Abstract:
A mobile communication apparatus including a user interface UI, a processor, and one or more sensors is disclosed. The one or more sensors are arranged to provide one or more signals, and the processor is arranged to present a warning depending on the one or more signals through the UI. Further, a warning method for a mobile communication apparatus is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: measuring one or more physical quantities; processing the one or more physical quantities to generate one or more warnings; and presenting the one or more warnings through a user interface UI of the mobile communication apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a mobile communication apparatus arranged to present warnings depending on measured physical quantities, and a method for a mobile communication apparatus for measuring the physical quantities and generating and presenting warnings in dependence thereof.  
         [0003]     2. Brief Description of Related Developments  
         [0004]     A mobile communication apparatus, such as a cell phone, is used in everyday situations. Some of these situations expose the mobile communication apparatus for environments that can be harmful, either for the communication apparatus itself, or its user. Further, in everyday life, it is not always the user is aware of this, since the environment is not always considered by the user. It is therefore a problem that a user may not be aware of environmental exposures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to increase awareness of environmental exposures.  
         [0006]     The above object is achieved according to a first aspect of the present invention by a mobile communication apparatus comprising a user interface UI, a processor, and one or more sensors, wherein said one or more sensors are arranged to provide one or more signals, and the processor is arranged to present a warning depending on said one or more signals through the UI.  
         [0007]     An advantage of this is increased awareness of environmental exposures sensed by the sensors, presented through the UI, from which the user is used to achieve information.  
         [0008]     Said one or more sensors may comprise a humidity sensor, thus said warning comprises an indication that humidity is out of a pre-determined range. The humidity warning may be presented as bubbles on a screen of the UI and sound of water in a speaker of the UI.  
         [0009]     An advantage of this is that the user&#39;s attention is drawn to the fact that the mobile communication apparatus is exposed to high humidity, and can then take actions to prevent damage, e.g. by placing the mobile communication apparatus in a dry pocket.  
         [0010]     Said one or more sensors may comprise an accelerometer, thus said warning comprises an indication that mechanical stress on the mobile communication apparatus is out of a pre-determined range. The warning may then be presented as re-arranged screen contents on a screen of the UI and a sound of a crash in a speaker of the UI.  
         [0011]     An advantage of this is that the user&#39;s attention is drawn to the fact that the mobile communication apparatus was exposed to shock, and can then take actions to prevent damage, e.g. by handling the mobile communication apparatus more carefully.  
         [0012]     Said one or more sensors may comprise a temperature sensor, thus said warning comprises an indication that temperature is out of a pre-determined range. The warning may then be presented as flames on a screen of the UI when a temperature measured by said temperature sensor is above said specified temperature range, or may be presented as icicles on the screen when a temperature measured by said temperature sensor is below said specified temperature range, or any other suitable indication.  
         [0013]     An advantage of this is that the user&#39;s attention is drawn to the fact that the mobile communication apparatus is exposed to high or low temperatures, and can then take actions to prevent damage, e.g. by removing the mobile communication apparatus from a hot dashboard of a car if high temperature is indicated, or placing the mobile communication apparatus in a warm pocket if low temperature is indicated.  
         [0014]     Said one or more sensors may comprise a radiac sensor, and said warning comprises an indication that radioactivity is out of a pre-determined range. The radioactivity warning may be presented as sound of a Geiger-Müller counter in a speaker of the UI.  
         [0015]     An advantage of this is that the user&#39;s attention is drawn to the fact that radioactivity is present, and can then take actions to prevent exposure to radioactivity, e.g. by moving out of the area.  
         [0016]     The mobile communication apparatus may further comprise a memory, wherein the memory is arranged to store said warning.  
         [0017]     An advantage of this is improved knowledge of errors if the mobile communication apparatus is handed in to be serviced.  
         [0018]     The UI may comprise a screen, an audio output, which may comprise a speaker and/or a buzzer, or a vibrator, or any combination of these, arranged to present said warning.  
         [0019]     The above object is achieved according to a second aspect of the present invention by a warning method for a mobile communication apparatus, comprising the steps of: measuring one or more physical quantities; processing said one or more physical quantities to generate one or more warnings; and presenting said one or more warnings through a user interface UI of the mobile communication apparatus.  
         [0020]     The warning method may further comprise the step of storing the warning in a memory.  
         [0021]     The warning method may further comprise the step of receiving an acknowledgement on the warning from a user.  
         [0022]     The processing step may further comprise the steps of: determining if said one or more physical quantities are out of corresponding pre-determined ranges; and generating one or more warnings corresponding to those of said one or more physical quantities determined to be out of corresponding ranges.  
         [0023]     The one or more warnings may be presented on a screen, in a speaker, by a buzzer or by a vibrator of said UI, or any combination thereof.  
         [0024]     The one or more physical quantities may comprise humidity, acceleration, temperature, or radiactivity, or any combination thereof.  
         [0025]     The advantages of the second aspect of the present invention are similar to those of the first aspect. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements, wherein:— 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing a mobile communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a mobile communication apparatus according an embodiment of to the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered mechanical effects;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered high humidity;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered high radioactivity;  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered low temperature;  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered high temperature; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating a warning method. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram schematically showing a mobile communication apparatus  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  shows a mobile communication apparatus  100 . The mobile communication apparatus  100  comprises a processor  102  which is arranged to control functions of the mobile communication apparatus  100 . In  FIG. 1 , the connections between elements  104 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  119 ,  120 ,  124 ,  126  and the processor  102  depicts the control of the elements  104 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  119 ,  120 ,  124 ,  126 , as well as signal transfer and information exchange. However, the elements  104 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  119 ,  120 ,  124 ,  126  can have any interconnection for signals or information transfer to any of the other elements  104 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  119 ,  120 ,  124 ,  126 , which interconnections are not shown in  FIG. 1  for clarity reasons. The mobile communication apparatus  100  further comprises a transceiver  104  connected to the processor  102  which is arranged to receive and transmit radio signals through an antenna  106 . The mobile communication apparatus can further comprise a memory  108 , a keypad  110 , a rotating dial  112 , a microphone  114 , a speaker  116 , a buzzer  118 , a vibrator  119 , and a display  120 . Further miscellaneous electronics  124 , such as means for infrared data association (not shown), can also be comprised. In the display  120  of  FIG. 2 , an example of a screen view is shown, comprising a plurality of items  128 , such as icons  130  for different features of the mobile communication apparatus  100 , a signal strength indicator  132 , an indicator  134  for received messages, and alternatives  136  for navigation between menus.  
         [0037]     The mobile communication apparatus comprises one or more sensors  126  arranged to provide signals depending on measured quantities, such as mechanical effects, humidity, temperature, radioactivity, atmospheric pressure, air pollution, oxygen content, etc. The processor  102  receives the signals and determines if any of the quantities are out of a pre-determined range. If one or more of the quantities are out of the predetermined range, the processor generates one or more warnings, accordingly, and present the one or more warnings through a user interface of the mobile communication apparatus  100 . The outputs of the user interface normally comprise the speaker  116 , buzzer  118 , vibrator  119  and display  120 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus, comprising a plurality of items  300 , such as icons  302  for different features of the mobile communication apparatus, a signal strength indicator  304 , an indicator  306  for received messages, and menu navigation alternatives  308 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered mechanical effects, e.g. the mobile communication apparatus has been exposed to a shock, which has been registered by an accelerometer. The accelerometer provides a signal indicating the acceleration the mobile communication apparatus has beed exposed to, and the processor, which reveives the signal, determines if the acceleration is out of a pre-defined range. For example, the pre-defined range is chosen as a range in which the mechanical stress of the mobile communication apparatus is acceptable. If the acceleration is out of the pre-defined range, a warning is generated, and can be presented as depicted in  FIG. 4 , where items  400  of the screen view are re-arranged as if they got loose at the shock. Further, a warning text (not shown) can be provided, and/or a sound can be played, e.g. a sound of a crash. The warning can be stored in a memory, e.g. to facilitate service of the mobile communication apparatus. When the warning is acknowledged by the user the screen is returned ot its original appearance before the warning was displayed. For the case in  FIG. 4  this would mean that the items  400  are put back in their original places as they were before the shock arose.  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered high humidity, e.g. the mobile communication apparatus has been exposed to water, which has been registered by a humidity sensor. The humidity sensor provides a signal indicating the humidity the mobile communication apparatus has beed exposed to, and the processor, which reveives the signal, determines if the humidity is out of a pre-defined range. For example, the pre-defined range is chosen as a range in which the humidity inside the mobile communication apparatus is acceptable. If the humidity is out of the pre-defined range, a warning is generated, and can be presented as depicted in  FIG. 5 , with bubbles  500 , which can be animated to move over the screen, to indicate a too high humidity inside the mobile communication apparatus. Further, a warning text (not shown) can be provided, and/or a sound can be played, e.g. a sound of a splash. The warning can be stored in a memory, e.g. to facilitate service of the mobile communication apparatus.  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a screen view displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when a warning is presented due to registered high radioactivity, e.g. the mobile communication apparatus has been exposed to radioactive fallout, which has been registered by a radiac sensor. The radiac sensor provides a signal indicating the radioactivity the mobile communication apparatus has beed exposed to, and the processor, which reveives the signal, determines if the radioactivity is out of a pre-defined range. For example, the pre-defined range is chosen as a range in which the radioactivity the mobile communication apparatus is exposed to is acceptable for a user. If the radioactivity is out of the pre-defined range, a warning is generated, and can be presented as depicted in  FIG. 6 , with a symbol  600  of radioactivity over the ordinary items  602  to indicate a too high radioactivity around the mobile communication apparatus. Further, a warning text (not shown) can be provided, and/or a sound can be played, e.g. a sound of a Geiger counter. The warning can be stored in a memory, e.g. to track radiac exposure of the user.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate examples of screen views displayed on a display of a mobile communication apparatus when warnings are presented due to registered low or high temperature, respectively. The temperature sensor provides a signal indicating the temperature of the mobile communication apparatus, and the processor, which reveives the signal, determines if the temperature is out of a pre-defined range. For example, the pre-defined range is chosen as a range in which the temperature inside the mobile communication apparatus is acceptable. If the temperature is out of the pre-defined range, a warning is generated, and can be presented as depicted in  FIG. 7  if the temperature is below the pre-defined range, with a symbol  700  to indicate a too low temperature inside the mobile communication apparatus. The warning can be presented as depicted in  FIG. 8  if the temperature is above the pre-defined range, with a symbol  800  to indicate a too high temperature inside the mobile communication apparatus. Further, a warning text (not shown) can be provided, changed background color (not shown) of the display, and/or a sound can be played. Here, when indicating the warning by changing colors, SPR c4 should be taken into consideration. A user can then take appropriate measures to get the temperature into the range, e.g. putting the mobile communication apparatus in a warm pocket if the temperature is too low, or remove it from the hot dashboard of the car if the temperature is too high. The warning can be stored in a memory, e.g. to facilitate service of the mobile communication apparatus.  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating a warning method for a mobile communication apparatus. In a quantity measuring step  900 , one or more physical quantities are measured. The one or more measured physical quantities are processed to determine if any of them are out of pre-defined ranges for the physical quantities, respectively, in a determination step  902 . The method returns to the measuring step  900  from a check step  904  if no quantities are determined to be out of ranges in the determination step  902 . Otherwise the method goes from the check step  904  to a warning generation step  906 , where one or more warnings are generated according to quantities determined to be out of ranges. The generation step  906  can also comprise storing the warning in a memory. In a warning presentation step  908 , the one or more warnings generated in the warning generation step  906  are presented. The presentation of the one or more warnings are performed through a user interface of the mobile communication apparatus. The outputs of the user interface normally comprise a speaker, buzzer, vibrator and/or display. Thus the warnings can be received by a users eyes, ears, and/or perception of touch. In an acknowledgement reception step  910  an acknowledgement from a user can be received to cancel the warning, and the method then returns to the measuring step  900 .