JP4716334B2 - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal, and more particularly to a portable information terminal in which a first casing and a second casing are connected so as to be openable and closable.

  Conventionally, portable information terminals in which a first casing and a second casing are connected so as to be openable and closable have been distributed.

  For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-51417) discloses a technique for invalidating an input of a key operation unit during a period in which an open / close state is switched.

Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-136778) corresponds to the state after switching of the camera function or the like from the period during which switching of the open / close state is performed, not after the open / close state is switched. A technique for starting activation of a function is disclosed.
JP 2005-51417 A JP 2005-136778 A

  Note that in many cases, the portable information terminal as described above is provided with a key operation unit in both the first casing and the second casing, and the first casing and the second casing are opened. When the state is set, more key operation units are exposed. Moreover, in such a portable information terminal, for example, when the display unit is provided in the first casing so that the display unit is positioned on the outer surface in the closed state, In some cases, a key operation unit is provided on the same surface as the display unit.

  In such a case, in the closed state, an operation related to display is performed using the key operation unit provided in the first casing, and in the opened state, it is provided only in the second casing and becomes the open state. It is conceivable to perform the above operation using the exposed key operation unit. For example, this is to provide the user with the maximum operability according to the situation. Specifically, for example, in the closed state, a user can use the portable information terminal in a compact manner by operating using a key provided on the same surface (housing) as the display unit. In the state, it is possible to allow the user to realize many operations with a small number of operations by operating with more keys provided in the second housing that is not provided with the display unit.

  As more and more people now own and use mobile information terminals such as mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), the convenience of such mobile information terminals has improved. It is always desired.

  Conventionally, a portable information terminal such as a cellular phone has been configured to be able to display a large number of icons including icons relating to the incoming call function. In particular, in a mobile phone configured to be able to transmit a message (mail document) with a plurality of types of applications, an icon corresponding to each application can be displayed. In such a case, the user may not be able to understand the meaning of each icon (particularly, an icon corresponding to a function that is not familiar to users) and may not be able to use an application corresponding to a specific function. Therefore, also from such a viewpoint, improvement of convenience for the portable information terminal has been desired.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve convenience in a portable information terminal.

A portable information terminal according to the present invention includes a first housing, a second housing connected to the first housing so as to be openable and closable, the first housing, and the second housing. a state detecting means of the housing to detect whether the closed state or an open state, and Viewing means, an operation means for accepting an operation from outside, the display on the basis of the operation to the prior Kimisao operation means Control means for controlling the display content of the means, and communication means for communicating with other terminal devices, wherein the communication means accepts a plurality of types of incoming requests and receives the incoming call in the closed state via the communication means. When a request is received, the information processing device further includes related information storage means for storing information specifying an application to be activated in response to the open state and information specifying an icon to be displayed on the display means in association with each other. And the control means opens the closed state to the open state. The icon associated with the incoming request accepted by the communication means when the communication means is in the closed state is displayed on the display means, and the icon among the icons displayed on the display means is displayed. An application corresponding to an icon selected by an operation on an operation unit is activated, and display of the icon on the display unit is terminated in response to activation of an application corresponding to the selected icon. .

  In the portable information terminal according to the present invention, the portable information terminal is preferably a portable telephone having a call function.

According to the present invention, when an incoming request is received in the closed state, an icon for starting an application associated with the incoming request is displayed when the incoming request is made . Thus, both If you simplifies the operation for starting the application, the user becomes possible to start the application easier even if you do not store all of the operating method of the application. Furthermore, by displaying an icon and using it for starting an application, the user can be made aware of the activation of the application that has received the incoming request.

In addition, since an application can be easily started from an incoming call function icon (an icon displayed in response to receiving an incoming call request), there is an effect that has not existed in the past (the above-described activation of an application that has received an incoming call can be performed by the user). It creates a point to be conscious of).

Hereinafter, a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are external views of the mobile phone 1. The cellular phone 1 mainly includes a first casing 2 and a second casing 3. In the mobile phone 1, the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are connected to each other by a slide mechanism (not shown) so as to be opened and closed. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 are closed (hereinafter referred to as “closed state” as appropriate), and FIG. 1B shows the first housing. 2 and the second housing 3 are opened (hereinafter referred to as “open state” where appropriate).

  The first housing 2 is provided with a display 11, earpiece 12, and speaker 13. The second housing 3 is provided with a mouthpiece 14.

  Operation keys 21, 22, 23 </ b> A to 23 </ b> D and 24 to 28 are provided on the surface of the second housing 3 that is covered with the first housing 2 when the cellular phone 1 is closed. . The operation key 21 is used when inputting a telephone number or characters. The operation keys 22 include keys (four-way keys) for moving the cursor in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and keys (decision keys) that are operated when selecting information displayed on the display 11. The operation keys 23A to 23D are keys that are operated when a function given to each key is executed. The operation keys 24, 25, and 26 are the same. The operation keys 27 and 28 are keys operated when inputting “*” and “#”, respectively.

  Side keys 31 to 36 are provided on the side surface of the second housing 3. As can be understood from FIG. 1A, the side keys 31 to 36 can be operated even when the cellular phone 1 is in the closed state.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile phone 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, mobile phone 1 and control unit 50 that controls the overall operation of mobile phone 1 are provided. The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The mobile phone 1 also includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 51 that functions as a work area for the control unit 50.

  In the mobile phone 1, transmission / reception of information regarding a call and reception of a television broadcast wave are performed via an antenna 89. Radio waves related to a call are transmitted and received via the communication control unit 80. The television broadcast wave received by the antenna 89 is input to the control unit 50 via the tuner 81, the conversion unit 82, and the encoder 83.

  The cellular phone 1 includes a receiver 56 that outputs sound during a call, a microphone 58 that inputs sound, and a speaker 13 that outputs alarm sound, sound of a television broadcast program, and the like. The mobile phone 1 also includes a camera 52 (not shown) and a state detection unit 59 that detects the open / close state of the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 in the mobile phone 1.

  The cellular phone 1 further includes a storage unit 60 that stores various information such as a program executed by the CPU of the control unit 50.

  In addition, the mobile phone 1 includes an external I / F (interface) 53, and the control unit 50 provides information on an external recording medium such as an SD memory card (Secure Digital memory card) 500 via the external I / F 53. Read and write

  The storage unit 60 includes a program storage unit 61, a data storage unit 62, and an icon display information storage unit 63. In the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment, an icon (incoming icon) corresponding to the type of incoming request received in the closed state is displayed on the display 11 when the open state is set. The icon display information storage unit 63 stores various information (icon display information) for displaying an incoming call icon. Table 1 shows an example of icon display information.

  Referring to Table 1, the icon display information includes information related to five incoming icons. The icon display information includes, for each incoming call icon, the name of the incoming call icon, information on whether to perform display (display setting), information for specifying an image displayed as the incoming call icon (icon specifying information), In addition, information (corresponding application) for specifying an application to which the incoming call icon corresponds is stored in association with each other.

  In the icon display information, an unread mail display icon, an application A incoming icon, an application B incoming icon, an answering message display icon, and a mail transmission failure display icon are stored as names of incoming calls.

  Further, in the icon display information in Table 1, the file name of the image to be displayed as the incoming call icon is shown as the icon specifying information. The information stored as the icon specifying information includes other information such as the storage location of the image file displayed as the incoming call icon. Such an image file is stored in the data storage unit 62, for example.

  Further, in the corresponding application shown in Table 1, information of “mail”, “application A”, “application B”, and “call” is stored. “App A” and “App B” are shown as examples of information specifying the application. “Mail” corresponds to an application for sending and receiving e-mail and editing and viewing e-mail. “Call” corresponds to an application for making a voice call.

  The control unit 50 establishes a connection with the server on the network at regular intervals, thereby information indicating that the e-mail addressed to the mobile phone 1 is accumulated in the server (hereinafter referred to as “first incoming request”). ), Information indicating that messages addressed to the mobile phone 1 for the app A are stored in the server (hereinafter referred to as “second incoming request”), and messages addressed to the mobile phone 1 for the app B are stored in the server. Information (hereinafter referred to as “third incoming request”), information indicating that a message based on the answering machine function addressed to the mobile phone 1 is recorded on the server (hereinafter referred to as “fourth incoming request”). Information) and / or information indicating that the mail transmission processing has ended abnormally due to a problem with the transmission of mail transmitted from the mobile phone 1 (hereinafter referred to as “fifth incoming request”). ) Is the Registered server and receives it.

  Then, when receiving the first incoming request, the control unit 50 turns on the display setting for the unread mail display icon in Table 1, and receives the second incoming request, sets the display setting for the application A incoming icon in Table 1. When the third incoming call request is turned ON, the display setting for the application B incoming icon in Table 1 is turned ON, and when the fourth incoming call request is received, the display setting for the answering message display icon in Table 1 is turned ON, When the fifth incoming request is received, the display setting for the mail transmission failure display icon in Table 1 is turned ON.

  In the mobile phone 1, when the application is started in the closed state, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, and 113A are turned on to illuminate the operation positions of the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113. Hereinafter, illuminating the operation positions of the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 in this way is also referred to as “sensor keys 111, 112, 113 are displayed” as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 constitute a first operating means.

  Specifically, when any of the side keys 31 to 36 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 1A in the closed state, the cellular phone 1 displays the figure on the display 11. As shown in FIG. 4, a menu screen is displayed, and sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are displayed. Then, by appropriately operating the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113, the control unit 50 activates a program corresponding to the operation. FIG. 3 shows a state where a program for displaying a television broadcast program is activated as an example of a state where the program is activated.

  In the mobile phone 1, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are provided on the same surface as the display 11 at positions adjacent to the display 11. Specifically, the display 11 and the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are provided on the back surface of the surface of the first housing 2 that faces the second housing 3.

  The display 11 has a rectangular shape, and as shown in FIG. 3, the characters can be displayed upright with their long sides aligned with the horizontal direction. The sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are adjacent to the display 11 in the long side direction (that is, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the display 11 matches the long side direction with the horizontal direction). So as to be adjacent to each other in the left-right direction).

  In particular, in the mobile phone 1, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are provided so as to be positioned on the right side of the display 11 when the mobile phone 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 3 or 4. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the user holds and operates the mobile phone 1 (the first housing 2 and the second housing 3) with one hand H (right hand), the thumb of the right hand Thus, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 can be operated.

  The shape of the display 11 is not limited to this. Further, on the assumption that the display 11 has a rectangular shape, the terms “long side direction” and “short side direction” are used. In this case, the terms “rectangular shape”, “long side direction”, and “short side direction” are intended to be similarly applied even when the shape of the display 11 is deformed to have rounded corners. .

  When the cellular phone 1 is opened, the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, 113A are basically turned off, and the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 are not displayed as shown in FIG. However, as will be described later, when an incoming call request is made in the closed state and switched to the open state, the incoming call icon is displayed on the display 11 and the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are displayed even in the open state. Is done. FIG. 7 shows the cellular phone 1 in an open state under such conditions.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which all of the five incoming call icons described with reference to Table 1 are displayed on the display 11. FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of five incoming call icons.

  Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in mobile phone 1, control unit 50 determines whether or not to display each of incoming call icons 121 to 125 on display 11 according to icon display information (see Table 1). To do. The incoming call icon 121 is an example of an unread mail display icon. The incoming call icon 122 is an example of an application A incoming call icon. The incoming call icon 123 is an example of an application B incoming call icon. The incoming call icon 124 is an example of an answering machine message display icon. The incoming call icon 125 is an example of a mail transmission failure display icon. In FIG. 8, each icon is connected by an arrow to indicate a change mode of an icon to be blinked, which will be described later, and the arrow is not displayed on the display 11.

  Here, the open jump process that is executed by the control unit 50 in relation to the display of the incoming call icon will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 which are flowcharts of the process. Note that the control unit 50 may always execute the open jump process, or as an interrupt process when a switch from the closed state to the open state as shown in step S10 in FIG. 9 is detected. May be.

  Referring to FIG. 9, in the open jump process, control unit 50 first determines in step S10 whether or not mobile phone 1 has been switched from the closed state to the open state, and if it is determined that the switch has been made, the process proceeds to step S12. To proceed.

  In step S12, the control unit 50 refers to the icon display information (see Table 1) to determine whether or not at least one display setting is ON. If so, the process proceeds to step S14. If this is not the case (all display settings are OFF), the process is terminated. That is, in step S12, when the control unit 50 determines that all display settings are OFF, the mobile phone 1 after being switched to the open state displays the display 11 as shown in FIG. No incoming call icon is displayed, and sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are not displayed. When the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are not displayed as described above, the control unit 50 invalidates the operation on the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113. Specifically, invalidating an operation means that, for example, even if an operation is performed on these keys, the control unit 50 does not execute any operation corresponding to the operation, or these operations are performed. For example, no signal is input to the control unit 50 even when an operation is performed on the key.

  In step S14, the control unit 50 causes the display 11 to display an incoming call icon whose display setting is ON in the icon display information, and proceeds to step S16. In step S14, the control unit 50 reads out the image file having the file name stored in the icon specifying information from the storage unit such as the data storage unit 62 for the icon whose display setting is turned ON, and performs the corresponding operation. The image is displayed on the display 11. In the mobile phone 1, the display position on the display 11 is determined in advance for each of the five icons whose information is stored in the icon display information. Information for specifying the display position of each icon is stored in the data storage unit 62, for example.

  In step S16, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 50 turns on the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, 113A, and proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18, the control unit 50 determines whether or not an operation has been performed on the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113. If it is determined that an operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S20. On the other hand, when it is detected that an application corresponding to the incoming call icon displayed on the display 11 (an application specified by the corresponding application) has been activated before the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are operated. The control unit 50 advances the process to step S28, and further advances the process to step S30 (see FIG. 10).

  Referring to FIG. 10, in step S30, control unit 50 turns OFF the display setting of the incoming call icon associated with the application determined to have been started in step S28, and displays the incoming call icon on display 11. The process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S32.

  In step S32, it is determined whether or not all display settings of the icon display information have been turned off because the contents of the display settings have been changed in step S30. If so, the open jump process is terminated. On the other hand, if at least one display setting is still ON, the control unit 50 returns the process to step S18.

  Returning to FIG. 9, in step S20, the control unit 50 determines whether or not an operation for starting an application using the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 has been performed, and determines that such an operation has been performed. The process proceeds to step S24. If it is determined that the process has not been performed, the process proceeds to step S22.

  Here, an operation for starting an application using the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when at least one of the incoming call icons 121 to 125 is displayed on the display 11 in the open state, the leftmost of the incoming call icons 121 to 125 is displayed by operating the sensor key 113. The displayed icon blinks. In addition, when the state where none of the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 is operated for a predetermined time continues, or when a key other than the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 is operated, the blinking display is canceled.

  Among the incoming call icons displayed on the display 11 among the incoming call icons 121 to 125, the incoming call icon to be blinked can be changed by operating the sensor key 111 or the sensor key 112. Specifically, when the sensor key 111 is operated, the control unit 50 ends the blinking display of the icon blinking at that time, and displays the icon displayed at the right side of the icon (at that time If the icon displayed at the right end is blinking, the icon displayed at the left end is blinked. For example, when the sensor key 111 is operated when all of the incoming call icons 121 to 125 are displayed on the display 11, the incoming call icon displayed in a blinking manner is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 8 according to the number of operations. , Clockwise, changed in order.

  Returning to FIG. 9, when the sensor key 113 is operated in a state where any of the incoming call icons 121 to 125 is blinking, the control unit 50 responds to the incoming call icon blinked at that time. It is determined that an operation for starting the application to be performed has been performed. And by making such a judgment, the control part 50 advances a process from step S20 to step S24.

  In step S24, the control unit 50 activates an application associated with the incoming call icon as the operation target in the icon display information, and advances the process to step S26.

  In step S26, the control unit 50 turns OFF the display setting of the incoming call icon associated with the application activated in step S24, ends the display of the incoming call icon on the display 11, and proceeds to step S32. Proceed.

  In the present embodiment described above, in the cellular phone 1, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are displayed when an application such as a digital television (browsing of a television broadcast program) is started in the closed state. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, it is not displayed. The controller 50 lights the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, 113A to display the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, and also displays the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, 113A is turned off, and the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are not displayed as shown in FIG.

  When the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 are not displayed by turning off the sensor key lights 111A, 112A, 113A, the control unit 50 invalidates the operation on the sensor keys 111, 112, 113. Therefore, in such a state, no information is input to the control unit 50 even if any of the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 is operated.

  In the open state, the control unit 50 basically keeps the sensor keys 111, 112, 113 from being displayed.

  However, as described with reference to FIG. 7, when the mobile phone 1 is switched from the closed state to the open state, the display setting for any incoming icon is ON in the icon display information. Even in the open state, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are displayed, and information (signals) is input to the control unit 50 in response to operations on these keys. That is, in this case, the operation on the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 is valid. Specifically, in such a case, an operation on the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 is used as an operation for selecting an incoming call icon displayed on the display 11 and starting an application corresponding to each incoming call icon. The

  Here, the display of the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the sensor key 111 in the mobile phone 1.

  Referring to FIG. 11, sensor key 111 includes a contact detection portion 1112 provided on control board 202 and a convex portion 1111 provided on pad 201.

  The pad 201 is provided on the inner side of the plate body 200 that covers the outline of the surface of the mobile phone 1 on which the display 11 is provided.

  The plate body 200 is made of, for example, a transparent resin plate. The contact detection unit 1112 is made of, for example, a piezoelectric element. The mobile phone 1 is further provided with a support plate 203 that supports the control board 202 from the inside.

  The pad 201 and the control board 202 are made of an opaque or translucent material. The pad 201 has a hole 201 </ b> A formed in the outer peripheral portion of the convex portion 1111. In addition, the control board 202 is formed with a hole 202A in an outer peripheral part of the contact detection unit 112 and in a part facing the hole 201A. A hole 203A is formed in a portion of the support plate 203 that faces the hole 202A.

  When the sensor key light 111A is turned on, the light emitted from the sensor key light 111A reaches the outside of the mobile phone 1 through the holes 203A, 202A, 201A and the plate body 200. Thereby, the user can visually recognize that the vicinity of the sensor key 111 is lit. In FIG. 11, arrows R1 and R2 indicate the direction in which the light emitted from the sensor key light 111A travels.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 11, the sensor key 111 is displayed when the sensor key light 111A is turned on.

  Similarly, the sensor keys 112 and 113 are displayed when the sensor key lights 112A and 113A are turned on. The sensor key lights 111A, 112A, and 113A are formed of, for example, light emitting diodes.

  Further, in the mobile phone 1, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are provided on the first housing 2 and closer to the second housing 3 than the display 11 as shown in FIG. 7. . As a result, the sensor keys 111, 112, and 113 are provided at positions relatively close to various keys such as the operation keys 21 provided on the second casing 3, so that the user can easily operate the keys. It can be said that it is arranged.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the hardware constitutions of the mobile telephone of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display mode of a display when the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 is a closed state. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display mode of a display when the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 is a closed state. It is a figure which shows typically the aspect which a user holds the said mobile telephone when the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 is a closed state. It is a figure which shows an example of the display mode of a display when the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 is made into the open state. It is a figure which shows the other example of the display mode of a display when the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 is made into the open state. It is an enlarged view of the incoming call icon displayed on the display of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of open jump processing executed by the control unit of the mobile phone in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart of open jump processing executed by the control unit of the mobile phone in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view in the vicinity of a sensor key in the mobile phone of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile phone, 2 1st housing | casing, 2nd housing | casing, 11 Display, 12 Earpiece, 13 Speaker, 14 Mouthpiece, 21, 22, 23A-23D, 24-28 Operation key, 31-36 Side key, 50 control unit, 60 storage unit, 61 program storage unit, 62 data storage unit, 63 icon display information storage unit, 111-113 sensor key, 111A-113A sensor key light, 121-125 incoming call icon.

Claims (2)

A first housing;
A second casing connected to the first casing so as to be openable and closable;
State detecting means for detecting whether the first housing and the second housing are in an open state or a closed state ;
And Table shows means,
Operation means for accepting an operation from the outside,
And control means for controlling the display content of the display means based on the operation for the previous Kimisao operation means,
Communication means for communicating with other terminal devices,
The communication means accepts a plurality of types of incoming requests,
When an incoming request is received via the communication means in the closed state, information for specifying an application to be activated in response to the open state and information for specifying an icon to be displayed on the display means It further includes related information storage means for storing in association with each other,
The control means includes
In response to the change from the closed state to the open state, the display means displays an icon associated with the incoming request accepted by the communication means when in the closed state,
Activating an application corresponding to the icon selected by the operation on the operation means among the icons displayed on the display means;
A portable information terminal that terminates display of the icon on the display unit in response to activation of an application corresponding to the selected icon . The mobile information terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile information terminal is a mobile phone having a call function.

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