PORTABLE TERMINAL AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION MODE

• US 20110244898A1
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: FUJIMOTO, Shingo, MATSUI, Kazuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/500
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A portable terminal includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, an operation mode judgment unit, an operation mode change unit. The transmission unit transmits first operation mode information including a first operation mode and a first setting time. The reception unit receives second operation mode information including a second operation mode and a second setting time. The operation mode judgment unit calculates a current degree of influence from the second operation mode on the first operation mode that decreases with time from the second setting time, and calculates an evaluated value of the current degree of influence from at least one operation mode including the second operation mode. The operation mode change unit changes, when the evaluated value exceeds a threshold value, the operation mode of the portable terminal to the second operation mode.

Claims

1. A first portable terminal comprising:

a transmission unit configured to transmit first operation mode information including a first operation mode set in the first portable terminal and a first setting time when the first operation mode is set in the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal;

a reception unit configured to receive second operation mode information including a second operation mode set in the second portable terminal and a second setting time when the second operation mode is set in the second portable terminal from the second portable terminal;

an operation mode judgment unit configured to calculate a current degree of influence from the second operation mode on the first operation mode which decreases with time from the second setting time and calculates an evaluated value of the current degree of influence from the second operation mode; and

an operation mode change unit configured to change, when the evaluated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the first operation mode to the second operation mode.

2. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the operation mode judgment unit

incorporates, when the second operation mode is different from the first operation mode, the current degree of influence from the second operation mode on the first operation mode into calculation of the evaluated value as a value of a certain sign;

and

incorporates, when the second mode is same as the first operation mode, the current degree of influence from the second operation mode on the first operation mode into calculation of the evaluated value as a value of a reverse sign of the certain sign.

3. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the operation mode judgment unit

adjusts the current degree of influence relatively higher when a cause of setting of the second operation mode of the second operation mode information is setting by a user;

and

adjusts the current degree of influence relatively lower when a cause of setting of the second operation mode of the second operation mode information is not setting by a user, and incorporates the adjusted degree into calculation of the evaluated value of influence.

4. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

when the reception unit receives third operation mode information including a third operation mode corresponding to the first operation mode or the second operation mode and a third setting time when the third operation mode is set in the third portable terminal, the operation mode judgment unit calculates a current degree of influence from the third operation mode on the first operation mode which decreases with time from the third setting time and calculates a compounded evaluated value of a current degree of influence from at least two pieces of operation mode information including the second operation mode information and the third operation mode information;

and

the operation mode change unit changes, when the compounded evaluated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an operation mode of the first portable terminal to the second operation mode.

5. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the evaluated value of a current degree of influence is a first evaluated value of a current degree;

when the reception unit receives third operation mode information including a third operation mode different from the first operation mode or the second operation mode and third setting time when the third operation mode is set in the third portable terminal, the operation mode judgment unit calculates a current degree of influence from the third operation mode on the first operation mode which decreases with time from the third setting time and calculates a second evaluated value of a current degree of influence from at least one operation mode information including the third operation mode; and

when the first and second current evaluated values exceed a predetermined threshold value, and the first current evaluated value is smaller than the second current evaluated value, the operation mode change unit changes an operation mode of the first portable terminal to the second operation mode.

6. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the operation mode judgment unit adjusts the current degree of influence according to an intensity level of a reception RF signal of the second operation mode information by the reception unit and incorporates into calculation of the evaluated value of influence .

7. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

when operation mode information is not received for longer than predetermined time after an operation mode of the first portable terminal is changed to the second operation mode, the operation mode of the first portable terminal is returned to the first operation mode.

8. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the first portable terminal further comprises a sound generator;

and

the operation mode change unit increases, when changing an operation mode of the first portable terminal to the second operation mode comprising a setting state in which a volume level of the sound generator is higher than in the first operation mode, setting of the volume level of the sound generator gradually with time.

9. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein

the transmission unit transmits the first operation mode information through a wireless base station, and the reception unit receives the second operation mode information through the wireless base station.

10. A portable device used with the portable terminal according to claim 1, comprising a sound generator, a reception unit configured to receive the operation mode information and a reception judgment unit, wherein

the reception judgment unit makes the sound generator operate when the first operation mode information including identification information is not received for longer than predetermined time.

11. A storage medium storing a program, wherein

the program is used by a first portable terminal comprising

a transmission unit configured to transmit first operation mode information including a first operation mode and a first setting time when the first operation mode is set in the first portable terminal and

a reception unit configured to receive second operation mode information including a second operation mode and a second setting time when the second operation mode is set in a second portable terminal;

and the program makes the first portable terminal execute;

transmitting the first operation mode information set in the first portable terminal to the second portable terminal through the transmission unit;

receiving the second operation mode information set in the second portable terminal from the second portable terminal through the reception unit;

calculating a degree of influence fromthe second operation mode on the first operation mode which decreases with time from the second setting time;

calculating an evaluated value of the degree of influence from at least one operation mode including the second operation mode; and

changing, when the evaluated value of influence exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an operation mode of the first portable terminal to the second operation mode.

12. A method for controlling an operation mode in a first portable terminal comprising:

transmitting first operation mode information set in the first portable terminal to a second portable terminal through a transmission unit, wherein the first operation mode information includes a first operation mode and first setting time when the first operation mode is set in the first portable terminal;

receiving a second operation mode information set in the second portable terminal from the second portable terminal through a reception unit, wherein the second operation mode information includes the second operation mode and a second setting time when the second operation mode is set in the second portable terminal;

calculating a degree of influence from the second operation mode on the first operation mode which decreases with time from the second setting time;

calculating an evaluated value of the degree of influence from at least one operation mode including the second operation mode; and

changing, when the evaluated value of influence exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an operation mode of the first portable terminal to the second operation mode.