Portable communication apparatus, external apparatus connectable to the portable communication apparatus, and method of controlling the portable communication apparatus

• US 20030157944A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakao, Masatoshi, Funayama, Satoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/367,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20030157944A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching

Abstract

A switch enables a first circuit and a second circuit to be connected to an antenna and a port. A first detecting unit detects whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detect the type of the external apparatus connected to the port. A second detecting unit detects whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated. A control section controls the switch, when the first detecting unit detects that the external apparatus is not connected to the port or when the detected type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the antenna and that, when the detected type of the external apparatus is adaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the port.

Claims

1. A portable communication apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured to communicate over a communication network;

a second circuit configured to receive a position sensing signal;

an antenna configured to be adaptable for both of the first and second circuits;

a port configured to connect to an external apparatus;

a switch configured to connect the first and second circuits to the antenna and the port;

a first detecting unit configured to detect whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detect a type of the external apparatus connected to the port;

a second detecting unit configured to detect whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated; and

a control unit configured to control the switch, when the first detecting unit detects that the external apparatus is not connected to the port or when the detected type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the antenna and that, when the detected type of the external apparatus is adaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the port.

2. The portable communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detecting unit detects whether the external apparatus connected to the port is adaptable for the second circuit, and

the control unit controls the switch, when the external apparatus is connected to the port and the first circuit is to be activated, the first circuit is connected to the port and that, when the external apparatus is connected to the port, the second circuit is to be activated, and the first detecting unit detected that the external apparatus is adaptable for the second circuit, the second circuit is connected to the port.

3. The portable communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is adaptable for both of the first and second circuits, and

the control unit controls the switch, when it is detected that the external apparatus is not connected or when the detected type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the antenna.

4. The portable communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a first antenna for the first circuit and a second antenna for the second circuit,

the switch connects the first and second circuits to the first antenna, the second antenna, and the port, and

the control unit controls the switch, when it is detected that the external apparatus is not connected to the port or when the detected type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the circuit to be activated, if the first circuit is to be activated, the first circuit is connected to the first antenna, whereas if the second circuit is to be activated, the second circuit is connected to the second antenna.

5. An external apparatus connectable to a portable communication apparatus including a first circuit configured to communicate over a communication network, a second circuit configured to receive a position sensing signal, an antenna configured to be adaptable for both of the first and second circuits, a port configured to connect to the external apparatus, a switch configured to connect the first and second circuits to the antenna and the port, a first detecting unit configured to detect whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detect a type of the external apparatus connected to the port and a second detecting unit configured to detect whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated, the external apparatus comprising:

a notification unit configured to notify the portable communication apparatus of a type of the external apparatus detected by the first detecting unit.

6. The external apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the type indicates the adaptability for the second circuit.

7. A portable communication apparatus comprising:

a first circuit configured to communicate over a communication network;

a second circuit configured to receive a position sensing signal;

an antenna configured to be adaptable for both of the first and second circuits;

a port configured to connect with an external apparatus;

a switch configured to connect the first and second circuits to the antenna and port;

a first detecting unit configured to detect whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detect a type of the external apparatus connected to the port;

a second detecting unit configured to detect whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated; and

a control unit configured to control the switch, when it is detected that the second circuit is to be activated and the type of the external apparatus is adaptable for the second circuit, the second circuit is connected to the port and that, when it is detected that the type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the second circuit, the second circuit is connected to the antenna.

8. The portable communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the switch, when it is detected that the external apparatus is not connected to the port and when the second circuit is to be activated, the second circuit is connected to the antenna.

9. The portable communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the switch, when it is detected that the external apparatus is connected to the port and when the first circuit is to be activated, the first circuit is connected to the port.

10. An external apparatus connectable to a portable communication apparatus including a first circuit configured to communicate over a communication network, a second circuit configured to receive a position sensing signal, an antenna configured to be adaptable for both of the first and second circuits, a port configured to connect to the external apparatus, a switch configured to connect the first and second circuits to the antenna and the port, a first detecting unit configured to detect whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detect a type of the external apparatus connected to the port and a second detecting unit configured to detect whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated, the external apparatus comprising:

notification unit configured to notify the portable communication apparatus of a type of the external apparatus detected by the first detecting unit.

11. The external apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the notification unit notifies the adaptability for the second circuit.

12. A method of controlling a portable communication apparatus including a first circuit configured to communicate over a communication network, a second circuit configured to receive a position sensing signal, an antenna configured to be adaptable for both of the first and second circuits, a port configured to connect with an external apparatus, and a switch configured to connect the first and second circuits to the antenna and port, the method comprising:

detecting whether the external apparatus is connected to the port and detecting a type of the external apparatus connected to the port;

detecting whether the first circuit or the second circuit is activated; and

controlling the switch when it is detected that the external apparatus is not connected to the port or when the detected type of the external apparatus is inadaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the antenna and that, when the detected type of the external apparatus is adaptable for the circuit to be activated, the circuit to be activated is connected to the port.