Program startup apparatus and program startup method for use in electronic machine, and medium

• US 6,275,932 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Yoshihiro, Suzuki, Masahiko, Yamaguchi, Hiroshi, Tanaka, Hidekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Dennis M.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,802
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 713/502
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A program startup apparatus is used in an electronic machine and automatically starts up a function provided for the electronic machine with a user'"'"'s single touch operation. The program startup apparatus automatically starts up a predetermined application program stored in the electronic machine. The apparatus has startup condition storage devices for storing a startup condition preset by the user. The apparatus also has a startup sequence control device for starting up the predetermined application program upon determining that the status of the electronic machine matches the startup condition stored in the startup condition storage devices.

Claims

1. A program startup apparatus for use in an electronic machine and for automatically starting up a predetermined application program stored in said electronic machine, said program startup apparatus comprising:

operation means for receiving user input;

startup condition storage means for storing an assigned condition of said operation means as a preset startup condition for said predetermined application program; and

startup sequence control means for starting up said predetermined application program upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition stored in said startup condition storage means,

wherein said startup sequence control means starts up a basic program for controlling said electronic machine upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition and that said basic program is not running, and then starts up said predetermined application program, and

wherein said startup sequence control means starts up said electronic machine upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition and that said electronic machine is not running, then starts up said basic program, and then starts up said predetermined application program.

2. The program startup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation means is provided on an exterior portion of said electronic machine when said electronic machine is in a closed state.

3. The program startup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation means is provided independently of a power switch for providing power to the electronic machine.

4. The program startup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a real time clock for counting time, wherein

a preset startup time is stored in said startup condition storage means as the startup condition, and

said startup sequence control means starts up said predetermined application program upon a determination that the time counted by said real time clock matches the preset startup time stored in said startup condition storage means.

5. The program startup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said startup sequence control means starts up a predetermined function of said predetermined application program upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition stored in said startup condition storage means.

6. The program startup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined application program comprises an electronic mail program for sending and receiving mail via a network, and said predetermined function comprises retrieving mail addressed to a user.

7. The program startup apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising reporting means for reporting that mail addressed to the user has been retrieved.

8. The program startup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said reporting means comprises an indicator provided on an exterior portion of said electronic machine when a display unit of said electronic machine is in a closed state.

9. An electronic machine that automatically starts up a predetermined application program stored therein, comprising:

operation means for receiving user input;

startup condition storage means for storing an assigned condition of said operation means as a preset startup condition for said predetermined application program; and

startup sequence control means responsive to said startup condition storage means for starting up said predetermined application program upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition stored in said startup condition storage means,

wherein said startup sequence control means starts up a basic program for controlling said electronic machine upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition and that said basic program is not running, and then starts up said predetermined application program, and

wherein said startup sequence control means starts up said electronic machine upon a determination that said operation means is in said assigned condition and that said electronic machine is not running, then starts up said basic program, and then starts up said predetermined application program.

10. A program startup method for use in an electronic machine having operation means for receiving user input, and for automatically starting up a predetermined application program stored in said electronic machine, said program startup method comprising the steps of:

storing an assigned condition of said operation means as a preset startup condition for said predetermined application program;

determining whether said operation means is in said assigned condition; and

starting up said predetermined application program if said operation means is in said assigned condition,

wherein, if said operation means is in said assigned condition in a state in which a basic program for controlling said electronic machine is not running, said step of starting up further includes starting up said basic program before starting up said predetermined application program, and

wherein, if said operation means is in said assigned condition in a state in which said electronic machine is not running, said step of starting up further includes starting up said electronic machine and starting up said basic program before starting up said predetermined application program.

11. The program startup method according to claim 10, wherein said step of starting up further starts up a predetermined function of said predetermined application program.

12. The program startup method according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined application program comprises an electronic mail program for sending and receiving mail via a network, and said predetermined function comprises retrieving mail addressed to a user.

13. The program startup method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of indicating that mail addressed to the user has been retrieved.

14. A medium for storing a startup program for automatically starting up a predetermined application program stored in an electronic machine having operation means for receiving user input, said startup program comprising the steps of:

determining whether said operation means is in an assigned condition; and

starting up said predetermined application program if said operation means is in said assigned condition,

wherein, if said operation means is in said assigned condition in a state in which a basic program for controlling said electronic machine is not running, said step of starting up further includes starting up said basic program before starting up said predetermined application program, and

wherein, if said operation means is in said assigned condition in a state in which said electronic machine is not running, said step of starting up further includes starting up said electronic machine and starting up said basic program before starting up said predetermined application program.

15. The storage medium according to claim 14, wherein said startup program further starts a predetermined function of said predetermined application program.

16. The storage medium according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined application program comprises an electronic mail program for sending and receiving mail via a network, and said predetermined function comprises retrieving mail addressed to the user.

17. The storage medium according to claim 16, wherein information indicating that mail addressed to the user has been retrieved is reported by said program startup.