JPH11243442A - Multifunctional telephone set - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately select carious functions and to perform high operability by displaying plural icons from among the icons corresponding to functions according to a prescribed rule, selecting and determining one from among them, and executing a function corresponding to the icon. SOLUTION: A LCD driver 18 reads a charter patter and an icon pattern, which correspond to a control signal of a controlling part 12 from a font ROM 20 and shows them on a displaying part 22. When a menu mode that performs function selection is by an operation key 24, the part 12, the driver 18 and the ROM 20 show an icon which corresponds to a function and character display explaining an icon function on the part 22. Further more, the selection key in the key 24 simultaneously selects and determines the icon on the part 22, and when a user sets voice output corresponding to the icon function, a voice processing part 26 signals a voice that corresponds to the icon inputted from the part 12 by outputting it from a loudspeaker 28, whenever the icon is selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multifunctional telephone having a plurality of functions, and more particularly, to a multifunctional telephone capable of selecting a function by an icon.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the personalization of communication, mobile terminals such as portable telephones and PHSs, which have spread rapidly, are becoming more sophisticated and multifunctional. For example, in a mobile phone,
With the advancement of functions and miniaturization and weight reduction, it is practically impossible to provide a large number of function keys and the like on the operation surface of the telephone according to the functions. For this reason, there is a problem that the user must perform difficult and complicated operations in order to execute various functions.

In order to solve such operational problems,
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-23262 discloses a conventional technique in which a target function is quickly and easily executed by using an icon. That is, according to this conventional technique, graphics (icons) corresponding to various functions are displayed in a list on a display screen, and a graphic corresponding to a desired function is selected from the graphics, thereby improving operability of function selection. I'm trying.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional technique, it is possible to select a function quickly and easily by using an icon. However, the user can determine what function the selected icon performs. There is a problem that it is difficult to determine. As described above, it is actually very difficult for an unspecified number of users to judge what function is applicable only by displaying an icon as the mobile terminal becomes more sophisticated and multifunctional as described above. Further, in this prior art, since a plurality of icons are displayed in a list on the display screen, the shape of the icons must be reduced on the display screen of a miniaturized mobile phone, making it more difficult to determine the icons. Further, if a function is added in the future, there is a problem that this conventional technique of displaying a plurality of icons in a list on the display screen cannot cope with the problem.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a highly operable multifunctional telephone which enables a user to appropriately select various functions without stress even with a high-functional and multifunctional telephone. The purpose is to:

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention selects an icon corresponding to a function of a telephone and determines the selected icon, thereby obtaining a function corresponding to the determined icon. And a multi-function telephone having a plurality of functions for executing the function. That is, in the present invention, a first display unit that displays a plurality of icons according to a predetermined rule from among icons corresponding to a function of a telephone, and one of a plurality of icons displayed on the first display unit. A selection unit for selecting one of the icons, a second display unit for displaying characters of the function of the icon selected by the selection unit,
A determination unit that determines an icon selected by the selection unit and executes a function corresponding to the icon.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a functional block diagram showing an embodiment in which the multifunctional telephone according to the present invention is applied to a mobile telephone. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to a mobile phone, and can be applied to a phone having a plurality of functions, such as a PHS or a cordless phone. It is.

In FIG. 2, a transmission / reception circuit unit 10 to which an antenna is connected is a circuit for performing transmission / reception processing in a mobile phone under the control of a control unit 12 having a microcomputer. That is, the transmission / reception circuit unit 10
The control unit 1 modulates an audio signal, data, control signal, or the like with a high frequency and sends it out of the antenna, or demodulates an audio signal, data, control signal, or the like received from the antenna, and
Output to 2.

The control unit 12 operates the operation keys 24 and the transmission / reception circuit unit 10 according to a program described in the ROM 14.
Operates in response to a control signal from the
The D driver 18 and the audio processing unit 26 are controlled. The control unit 12 is also connected to the RAM 16 and stores the RAM 16 in R
It is used as a work area when executing a program described in the OM 14. Note that the ROM 16 and RA
M18 may be built in control unit 12 or may be externally attached.

An LCD driver 18 drives a display unit 22 which is an LCD under the control of the control unit 12 to control the display of the display unit 22. That is, the LCD driver 18 stores character patterns (including numbers) and icon (graphic) patterns corresponding to the control signals from the control unit 12 in the font ROM 2.
It is read from 0 and displayed on the display unit 22. In the present embodiment, when a menu mode for selecting a function with the operation keys 24 is set, an icon corresponding to the function and a character display explaining the function of the icon are displayed by the control unit 12, the LCD driver 18, and the font ROM 20. It is displayed on the unit 22.

The operation key 24 is a key operation unit constituted by selection keys for executing a telephone number and various functions. FIG. 3 is an external view of the mobile phone according to the present embodiment, and selection keys particularly related to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The selection key 24a is operated to enter a menu mode for selecting a function or to confirm a selected icon (the function is executed by the confirmation). Selection keys 24b1 to 24b4 (second selection keys)
Is operated when selecting an icon displayed on the display unit 22 or switching the display content of the icon displayed on the display unit 22.

The selection keys 24c (first selection keys) of numbers 1 to 6 are operated when the icons displayed on the display unit 22 are simultaneously selected and confirmed. The selection key 24c
The user may select only the selection instead of performing the selection and confirmation simultaneously according to the user's preference. In this case, the selection is confirmed by the selection key 24a. When the selection / confirmation is performed with the selection key 24a, the selection / confirmation is performed by pressing the same key again (including double-clicking).
Alternatively, a single pressing operation of the selection key 24c may select an icon displayed on the display unit and execute the icon function. Further, the function of the selection key described here is a function at the time of entering a menu mode for selecting a function, and is different in other modes. For example, the selection keys 24c of numbers 1 to 6 function as numeric keys for inputting a telephone number during standby.

Returning to FIG. 2, the audio processing unit 26 is connected to the speaker 28 and the microphone 30 to amplify the audio signal input from the control unit 12 and output the amplified signal from the speaker 28,
A process of amplifying the audio signal input by the microphone 30 and outputting the amplified audio signal to the control unit 12 is performed. Also, if the user sets an audio output corresponding to the function of the icon in the menu mode for selecting a function, the audio processing unit performs a sound corresponding to the icon input from the control unit 12 every time the icon is selected. Is output from the speaker 28.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents displayed on the display unit 22 shown in FIG. 3 when a menu mode for selecting a function is entered. When the user enters the menu mode as shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 22 displays six icons out of a plurality of icons corresponding to the functions of the telephone on the display unit 22a.
6 are displayed. The function of the icon selected from these six icons is displayed on the display unit 22.
Characters are displayed in b.

It should be noted that the numerals 1 to 6 on the display section 22a and FIG.
Correspond to the numerals 1 to 6 of the selection key 24c. That is, when the numeral 1 of the selection key 24c is pressed, the icon indicated at the position of the numeral 1 on the display unit 22a is selected (selected / executed), and when the numeral 2 of the selection key 24c is pressed, the icon of the display unit 22a is displayed. The icon indicated by the numeral 2 is selected (selected / executed). Similarly, when the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the selection key 24c are pressed, the icons indicated at the positions of the corresponding numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the display unit 22a are selected (selected / executed). Is done.

FIG. 5 shows, as an example of the menu mode, icons corresponding to telephone functions and selection keys 24b1-2.
4b4 shows how these icons are selected. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the icons are connected in a spiral or ring shape. The selection keys 24b1 and 24b2 are used to select and move the icons in the vertical direction indicated by solid arrows, and the selection keys 24b3 and 24b4 are used to select and move the icons in the horizontal direction indicated by dotted arrows.

For example, when the "own station telephone number" function is at the position of numeral 1 in FIG. 4, the "own station telephone number", "incoming pattern", "vibration pattern", "ring volume", "button confirmation sound", The respective functions of "DETAIBURU" are displayed at the positions of numbers 1 to 6. At this time, when the selection key 24b1 is pressed while the "own station telephone number" function is selected, the "ring volume" function is selected. When the selection key 24b1 is further pressed in this state, the functions of “ring volume”, “button confirmation sound”, and “deta bull” move to the positions of numerals 1 to 3 and “ The functions of "Answering Center", "Transfer / Answering" and "Answering tone" are displayed.
The "answering machine" function is selected. The uppermost row and the lowermost row are connected in a ring shape, and functions to be displayed and replaced are similarly selected and selected.

If the selection key 24b4 is pressed when the "own station telephone number" function is at the position of the numeral 1 in FIG.
Each time the button is pressed, the "own phone number", "ring pattern", and "vibration pattern" are selected in that order. Is selected. As described above, the rows are spirally connected in the horizontal direction, and when the function of the next row not displayed is selected, the row switching is performed in the same manner as described above.

FIG. 1 is a schematic processing diagram showing the selection in the menu mode more specifically. Note that the display in the squares in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the date, day of the week, and time are displayed on the display unit 22 in the standby state when the power is on. In this state, when the selection key 24a is pressed twice consecutively, a menu mode screen is entered. At this time, since none of the functions displayed here is selected, the display section 22b (see FIG. 4) displays "menu mode" which is a category of the operation mode.

In this state, the selection keys 24b1 to 24b4
When (see FIG. 3) is pressed, the selected function is highlighted as shown in screens 1 to 6. When the selection key 24a is pressed while this function is highlighted, that function is executed. In FIG. 1, the selection key 24b1
Although the selection of an icon by .about.24b4 is shown, it is also possible to directly select or select / execute a desired icon displayed by the selection key 24c as described above.

As described in detail above, in the present embodiment, the contents of the selected function are displayed in characters, and not all functions are displayed in a list, so that an icon having a size that is easy to see can be realized. Further, since not all functions are displayed in a list, it is possible to easily cope with a case where a function is added in the future, for example. Furthermore, speaking of one of the selection keys 24c, a plurality of icons can be selected instead of allocating a certain fixed icon, and the arrangement of the selection keys for selecting functions is ergonomically determined. The intuitive operation allows for improved operability.

[0022]

As described above, according to the multifunctional telephone of the present invention, the function of the selected icon is displayed in characters, so that even an operator unfamiliar with the operation of the telephone can execute the desired function accurately without stress. Becomes possible. Therefore, by applying the present invention, the user can fully utilize the functions of the multifunctional telephone. Further, since the function name is displayed in characters, for example, even if the user does not know what the function is, it can be easily understood from the operation manual.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic processing diagram showing an embodiment when a multifunctional telephone according to the present invention is applied to a mobile telephone.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment when a multi-function telephone according to the present invention is applied to a mobile phone.

FIG. 3 is an outline view showing an embodiment when a multifunctional telephone according to the present invention is applied to a mobile telephone.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents of a display unit 22 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing icons corresponding to functions of a telephone as an example of a menu mode, and how these icons are selected by a selection key.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 transmission / reception circuit unit 12 control unit 14 ROM 16 RAM 18 LCD driver 20 font ROM 22 display unit 24 operation keys 24a, 24b1 to 24b4, 24c selection keys

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An icon corresponding to a function of a telephone is displayed and selected, and the selected icon is determined.
A multi-function telephone having a plurality of functions for executing a function corresponding to the determined icon, a first display unit for displaying a plurality of icons among icons corresponding to the functions of the telephone according to a predetermined rule; A selection unit that selects one icon from a plurality of icons displayed on the first display unit; a second display unit that displays the function of the icon selected by the selection unit in characters; A multi-function telephone, comprising: a determination unit that determines the icon selected in step (1) and executes a function corresponding to the icon. 2. The multi-function telephone according to claim 1, wherein said first display and said second display are formed in one display. 3. The multi-function telephone according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit has the same number as a plurality of icons displayed on the first display unit, and has a one-to-one correspondence with the arrangement of the icons. A multi-function telephone having a first selection key arranged in a row. 4. The multi-function telephone according to claim 3, wherein an icon is selected by the first selection key.
A multifunctional telephone, wherein the function corresponding to the icon is executed without being determined. 5. The multi-function telephone according to claim 3, wherein the first selection key is pressed twice (double-clicked).
A multi-function telephone, which selects and fixes an icon or executes a function corresponding to the icon. 6. The multi-function telephone according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of icons are displayed on the first display unit in a predetermined number of rows in a horizontal direction, and the selection units are adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction. A multifunctional telephone having a second selection key for sequentially selecting the icons. 7. The multi-function telephone according to claim 5, wherein the icons are connected in a spiral or ring shape, and when the horizontal or vertical selection other than the currently displayed icon is performed, The multifunctional telephone according to claim 1, wherein an icon of the step connected in a spiral or ring shape is displayed. 8. The multifunction telephone according to claim 5, wherein a sound corresponding to the icon is output each time an icon is selected by the second selection key. 9. The multi-function telephone according to claim 1, wherein a category of an operation mode is displayed on the second display unit when the icon is not selected by the selection unit. Multifunctional phone. 10. The multifunctional telephone according to claim 1, wherein said telephone is a mobile telephone such as a mobile telephone or a PHS.