival at the time of folding; and, as a result of searching the storage contents of the memory, determining that the signal has arrived during the folding. Notifying when there is an incoming call, a method for confirming an incoming signal in a folding portable communication device. 2. The folding portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein in the step of notifying the presence or absence of an incoming call, the notification is performed by a display means provided at a visible position of the folded main body. Incoming signal confirmation method. 3. A step of judging whether the operation switch is operated is provided after the step of judging whether the operation switch is operated, and judging whether the operation switch is operated, and judging that the operation switch is operated. 3. An incoming call at the time of folding in the folding portable communication device in the folding portable communication device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein whether or not there is an incoming call is notified when it is determined that the communication device is folded. Signal existence confirmation method. 4. An incoming signal confirmation device for a foldable portable communication device which has a foldable main body, and which is capable of transmitting and receiving a call or another signal by expanding the main body, wherein the main body is in a folded state. Main body open / close detection means for detecting whether the main body is open or unfolded, and a memory for storing the fact of the incoming call when a signal is received while the main body open / close detection means detects the folding of the main body. An operation switch for confirming the presence / absence of an incoming signal at the time; a notifying means for notifying the presence / absence of an incoming signal at the time of folding; and the unfolded state or the folded state based on a detection signal of the body opening / closing detection means. It is determined whether or not the operation switch has been operated, and when it is determined from the detection result of the main body opening / closing detection means that it is in the folded state, To store the fact of the incoming to the memory if there is the incoming signal
While waiting for the incoming call display, and releasing the standby for the incoming call display when it is determined that the operation switch has been operated .
Rutotomoni searches the stored contents of said memory to determine whether the facts of the incoming of the signal, when it is determined that there is an incoming call of said signal and a control means for notifying to that effect through the notification means An incoming signal confirmation device for a foldable portable communication device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the notification means is a display lamp provided at a visible position of the folded main body. 6. An incoming signal in a foldable portable communication device according to claim 4, wherein a function switching means of an operation switch for switching a function of the operation switch by opening and closing the main body is provided. Confirmation device.