COMMUNICATION DEVICE, INPUT CONTROL METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20140111459A1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC CASIO Mobile Communications Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Hiroyuki
• Application Number:
  US14/123,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111459A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A communication device includes: communication means that performs communication; an input means that receives input by detecting the proximity or contact of an object; and a control unit that sets, in the input area of the input means, a first area in which input related to control of the communication means is received, and a second area that differs from the first area, and that controls the operation of the input means based an object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with the second area.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a communication unit that performs communication;

an input unit that receives input by detecting proximity to or contact of an object; and

a control unit that sets, in an input area of said input unit, a first area in which input relating to control of said communication unit is received and a second area that differs from said first area, and that controls an operation of said input unit based on an object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with said second area.

2. The communication device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit nullifies reception of input in said first area according to the object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with said second area.

3. The communication device as set forth in claim 1, wherein sensitivity of said second area is higher than sensitivity of said first area.

4. The communication device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit sets said second area when said input unit has received input in said first area indicating start of communication in a state in which said first area has been set and in a state in which said second area has not been set.

5. The communication device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said control unit releases the setting of said second area when said input unit has received input in said first area indicating that communication is ended in a state in which said first area and said second area have been set.

6. The communication device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control unit sets a plurality of said second areas and controls operations of said input unit based on an object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with any of the plurality of second areas.

7. An input control method in a communication device that includes a communication unit that performs communication, comprising:

receiving input by detecting proximity to or contact of an object; and

setting, in an input area in which input is received, a first area in which input relating to control of said communication unit is received and a second area that differs from said first area, and controlling reception of said input based on an object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with said second area.

8. A computer readable recording medium on which a program is recorded that causes a computer, which is connected to a communication unit that performs communication, to execute:

an input procedure for receiving input by detecting proximity to or contact of an object; and

a control procedure of setting, in an input area in which input is received, a first area in which input that relates to control of said communication unit is received and a second area that differs from said first area, and controlling said input procedure based on an object'"'"'s proximity to or contact with said second area.