Communication terminal apparatus and program

• US 10,440,171 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawamura, Satoru, Arai, Nobuto, Yamauchi, Tsuneyo, Yamazaki, Shunsaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez, Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pannell, Mark G.
• Application Number:
  US16/062,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20180367662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Portable communication terminal apparatus includes a function of performing communication for a call. Also, communication terminal apparatus includes a proximity sensor for detecting that an object (head of a user) exists in proximity to the communication terminal apparatus, and an acceleration sensor for measuring a motion state of the communication terminal apparatus. Communication terminal apparatus performs call ending processing for ending a call if, during the call, a transition is made from a state in which the presence of the object is detected by the proximity sensor to a state in which the presence of the object is not detected, and thereafter the motion state detected by the acceleration sensor satisfies a predetermined condition. The condition of the motion state is determined, for example, based on an operation consciously performed by the user, such as an operation of shaking communication terminal apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a proximity sensor configured to detect that an object exists in proximity to the communication terminal apparatus; and

a motion sensor configured to measure a motion state of the communication terminal apparatus, the motion state including at least one of an orientation of the communication terminal apparatus and a displacement of the communication terminal apparatus;

the processor configured to;

detect a first proximity in which a presence of the object is detected, a second proximity in which the presence of the object is not detected, and a third proximity in which, subsequent to the presence of the object no longer being detected, the presence of the object is once again detected during a call;

measure a first orientation of the communication terminal apparatus in the first proximity and a third orientation of the communication terminal apparatus in the third proximity; and

either end the call or allow the call to continue based on a difference between the first orientation and the third orientation;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

calculate a degree of similarity between the first orientation and the third orientation;

set a threshold so that the degree of similarity between the first orientation when the communication terminal apparatus is held against an ear of a user, and the third orientation when the communication terminal apparatus is held against another ear of the user, is greater than or equal to the threshold;

allow the call to continue when the calculated degree of similarity is greater than or equal to the threshold; and

end the call when the calculated degree of similarity is less than the threshold.

2. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor measures a second orientation of the communication terminal apparatus in the second proximity; and

the processor ends the call or allows the call to continue based on a difference between the first orientation and the second orientation.

3. A communication terminal apparatus including a handset, comprising:

a processor;

a proximity sensor configured to detect that an object exists in proximity to the handset; and

a motion sensor configured to measure a motion state of the handset, the motion state including at least one of an orientation of the handset and a displacement of the handset;

the processor configured to;

detect a first proximity in which a presence of the object is detected, a second proximity in which the presence of the object is not detected, and a third proximity in which, subsequent to the presence of the object no longer being detected, the presence of the object is once again detected during a call;

measure a first orientation of the handset in the first proximity and a third orientation of the handset in the third proximity; and

either end the call or allow the call to continue based on a difference between the first orientation and the third orientation;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

calculate a degree of similarity between the first orientation and the third orientation;

set a threshold so that the degree of similarity between the first orientation when the handset is held against an ear of a user, and the third orientation when the handset is held against another ear of the user, is greater than or equal to the threshold;

allow the call to continue when the calculated degree of similarity is greater than or equal to the threshold; and

end the call when the calculated degree of similarity is less than the threshold.