Mobile terminal device, and control method for mobile terminal device

• US 9,565,638 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hirako, Kenichi, Onaru, Shinichi, Yamasaki, Saki, Kamii, Toshihiro, Masaki, Kana
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US14/599,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20150201379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/456.1, 455/456.4, 455/151.1, 455/352, 715/200, 715/201, 715/203, 715/706, 715/736
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0258 controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile telephone includes a communication module, and a control module configured to perform background communication with respect to an application via the communication module. The control module restricts background communication, based on an activation history of the application in foreground. The control module includes a determination module configured to determine whether background communication is unnecessary based on the activation history of the application in foreground with respect to each of the applications, and a setting switching module configured to switch communication setting of the application, of which background communication is determined to be unnecessary, from a first setting of permitting the background communication to a second setting of restricting the background communication.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal device, comprising:

a communication module; and

at least one processor configured to perform background communication with respect to an application via the communication module,

wherein background communication comprises communication, by the application, with an external device over at least one communication network while an execution screen of the application is not being displayed, and

wherein the at least one processor, when background communication of the application is performed,

determines whether or not the application has been used in a foreground, such that the execution screen of the application has been displayed, within a preceding predetermined time period, and,

when the application has not been used in the foreground within the preceding predetermined time period, restricts the background communication of the application.

2. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor unrestricts the background communication with respect to the application when the application, the background communication of which has been restricted, is used in the foreground.

3. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor unrestricts the background communication with respect to the application when the number of times that the application, the background communication of which is restricted, has been used in the foreground has reached a predetermined number of times.

4. The mobile terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor unrestricts the background communication with respect to the application, the background communication of which is restricted, in the case where the mobile terminal device is in a charging period.

5. A control method for a mobile terminal device configured to perform background communication with respect to an application, the control method comprising:

storing a history of use of the application in a foreground, wherein use of the application in the foreground comprises displaying an execution screen of the application, and wherein background communication comprises communication, by the application, with an external device over at least one communication network while the execution screen of the application is not being displayed; and

,

when background communication of the application is performed,

determining whether or not the application has been used in the foreground within a preceding predetermined time period, and,

when the application has not been used in the foreground within the preceding predetermined time period, restricting the background communication of the application.