JP4268616B2 - Information communication terminal - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information communication terminal such as a mobile phone that can communicate via a communication network.

Conventionally, as this type of information communication terminal, a mobile phone having various functions such as a call function, a mail transmission / reception function, an address management (memory dial) function, a data storage function, an imaging function, and an application execution function is known. A mobile phone having an electronic money function that can be used instead of cash in a store is also known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-14-109427

  However, while the conventional information communication terminal has various functions, it is easy to drop because of its excellent portability. If this information communication terminal is dropped, various functions provided in the terminal may be used without permission by others. For example, someone who picks up the information communication terminal may use the call or mail function without permission, or someone else's phone number / address information stored in the information communication terminal may be misused by others. There is a risk. Also, if an information communication terminal having an electronic money function is dropped, there is a risk that another person will be able to shop using the information communication terminal.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information communication terminal capable of preventing misuse by others when the information communication terminal is dropped.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an information communication terminal capable of communicating via a communication network, a detection means for detecting acceleration of the information communication terminal, a storage means for storing information, Detecting position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of the information communication terminal , transmission means for transmitting information to a server on the communication network, and acceleration indicating free fall of the information communication terminal by the detection means, and detecting the detection followed, when detecting an acceleration that indicates the impact due to dropping of the information communication terminal by the detection means, the key operation functions in the information communication terminal, call function, mail transmitting and receiving function, a web browsing function, the mailbox viewing function and an address management and all functions of unavailable, most of the acceleration showing a position information and the impact of the date and time information upon detecting that the detected acceleration indicative of the shock and the information communication terminal Drop information including the function lock state value and said function indicates whether it is unavailable stored in the storage means, and a control means for controlling to transmit the該落under information to the server, the It is characterized by that.
In this information communication terminal, a predetermined acceleration corresponding to the fall occurs due to gravity or the like when the fall. In particular, gravitational acceleration occurs when the vehicle falls freely. By detecting the acceleration indicating the free fall by the detecting means, it is possible to detect that the information communication terminal is falling. Further, following the detection of the acceleration indicating the free fall, the detection accuracy of the information communication terminal is detected by detecting the acceleration indicating the impact when the information communication terminal falls and hits something. Will increase. When the acceleration indicating the free fall and the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall are detected by the detection means, the key operation function, the call function, the mail transmission / reception function, the web browsing function, the mailbox browsing function, and the address management function in the information communication terminal Control to disable all functions of. This control, attempting to utilize any of the features picked up by others and dropped information communication terminal, its use is restricted. Therefore, when the user drops the information communication terminal, misuse by others has occurred in all functions of the key operation function, call function, mail transmission / reception function, web browsing function, mailbox browsing function and address management function in the information communication terminal. Can be prevented. This is particularly effective when the user does not notice that the information communication terminal has been dropped.
Moreover, when the detection means detects not only the acceleration indicating the free fall of the information communication terminal but also the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall, the information communication terminal actually performs the control. When the same acceleration as that in the case of falling is generated in a state where it is not falling, it is not erroneously detected as falling and the above functions are not disabled.
Moreover, in this information communication terminal, the fall information including the date and time information when the predetermined acceleration is detected is stored in the storage means. The drop information stored in the storage means can be read at an arbitrary timing, and the date and place where the information communication terminal was dropped can be confirmed.
The information communication terminal transmits fall information including date and time information at the time of detection to a server on the communication network. By referring to the fall information received and stored by this server, the date and place when the information communication terminal was dropped can be confirmed.
The function of the unavailable when dropped information communication terminal may be a plurality of function selected arbitrarily set by a Subscriber. In addition to the telephone call function and the like, the data uncontrollable function includes a data storage function, an imaging function, an application execution function and the like. As the detection means, for example, a biaxial or triaxial acceleration sensor can be used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information communication terminal according to the first aspect, an alarm means for issuing an alarm to a user by sound or light, and the control means has an acceleration indicating a free fall of the information communication terminal. detected by the detection means, followed by the detection, the acceleration showing a shock due to falling of the information communication terminal when detecting by the detecting means, and Turkey to control the said alarm means to emit the warning It is characterized by.
In this information communication terminal, when detecting the acceleration indicating the free fall of the information communication terminal and detecting the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall of the information communication terminal , a warning is given to the user by sound or light. Can be notified to the user that the information communication terminal has been dropped. In this way, the user can be notified of the fall of the information communication terminal.

The invention according to claim 3 is the information communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein when the magnitude of acceleration detected by the detection means exceeds a preset threshold value, the control means It is characterized in that it is determined that an impact has occurred due to the fall.
In this information communication terminal, the magnitude of the acceleration detected by the detection means is compared with a preset threshold, and when the detected acceleration exceeds the threshold, an impact due to the drop of the information communication terminal occurs. It is determined that

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information communication terminal according to the first or second aspect , the instruction means for instructing the release of the unusable state of the function and the control means instruct the release of the unusable state of the function. When the function is performed, control is performed so that the function in the unavailable state is made available.
In this information communication terminal, after the information communication terminal is dropped and the function becomes unusable, the function that is in the unusable state is used by instructing the cancellation of the unusable state of the function by the instruction means. Can be possible.

The invention according to claim 5 is the information communication terminal according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising transmission means for transmitting a message via the communication network, wherein the control means is configured to drop the information communication terminal. When the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall of the information communication terminal is detected by the detection means following the detection, the fall information including at least date and time information at the time of detection is detected. It is characterized by controlling so that the message it has is transmitted to a predetermined destination.
In this information communication terminal, when a fall is detected by the predetermined acceleration, a message having drop information including at least date and time information at the time of detection is transmitted to a predetermined transmission destination. This message can be read at a transmission destination away from the information communication terminal, and the date and time when the information communication terminal is dropped can be confirmed.
Examples of the message include an SMS (Short Message Service) message transmitted / received via a cellular phone communication network in addition to an electronic mail transmitted / received over the Internet.

The “information communication terminal” is a mobile phone such as PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) method, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) method, TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) method, or IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) -2000. Standardized mobile phones, TD-SCDMA (MC: Multi Carrier) mobile phone, one of TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) methods, PHS (Personal Handyphone System), automobile phones, and the like It is done. Examples of the “information communication terminal” include an information communication terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) having no telephone function in addition to the telephone set.
Further, the control by the control means in the information communication terminal can be realized by executing a predetermined program on a computer provided in the information communication terminal. Delivery of the program used in the computer may be performed using a recording medium such as an FD or a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded as digital information, or may be performed using a communication network such as a computer network.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, when the user drops the information communication terminal, the key operation function, the call function, the mail transmission / reception function, the web browsing function, the mailbox browsing function, and the address management in the information communication terminal. Since all functions of the function become unavailable, when the user drops the information communication terminal, key operation function, call function, mail transmission / reception function, web browsing function, mailbox browsing function and address management function in the information communication terminal all for the evil that by the others about the function of it can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to avoid the restriction on the use of the function due to erroneous detection of the fall of the information communication terminal .
Furthermore, the date and time when the information communication terminal was dropped can be confirmed, and the confirmed information can be used as a failure determination material for the information communication terminal, and the date and time when the information communication terminal was dropped can be confirmed at a place away from the information communication terminal, It can be used when searching for information communication terminals.
Further, since the location where the information communication terminal is dropped and lost can be confirmed, there is an effect that the information communication terminal can be searched efficiently .
In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to notify the user of the fall of the information communication terminal and notice it, so that the loss of the information communication terminal can be prevented in advance.
In particular, according to the third aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to detect an impact caused by a fall of the information communication terminal by a simple process of comparing the magnitude of the acceleration detected by the detecting means with a threshold value.
In particular, according to the invention of claim 4, after the information communication terminal is dropped and the above function becomes unavailable, the unavailable function can be made available at an arbitrary timing. There is.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an appearance of a mobile phone 20 as an information communication terminal according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the mobile phone 20. The mobile phone 20 includes a main control unit 211, a data storage unit 212, a wireless communication unit 213, an operation unit 214, a display unit 215, a detection unit 216, and a sound output unit 217. The mobile phone 20 is also provided with a clock unit 218 made up of, for example, an RTC (real time clock).

  The main control unit 211 includes a system bus, CPU, RAM, ROM, and the like, and performs various data processing and controls each unit based on an OS (operation system) and application programs. The main control unit 211 is also used as a control unit that controls to disable at least one of various functions in the mobile phone 20 when the detection unit 216 detects an acceleration indicating the fall of the mobile phone 20. . The functions to be locked that cannot be used by this control include the key operation function of the operation unit 214, the electronic wallet function, the call function, the mail transmission / reception function, the web browsing function, the mailbox browsing function, and the telephone directory (memory dial) browsing. Functions.

  The main control unit 211 is also used as a control unit that controls to output an alarm sound or an alarm light to the user when the detection unit 216 detects an acceleration indicating the fall of the mobile phone 20.

  The data storage unit 212 includes a RAM as an internal memory provided in the mobile phone, and is a mobile phone for address book data, mail data, image files, music files as playable music data, various setting data, and the like. Stores various data to be used. The data storage unit 212 is also used as data storage means for storing alarm sound data and alarm light emission pattern data output from the mobile phone at a predetermined timing. The data storage unit 212 may be configured by a memory card or the like as an external storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the mobile phone body.

  The wireless communication unit 213 performs voice communication and mail communication with another mobile phone via the mobile phone communication network 10 as a communication network, and performs data communication with a server on the communication network. Therefore, wireless communication is performed with the base station of the mobile phone communication network 10.

  The operation unit 214 includes a data input key (ten key, * key, # key) 21, a call start key 22a, an end key 22b, a scroll key 24, multi-function keys 23a, 23b, 25, a microphone 26, and the like. Yes. The operation unit 214 is also used as instruction means for instructing cancellation of the function unavailable state. In this case, when the operation unit 214 is operated to instruct the release of the unusable state of the function, the main control unit 211 performs control so that the function in the unusable state can be used. In addition to the operation unit 214, the input unit of the cellular phone 20 includes a microphone 26 as a sound signal input unit.

  The display unit 215 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 27, a drawing data processing unit, and the like, and can display various images. The display unit 215 can display a standby screen, a menu screen, a mail screen, a WEB browsing screen, various setting screens, and the like.

The detection unit 216 is used as detection means for detecting the posture and acceleration generated in the mobile phone 20. The detection unit 216 includes, for example, a biaxial acceleration sensor, a sensor drive circuit, a detection signal processing circuit (filter circuit, A / D converter), and the like. The acceleration sensor detects accelerations α _X and α _Y directed in two directions (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction in FIG. 1) orthogonal to each other in a plane parallel to the operation surface provided with the key 21 and the like. . The acceleration sensor is mounted on a circuit board (not shown) provided inside the mobile phone 20. As the acceleration sensor, a known sensor that can detect the accelerations α _X and α _Y can be used. Further, instead of the two-axis acceleration sensor, a three-axis sensor that detects accelerations α _X , α _Y , and α _Z in three directions orthogonal to each other (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction in FIG. 1). An acceleration sensor may be used.

  The detection unit 216 may cause a gravitational acceleration (static acceleration that changes in a relatively long cycle) when the mobile phone 20 falls freely due to gravity, or the mobile phone 20 may hit something or the mobile phone may hit something. Thus, it is possible to detect acceleration (dynamic acceleration that changes in a relatively short cycle) generated in the mobile phone 20 when an impact is applied. These two types of acceleration (static acceleration, dynamic acceleration) can be separated by a filter having a predetermined cutoff frequency characteristic.

Here, the output of the detection unit 216 can arbitrarily set an offset. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the mobile phone 20 is stationary, a signal corresponding to the gravitational acceleration 1 g [m / sec ² ] is output, and the mobile phone 20 falls freely. Is set to output a signal corresponding to 0 [m / sec ² ]. Also, as shown in FIG. 3B, a value corresponding to 0 [m / sec ² ] is output when the mobile phone 20 is stationary, and 1 g [ m / sec ² ] may be set so as to output a signal.

  The static acceleration (gravity acceleration) can be separated by passing the output signal of the acceleration sensor through a low-pass filter. On the other hand, the dynamic acceleration (acceleration when an impact is applied) can be separated by passing the output signal of the acceleration sensor through a high-pass filter or a high-frequency band-pass filter. This dynamic acceleration (acceleration when an impact is applied) may be detected without passing the output of the acceleration sensor through the filter.

  If the alarm action can be set to generate vibration (vibration), the change in acceleration due to the vibration caused by the alarm action and when the user gives an impact to the mobile phone to stop the alarm. An acceleration threshold and a frequency band (filter characteristic) for detecting an alarm stop operation are appropriately set so that the change from the acceleration can be distinguished.

  The acceleration data detected by the detection unit 216 at a predetermined sampling interval is transferred to the main control unit 211 as digital data.

The detection unit 216 may be configured to use a geomagnetic sensor in addition to the acceleration sensor. This geomagnetic sensor is a three-axis sensor that detects a magnetic field strength component or magnetic flux density component of geomagnetism on a three-dimensional coordinate composed of the X axis, the Y axis, and a Z axis orthogonal to these axes. Using the detection result of the geomagnetic sensor, the angles θX, θY, and θZ around the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are detected. Specifically, using the angles θX, θY, and θZ around the X, Y, and Z axes, the amount of change when the direction of the geomagnetism changes with respect to the reference geomagnetic direction (reference direction). To detect. Thereby, when the cellular phone 20 changes its attitude from the attitude when the direction of geomagnetism is in the reference direction, the attitude after the change can be specified by the angles θX, θY, and θZ. Hereinafter, the angle around the X axis θX is referred to as “pitch angle”, the angle θY around the Y axis as “roll angle”, and the angle θZ around the Z axis as “yaw angle”.
The pitch angle θX, roll angle θY, and yaw angle θZ may be calculated using only the detection data of the geomagnetic sensor, or calculated using both the detection data of the geomagnetic sensor and the detection data of the acceleration sensor. Also good.

  The sound output unit 217 includes a speaker 28 and the like, and is used as a means for outputting sound during a voice call, or as means for outputting an alarm sound or music based on data stored in the data storage unit 212. Used. This sound output unit 217 uses a speaker 28 as a receiver speaker (receiver) for listening to voice during a call, and separately from the speaker 28 for voice call, an external output speaker that outputs the alarm sound and music. You may comprise so that it may provide.

  In addition, as an output means, you may provide the light emission part which emits lights, such as alarm light, using light emitting elements, such as LED (light emitting diode). The light emitting unit may be configured to switch and output a plurality of colors of light.

  The alarm sound and alarm light can be output at the timing when acceleration corresponding to a fall is detected, for example, by controlling the sound output unit 217 and the light emitting unit with the main control unit 211.

  The clock unit 218 measures the current date and time, and passes the generated time data to the main control unit 211. The output of the clock unit 218 is also used to generate date and time information when the acceleration corresponding to the fall is detected.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control of function lock and alarm output when a drop is detected in the mobile phone 20. Prior to the execution of the operation at the time of the fall detection, the user operates the mobile phone 20 to display on the predetermined function lock / alarm setting screen the type of the function to be locked that is disabled at the time of the fall detection, and Set the alarm sound or alarm light pattern when a drop is detected.

  After performing the above setting, the user starts monitoring the fall of the mobile phone 20 by detecting the acceleration by operating the mobile phone 20 (S101). After that, when the main control unit 211 detects the acceleration corresponding to the drop of the mobile phone 20 (the acceleration of 0 G at the time of free fall in FIG. 3A) by the detection unit 216 (S102), the preset function cannot be used. Control is performed to execute function lock (S103). For example, the key operation function, electronic wallet function, call function, mail transmission / reception function, web browsing function, mailbox browsing function, and telephone directory (memory dial) browsing function of the operation unit 214 are controlled to be disabled. To do. By restricting the functions in this manner, when the user drops the mobile phone 20, various functions in the mobile phone 20 become unusable. Abuse of functions can be prevented in advance.

  Further, when detecting the acceleration corresponding to the drop of the mobile phone 20, the main control unit 211 outputs a drop alarm informing the user of the drop of the mobile phone 20 (S104). As the fall alarm, only an alarm sound having a predetermined sound pattern may be output, or alarm light having a predetermined light emission pattern may be output. Alternatively, both the alarm sound and the alarm light may be output. As described above, since the user can be notified of the fall of the mobile phone 20, the mobile phone 20 can be prevented from being lost.

  When the function in the locked state can be used, a predetermined key operation of the operation unit 214 is performed to instruct the cancellation of the function unusable state. At this time, it may be controlled to request input of a predetermined password. When the operation unit 214 is operated and the release of the function lock state is instructed, the main control unit 211 performs control so that the function in the lock state can be used.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing another control example of function lock and alarm output when a drop is detected in the mobile phone 20. In the control example of FIG. 5, the main control unit 211 detects the acceleration corresponding to the drop of the mobile phone 20 (0G acceleration in the case of free fall in FIG. 3A) by the detection unit 216 (S201, S2502). Furthermore, it is determined whether or not the detection unit 216 detects acceleration due to an impact equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (in FIG. 3A, acceleration that changes drastically after free fall) (S203). Here, only when it is determined that the acceleration due to the impact has been detected (Yes in S203), control is performed so as to execute a function lock that disables a preset function and a drop alarm output (S204, S205). Thus, after detecting the acceleration corresponding to the fall, the function lock and the alarm output are executed only when the acceleration due to the impact is detected, thereby restricting the use of the function due to the erroneous detection of the fall of the mobile phone 20 and Generation of the alarm sound can be avoided.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing still another example of control of function lock and alarm output when a drop is detected in the mobile phone 20. In the control example of FIG. 6, after executing the function lock and the drop alarm output (S301 to S305), the main control unit 211 displays the maximum value of the acceleration due to the impact detected after the free fall together with the date and time information in the internal memory or the like. The data is stored in the data storage unit 212 (S306). The maximum value of acceleration due to impact and date / time information stored in the data storage unit 212 can be read at a shop or a repair base of the mobile phone 20 and used as a material for failure diagnosis.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing still another control example of function lock and alarm output when a drop is detected in the mobile phone 20. The mobile phone 20 that executes the control example of FIG. 7 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 219 as position information acquisition means, as shown in FIG. The GPS receiver 219 receives radio waves from a global positioning system (GPS) artificial satellite and calculates position information (latitude and longitude) based on the reception results of the radio waves. Note that the location information acquisition means of the mobile phone is not limited to the GPS receiver, and other means such as a means for acquiring cell information where the mobile phone is located from the mobile phone communication network side may be adopted. .

  In the control example of FIG. 7, the main control unit 211 performs the maximum of the acceleration due to the impact detected after the free fall after executing the function lock and the drop alarm output (S401 to S405), as in the control example of FIG. 6. The value is stored in the data storage unit 212 such as an internal memory together with the date / time information (S406). Next, the main control unit 211 controls the GPS reception unit 219 so as to acquire the position information of the mobile phone 20 (S407). Next, the main control unit 211 determines whether or not the monitored acceleration data has changed for a certain time (S408). If the acceleration data has not changed for a certain time (Yes in S408), it is determined that the mobile phone 10 has been dropped and lost, and the fall information such as the fall time and position information is stored in the mobile phone communication network. 10 is uploaded to a predetermined server via S10 (S409). Table 1 shows an example of the fall information. A user who has lost the mobile phone 20 accesses the server and refers to the uploaded fall information, obtains information on when and where the mobile phone 10 was dropped, and searches the mobile phone 10 efficiently. Can do.

  The fall information may be transmitted by being included in an e-mail message addressed to a predetermined address, instead of being uploaded to the server. In this case, by referring to the e-mail delivered to the predetermined address, information about when and where the mobile phone 10 was dropped can be acquired, and the mobile phone 10 can be searched efficiently.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user drops the mobile phone 20, a predetermined function set in advance in the mobile phone 20 becomes unusable, so when the user drops the mobile phone 20 Abuse of the above functions by others can be prevented in advance.

  The present invention can be applied to other information communication terminals such as a mobile phone, a phone such as a PHS and a car phone, and a portable PDA, and the same effect can be obtained.

The front view which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of a mobile telephone. (A) And (b) is a graph which shows an example of the detection result of the acceleration which arose in the mobile phone, respectively. The flowchart which shows the example of 1 control at the time of the fall detection in a mobile telephone. The flowchart which shows the other example of control at the time of the fall detection in a mobile telephone. The flowchart which shows the other example of control at the time of the fall detection in a mobile telephone. The flowchart which shows the other example of control at the time of the fall detection in a mobile telephone. The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the mobile telephone which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mobile phone communication network 20 Mobile phone 211 Main control part 212 Data storage part 213 Wireless communication part 214 Operation part 215 Display part 216 Detection part 217 Sound output part 218 Clock part 219 GPS receiving part

Claims (5)

An information communication terminal capable of communicating via a communication network,
Detecting means for detecting acceleration of the information communication terminal;
Storage means for storing information;
Position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of the information communication terminal;
A transmission means for transmitting information to a server on a communication network;
Acceleration indicating the free fall of the information communication terminal detected by the detection means, followed by the detection, when detecting the acceleration showing a shock due to falling of the information communication terminal by the detection means, the key operation functions in the information communication terminal , Call function, mail transmission / reception function, web browsing function, mailbox browsing function and address management function are disabled, date and time information at the time of detection of acceleration indicating the impact and the position of the information communication terminal Drop information including information, a maximum acceleration value indicating the impact, and a function lock state indicating whether or not the function is disabled is stored in the storage unit, and the drop information is transmitted to the server. Control means to control,
An information communication terminal comprising: In the information communication terminal according to claim 1,
An alarm means for issuing an alarm to the user by sound or light; and
The control means detects the acceleration indicating the free fall of the information communication terminal by the detection means, and following the detection, when the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall of the information communication terminal is detected by the detection means, An information communication terminal which controls the alarm means so as to issue the alarm. In the information communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
The information communication terminal characterized in that the control means determines that an impact due to the drop of the information communication terminal has occurred when the magnitude of the acceleration detected by the detection means exceeds a preset threshold value. In the information communication terminal according to claim 1 or 2,
Instruction means for instructing cancellation of the unusable state of the function;
The information communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs control so that the function in the unusable state can be used when an instruction to cancel the unusable state of the function is given . In the information communication terminal 請 Motomeko 1, 2, 3 or 4,
Comprising a transmission means for transmitting a message via the communication network,
The control means detects the acceleration indicating the fall of the information communication terminal with the detection means, and subsequently detects the acceleration indicating the impact due to the fall of the information communication terminal with the detection means. An information communication terminal that controls to send a message having fall information including at least the date and time information at the time of detection to a predetermined transmission destination .

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