JP5064348B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device provided with a timer.

  Conventionally, various electronic devices such as PCs (Personal Computers), portable terminals, and home appliances perform various controls based on time. Such electronic devices often have a built-in real-time clock (RTC) to measure time, but particularly in communication terminals such as mobile phones, as a common time in a communication system including a base station, Get the system time from the communication network. As a result, the communication terminal performs synchronization with the base station, determination of a positioning method based on GPS positioning time intervals, time limit management of time-limited content, and the like.

  Thus, when acquiring system time from a communication network, if a portable terminal is started out of a communication range, for example, system time cannot be acquired. Therefore, inconvenience occurs in the control as described above. Therefore, it is realized that the system time is periodically backed up and the system time is restored based on the elapsed time measured by the RTC.

  For example, in FIG. 5, the system time is backed up every hour. At the time of this backup, the time measured by the RTC is also backed up at the same time. When the terminal is turned off and then turned on again, the system time is restored by adding the elapsed time from the backup time calculated by the RTC timing to the backed up system time.

By the way, if an error occurs in the time counted by the RTC, a large error occurs in the system time. Thus, attempts have been made to keep the RTC time accurate. For example, Patent Document 1 shows that two RTCs are provided, and the values indicated by these RTCs are compared. As a result, the RTC value is corrected according to the difference between the values.
JP 2008-164524 A

  However, even with the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the time cannot be measured when power is not supplied to any RTC. For example, in a portable terminal, it is conceivable that a backup battery, which is a power source for RTC, is deleted due to a reduction in mounting area due to a demand for miniaturization, cost reduction, and the like. When the RTC function stops due to such a situation, the system time does not advance as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the system time is backed up every hour. Then, when the power of the terminal is turned off at “10:45” and then the power is turned on, the system time to be restored returns to “10:00” that was last backed up. Further, if the power is turned off before the next backup time, the system time to be restored returns to “10:00” even if the power has advanced to “10:50” at that time.

  As described above, when the system time cannot be obtained from the communication network and the time is not measured by the RTC, the system time once advanced returns to the past. For this reason, the system time does not advance easily. For example, when managing time-limited content, the content is viewed because the system time is before the time limit even if the real time is the license time limit. There were problems such as being able to continue.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can prevent the system time from returning to the past.

  The electronic device according to the present invention includes a time measuring unit that measures time, a time acquisition unit that acquires time information from a network, a control unit that updates the time information acquired by the time acquisition unit based on an internal clock, A storage unit that stores the current time at regular intervals according to the time information updated by the control unit, and the control unit has a period in which the time measuring unit cannot measure the time, and after the period When the time acquisition unit cannot acquire time information when the time measurement unit resumes time measurement, the time information is equal to or more than the predetermined period with respect to the time last stored in the storage unit. The time is updated to the time that is added.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said memory | storage part further memorize | stores the time updated by the said control part, when the said time measuring part restarts time measurement.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said memory | storage part memorize | stores content with a time limit, and the said control part performs the time limit management of the said content based on the updated time.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the system time from returning to the past.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. Although a mobile phone will be described as an example of the electronic apparatus of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to various electronic devices that use the system time, such as PHS (Personal Handyphone System), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), PC, and various home appliances.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone 1 (electronic device) according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a so-called foldable mobile phone, but the mobile phone according to the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a sliding type in which one casing is slid in one direction from a state in which both casings are overlapped, or a rotary type in which one casing is rotated around an axis along the overlapping direction ( Turn type), or a type (straight type) in which the operation unit and the display unit are arranged in one housing and does not have a connecting unit.

  The mobile phone 1 includes an operation unit side body 2 and a display unit side body 3. The operation unit side body 2 includes a key input unit 11 and a microphone 12 to which a voice uttered by a user of the mobile phone 1 is input on the surface unit 10. The key input unit 11 includes a function setting operation button 13 for operating various functions such as various setting functions, a phone book function, and a mail function, and an input operation button 14 for inputting a telephone number and mail characters. And a determination operation button 15 for performing determination and scrolling in various operations.

  The display unit side body 3 includes a display unit 21 for displaying various types of information on the surface unit 20 and a receiver 22 for outputting the voice of the other party of the call.

  Further, the upper end portion of the operation unit side body 2 and the lower end portion of the display unit side body 3 are connected via a hinge mechanism 4. In addition, the mobile phone 1 relatively rotates the operation unit side body 2 and the display unit side body 3 which are connected via the hinge mechanism 4, so that the operation unit side body 2 and the display unit side body 3 are rotated. The body 3 can be in an open state (open state), or the operation unit side body 2 and the display unit side body 3 can be folded (folded state).

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment. The mobile phone 1 includes a display unit 21, a CPU 30 as a control unit, a communication control unit 31 as a time acquisition unit, an antenna 32, a voice control unit 33, a receiver 22, a key input unit 11, and a storage unit. And a RTC 35 as a timer.

  The CPU 30 controls the entire mobile phone 1, and performs predetermined control on the display unit 21, the communication control unit 31, the voice control unit 33, and the like, for example. Further, the CPU 30 receives input from the key input unit 11, the RTC 35, and the like, and executes various processes. Then, the CPU 30 controls the memory 34 to execute reading of various programs and data and writing of data when executing processing.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the CPU 30 manages the system time of the mobile phone 1 and updates it based on the internal clock. When the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned on, the system time that has not been updated while the power is off is restored.

  The display unit 21 performs predetermined image processing according to the control of the CPU 30. Then, the processed image data is stored in the frame memory and output to the screen at a predetermined timing.

  The communication control unit 31 communicates with an external device in a predetermined use frequency band (for example, 800 MHz). Then, the communication control unit 31 demodulates the signal received from the antenna 32, supplies the processed signal to the CPU 30, modulates the signal supplied from the CPU 30, and transmits the signal from the antenna 32 to the external device. .

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the communication control unit 31 acquires time information that is the system time of the mobile phone 1 from the communication network.

  The audio control unit 33 performs predetermined audio processing on the signal supplied from the communication control unit 31 under the control of the CPU 30 and outputs the processed signal to the receiver 22. The receiver 22 outputs the signal supplied from the audio control unit 33 to the outside. This signal may be output from a speaker (not shown) instead of or together with the receiver 22.

  In addition, the voice control unit 33 processes the signal input from the microphone 12 (FIG. 1) under the control of the CPU 30 and outputs the processed signal to the communication control unit 31. The communication control unit 31 performs predetermined processing on the signal supplied from the audio control unit 33 and outputs the processed signal from the antenna 32.

  The memory 34 includes, for example, a working memory and is used for arithmetic processing by the CPU 30. In the present embodiment, the system time is stored for backup at every fixed period (for example, one hour). Further, the user time managed by the RTC 35 described later is stored for backup at the same timing. Note that the memory 34 may also serve as a removable external memory.

  The RTC 35 holds the user time for user presentation based on a predetermined source oscillation (for example, 32 kHz oscillator). Therefore, when the source oscillation or the power supply to the RTC 35 is stopped, the user time cannot be counted, so that the system time cannot be recovered by the RTC 35 as shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the details of the process in which the CPU 30 recovers the system time when the source oscillation of the RTC 35 is stopped will be described. Specifically, a case will be described where there is no backup battery as an auxiliary power source for RTC 35 and source oscillation, and the main battery is removed.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the system time managed by the CPU 30 according to the present embodiment and the actual actual time.

  The CPU 30 backs up the system time every hour, and the time from “09:00” to “10:00” coincides with the actual time. Then, it is assumed that the battery is removed at “10:20”, the mobile phone 1 is turned off, and the power supply to the RTC 35 is also stopped.

  Thereafter, when the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned on, the CPU 30 attempts to restore the system time. At this time, if the time information cannot be obtained from the communication network, the difference time with the user time backed up at the same time as the backup of the system time at “10:00” is obtained from the RTC 35 and recovered (FIG. 5). . However, in this example, since the power supply to the RTC 35 is stopped, the difference time cannot be acquired.

  Therefore, the CPU 30 adds 1 hour to the backed up system time “10:00” as a predetermined time equal to or longer than the backup cycle (1 hour), and restores the system time as “11:00”. To do. Further, the CPU 30 backs up the recovered system time “11:00”, and prepares for power off immediately after.

  Here, the restored system time “11:00” does not coincide with the actual time, but “10:20” which has progressed before the power was turned off by adding a predetermined time equal to or longer than the backup cycle. There will be no return to the past.

  Next, when the system time advances to “12:10”, the battery is removed, and when the power of the mobile phone 1 is turned off, when the power is turned on thereafter, the last backup “12 “13:00”, which is obtained by adding one hour, is restored as the system time. As a result, it is possible to suppress the system time that has once progressed to “12:10” from returning to “12:00”.

  As described above, when the CPU 30 cannot acquire the system time from the communication network and cannot acquire the differential time by the RTC 35, the CPU 30 adds the predetermined time that is equal to or longer than the backup cycle to return the system time to the past. Can be suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the CPU 30 backs up the system time to be restored when the system time is restored (immediately or immediately after), even if the battery is removed before the next backup, the system time once progressed It is possible to suppress returning to the recovery point.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the CPU 30 according to the present embodiment. This process is a process for restoring the system time when the mobile phone 1 is activated.

  In step S <b> 1, the CPU 30 acquires the system time backed up in the memory 34. It should be noted that the system time held by the CPU 30 is erased by turning off the power when progressing by a time less than the backup cycle (1 hour) from the acquired time.

  In step S <b> 2, the CPU 30 determines whether there is a history that the source oscillation of the RTC 35 has stopped. Specifically, for example, when the user time held by the RTC 35 has returned to the initial value, or when there is information indicating battery exhaustion stored immediately before battery exhaustion (at the time of voltage drop), the source It is determined that there is a history of shaking stopped. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S6, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, since the RTC 35 was operating while the progress of the system time was stopped, the CPU 30 first obtains the user time that the RTC 35 last backed up simultaneously with the system time.

  In step S4, the CPU 30 acquires the current user time held by the RTC 35, and calculates a difference time from the backed-up user time acquired in step S3. As a result, the time during which the progress of the system time has been stopped can be obtained.

  In step S5, the CPU 30 adds the difference time calculated in step S4 to the backed up system time acquired in step S1, and recovers the current system time. As a result, the system time can be recovered almost accurately by using the user time by the RTC 35 that has continued counting even while the progress of the system time is stopped.

  In step S6, since the operation of the RTC 35 is also stopped while the progress of the system time is stopped, the system time cannot be recovered in steps S3 to S5. Therefore, CPU30 adds 1 hour which is a backup period to the backed up system time acquired in step S1, and restores it as the current system time. As a result, the system time once progressed is not returned to the past, and inconveniences can be suppressed in various functions and applications using the system time.

  In step S7, the CPU 30 clears the source vibration stop history used for the determination in step S2. Specifically, for example, a process of updating the user time returned to the initial value with the restored system time or deleting the stored information indicating battery exhaustion is performed.

  In step S8, the CPU 30 backs up the system time recovered in step S5 or step S7. This prepares for a situation where the battery is removed immediately after recovery.

  Thus, in this embodiment, even when the operation of the RTC 35 is stopped, the system time can be prevented from returning to the past. As a result, it is possible to suppress inconveniences caused by the retroactive time.

  For example, when content with a time limit is stored in the memory 34 and the viewing limit is managed by the CPU 30, once the advanced system time returns to the past, the time limit will not be reached indefinitely depending on how the user views. The inconvenience of being continued arises. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, if the system time is prevented from returning to the past, the system time continues to advance even if the system time cannot be limited by an accurate actual time limit. There is no risk of being lost.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to embodiment mentioned above. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function of the mobile telephone 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the system time which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and real time. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the restoration method of the conventional system time. It is a figure which shows the subject in the restoration method of the conventional system time.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (electronic equipment)
11 Key Input Unit 21 Display Unit 22 Receiver 30 CPU (Control Unit)
31 Communication control unit (time acquisition unit)
32 Antenna 33 Voice control unit 34 Memory (storage unit)
35 RTC (Timekeeping Department)

Claims (3)

A timekeeping unit for measuring time;
A time acquisition unit for acquiring time information from the network;
A control unit that updates the time information acquired by the time acquisition unit based on an internal clock;
With the time information updated by the control unit, a storage unit that stores the current time every fixed period,
The control unit has a period in which the time measurement unit cannot measure time, and the time acquisition unit cannot acquire time information when the time measurement unit resumes time measurement after the period, the time acquisition unit cannot acquire the time information. An electronic device that updates information at a time obtained by adding a time equal to or longer than the predetermined period to a time last stored in the storage unit.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit further stores the time updated by the control unit when the time measuring unit resumes time measurement. The storage unit stores time-limited content,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs time limit management of the content based on the updated time.

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