Portable wireless terminal apparatus

• US 20070026889A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Connected Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Atsushi, Ito, Eriko, Harima, Masahiro, Yamauchi, Osamu
• Granted Patent: US 7,778,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An operation-mode control unit controls switching of an operation mode of a portable wireless terminal apparatus between a normal mode and an alarm mode. An alarm-data sending unit sends data pertaining to a situation of a user to a predetermined destination as alarm data, when the operation mode is switched to the alarm mode. In the normal mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs normal functions, such as a phone call and an e-mail. In the alarm mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs a user protecting function in addition to the normal functions, such as sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination.

Claims

1. A portable wireless terminal apparatus comprising:

an operation-mode control unit that controls switching of an operation mode of the portable wireless terminal between a normal mode and an alarm mode; and

an alarm-data sending unit that sends data pertaining to a situation of a user to a predetermined destination as alarm data, when the operation mode is switched to the alarm mode, wherein

in the normal mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs normal functions as a portable wireless communication terminal, such as a phone call and an e-mail, and

in the alarm mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs a user protecting function in addition to the normal functions, such as sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination.

2. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the alarm-data sending unit sends the alarm data to the predetermined destination at regular intervals.

3. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation-mode control unit further switches the operation mode to an emergency mode, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the alarm mode,

in the emergency mode, the user protecting function for the user who is in an emergency situation is activated in a power-off status of the portable wireless terminal apparatus, and

the portable wireless terminal apparatus further comprises an emergency-data sending unit that sends data pertaining to a situation of the user to the predetermined destination as emergency data by turning the portable wireless terminal apparatus on, when the operation mode is switched to the emergency mode.

4. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the emergency-data sending unit sends the emergency data to the predetermined destination at regular intervals.

5. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the emergency-data sending unit sends the emergency data to the predetermined destination with a display and a sound of the portable wireless terminal apparatus off.

6. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the predetermined condition includes any one of a power-off of the portable wireless terminal apparatus, a battery-level down to a predetermined value, and passing of a predetermined time.

7. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation-mode control unit controls the switching of the operation mode based on a key operation by the user.

8. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the operation-mode control unit controls the switching of the operation mode based on a schedule set by the user.

9. The portable wireless terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the alarm data and the emergency data include location information acquired using a global positioning system.

10. A method of securing a safety of a user of a portable wireless terminal apparatus, the method comprising:

controlling switching an operation mode portable wireless terminal between a normal mode and an alarm mode; and

first sending including sending data pertaining to a situation of a user to a predetermined destination as alarm data, when the operation mode is switched to the alarm mode, wherein

in the normal mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs normal functions as a portable wireless communication terminal, such as a phone call and an e-mail, and

in the alarm mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs a user protecting function in addition to the normal functions, such as sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the sending includes sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination at regular intervals.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the controlling includes switching the operation mode to an emergency mode, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the alarm mode,

in the emergency mode, the user protecting function for the user who is in an emergency situation is activated in a power-off status of the portable wireless terminal apparatus, and

the method further comprises second sending including sending data pertaining to a situation of the user to the predetermined destination as emergency data by turning the portable wireless terminal apparatus on, when the operation mode is switched to the emergency mode.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the second sending further includes sending the emergency data to the predetermined destination at regular intervals.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the second sending further includes sending the emergency data to the predetermined destination with a display and a sound of the portable wireless terminal apparatus off.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the predetermined condition includes any one of a power-off of the portable wireless terminal apparatus, a battery-level down to a predetermined value, and passing of a predetermined time.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the controlling further includes controlling the switching of the operation mode based on a key operation by the user.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the controlling further includes controlling the switching of the operation mode based on a schedule set by the user.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein

the alarm data and the emergency data include location information acquired using a global positioning system.

19. A computer-readable recording medium that stores therein a computer program for securing a safety of a user of a portable wireless terminal apparatus, wherein the computer program causes a computer to execute:

controlling switching an operation mode portable wireless terminal between a normal mode and an alarm mode; and

sending data pertaining to a situation of a user to a predetermined destination as alarm data, when the operation mode is switched to the alarm mode, wherein

in the normal mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs normal functions as a portable wireless communication terminal, such as a phone call and an e-mail, and

in the alarm mode, the portable wireless terminal apparatus performs a user protecting function in addition to the normal functions, such as sending the alarm data to the predetermined destination.