JPH09167138A - Portable information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage and use schedule data and information obtained from information service as one piece of data without executing a complicated data editing operation in a portable information terminal represented by PDA (Personal Digital Assistants). SOLUTION: When the date/content of a schedule are inputted in a schedule input screen, menu screens for obtaining related information are sequentially displayed from an information service company. When 'A net/town information/ Shinjuku' is designated in accordance with the menu screens, it is displayed with schedule data inputted as the index of frist information and written into a schedule registration area as first information acquirement designation data. When a 'registration' key is operated and schedule data is registered, communication access with an 'A net' is automatically executed in accordance with first information acquirement designation data, designated town information on Shinjuku is acquired and it is preserved with schedule data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to, for example, a PDA (Per
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal capable of managing schedule data, such as a small electronic notebook having a communication function typified by sonal Digital Assistants).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable information terminals having a communication function have been put into practical use, and at the same time the establishment of information service companies (systems) that provide various life information (news, weather forecast, town information, etc.) The communication function of mobile information terminals has been popular, and it is possible to acquire and use information provided by information service companies.

In such a portable information terminal, the schedule data entered by the user himself and the information obtained from the information service system are registered and managed completely independently.

[0004]

On the other hand, the schedule data and the life information acquired from the information service may have contents closely related to each other. For example, for schedule data for meeting with an acquaintance, the meeting place You can effectively use the town information of
For travel schedule data, weather forecasts and traffic information can be effectively used.

However, in the conventional portable information terminal, since the schedule data and the information obtained from the information service are managed independently, it is very difficult to manage and use them as one data. There is a problem that complicated data editing operation must be performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and schedule data and information obtained from an information service can be easily managed and used as one data without performing complicated data editing operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information terminal that can be used.

[0007]

That is, a portable information terminal according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a communication means capable of accessing an information service system providing an information service and a schedule input means for inputting schedule data. A schedule registration means for adding information obtained from the information service system by the communication means to the schedule data inputted by the schedule input means, and registering the information obtained from the information service system by the schedule registration means. A schedule output means for outputting the additionally registered schedule data is provided.

A portable information terminal according to claim 2 of the present invention is the information terminal device according to claim 1,
The information added to the schedule data input by the schedule input unit is information obtained from the information service system by the communication unit when the schedule data is input.

A portable information terminal according to claim 3 of the present invention is the information terminal device according to claim 1,
The information added to the schedule data input by the schedule input means is information obtained from the information service system by the communication means in correspondence with the execution time of the input schedule data.

That is, in the portable information terminal according to the present invention, when schedule data is input by the schedule input means, for example, information acquired from the information service system via the communication means at the time of inputting the schedule data or the input schedule. The information acquired from the information service system via the communication means in correspondence with the execution time of the data is added to the schedule data and registered, and is output by display or the like as necessary.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a morphological information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This portable information terminal has a control unit 11. The control unit 11 controls the operation of each circuit unit according to a system program stored in advance in the control unit 11 based on an input operation signal input from the touch panel type input device 12 via the input control unit 13. ,
In addition to the input control unit 13, the control unit 11 includes a communication control unit 14, a schedule data control unit 15, an information acquisition control unit 16, a data storage unit 17, and a current time clock unit (RT).
C) 18, the display control unit 19, and the voice control unit 20 are connected.

The touch panel type input device 12 has a liquid crystal display section 21 whose display is controlled by the display control section 19.
Is provided so as to be superimposed on the display screen, and a voltage signal corresponding to the touch operation position is output from the input device 12, and the control unit 11 determines the coordinate position on the display screen. The content of the operation is determined from the content of the display corresponding to the touch position of the input device 12.

The communication control unit 14 accesses the communication system of the information service company from the antenna 22 via the telephone radio station in response to a command from the control unit 11 and acquires necessary information. The information acquired by 14 is added to the schedule data input by the input device 12 and stored in the data storage unit 17.

The schedule data control unit 15 stores in advance a schedule registration processing program for causing the control unit 11 to perform the schedule data registration processing in accordance with the operation of the input device 12. This schedule registration processing program Is activated as a subprogram of the system program executed by the control unit 11.

The schedule data control unit 15
Also stores an information service company menu table and an information menu table for designating the information service company associated with the schedule data and the content of the information.

The information acquisition control unit 16 stores in advance an information service acquisition processing program for acquiring the information associated with the schedule data from the information service company in accordance with the schedule registration processing based on the schedule registration processing program. This information service acquisition processing program is started as a subprogram of the schedule registration processing program.

The data storage unit 17 has a schedule registration area for storing the schedule data input along with the execution of the schedule registration processing program and the information acquired from the information service company in association with the schedule data. I have it.

The current time counting unit (RTC) 18 is provided with a time counting circuit and measures the current time. Based on the time counting data from the current time counting unit 18, the current date, time and day of the week are controlled by the control unit 11. To be judged.

The display control unit 19 comprises a common driver and a segment driver for the liquid crystal display unit 21, and controls the display of the liquid crystal display unit 21 according to the display data given from the control unit 11.

The voice control unit 20 controls the input / output of a voice signal in the voice input / output device 23. For example, when the control unit 11 is set to the telephone mode, the telephone wireless communication is performed via the communication control unit 14. The user can access the station and have a conversation with the voice input / output device 23.

FIG. 2 shows the data storage unit 1 of the portable information terminal.
It is a figure which shows the data format of the schedule registration area in FIG. In the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17, the schedule data input along with the execution of the schedule registration processing program and the information acquired from the information service company in association with the schedule data are dates indicating the schedule execution time. Time data, content data that is the contents of the schedule, information acquisition specification data that indicates the acquisition destination of the information service, an information acquisition flag that is set when the specified information is acquired, and information data that indicates the storage location of the acquired information. When the pointers are stored in order and a plurality of pieces of information are stored, the information acquisition designation data, the information acquisition flag, and the information data pointer for each piece of information are repeatedly stored.

Then, an end code is written at the storage end position of one piece of schedule data and its related information.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an information service company menu table and an information menu table stored together with the schedule registration processing program of the mobile information terminal. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the information service company menu table. (B) is a diagram showing a main information menu table, and (C) is a diagram showing a sub information menu table.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in the information service company menu table, name data of a plurality of information service companies are numbered and stored. As shown in FIG. 3B, in the main information menu table, the item data of the information service provided by each information service company is numbered and the command to the next process when the item is designated is given. Remembered. As shown in FIG. 3 (C),
In the sub information menu table, the sub item data is numbered for each item of the main information menu table and is stored together with a command to the next process when the item is designated.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information service company access data stored together with the information service acquisition processing program of the portable information terminal. The information service company access data is associated with the company number of the information service company menu table “see FIG. 3A”,
The access number (telephone number) and communication procedure (procedure script) for auto login for each information service company are stored.

Next, the operation of the portable information terminal having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schedule registration process by the mobile information terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the information service selection / input process accompanying the schedule registration process by the portable information terminal. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an information service acquisition process accompanying the schedule input process by the portable information terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of a schedule and an information input screen associated with the schedule input process by the portable information terminal. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a schedule input state on the schedule input screen. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the information service selection state on the schedule input screen, and FIG. 7C is a diagram showing the schedule and information input display state on the schedule input screen.

First, after turning on the power supply of this portable information terminal, when the menu screen is displayed on the liquid crystal display section 21 and the input device 12 is touch-operated to set the schedule registration mode, the schedule data control section 15 stores it. The schedule registration processing program is started, and the display unit 21 displays a schedule input screen showing items of date, time, content, and information, as shown in FIG. (Step S1).

Here, according to each input item displayed on the schedule input screen, the date, time and contents of the schedule are input and displayed by the input device 12,
When registering as the schedule data as it is without adding information obtained from the information service, when the "Register" key 21a is touch-operated, the inputted schedule data is stored in the data format (data format) in the schedule registration area in the data storage unit 17. It is written and registered according to FIG. 2) (steps S2 → S3 → S4).

On the other hand, when the date, time, and contents of the schedule are input and displayed according to the processing of steps S1 and S2 and the "registration" key 21a is not touch-operated in the state shown in FIG. 8A, The process shifts to the information service selection / input process in FIG. 6 (steps S2 → S3 → S).
A).

In this information service selection / input processing, the information service selection / input processing program stored in the schedule data control unit 15 as a subprogram of the schedule registration processing program is started, and the schedule data control unit 15 is started. Stored information service company menu table “Refer to FIG. 3 (A)”
Is read and displayed as a selection screen of the information service company on the liquid crystal display unit 21 (step A1).

On the selection screen of the information service company, for example, when "A net service" corresponding to the item number "1" is selected, the main menu table "FIG.
“(B) Reference” is read and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 as an information type selection screen (steps A2 and A).
3).

When "town information" corresponding to the item number "4" is selected on the information type selection screen (main menu table) of this "A net service", the area (area) desired to be obtained as the town information is selected. The sub-menu table “Refer to FIG. 3C” for reading is read, and, for example, as shown in FIG.
A window is displayed as an area selection screen for A net town information in response to the schedule input screen (steps A4, A5 → A3).

As described above, when the steps A3 to A5 are repeatedly executed to sequentially display the submenu table from the main menu table and select a desired item in each menu table, for example, "A net service"->"Towninformation"->"Shinjuku" and the final submenu are selected, the first information heading related to the schedule data already input and displayed on the schedule input screen as shown in Fig. 8C. And is written as the first information acquisition designation data (see FIG. 2) in the schedule registration area in the data storage unit 17 (steps A4 and A5).
→ A6).

After that, when further inputting the second information acquisition designation data, the information service selection / input processing (steps A1 to A6) is repeatedly executed, for example, "A net service" → "search". When the menu is selected as → “timetable” → ..., as shown in FIG. 8 (C), it is displayed as the heading of the second information, and the second is added to the schedule registration area in the data storage unit 17.
Is written as the information acquisition designation data (see FIG. 2) (step S5 → SA).

Thus, when the "registration" key 21a is touch-operated in a state where the first information acquisition designation data and the second information acquisition designation data related to the schedule data are input and displayed on the schedule input screen, The inputted schedule data is written and registered in the schedule registration area in the data storage unit 17 according to its data format (see FIG. 2) (steps S5 → S6).

Then, the process proceeds to the information service acquisition process in FIG. 7 (step SB). In this information service acquisition processing, the information service acquisition processing program stored in the information acquisition control unit 16 is activated, and first, the first information acquisition designation data stored in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17 is read ( Step B1).

Then, the first information acquisition designation data "A
The communication control unit 1 according to the information service company access data (see FIG. 4) registered in the information acquisition control unit 16 according to “Internet service” → “Town information” → “Shinjuku”.
A telephone access to "A net service" is started from 4 through the antenna 22 (step B2).

Then, the commands to the next menu processing corresponding to each selection menu of the first information acquisition designation data are sequentially executed, and the designated town information of Shinjuku is obtained from the "A net service". (Step B
3 to B6).

On the other hand, when the command corresponding to the selection menu is executed while the communication access of the information service company specified corresponding to the information acquisition specifying data is performed, the information corresponding to the specified command exists. If not, it is determined as an error and an error message is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 21 (steps B3, B).
4 → RETURN).

When the town information of Shinjuku designated by the first information obtaining designation data is obtained from the A net service through the processing of steps B3 to B6, the obtained information is available in the data storage unit 17. While being written in the area, the storage start address is written as the first information data pointer according to the data format of the schedule registration area (see FIG. 2) (step B
7).

Then, the first information acquisition flag of the schedule registration area in the data storage unit 17 is set, indicating that the corresponding information service has been acquired (step B8).

In this way, when the information service corresponding to the first information acquisition designating data is acquired, the second information acquisition designating data "A net service" stored in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17 is further acquired. →
The information service acquisition process (steps B1 to B8) is repeatedly executed according to “search” → “timetable” → ..., and the corresponding information service is acquired (steps S7 → S).
B).

As a result, along with the schedule registration process in FIG. 5, the information service selection / selection in FIG.
By performing the input processing and the information service acquisition processing in FIG. 7, arbitrary schedule data and related information thereof are automatically acquired from a desired information service company in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17,
It will be stored in association with each other.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an output display state of the schedule data in the portable information terminal.
Is a diagram showing a basic display screen of schedule data, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a window display state of an information service acquired in association with schedule data.

That is, in the output display mode of the schedule data stored in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the "Information" key 21b displayed corresponding to the first information heading "A Net Town Information Shinjuku" is touch-operated while the second information heading is displayed, the schedule registration area is displayed. The first stored in
The storage address of the first information is recognized according to the information data pointer (see FIG. 2), and the town information of Shinjuku obtained from the A net service stored in the corresponding storage area is read out, and FIG. ), A window is displayed on the schedule display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 21.

In each screen display state of the liquid crystal display unit, the "Δ" key and "▽" key displayed together are screen switching keys for switching the previous screen display and the next screen display.

Therefore, according to the portable information terminal having the above configuration, when the date, time and contents of the schedule data are entered on the schedule input screen, the menu screens for obtaining the related information from the information service company are sequentially displayed. According to the menu screen, for example, when “A net” → “town information” → “Shinjuku” is designated, it is displayed together with the inputted schedule data as the heading of the first information, and the data storage unit 17 is designated as the first information acquisition designation data. Is written in the schedule registration area (see FIG. 2). When the input and displayed schedule data is registered in the schedule registration area by operating the "registration" key 21a, communication access with "A net service" is automatically performed according to the first information acquisition designation data. , The specified town information of Shinjuku is acquired, and the schedule registration area is stored in association with the first information data pointer indicating the acquisition storage area and the information acquired flag. The acquired information and the acquired information can be easily managed as one data, and for example, when the schedule data is output and displayed, the related information acquired and stored by the information service can be easily displayed in a window and effectively used. .

In the above-described embodiment, as described based on the schedule registration process in FIG. 5, the schedule data is input and the information acquisition designation data related to the schedule data is input, and the "registration" key 21a is entered. When you operate to instruct to register the schedule,
The information service acquisition process is started at the time of registration of the schedule data, and the corresponding information is acquired and stored from the information service company according to the information acquisition specification data. At the time of execution, that is, when the time registered as a schedule arrives, the corresponding information may be acquired in real time from the information service company according to the information acquisition specification data.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a schedule registration process when an information service is acquired at the time of executing a schedule in the portable information terminal. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process at the scheduled time when the mobile information terminal acquires an information service at the time of executing a schedule.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an output display screen of schedule data when an information service is acquired at the time of executing a schedule in the portable information terminal.
Is a diagram showing a basic display screen of schedule data before the schedule time is reached, and FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a basic display screen of schedule data after the schedule time is reached,
FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a window display state of the information service acquired in association with the schedule data after the scheduled time is reached.

That is, in the schedule registration process in FIG. 10, similar to steps S1 to S5 of the schedule registration process in FIG. 5, arbitrary schedule data “September 27, 1995/7: 00 AM” is displayed on the schedule input screen. / Travel to Hokkaido ... "(steps C1 and C2), and select / input the information acquisition designation data" A Net / Weather Forecast / Hokkaido Region "to acquire the information service related to the schedule data. When you operate the "Register" key (step C3 → C
A, C4), and after the date and time data “September 27, 1995/7: 00 AM” of the inputted schedule is set as the access time to the information service, the data format in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17 ( The input schedule data is registered according to FIG. 2) (steps C5 and C6).

Here, in the state before the schedule time of the schedule data registered in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17 is reached, only the information acquisition designation data is added to the schedule data, and the actual information service When the schedule data is output and displayed, only the heading of the information acquisition designating data is displayed together with the corresponding schedule data as shown in FIG. 12A.

Then, when the current time measured by the current time measuring section (RTC) 18 reaches and coincides with the schedule time "September 27, 1995/7: 00 AM" in the schedule data, the time in FIG. Similar to the information service acquisition process (steps B1 to B8), access to the A net service is performed via the communication control unit 14 in accordance with the information acquisition designation data registered with the schedule data, and the Hokkaido area at that time is accessed. The weather forecast is acquired and stored in the data storage unit 17 (step DB).

In this way, the information service according to the information acquisition designation data is acquired and saved in the empty area of the data storage unit 17, and its storage start address is used as the information data pointer of the schedule registration area (see FIG. 2). When the information is stored and the information acquisition flag is set, the schedule time stored in the next schedule registration area is updated and set as the access time to the next information service (step D1 → D2).

Here, in the state after the schedule time of the schedule data registered in the schedule registration area of the data storage unit 17 is reached, the A-net service acquired based on the information acquisition designation data is applied to the schedule data. Since the information data pointer and the information acquisition flag indicating the storage location of the information of the weather forecast of the Hokkaido region are added, when the schedule data is output and displayed, as shown in FIG. The heading of the information acquisition designation data and the "information" key 21b for displaying the information acquired based on the heading are displayed.

When the "information" key 21b displayed corresponding to the information heading "A net / weather forecast / Hokkaido region" is touch-operated in a state after the schedule time of the schedule data is reached, the schedule is changed. The storage address of the weather information is recognized according to the information data pointer (see FIG. 2) stored in the registration area, and the weather forecast for the Hokkaido region obtained from the A net service stored in the corresponding storage area is read. Then, as shown in FIG. 12C, a window is displayed on the schedule display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 21.

That is, in the case of the other embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, when the registered schedule data is actually executed, that is, when the time registered as the schedule comes. Then, since the corresponding information is acquired in real time from the information service company according to the information acquisition designation data selected in relation to the schedule data, the latest information service at the time of executing the schedule can be obtained and effectively used.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the schedule data is registered or the registered schedule data is executed, the information related to the information service company is added according to the information acquisition designation data added to the schedule data and registered. However, the related information service may be acquired and used at regular time intervals after the registration of the schedule data. Further, the acquisition time of the information service may be set to an arbitrary time.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the schedule data is input by the schedule input means, for example, the information acquired from the information service system via the communication means at the time of inputting the schedule data, or the input. The information acquired from the information service system via the communication means in correspondence with the execution time of the schedule data is added to the schedule data, registered, and output by display or the like as necessary. And the information obtained from
It is possible to easily manage and use as one data without the need to perform a complicated data editing operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of a morphological information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a data format of a schedule registration area in a data storage unit of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an information service company menu table and an information menu table stored together with the schedule registration processing program of the mobile information terminal;
The figure (A) is a figure which shows an information service company menu table, the figure (B) is a figure which shows a main information menu table, and the figure (C) is a figure which shows a sub information menu table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing information service company access data stored together with the information service acquisition processing program of the portable information terminal.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schedule registration process by the mobile information terminal.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing information service selection / input processing accompanying the schedule registration processing by the mobile information terminal.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an information service acquisition process accompanying the schedule input process by the mobile information terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display state of a schedule and an information input screen associated with the schedule input process by the portable information terminal, and FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a schedule input state on the schedule input screen; FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a selected state of the information service on the schedule input screen, and FIG. 9C is a diagram showing a schedule and information input display state on the schedule input screen.

9A and 9B are diagrams showing an output display state of schedule data in the portable information terminal, FIG. 9A showing a basic display screen of schedule data, and FIG. 9B obtained in association with schedule data. The figure which shows the window display state of the information service.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a schedule registration process when an information service is acquired when a schedule is executed in the mobile information terminal.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process at the scheduled time when the mobile information terminal acquires an information service when executing a schedule.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an output display screen of schedule data when the mobile information terminal acquires an information service at the time of executing a schedule, and FIG. 12A shows a basic display screen of schedule data before the schedule time is reached. The figure and figure (B) are figures showing the basic display screen of the schedule data after the scheduled time is reached.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a window display state of the information service acquired in association with schedule data after the arrival of the schedule time.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Input device, 13 ... Input control part, 14 ... Communication control part, 15 ... Schedule data control part, 16 ... Information acquisition control part, 17 ... Data storage part, 18 ... Current time clock part (RTC ), 19 ... Display control unit, 20 ... Voice control unit, 21 ... Liquid crystal display unit, 21a ... "Registration" key, 21b ... First "information" key, 21c ... Second "information" key, 22 ... Antenna , 23 ... Voice input / output device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A communication means that can access an information service system that provides an information service, a schedule input means for inputting schedule data, and information by the communication means for the schedule data input by the schedule input means. Schedule registration means for adding and registering information obtained from the service system, and schedule output means for outputting schedule data added and registered by the information obtained from the information service system by the schedule registration means are provided. The featured personal digital assistant. 2. The information added to the schedule data input by the schedule input means is information obtained from the information service system by the communication means when the schedule data is input. 1. A mobile information terminal according to 1. 3. The information to be added to the schedule data input by the schedule input means is information obtained from the information service system by the communication means in accordance with the execution time of the input schedule data. The portable information terminal according to claim 1.