COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20120083206A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 04/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Adachi, Naoki, Obara, Tomita
• Application Number:
  US13/375,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20120083206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

In a communication system that performs recharging operation and short-range data communication between a portable terminal and a cradle, when a communication unit of the cradle is halted for power saving purpose, there is no unit available to activate the communication unit of the cradle through operation of the portable terminal when data communication is commenced while the portable terminal remains placed in the cradle. A first control unit 22 activates a first communication unit 24 according to an output of an open state detection unit 23 that detects an open state of a portable terminal 20. A second control unit 27 activates a second communication unit 26 of the cradle according to an output of an opened terminal detection unit 25 that detects placement of the opened portable terminal 20. As a result, the first communication unit 24 and the second communication unit 26 are activated by opening the portable terminal 20, whereby bidirectional communication can be established therebetween.

Claims

1. A communication system that establishes non-contact data communication between a portable terminal and a cradle on which the portable terminal is placed, the system comprising:

the portable terminal including a first communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the cradle, an open state detection unit detecting an open state of the portable terminal, and a first control unit that activates the first communication unit as a result of the open state detection unit having detected an open state of the portable terminal; and

the cradle including a second communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the portable terminal, an opened terminal detection unit detecting that the opened portable terminal is placed, and a second control unit that activates the second communication unit as a result of the opened terminal detection unit having detected placement of the portable terminal remaining in an open state.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal has a folding structure in which a first enclosure and a second enclosure are reclosably coupled together by a hinge;

the open state detection unit detects that the portable terminal is in a state where the folding structure is opened; and

the opened terminal detection unit detects that the portable terminal is placed in the cradle while the folding structure remains open.

3. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal has a slide structure by means of which a first enclosure and a second enclosure are coupled together so as to be extendable by sliding action;

the open state detection unit detects that the portable terminal is in a state where the slide structure is opened as a result of sliding action of the first enclosure and the second enclosure; and

the opened terminal detection unit detects that the portable terminal is placed on the cradle while the slide structure remains open as a result of sliding action of the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

4. The communication system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a magnet incorporated in the first enclosure and first magnetism detection unit incorporated in the second enclosure, wherein

the open state detection unit detects an open state of the portable terminal according to a state of magnetism of the magnet being detected by the first magnetism detection unit; and

the opened terminal detection unit has second magnetism detection unit provided in the cradle and detects placement of the opened portable terminal from a state of magnetism of the magnet being detected by the second magnetism detection unit.

5. The communication system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a magnet incorporated in the first enclosure and first magnetism detection unit incorporated in the second enclosure wherein

the open state detection unit detects an open state of the portable terminal according to a state of magnetism of the magnet being detected by the first magnetism detection unit; and

the opened terminal detection unit has second magnetism detection unit provided in the cradle and detects placement of the opened portable terminal from a state of magnetism of the magnet being detected by the second magnetism detection unit.

10. The portable terminal used in the communication system defined in claim 1.

11. The cradle used in the communication system defined in claim 1.

12. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the cradle has a luminance detection unit, wherein the open state detection unit detects placement of the opened portable terminal according to a change in luminance resulting from the opened portable terminal being placed in the cradle.

13. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein the cradle has a luminance detection unit, wherein the open state detection unit detects placement of the opened portable terminal according to a change in luminance resulting from the opened portable terminal being placed in the cradle.

15. The portable terminal used in the communication system defined in claim 10.

16. The cradle used in the communication system defined in claim 10.

6. A communication system that establishes non-contact data communication between a portable terminal and a cradle on which the portable terminal is placed, the system comprising:

the portable terminal including a first communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the cradle, a state-of-being-placed detection unit detecting that the portable terminal is placed in the cradle while remaining open, and a first control unit that activates the first communication unit as a result of the state-of-being-placed detection unit having detected placement of the portable terminal on the cradle remaining in an open state; and

a cradle including second communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the portable terminal, an opened terminal detection unit detecting that the opened portable terminal is placed, and a second control unit that activates the second communication unit as a result of the opened terminal detection unit having detected placement of the portable terminal in an open state.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the state-of-being-placed detection unit has first proximity detection unit and detects approach of the portable terminal to the cradle as a result of the first proximity detection unit having detected that the cradle has made an approach in an open state;

and

the opened terminal detection unit has a second proximity detection unit and detects approach of the portable terminal remaining in an open state to the cradle as a result of the second proximity detection unit having detected approach of the opened portable terminal.

8. A communication system that establishes non-contact data communication between a portable terminal and a cradle on which the portable terminal is placed, the system comprising:

the portable terminal including a first communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the cradle, an operation unit by which operation for activating the first communication unit is performed, a notifying unit for notifying the cradle that the first communication unit is activated, and a first control unit that activates the first communication unit and the notifying unit in accordance with operation of the operation unit; and

the cradle including a second communication unit establishing non-contact data communication with the portable terminal, a terminal detection unit detecting a notification from the notifying unit, and a second control unit that activates the second communication unit as a result of the terminal detection unit having detected an activated state of the first communication unit.

9. The communication system according to claim 8, further comprising:

the notifying unit having light emitting unit; and

the terminal detection unit having a luminance detection unit and that detects the notification from the notifying unit according to a state of illumination being detected by the light emission unit.

14. The portable terminal used in the communication system defined in claim 8.

17. The cradle used in the communication system defined in claim 8.