Electronic device and processing program thereof

• US 7,929,920 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Casio Mobile Communications Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Goto, Yoshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajayi; Joel
• Application Number:
  US12/150,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20090011751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.3, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection

Abstract

In a cellular phone 10, when a CPU 100 detects that a style of the housing is changed to an “open style” or a “view style”, the CPU 100 executes function menu display processing. In the function menu display processing, the CPU 100 automatically selects candidates of function names that are suitable for the current style detected under a predetermined determination condition, and after displaying them in the menu, provides voice guidance thereof. Accordingly, a user does not need to examine which function is suitable for the style. As a result, operability after the style of the housing is changed is enhanced.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a detector for detecting a style which indicates a usage pattern based on a housing structure of the device;

a memory for storing candidates of any function associated with the style and time information among a plurality of functions provided in the device;

an acquisition unit for acquiring a current time;

a read out unit for reading out candidates of the functions associated with the style detected by the detector from among the candidates of the functions stored in the memory based on the current time acquired by the acquisition unit when the style detected by the detector changes; and

a reporting unit for reporting candidates of the functions read out by the read out unit.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the time information stored in the memory is time information specified by a user;

and

wherein the read out unit reads out candidates of the functions associated with the style detected by the detector from among the candidates of the functions stored in the memory and the current time acquired by the acquisition unit.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the time information stored in the memory is time information which indicates a past function activation time;

and

wherein the read out unit reads out candidates of the functions associated with the style detected by the detector from among the candidates of the functions stored in the memory and the current time acquired by the acquisition unit.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the functions are application programs executable by the device.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selector for selecting any function from among the candidates of the functions reported by the reporting unit; and

an activator for activating the function selected by the selector.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a stop for stopping the reporting by the reporting unit after a certain period of time has passed.

4. An electronic device, comprising:

a detector for detecting a style, which indicates a usage pattern based on a housing structure of the device;

a counter for counting activation frequencies of a plurality of functions provided in the device and automatically assigning the functions a priority order based on the activation frequencies;

a memory for storing candidates of any of the plurality of functions associated with the style and a priority order previously assigned by a user or the priority order automatically assigned by the counter;

a read out unit for reading out candidates of the functions associated with the style detected by the detector from among the candidates of the functions stored in the memory based on the stored priority order when the style detected by the detector changes;

a reporting unit for reporting candidates of the functions read out by the read out unit.

10. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the functions are application programs executable by the device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a selector for selecting any function from among the candidates of the functions reported by the reporting unit; and

an activator for activating the function selected by the selector.

12. The electronic device according to claim 4, further comprising a stop for stopping the reporting by the reporting unit after a certain period of time has passed.

8. A computer readable storage medium having a program of an electronic device stored thereon that is executable by a computer, comprising:

detection processing which detects a style indicating a usage pattern based on a housing structure of the device;

acquisition processing which acquires a current time;

read out processing which reads out candidates of functions associated with the style detected by the detection processing from among candidates of functions associated with the style and time information stored in a memory based on the current time acquired by the acquisition processing when the style detected by the detection processing changes; and

report processing which reports candidates of the functions read out by the read out processing.

9. A computer readable storage medium having a program of an electronic device stored thereon that is executable by a computer, comprising:

detection processing which detects a style indicating a usage pattern based on a housing structure of the device;

count processing which counts activation frequencies of a plurality of functions associated with the style and automatically assigns the functions a priority order based on the activation frequencies;

read out processing which reads out candidates of functions associated with the style detected by the detection processing from among candidates of the plurality of functions associated with the style and a priority order previously assigned by a user or the priority order automatically assigned by the count processing stored in a memory based on the stored priority order when the style detected by the detection processing changes; and

report processing which reports candidates of the functions read out by the read out processing.