Mobile Communication Terminal and Control Method Thereof

• US 20100137023A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Takenaka, Tetsuya, Fujisawa, Ryuta, Chishima, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal in accordance with the present invention includes a first wireless communication unit 102 corresponding to a first wireless communication system, an interface 107 detachably connecting an external apparatus 200, a determination unit 111 for determining whether or not the external apparatus 200 connected to the interface 107 corresponds to a second wireless communication system and is a second wireless communication unit 202 consuming less power than the first wireless communication unit 102, a battery voltage detection unit 104 for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit 103 containing a battery and a control unit 111 for controlling the first wireless communication unit 102 to be in a disabled state when the first wireless communication unit 102 is communicating and the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit 104 is equal to or less than the predetermined value in the case where connection of the second wireless communication unit 202 is determined by the determination unit 111. Thus multimode communication depending on the battery voltage can be executed efficiently without causing unexpected circumstances to the user.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system;

an interface capable of detachably connecting an external apparatus;

a determination unit for determining whether the external apparatus connected to the interface corresponds to a second wireless communication system and is a second wireless communication unit that consumes less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection unit for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit containing a battery; and

a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when the first wireless communication unit is communicating and the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than a first predetermined value, in a case where the determination unit determines that the second wireless communication unit is connected.

2. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state without terminating an application by which the first wireless communication unit is communicating.

3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls, after controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state without terminating the application by which the first wireless communication unit is communicating, so that the communication by the application is performed by using the second wireless communication unit.

4. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising

a display change unit for changing to a display screen indicating that the first wireless communication unit cannot be used when the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

5. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is not displayed.

6. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein the display change unit changes an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used to a display indicating not selectable.

7. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that the activation display of the application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is replaced by an activation display of an application capable of being executed by the second wireless communication unit.

8. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply operation unit for ON and OFF operations of power supply; and

a display unit for displaying an screen to select either to put the first wireless communication unit into an enabled state or to turn off the power supply when the power supply operation unit is operated in a state where the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

9. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 8, further comprising

a detection unit for detecting whether or not the battery is being charged, wherein

the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the enabled state when it is selected to put the first wireless communication unit into an enabled state, and

when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than a second predetermined value which is higher than the first predetermined value in a state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state if the charging is discontinued.

10. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 9, wherein when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds the second predetermined value in the state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating the first wireless communication unit is not controlled to be in the disabled state even if the charging is discontinued.

11. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in an enabled state when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds a third predetermined value which is higher than the first predetermined value in a state where the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

12. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a battery mark indicating a remaining battery level from a battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit to a battery mark based on the second wireless communication, when the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

13. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 12, wherein, as the battery mark based on the second wireless communication unit, the display change unit displays a remaining level mark indicating a remaining battery level in a more segmentalized display manner than the battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit.

14. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system;

an interface capable of detachably connecting a second wireless communication unit corresponding to a second wireless communication system and consuming less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection unit for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit containing a battery; and

a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when the first and the second wireless communication units are communicating and the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than a fourth predetermined value.

15. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to start a standby processing of the first wireless communication system in a case where the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or greater than a fifth predetermined value which is higher than the fourth predetermined value when communication at the second wireless communication unit is completed.

16. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, wherein when the first wireless communication unit is performing audio communication, the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state in a case where a call processing to a corresponding party of the audio communication is performed by use of the second wireless communication unit and a response to the call is detected.

17. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, wherein when the first wireless communication unit is performing audio communication, the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state in a case where a call processing to a corresponding party of the audio communication is performed by use of the second wireless communication unit and a predetermined period of time passes from the call.

18. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a display screen to indicate that the first wireless communication unit cannot be used when the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

19. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 18, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is not displayed.

20. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 18, wherein the display change unit changes an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used to a display indicating not selectable.

21. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 18, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is replaced by an activation display of an application capable of being executed by the second wireless communication unit.

22. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, further comprising:

a power supply operation unit for ON and OFF operations of power supply; and

a display unit for displaying a screen to select either to put the first wireless communication unit into an enabled state or to turn off the power supply when the power supply operation unit is operated in a state where the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

23. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 22, further comprising

a detection unit for detecting whether or not the battery is being charged, wherein

the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the enabled state when it is selected to put the first wireless communication unit into the enabled state, and

when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than a sixth predetermined value which is higher than the fourth predetermined value in a state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state if the charging is discontinued.

24. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 23, wherein when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds the sixth predetermined value in the state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is not controlled to be in the disabled state even if the charging is discontinued.

25. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, wherein the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in an enabled state when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds a seventh predetermined value which is higher than the fourth predetermined value in a state where the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

26. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 14, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a battery mark indicating a remaining battery level from a battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit to a battery mark based on the second wireless communication, when the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

27. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 26, wherein, as the battery mark based on the second wireless communication unit, the display change unit displays a remaining level mark indicating a remaining battery level in a more segmentalized display manner than the battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit.

28. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system;

an interface capable of detachably connecting an external apparatus;

a determination unit for determining whether the external apparatus connected to the interface corresponds to a second wireless communication system and is a second wireless communication unit that consumes less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection unit for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit containing a battery; and

a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when the first wireless communication unit is communicating mainly for reception and the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than an eighth predetermined value, in a case where the determination unit determines that the second wireless communication unit is connected.

29. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 28, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a display screen to indicate that the first wireless communication unit cannot be used when the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

30. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 29, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is not displayed.

31. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 29, wherein the display change unit changes an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used to a display indicating not selectable.

32. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 29, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is replaced by an activation display of an application capable of being executed by the second wireless communication unit.

33. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 28, further comprising:

a power supply operation unit for ON and OFF operations of power supply; and

a display unit for displaying a screen to select either to put the first wireless communication unit into an enabled state or to turn off the power supply when the power supply operation unit is operated in a state where the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

34. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 33, further comprising

a detection unit for detecting whether or not the battery is being charged, wherein

the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the enabled state when it is selected to put the first wireless communication unit into the enabled state,

when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than a ninth predetermined value which is higher than the eighth predetermined value in a state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state if the charging is discontinued.

35. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 34, wherein when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds the ninth predetermined value in the state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is not controlled to be in the disabled state even if the charging is discontinued.

36. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 28, wherein the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the enabled state when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds a tenth predetermined value which is higher than the eighth predetermined value in the state where the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

37. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 28, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a battery mark indicating a remaining battery level from a battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit to a battery mark based on the second wireless communication, when the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

38. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 37, wherein, as the battery mark based on the second wireless communication unit, the display change unit displays a remaining level mark indicating a remaining battery level in a more segmentalized display manner than the battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit.

39. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system;

an interface capable of detachably connecting a second wireless communication unit corresponding to a second wireless communication system and consuming less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection unit for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit containing a battery; and

a control unit for controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than an eleventh predetermined value, in a case where the first wireless communication unit is in a standby state of the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication unit is communicating.

40. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 39, wherein the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to start a standby processing of the first wireless communication system in the case where the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or greater than the eleventh predetermined value when communication at the second wireless communication unit is completed.

41. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 39, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a display screen to indicate that the first wireless communication unit cannot be used when the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

42. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 41, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is not displayed.

43. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 41, wherein the display change unit changes an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used to a display showing not selectable.

44. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 41, wherein the display change unit changes the display screen so that an activation display of an application that cannot be used unless the first wireless communication unit is used is replaced by an activation display of an application capable of being executed by the second wireless communication unit.

45. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 39, further comprising:

a power supply operation unit for ON and OFF operations of power supply; and

a display unit for displaying an screen to select either to put the first wireless communication unit into an enabled state or to turn off the power supply when the power supply operation unit is operated in a state where the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state.

46. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 45, further comprising

a detection unit for detecting whether or not the battery is being charged, wherein

the control unit controls the first wireless communication unit to be in the enabled state when it is selected to put the first wireless communication unit into the enabled state;

when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is equal to or less than the eleventh predetermined value in a state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state if the charging is discontinued.

47. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 46, wherein when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds the eleventh predetermined value in the state where the detection unit is detecting charging, the display unit displays a message indicating that the first wireless communication unit is not controlled to be in the disabled state even if the charging is discontinued.

48. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 39, wherein the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the enabled state when the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit exceeds the eleventh predetermined value in the state where the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

49. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 39, further comprising

a display change unit for changing a battery mark indicating a remaining battery level from a battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit to a battery mark based on the second wireless communication, when the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state by the control unit.

50. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 49, wherein, as the battery mark based on the second wireless communication unit, the display change unit displays a remaining level mark indicating a remaining battery level in a more segmentalized display manner than the battery mark based on the first wireless communication unit.

51. A control method of a mobile communication terminal comprising a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system, an interface capable of detachably connecting an external apparatus and a power supply unit containing a battery, comprising:

a determination step of determining whether the external apparatus connected to the interface corresponds to a second wireless communication system and is a second wireless communication unit that consumes less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a communication state detection step of detecting a communication state of the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection step of detecting battery voltage of the power supply unit; and

a control step of controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when it is detected that the first wireless communication unit is communicating at the communication state detection step and the battery voltage detected at the battery voltage detection step is equal to or less than a first predetermined value, in a case where it is determined that the second wireless communication unit is connected at the determination step.

52. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 51, wherein at the control step, the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in the disabled state without terminating an application by which the first wireless communication unit is communicating.

53. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 52, wherein at the control step, after controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in the disabled state without terminating the application by which the first wireless communication unit is communicating, the communication by the application is controlled to be performed by using the second wireless communication unit.

54. A control method of a mobile communication terminal comprising a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system, a second wireless communication unit corresponding to a second wireless communication system and detachably connected via an interface and a power supply unit containing a battery, comprising:

a communication state detection step of detecting a communication state of the first and the second wireless communication units;

a battery voltage detection step of detecting battery voltage of the power supply unit; and

a control step of controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when it is detected that the first and the second wireless communication units are communicating at the communication state detection step and the battery voltage detected at the battery voltage detection step is equal to or less than a fourth predetermined value.

55. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 54, wherein at the control step, the first wireless communication unit is controlled to start a standby processing of the first wireless communication system in a case where the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection step is equal to or greater than a fifth predetermined value which is higher than the fourth predetermined value when it is detected that the second wireless communication unit completes communication at the communication state detection step.

56. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 54, wherein when it is detected that the first wireless communication unit is performing audio communication at the communication state detection step, the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in a disabled state at the control step in a case where a call processing to a corresponding party of the audio communication is performed by use of the second wireless communication unit and a response to the call is detected

57. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 54, wherein when it is detected that the first wireless communication unit is performing audio communication at the communication state detection step, the first wireless communication unit is controlled to be in a disabled state at the control step in a case where a call processing to a corresponding party of the audio communication is performed by use of the second wireless communication unit and a predetermined period of time passes from the call.

58. A control method of a mobile communication terminal comprising a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system, an interface capable of detachably connecting an external apparatus and a power supply unit containing a battery, comprising:

a determination step of determining whether the external apparatus connected to the interface corresponds to a second wireless communication system and is a second wireless communication unit that consumes less power than the first wireless communication unit;

a communication state detection step of detecting a communication state of the first wireless communication unit;

a battery voltage detection step of detecting battery voltage of the power supply unit; and

a control step of controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when it is detected that the first wireless communication unit is communicating mainly for reception at the communication state detection step and the battery voltage detected at the battery voltage detection step is equal to or less than a eighth predetermined value, in a case where it is determined that the second wireless communication unit is connected at the determination step.

59. A control method of a mobile communication terminal comprising a first wireless communication unit corresponding to a first wireless communication system, a second wireless communication unit corresponding to a second wireless communication system and detachably connected via an interface and a power supply unit containing a battery, comprising the steps of:

a communication state detection step of detecting a communication state of the first and the second wireless communication units;

a battery voltage detection step of detecting battery voltage of the power supply unit; and

a control step of controlling the first wireless communication unit to be in a disabled state when the battery voltage detected at the battery voltage detection step is equal to or less than an eleventh predetermined value in a case where it is detected that the first wireless communication unit is in a standby state of the first wireless communication system and the second wireless communication unit is communicating at the communication state detection step.

60. The control method of the mobile communication terminal according to claim 59, wherein the first wireless communication unit is controlled to start a standby processing of the first wireless communication system at the control step in a case where the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is greater than the eleventh predetermined value when it is detected that the second wireless communication unit completes communication at the communication state detection step.