Electronic apparatus with a built-in clock function and method of controlling the apparatus

• US 20030100323A1
• Filed: 08/22/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Tajima, Yoshihiro, Kaji, Koichi
• Application Number:
  US10/225,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20030100323A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a clock device configured to indicate a present date-and-time in a certain time zone. The electronic apparatus includes a unit for managing a scheduled date-and-time in a user'"'"'s schedule data. A position detector is configured to detect a present position of the electronic apparatus. A unit is also provided for adjusting the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector. A unit is also provided for adjusting the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data based on the time difference.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a clock device configured to indicate a present date-and-time in a certain time zone;

means for managing a scheduled date-and-time in a user'"'"'s schedule data;

a position detector to detect a present position of the electronic apparatus;

means for adjusting the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector; and

means for adjusting the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data based on the time difference.

2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for managing the scheduled date-and-time includes alarm means for notifying the user of arrival of the scheduled date-and-time based on the present date-and-time indicated by said clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data.

3. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said alarm means includes

means for converting contents of a schedule indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data, and

means for reproducing the audio data and notifying the user of said contents of the schedule in voice.

4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a sensor configured to sense luminance around said electronic apparatus, wherein

said means for managing the scheduled date-and-time includes

means for, when the luminance sensed by said sensor drops below a specific luminance, determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by said clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data,

means for, when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day, converting the contents of the schedule indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data, and

means for reproducing the audio data and notifying the user of the contents of the schedule for the next day in voice.

5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including a sensor configured to sense luminance around said electronic apparatus, wherein

said means for managing the scheduled date-and-time includes

means for, when the luminance sensed by said sensor drops below a specific luminance, determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data,

means for, when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day, converting the contents of the schedule for the next day and things to be prepared beforehand indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data, and

means for reproducing the audio data and notifying the user of the contents of the schedule for the next day and the things to be prepared beforehand in voice.

6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including a sensor configured to sense luminance around said electronic apparatus, wherein

said means for managing the scheduled date-and-time includes

means for, when the luminance sensed by said sensor drops below a specific luminance, determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data, and

means for, when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day, reproducing audio data attached to said schedule data.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further including means for determining whether to adjust the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data based on the time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector and identification information attached to said schedule data, said identification information indicating a standard time in a time zone where the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data was set.

8. A portable electronic clock apparatus which incorporates a clock device configured to indicate a present date-and-time in a certain time zone and to provide an alarm at a set time, said portable electronic clock apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display the present date-and-time indicated by said clock device;

a position detector to detect a present position of said portable electronic clock apparatus by using radio waves;

a communication interface to communicate with an information processing unit;

a storage unit to store a user'"'"'s schedule data taken in from said information processing unit via said communication interface;

means for adjusting the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector;

means for adjusting a scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data stored in said storage unit based on the time difference; and

alarm means for notifying the user of arrival of the scheduled date-and-time based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data.

9. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus with a clock device for managing date-and-time in a certain time zone, comprising:

detecting a present position of the electronic apparatus;

adjusting a present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the detected present position; and

adjusting a scheduled date-and-time in a schedule data stored in said electronic apparatus based on the time difference.

10. The method according to claim 9, further including executing an alarm process of notifying a user of arrival of the scheduled date-and-time based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said executing said alarm process includes

converting contents of a schedule indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data, and

reproducing the audio data and notifying the user of said contents of the schedule in voice.

12. The method according to claim 9, further including:

sensing luminance around said electronic apparatus;

determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data when the sensed luminance drops below a specific luminance;

converting the contents of the schedule indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day; and

reproducing the audio data and notifying a user of the contents of the schedule for the next day in voice.

13. The method according to claim 9, further including:

sensing luminance around said electronic apparatus;

determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data when the sensed luminance drops below a specific luminance;

converting the contents of the schedule for the next day and things to be prepared beforehand indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day; and

reproducing the audio data and notifying a user of the contents of the schedule for the next day and the things to be prepared beforehand in voice.

14. The method according to claim 9, further including:

sensing luminance around said electronic apparatus;

determining whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data when the sensed luminance drops below a specific luminance; and

reproducing audio data attached to said schedule data when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day.

15. The method according to claim 9, further including determining whether to adjust the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data based on the time zone corresponding to the present position and identification information attached to said schedule data, said identification information indicating a standard time in a time zone where the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data was set.

16. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a clock device configured to indicate a present date-and-time in a certain time zone;

a management device to manage a scheduled date-and-time in a user'"'"'s schedule data;

a position detector to detect a present position of the electronic apparatus;

an adjustment device to adjust the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector; and

a schedule adjustment device to adjust the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data based on the time difference.

17. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said management device includes an alarm device to notify the user of arrival of the scheduled date-and-time based on the present date-and-time indicated by said clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in said schedule data.

18. The electronic apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alarm device includes

a conversion device to convert contents of a schedule indicated by said schedule data from text data into audio data, and

an audio reproduction device to reproduce the audio data and to notify the user of said contents of the schedule in voice.

19. The electronic apparatus according to claim 16, further including a sensor configured to sense luminance around said electronic apparatus, wherein

said management device includes a determination device, when the luminance sensed by said sensor drops below a specific luminance, to determine whether said schedule data indicates contents of a schedule for a next day based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data, and

an audio reproduction device, when it is determined that said schedule data indicates the contents of the schedule for the next day, to reproduce audio data attached to said schedule data.

20. A portable electronic clock apparatus which incorporates a clock device configured to indicate a present date-and-time in a certain time zone and to provide an alarm at a set time, said portable electronic clock apparatus comprising:

a display unit to display the present date-and-time indicated by said clock device;

a position detector to detect a present position of said portable electronic clock apparatus by using radio waves;

a communication interface to communicate with an information processing unit;

a storage unit to store a user'"'"'s schedule data taken in from said information processing unit via said communication interface;

an adjustment device to adjust the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device based on a time difference between a standard time in the certain time zone and a standard time in a time zone corresponding to the present position detected by the position detector;

a schedule adjustment device to adjust a scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data stored in said storage unit based on the time difference; and

an alarm device to notify the user of arrival of the scheduled date-and-time based on the present date-and-time indicated by the clock device and the scheduled date-and-time in the schedule data.