JP4037069B2 - Information portable terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal , and more particularly to an information portable terminal having a clock function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In addition to portable computers, such as palmtop computers and PDAs called PDAs, smaller and lighter computers, small and lightweight mobile computers with communication functions, dedicated terminals with dedicated functions such as power and gas meter reading, etc. portable information terminals are known, et al. Hereinafter, the portable information terminal including the portable personal computer and the portable information terminal is referred to as an information portable terminal.
[0003]
One of various functions installed in such a portable information terminal is a clock function. This clock function includes various functions provided by portable information terminals such as a calendar function, a schedule management function, a timer function, and a synchronization function with a connected peripheral device, in addition to a time display function for displaying the current time using a built-in clock. Can be applied to functions.
[0004]
In this clock function, it is necessary to always keep the time counting operation in order to obtain the current time. Therefore, usually, the time counting operation is performed using the power source for driving the information portable terminal body. As described above, when the time keeping operation of the clock function is performed by the power source provided in the information portable terminal main body, when the power supply voltage decreases due to the reduction in the storage capacity of the power source provided in the information portable terminal main body, The timing operation of the function will also be stopped. Once the timekeeping operation is stopped, the time information of the clock function is reset, so that when the power supply voltage is subsequently restored, the accurate time cannot be displayed. For such a situation, by providing a backup battery, such as a coin battery, even when the supply voltage drops can be continue the counting operation of the clock function.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the portable information terminal is required to be small and light, there are cases in which a backup battery is omitted to reduce the size and weight. For this reason, in information portable terminals that do not have such a backup battery, once the power supply voltage drops below the specified voltage and the timekeeping operation stops, the time information of the clock function is reset and the power supply voltage is However, there is a problem that the clock function based on the accurate time information cannot be achieved even if it returns to.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information portable terminal capable of solving the above-described problem and performing time adjustment based on accurate time information even when time information of a clock function is reset. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The information portable terminal according to claim 1 includes a system control means, a memory, a power switch, and a time measuring means. The system control means automatically connects to the NTP server and inputs time information from the NTP server. The time counting means adjusts the time based on the memory, the memory comprising a power supply flag for recording a voltage drop of the power supply voltage and an Internet connection flag for recording an access state, and the system control means comprises a power supply voltage When the power switch is turned on after returning to a normal value after the value drops below a predetermined value, the power supply flag and the Internet connection flag are set to the first side based on the voltage drop of the power supply. When connected to the Internet, both the power flag and the Internet connection flag are set on the first side. Only, it is determined that at the first Internet connection after power restoration, performs time synchronization of the timing means connected to said NTP server.
[0008]
As a result, the time information of the clock function is reset due to a drop in power supply voltage, etc., and accurate time information can be obtained by the external connection function even when an error occurs in the time measured by the time measuring means. Thus, the time measuring means can be set to the correct time, and a normal clock function can be achieved.
[0009]
In the information portable terminal according to claim 1, when the system control means sets the Internet connection flag from the first side to the second side at the end of Internet access , and the power switch is turned off. The power flag is set from the first side to the second side. The setting to the first side is an operation to reset or set the flag, and the setting from the first side to the second side is an operation to set when the flag is reset. When is set, it is a reset operation.
[0010]
The time is set when the first connection is made to the Internet after the power is restored, and the connection is made to the NTP server only when the power flag and the Internet connection flag are both set to the first side. Download information. The NTP server always provides accurate time information on the Internet, and the portable information terminal can obtain accurate time information from the NTP server by requesting the NTP server for time information. The information portable terminal can perform time adjustment using this time information.
[0011]
The state where the power supply flag is set to the first side indicates that the power supply voltage has dropped below a predetermined specified voltage, and that the current rising state is not a state where the power supply voltage has been raised from a normal power supply voltage. The state in which the Internet connection flag is set on the first side indicates the first access after startup. Further, the setting state on the first side can be canceled by returning the power flag when the power is turned off and returning the Internet connection flag when the Internet access is completed.
[0012]
As a result, only when the power flag and the Internet connection flag are both set to the first side, the time is set by connecting to the NTP server, whereby normal time display can be performed thereafter. After that, when the power switch is turned on again and connected to the Internet, if both the power flag and the Internet connection flag are set to the second side, connection to the NTP server is performed. Do not do.
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
According to the portable information terminal end of the present invention, by connecting to the Internet using a personal digital assistant, by performing the time adjustment automatically obtain the time information by connecting to an NTP server, backup power supply The time of the time means can be made accurate without providing. In addition, by eliminating the need for backup power, the PDA can be reduced in weight and downsized, and further, it is possible to improve the environmental resistance by suppressing the generation of waste batteries.
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration example of the information portable terminal of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and an operation of one embodiment of the information portable terminal of the present invention shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to a flowchart for explaining the operation and an operation related diagram for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the portable information terminal of the present invention shown in FIG .
[0021]
In FIG. 1, a system control means 11 is a control means for performing various control processes such as a control process for each part of the portable information terminal 1 and an Internet connection process, and can be constituted by a CPU. The system memory 12 records various control processing programs executed by the system control means 11, various data required for executing the processing programs, data required for Internet connection, and a work area for the system control means 11 to execute Configure. The parameter memory 13 stores the Internet connection destination address data such as an NTP server, the power supply flag for recording the voltage drop of the power supply voltage, the Internet connection flag for recording the access state, or the system is initialized. An initial register for storing the information is stored. When the system is initialized, a flag is set in the initial register.
[0022]
The time measuring means 14 sequentially counts the value of the clock register. This register value is used for displaying the current time on the display means 15 as necessary, for example, for use in a calendar function or a timer function provided in the portable information terminal 1, or for synchronous processing performed with various servers via the Internet. Can be used.
[0023]
The display means 15 is a means for displaying various processing operations and processing results of the information portable terminal 1, and the input means 17 is a means for inputting various processing operations of the information portable terminal 1, for example, a keyboard, a mouse Various input devices such as a pad and a touch panel can be used.
[0024]
The transmission / reception means 16 is a means for performing connection processing with a network such as the Internet or a LAN. The transmission / reception means 16 is connected to the server 2 managed by various providers to receive various services, and by connecting to the NTP server 3, Time information can be downloaded.
[0025]
Each means provided in the information portable terminal 1 is driven by a power source (not shown), and the power switch 18 switches on / off the operation of the information portable terminal 1. Normally, when the power switch 18 is in an off state, if the power source has a sufficient power supply voltage, a standby current flows through the system control means 11, and at the same time the power switch 18 is turned on, the process can be started. Is set. Further, current is always supplied to the time counting means 14, and the current time is held even when the power switch 18 is in an OFF state.
[0026]
The power supply voltage detecting means 19 is a means for monitoring the voltage state of the power supply. When the power supply voltage drops below a predetermined specified voltage, the system control means 11, the system memory 12, the time measuring means 14 and the like are notified of the voltage drop. . When the voltage of the power supply is lowered to the extent that it is difficult to maintain the portable information device 1, the CPU included in the system control unit 11 and the RAM constituting the work area of the system memory 12 set the power supply flag, the Internet connection flag, and the register flag. In addition, the time register included in the time measuring means 14 is reset. On the other hand, when the voltage of the power supply returns to the normal voltage, the system control means 11 performs initialization processing, and the time measuring means 14 sets the time register to an initial value. The power flag is reset when the power switch is turned off, and the Internet connection flag is returned when the Internet access ends.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the portable information terminal of the present invention will be described using the flowcharts of FIGS. First, the operation when the power supply voltage is lowered will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The power supply voltage detection means 19 monitors the voltage state of the power supply connected to the information portable terminal 1 and is necessary for the power supply voltage to maintain the operation of the information portable terminal 1 when the charging capacity is reduced or the battery is removed. When the voltage drops below a predetermined voltage (step S1), various reset processes are performed. The reset process includes, for example, a process for setting a flag in a CPU provided in the system control unit 1 and a RAM in the system memory 12, and a process for resetting the time register of the time measuring unit 14 (step S2). The information portable terminal proceeds with the initialization process by determining this reset state when the power supply voltage is restored.
[0028]
Next, an example of operation when the power supply voltage is restored will be described using the flowchart of FIG. When the information portable terminal 1 is not connected to the power source or when the power source voltage is lower than the specified voltage (step S11), the battery is connected or the power source charging capacity is restored to a sufficient voltage. The voltage is restored to make the portable information terminal 1 operable (step S12). When the power supply voltage is normal and the power switch is in the OFF state, a standby mode is set in which a standby current is supplied to the CPU and the time measuring means (step S13). When the power switch is turned on in the standby mode, the system control unit 11 performs an initialization process (step S15), and thereafter performs a process corresponding to the operation command in the normal mode (step S16).
[0029]
Moreover, it is a case where the power source is connected to the portable information terminal 1 (step S11), and it is determined that the power source voltage has been lowered from the flag in the CPU of the system control unit 1 or the RAM in the system memory 12 or the like. Even in such a case (step S14), after the power switch is turned on, initialization processing is performed by the system control means 11 (step S15). In the initialization process, the power supply flag and the Internet connection flag are reset to 0, for example (steps S17 and S18).
[0030]
Thereafter, when an internet connection process is performed (step S19), the internet connection destination is connected (step S20), and a power supply flag and an internet connection flag are detected (step S21). It is determined whether or not both flags are reset to 0. If the power flag is in the reset state, it indicates that the mobile information device has started up abnormally, and if the Internet connection flag is in the reset state, it indicates that this is the first access to the Internet connection after the power is restored. (Step S22).
[0031]
If both flags are reset to 0 (step S22), the address of the NTP server is called from the system memory 12, connected to the NTP server 3 (step S23), time information is requested from the NTP server 3, Time information is downloaded from the NTP server 3 (step S24). In the time register, the downloaded time information is set. As a result, accurate time information is set in the time register (step S25). Through the process of step S25, accurate time information is set in the time register, and the time adjustment is completed. In the above example, an operation example is shown in which the connection to the NTP server is performed after connecting to the target server in step S20. However, after the time information is downloaded by connecting to the NTP server, the connection to the target server is performed. You can also
[0032]
When the Internet is disconnected after performing a desired operation on the Internet (step S26), the Internet disconnection process is performed (step S27), and then the Internet connection flag is set from 0 to 1 (step S28). . Further, when the power is turned off after performing a desired operation in the portable information terminal (step S29), the power switch is turned off (step S30), and then the power flag is set from 0 to 1 (step S29). S31). By turning off the power switch, the portable information terminal switches from the normal mode to the standby mode (step S32).
[0033]
Thereafter, when the power is turned on again (step S33), the power switch is turned on (step S34) and the normal mode is set (step S35). When the Internet connection process is performed (step S36), the connection to the target connection destination of the Internet is made (step S37), and the power supply flag and the internet connection flag are detected (step S38). It is determined whether or not both flags are reset to 0. Here, since the flag is already set to 1 in step S28 and step S31, connection to the NTP server is not performed. After performing a desired operation on the Internet, the Internet is disconnected (steps S39, 40), and the power switch is turned off (steps S41, 42).
[0034]
The operation related diagram shown in FIG. 5 shows the relationship of the operation time of each process of the power supply, CPU, power supply flag, Internet flag, Internet, and time register in the above-described operation example. In this operation related diagram, the state where the power source is not connected is the initial state (A in FIG. 5). When the power supply is not connected or the power supply voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined specified voltage, a flag is set in the CPU (a in FIG. 5) and the time register is reset (b in FIG. 5). When the power supply is connected from this state (B in FIG. 5), the CPU is initialized and enters a standby mode, and is in a state of waiting for an operation for supplying a standby current (c in FIG. 5 ).
[0035]
Thereafter, when the power switch is turned on (C in FIG. 5 ), the CPU performs the initialization process (d in FIG. 5 ) and enters the normal mode. At the same time as the initialization process, the power supply flag and the Internet connection flag are reset to 0 (f, g in FIG. 5 ). When the Internet connection process is performed (h in FIG. 5 ), the CPU detects the power flag and the Internet connection flag flag, and only when both are reset to 0 (i in FIG. 5 ), the NTP server. To download time information (j in FIG. 5 ), and set the downloaded time information in the time register (k in FIG. 5 ).
[0036]
When disconnecting the Internet connection (l in FIG. 5 ), the Internet connection flag is set to 1 (m in FIG. 5 ). When the power switch is turned off (D in FIG. 5 ), the mode is switched to the standby mode (o in FIG. 5 ) and the power flag is set to 1 (p in FIG. 5 ). When the power switch is turned on again (E in FIG. 5 ), the standby mode is switched to the normal mode (q in FIG. 5 ). When the Internet is connected in this state (r in FIG. 5 ), the CPU detects the power flag and the Internet connection flag. At this time, since each flag is set to 1, connection to the NTP server is not performed (s in FIG. 5 ).
[0037]
[0038]
[0039]
[0040]
[0041]
[0042]
[0043]
[0044]
[0045]
[0046]
[0047]
[0048]
[0049]
[0050]
[0051]
In addition, the information portable terminal of the present invention is dedicated to a portable personal computer, a palmtop personal computer, a personal computer that is smaller and lighter than a portable personal computer called PDA, a small and lightweight mobile computer having a communication function, electric power, gas meter reading, etc. It includes a portable information terminal such as a dedicated terminal having a function.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
According to the information portable terminal of the present invention, it is possible to perform time adjustment based on accurate time information even when the time information of the clock function is reset. According to the configuration of the first aspect, by performing an operation of connecting to the Internet, it is possible to automatically connect to the NTP server to obtain time information and perform time adjustment. Also, by turning on the power can be automatically perform time synchronization to obtain the time information by connecting to the NTP server.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a configuration example of an information portable terminal according to the present invention.
Is a flow chart for FIG. 2 illustrating the operation of the portable information terminal of the present invention.
Is a flow chart for FIG. 3 illustrating the operation of the portable information terminal of the present invention.
Is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the portable information terminal of the present invention; FIG.
Figure 5 is an operational relationship diagram for explaining the operation of the portable information terminal of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information portable terminal 2 Provider 3 NTP server 11 System control means 12 System memory 13 Parameter memory 14 Timekeeping means 15 Display means 16 Transmission / reception means 17 Input means 18 Power switch 19 Power supply voltage detection means

Claims (1)

A system control unit, a memory, a power switch, and a timing unit, and the system control unit automatically connects to an NTP server, inputs time information from the NTP server , and adjusts the time of the timing unit based on this information. In the portable information terminal
The memory includes a power supply flag for recording a voltage drop of the power supply voltage, and an Internet connection flag for recording an access state.
The system control means sets the power supply flag and the Internet connection flag based on the power supply voltage drop when the power supply switch is turned on after the power supply voltage drops below a predetermined value and then returns to a normal value. When the first connection to the Internet is made after the power is restored only when both the power flag and the Internet connection flag are set on the first side. Determining, connecting to the NTP server and adjusting the time of the time measuring means,
When the Internet access ends, the Internet connection flag is set from the first side to the second side, and when the power switch is turned off, the power flag is set from the first side to the second side,
After that, when the power switch is turned on again and connected to the Internet, and both the power flag and the Internet connection flag are set on the second side, the connection to the NTP server is made. A portable information terminal characterized by not performing.

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