Mobile telephone and operation control method therefor

• US 20050075069A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Higuchi, Norihiko
• Application Number:
  US10/953,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.50
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A CPU limits the operation of a television receiver unit, and permits the operation of a mobile telephone radio-communication unit when a battery'"'"'s voltage is lower than the threshold (operation control threshold) stored in memory.

Claims

1. A mobile telephone capable of receiving television broadcasting, comprising:

a television receiver unit;

a mobile telephone radio-communication unit;

a current status detector for detecting a current status of said mobile telephone; and

an operation controller for limiting an operation of said television receiver unit and for permitting the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit in accordance with the current status detected by said current status detector.

2. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein:

said current status detector detects the current status of a supply voltage to said mobile telephone; and

said operation controller limits the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when said current status detector detects that the supply voltage to said mobile telephone is lower than a previously set predetermined value.

3. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein:

said current status detector detects the current status of a supply voltage to said mobile telephone; and

said operation controller limits part of the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when said current status detector detects that the supply voltage to said mobile telephone is lower than a predetermined value.

4. The mobile telephone according to claim 3, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a television tuner; and

said part of the operation of said television receiver unit is the operation of said television tuner.

5. The mobile telephone according to claim 2, wherein said previously set predetermined value is equal to a voltage value of the power supply that is required for said mobile telephone radio-communication unit to operate for a predetermined time or more.

6. The mobile telephone according to claim 3, wherein said previously set predetermined value is equal to a voltage value of the power supply required for said mobile telephone radio-communication unit to operate for a predetermined time or more.

7. The mobile telephone according to claim 2, further comprising a display,

wherein said operation controller displays on said display that the supply voltage is reduced.

8. The mobile telephone according to claim 3, further comprising a display,

wherein said operation controller displays on said display that the supply voltage is reduced.

9. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein:

said current status detector detects a current speed of movement of said mobile telephone; and

said operation controller limits the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when said current status detector detects that the speed of movement of said mobile telephone is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

10. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein:

said current status detector detects a current speed of movement of said mobile telephone; and

said operation controller limits part of the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when said current status detector detects that the speed of movement of said mobile telephone is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

11. The mobile telephone according to claim 10, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a television tuner,

wherein said part of the operation of said television receiver unit is the operation of said television tuner.

12. The mobile telephone according to claim 1, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a display for displaying a television image, and an audio generator for generating television sound; and

said operation controller limits the operation of said display and permits the operation of said audio generator in accordance with the current status detected by said current status detector.

13. The mobile telephone according to claim 12, wherein said operation controller executes, in sequence, a procedure for limiting the operation of said display and for permitting the operation of said audio generator and said mobile telephone radio-communication unit, and a procedure for limiting the operation of said display and said audio generator and for permitting the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit in accordance with the current status detected by said current status detector.

14. An operation control method performed by a mobile telephone including a television receiver unit and a mobile telephone radio-communication unit, said method comprising:

a current status detecting step for detecting a current status of said mobile telephone; and

an operation control step for limiting an operation of said television receiver unit and for permitting an operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit in accordance with the current status detected at said current status detecting step.

15. The operation control method according to claim 14, wherein:

said current status detecting step detects a current supply voltage of said mobile telephone; and

said operation control step limits the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when the supply voltage of said mobile telephone detected at said current status detecting step is lower than a previously set predetermined value.

16. The operation control method according to claim 14, wherein:

said current status detecting step detects a current supply voltage of said mobile telephone; and

said operation control step limits part of the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when the supply voltage of said mobile telephone detected at said current status detecting step is lower than a previously set predetermined value.

17. The operation control method according to claim 16, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a television tuner,

wherein said part of the operation of said television receiver unit is the operation of said television tuner.

18. The operation control method according to claim 15, wherein:

said previously set predetermined value is equal to a voltage value of the power supply required for said mobile telephone radio-communication unit to operate for a predetermined time or more.

19. The operation control method according to claim 16, wherein:

said previously set predetermined value is equal to a voltage value of the power supply required for said mobile telephone radio-communication unit to operate for a predetermined time or more.

20. The operation control method according to claim 15, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a display, and

said method further comprises a display step for displaying on said display that the supply voltage is reduced.

21. The operation control method according to claim 16, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a display, and

said method further comprises a display step for displaying on said display that the supply voltage is reduced.

22. The operation control method according to claim 14, wherein:

said current status detecting step detects a current speed of movement of said mobile telephone; and

said operation control step limits the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when the speed of movement of said mobile telephone that is equal to or higher than a previously set predetermined value is detected at said current status detecting step.

23. The operation control method according to claim 14, wherein:

said current status detecting step detects a current speed of movement of said mobile telephone; and

said operation control step limits part of the operation of said television receiver unit and permits the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit when the speed of movement of said mobile telephone that is equal to or higher than a previously set predetermined value is detected at said current status detecting step.

24. The operation control method according to claim 23, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a television tuner,

wherein said part of the operation of said television receiver unit is the operation of said television tuner.

25. The operation control method according to claim 14, wherein:

said television receiver unit includes a display for displaying a television image, and an audio generator for generating television sound; and

said operation control step limits an operation of said display and permits an operation of said audio generator in accordance with the current status detected by said current status detecting step.

26. The operation control method according to claim 25, wherein said operation control step executes, in sequence, a procedure for limiting the operation of display and for permitting the operation of said audio generator and said mobile telephone radio-communication unit, and a procedure for limiting the operation of said display and said audio generator and for permitting the operation of said mobile telephone radio-communication unit in accordance with the current status detected by said current status detecting step.