Abstract:
A utilizing function apparatus include at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to, based on an operation, set one of at least one function temporarily unable to be executed, when it is detected that the utilizing function apparatus is connected to an external device after setting the one function temporarily unable to be executed, acquire information about an area of the memory of the utilizing function apparatus, as first information, when it is detected that the connection with the external device is released, acquire the information about the area of the memory, as second information, and when the acquired first information and second information are different, set the one function back able to be executed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priorities from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-162586, filed on Aug. 20, 2015 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-129982, filed on Jun. 30, 2016, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The technical field relates to a utilizing function apparatus and a recording medium capable of setting whether or not to use one of at least one executable function. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In Western high schools, universities and the like, when taking an achievement examination and the like, students are allowed to carry a utilizing function apparatus such as an electronic calculator capable of executing at least one function in an examination place and to make calculations and the like by using the utilizing function apparatus during the examination, in some cases. One of the at least one function includes, but is not limited to, a program function. This is a convenient function that a user can prepare a desired program in advance, store the program in an internal storage device of the electronic calculator and read out and execute the program programmed in advance, as required later, on the basis of a user&#39;s operation. 
         [0006]    However, even when the functions are convenient in the usual using scene, it may not be preferable in some cases that the functions are executed in a specific scene, for example, during the examination. For this reason, for example, a Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2000-10932A discloses a utilizing function apparatus capable of making a setting so that one of at least one function, which can be executed by a utilizing function apparatus such as an electronic calculator, cannot be used on the basis of a user&#39;s operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A utilizing function apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises: 
         [0008]    at least one processor; and 
         [0009]    a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
       execute at least one function;   based on an operation, set one of the at least one function temporarily unable to be executed;   when it is detected that the utilizing function apparatus is connected to an external device after setting said one function temporarily unable to be executed, acquire information about an item of an area of the memory of the utilizing function apparatus, as first information;   when it is detected that the connection with the external device is released after the connection with the external device is detected, acquire the information about the item of the area of the memory, as second information; and   when the acquired first information and second information are different, set said one function back able to be executed.       
 
         [0015]    A non-transitory recording medium, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, has a program recorded thereon that is executable to control a computer to: 
         [0016]    execute at least one function, 
         [0017]    based on an operation, set one of the at least one function temporarily unable to be executed, 
         [0018]    when it is detected that the computer is connected to an external device after setting said one function temporarily unable to be executed, acquire information about an item of an area of a memory of the computer, as first information, 
         [0019]    when it is detected that the connection with the external device is released after the connection with the external device is detected, acquire the information about the item of the area of the memory, as second information, and 
         [0020]    when the acquired first information and second information are different, set said one function back able to be executed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a plan view depicting a schematic appearance of an electronic calculator, which is an example of a utilizing function apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting an internal configuration of the electronic calculator. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting operations and the like of a processor of the electronic calculator. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4A  depicts a state where the electronic calculator and an external device are connected to each other. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4B  depicts a storage state in the electronic calculator displayed on a display unit of the external device. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  depicts an example of a display that is to be displayed on a display of the electronic calculator. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a plan view depicting an electronic calculator, which is an example of a utilizing function apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. In other exemplary embodiments, the utilizing function apparatus may be an electronic dictionary, an educational tablet or the like but is not limited thereto. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an electronic calculator  1  has an input key group  2  including a variety of key groups and a display  10 . The input key group  2  is just an example of an input device. In other exemplary embodiments, the input device may be any one of a keyboard, a touch panel and a microphone or a combination thereof but is not limited thereto. The touch panel is provided to overlap an entire display screen of the display  10  and may be configured so that a user can make an input by touching the touch panel. Also, the display  10  is just an example of an output device. In other exemplary embodiments, the output device may be any one of a projector, a printer and a speaker or a combination thereof but is not limited thereto. 
         [0030]    The input key group  2  includes a plurality of keys configured to receive an input operation of equation constituting elements such as numerical values and computation symbols from a user and to receive an instruction operation of a variety of processing, and inherent functions are allotted to the respective keys. In the exemplary embodiment, the input key group  2  has a ten-key  20 , a cursor key  21 , a MENU key  22 , an EXIT key  23 , an EXAM key  24  and the like. 
         [0031]    The ten-key  20  is to receive a number input. The cursor key  21  is configured to any one of four upper, lower, left and right directions in accordance with a pressed position. For example, when an upper part (a part having a mark A stamped thereto) of the cursor key  21  is pressed, a cursor displayed in the display screen of the display  10  can be moved upward. This is also the same for the other directions. 
         [0032]    The MENU key  22  is a key for displaying a list of at least one function, which can be executed by the electronic calculator  1 , on the display screen of the display  10 . The EXIT key  23  is a key for stopping a function under execution. The EXAM key  24  is a dedicated key for setting an Exam Mode. Instead of providing the dedicated key for setting the Exam Mode, a configuration where when a plurality of arbitrary keys determined in advance is pressed simultaneously or in predetermined order, the Exam Mode is set may also be adopted. 
         [0033]    A configuration where when all keys included in the input key group  2  are operated in combination of another key or input method, a separate function is executed may also be adopted. Also, a configuration where when the keys are executed in different execution modes, different functions are executed may also be adopted. 
         [0034]    The display  10  consists of a liquid crystal display or the like, and is configured to display numbers, symbols, various data and the like in correspondence to operations of the input key group  2  and the like. 
         [0035]    [Internal Configuration] 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting an internal configuration of the electronic calculator  1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the electronic calculator  1  has a processor  11 , a display driving device  12 , a key input unit  13 , a communication unit  14 , a recording medium reading unit  15 , a flash ROM (Read Only Memory)  16  and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  17 . 
         [0037]    The display driving device  12  is configured to control driving of the display  10  so as to display a variety of information on the display screen of the display  10 , based on a signal from the processor  11 . The display driving device  12  may be the same processor as the processor  11 . Also, the display driving device  12  may be integrated with the display  10 , or may be a separate processor from the processor  11 . 
         [0038]    The key input unit  13  includes the input key group  2 . When each key of the input key group  2  is pressed by the user, the key input unit  13  outputs a key input signal corresponding to the pressed key to the processor  11 . Based on the received key input signal, the processor  11  is configured to display a number, a symbol or the like corresponding to the key input signal on the display screen of the display  10 , to execute computation corresponding to the key input signal and to display a variety of obtained data on the display screen of the display  10 . 
         [0039]    The communication unit  14  is an interface with an outside, and has a USB terminal  140  and the like, for example. The electronic calculator  1  can be connected in communication with an external device  50  such as a PC shown in  FIG. 4A  through the USB terminal  140  and a USB cable. 
         [0040]    The communication connection between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  is not limited to the wired connection by the USB cable and the like, and may be wireless connection by short-distance wireless communication such as NFC and Bluetooth or wireless LAN communication. Preferably, the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  can be connected to each other by one or more connection forms capable of accessing at least some storage area of the flash ROM  16  or RAM  17  embedded in the electronic calculator  1  or an external information recording medium  15 A mounted to the recording medium reading unit  15  of the electronic calculator  1  from the external device  50  in a data-editable manner, when the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  are connected to each other. 
         [0041]    The recording medium reading unit  15  is configured to read information from the external information recording medium  15 A such as a memory card to be detachably mounted, on the basis of a signal from the processor  11 . 
         [0042]    Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment, a program to be described later may be read from the external device  50  through the communication unit  14  or may be read from the external information recording medium  15 A via the recording medium reading unit  15 . To the contrary, a program to be described later may be recorded to the external device  50  or the external information recording medium  15 A from the electronic calculator  1  through the communication unit  14 . 
         [0043]    The flash ROM  16  has a program storage area  160  configured to store therein a variety of programs including the program of the exemplary embodiment, a conversion program storage area  161  configured to store therein a conversion program for converting a format of data and the like to a format that can be read by the external device  50  so as for the external device  50  to recognize a variety of data and the like described to a format specific to the electronic calculator  1 , and a data area  162  configured to store therein data and the like necessary for computation and the like in the electronic calculator  1 . 
         [0044]    Also, the flash ROM  16  has a mode flag storage area  163  configured to store therein a mode flag F indicating whether the Exam Mode has been set, and a conversion data storage area  164 , which is a storage area configured to store therein a variety of data and the like of which formats have been converted by the conversion program. Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment, the conversion data storage area  164  is a storage area that can be accessed from the external device  50  (external memory) in a data-editable manner, and is simply referred to as the storage area  164 . Also, the RAM  17  is a kind of the storage means, and is used as a work area and the like when the processor  11  carries out a variety of processing. 
         [0045]    The processor  11  is configured to control the respective units of the electronic calculator  1 . The processor  11  is configured to read out one or more programs from a system program and a variety of application programs stored in the program storage area  160  of the storage unit  16 , to develop the same into the work area of the RAM  17 , and to execute a variety of processing including execution of the at least one function in cooperation with the programs developed into the RAM  17 . Also, the processor  11  is configured to control the display driving device  12  and to display the information on the display  10 , in accordance with contents of the read program or a user&#39;s operation. The output destination of the information is not limited to the display  10  and may be any one of the projector, the printer and the speaker or a combination thereof, as described above. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting operations of the electronic calculator  1  of the exemplary embodiment. The respective units of the electronic calculator  1  are controlled by the processor  11  configured to operate in accordance with the program developed into the RAM  17 , so that the operations shown in the flowchart are implemented.  FIG. 3  shows an example of a plurality of functions which can be executed by the electronic calculator  1 . 
         [0047]    When an AC key of the input key group  2  is pressed, the processor  11  turns on the electronic calculator  1 , reads out the mode flag F stored in the mode flag storage area  163  of the flash ROM  16 , and determines whether the Exam Mode has been set (step S 100 ). 
         [0048]    When the mode flag F is ‘0’ (step S 100 ; No), the electronic calculator  1  is in a normal mode. At this state, the processor  11  can execute all of the functions, which can be executed by the electronic calculator  1 , on the basis of the user&#39;s operation and the like (step S 1 ). In the exemplary embodiment, a state where all the functions can be used is referred to as “function utilization non-limit mode” or “normal mode.” 
         [0049]    When the mode flag F is ‘1’ (step S 100 ; Yes), the electronic calculator  1  is in an Exam Mode. At this state, the processor  11  does not execute one or some functions of the plurality of functions, which can be executed by the electronic calculator  1  (step S 4 ). In the exemplary embodiment, a state where one or some functions cannot be used is referred to as “specific function utilization limit mode” or “Exam Mode.” 
         [0050]    While the electronic calculator  1  executes the functions in the normal mode with the processor  11 , the processor  11  always monitors whether the Exam Mode has been set on the basis of a user&#39;s preset operation. When the Exam Mode is set during the execution of the electronic calculator  1  in the normal mode (step S 2 ; Yes), the processor  11  changes the mode flag F stored in the mode flag storage area  163  of the flash ROM  16  to ‘1’, thereby setting an execution mode of the electronic calculator  1  to the Exam Mode (step S 3 ). The user&#39;s preset operation includes but is not limited to an operation that the EXAM key  24  or the like of the input key group  2  is pressed, for example. In the meantime, as a using method of the Exam Mode, the user performs an operation of setting the electronic calculator  1  to the Exam Mode before an examination starts, in accordance with a teacher&#39;s instruction at an examination place, for example. In addition to this scene, the Exam Mode may be set on the basis of the user&#39;s operation. 
         [0051]    In the Exam Mode, the processor  11  controls the display driving device  12  to display a character string including characters of “EXAM” or “EXAMINATION” on the display  10 . Thereby, the user can recognize that the electronic calculator  1  is in the Exam Mode. Also, in the Exam Mode, the electronic calculator  1  is set so that one or more functions (hereinafter, referred to as “utilization limit target functions”), which are considered as not preferable when they are executed during the examination, of the above-described program functions cannot be used. The processor  11  controls the respective units of the electronic calculator  1  to execute various functions within the set range (step S 4 ). 
         [0052]    Although not limited to a following example, the processor  11  does not activate the utilization limit target function in the Exam Mode even when it receives a key input signal from a key for activating the utilization limit target function of the input key group  2 . Also, during the Exam Mode, when the MENU key  22  is pressed by the user and the list of the plurality of functions, which can be executed by the electronic calculator  1 , is displayed on the display screen of the display  10 , the processor  11  grayout-displays or does not display icons for activating one or more utilization limit target functions of the plurality of functions so that the icons cannot be selected by a cursor, or when the input device includes the touch panel, the processor does not activate a corresponding function even though a position of the touch panel corresponding to the icon is touched. Thereby, during the Exam Mode, the user can execute only simple operations such as but not necessarily limited to four arithmetic operations and the like by using the electronic calculator  1 . 
         [0053]    The processor  11  always monitors whether USB connection has been established between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  while the power supply of the electronic calculator  1  is on. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the user physically connects the USB terminal  140  of the electronic calculator  1  and a USB terminal (not shown) of the external device  50  by using a USB cable, so that communication starts between the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  and a processor  52  of the external device  50  through the USB cable. 
         [0054]    As a result of the communication, when the USB connection is established (the connection is physically and logically established) between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50 , the establishment of the USB connection is detected by the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  (step S 5 ; Yes). When the establishment of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected, the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  acquires first information about predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  (step S 6 ). The first information may be an available capacity A 1  of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘first available capacity A 1 ’) but is not limited thereto. 
         [0055]    Also, when the USB connection is established between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50 , a part of the storage area of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1  operates as an external storage capacity of the external storage device  50 , and can be accessed by the processor  52  of the external device  50 , as described later (step S 200 ). 
         [0056]    In the meantime, as a result of the communication, when the USB connection is established between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50 , the establishment of the USB connection is detected by the processor  52  of the external device  50  (step S 20 ; Yes). When the establishment of the USB connection with the electronic calculator  1  is detected, the processor  52  of the external device  50  activates a file manager function, which is one of standard functions of the basic software installed in the external device  50 , automatically or on the basis of a user&#39;s operation, as described later. 
         [0057]    In a storage device (not shown) of the external device  50 , an OS (Operating System), which is the basic software for operating the external device  50 , has been installed in advance, so that the OS operates while the power supply of the external device  50  is on. The processor  52  of the external device  50  activates a variety of applications stored in a storage device, which can be recognized by the external device  50 , on the basis of a user&#39;s input operation to the OS. The processor  52  operates on the basis of the user&#39;s input operation to the OS and the various applications, so that the external device  50  can execute a variety of processing. The user&#39;s input operation, a processing result corresponding to each operation and the like are displayed on a display unit  51  of the external device  50  shown in  FIG. 4A  by the processor  52  of the external device  50 . 
         [0058]    The OS of the external device  50  includes but is not limited to “Microsoft Windows” (registered trademark) and “OS X” (registered trademark). Specifically, a case where the OS of the external device  50  is “Microsoft Windows” (registered trademark) is described. The processor  52  of the external device  50  always monitors a user&#39;s input operation to the OS. When it is detected that a predetermined input operation (for example, double click and the like) to an icon of “computer” displayed on a desktop of the OS is received on the basis of the user&#39;s operation, the processor  52  activates a file manager, which is one of standard applications mounted in the OS (step S 21 ). The file manager may be automatically activated by the processor  52  of the external device  50  when the processor  52  of the external device  50  detects that the USB connection has been established between the external device  50  and the electronic calculator  1 . 
         [0059]    In the case of “Microsoft Windows” (registered trademark), “Windows Explore” (registered trademark) is normally mounted as the file manager. In the exemplary embodiment, it is simply referred to as the file manager for simplicity. Also in the drawings for explanation, instead of “Windows Explore” (registered trademark) itself, functions of the file manager are simply depicted for explanation. 
         [0060]    When the file manager is activated, a window W of “computer” is displayed on the display unit  51  by the processor  52  of the external device  50 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . When it is determined that a predetermined input operation (for example, double click) to an icon such as ‘mobile disk’ in the window W is received on the basis of the user&#39;s operation, the processor  52  of the external device  50  accesses the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1 , and displays a name list of files stored in the storage area  164  in the window W being displayed on the display unit  51  (step S 22 ). 
         [0061]    At a state where the window W displaying the name list of files in the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1  is displayed on the display unit  51  of the external device  50 , the processor  52  of the external device  50  adds one or more new files (additionally writes data) to the storage area  164 , deletes (erases data) one or more files already stored in the storage area  164  or rewrites a file (changes the data) on the basis of the user&#39;s operation (step S 23 ). In the specification, the description ‘edition of a file’ includes at least one processing of addition, deletion and rewriting of a file. Likewise, in the specification, the description ‘edition of data’ includes at least one processing of additional writing, erasing and change of data. 
         [0062]    When editing the file or data in the storage area  164 , any file having a file size, which is not zero (0), of a text format may be added to the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1 , as a dummy file. Also, for example, a dummy file previously added to the storage area  164  by the user and having a file size, which is not zero (0), may be deleted from the storage area  164 . Also, text data included in the dummy file previously added to the storage area  164  by the user is changed and the dummy file is overwritten to the storage area  164 , so that a file may be rewritten. 
         [0063]    Since the file manager is one of a plurality of standard functions mounted in the OS, it is not necessary for the user to separately install the file manager into the OS in advance. Therefore, the processor  52  of the external device  50  may display the name list of one or more files stored in the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1  on the display unit  51  of the external device  50  or edit (deletion, addition, update and the like of a file) each file by using only the standard functions of the OS (basic software), based on the user&#39;s operation. When performing the processing in this way, it is not necessary for the user to separately install a dedicated application and the like into the OS in advance. 
         [0064]    The processor  52  of the external device  50  monitors all the time whether the USB connection between the external device  50  and the electronic calculator  1  is released while the power supply of the external device  50  is on (step S 24 ). The processor  52  of the external device  50  always monitors the user&#39;s input operation to the OS. When a predetermined input operation (for example, a right click) to an icon such as ‘mobile disk’ in the window W displayed on the display unit  51  of the external device  50  is received on the basis of the user&#39;s operation, the processor  52  of the external device  50  displays a plurality of operation menus (not shown) including “connection release” in the window W. When it is detected that “connection release” is clicked, the processor  52  of the external device  50  releases the logical connection between the external device  50  and the electronic calculator  1  (releases the USB connection) and changes the display of the display unit  51  so as to indicate that the mobile disk is at a release state by setting the icon such as “mobile disk” in the window W to a non-display state (step S 24 ; Yes). At this state, there is no problem even if the USB cable physically connected to the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  is released. In the meantime, even when the USB cable is removed from at least one of the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  and the physical connection is thus released before the logical connection is released, the USB connection is released. At this time, the processor  52  of the external device  50  changes the display of the display unit  51  so as to indicate that the mobile disk is at the release state. 
         [0065]    In this way, when the USB connection between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50  is released, the release of the USB connection is detected by the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  (step S 7 ; Yes). When the release of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected, the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  acquires second information about predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  (step S 8 ). The items relating to the second information are the same as the items relating to the first information. In the exemplary embodiment, since the item relating to the first information is an available capacity of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16 , the processor  11  acquires an available capacity A 2  (hereinafter, also referred to as ‘second available capacity A 2 ’) of the storage area  164  as the second information, also in step S 8 . 
         [0066]    The processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  compares the second available capacity A 2 , which is the second information, and the first available capacity A 1 , which is the first information (step S 9 ). When it is determined that the two available capacities A 1 , A 2  are different, the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  controls the display driving device  12  to display a notification message, which urges the user to press the EXIT key  23 , on the display  10 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , for example (step S 10 ). Also, when it is determined that the EXIT key  23  is pressed (step S 11 ; Yes), the processor  11  releases the Exam Mode of the electronic calculator  1  (step S 9 ; release Exam Mode). On the other hand, when it is determined that the two available capacities A 1 , A 2  are the same, the processor  11  keeps the Exam Mode without executing processing of releasing the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; keep Exam Mode). 
         [0067]    In this case, although not limited to a following example, the processor may be configured to calculate a difference A 1 −A 2  between the first available capacity A 1  and the second available capacity A 2 . When the difference A 1 −A 2  is not zero (0), the processor  11  may determine that the two available capacities A 1 , A 2  are different. Alternatively, the processor  11  may simply compare the two available capacities A 1 , A 2  and may determine that the two available capacities are different when they are not matched. 
         [0068]    When the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  releases the Exam Mode, the processor  11  changes the mode flag F stored in the mode flag storage area  163  of the flash ROM  16  to ‘0,’ thereby setting the execution mode of the electronic calculator  1  to the normal mode (step S 12 ). 
         [0069]    The above exemplary embodiment is just one example of exemplary embodiments and the exemplary embodiments are not limited to the above. In other exemplary embodiments, when the two available capacities A 1 , A 2  are different, i.e., when it is determined that there is a change in the available capacity of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  before and after the connection with the external device  50 , the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  may immediately release the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; release Exam Mode) without notifying the message in step S 10  and may switch the operation mode of the electronic calculator  1  to the normal mode. 
         [0070]    In the above exemplary embodiment, while the USB connection is established between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50 , one or more new files can be added to the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1  on the basis of the user&#39;s operation, and any file having a file size, which is not zero (0), is added as a dummy file. However, in other exemplary embodiments, in step S 23 , any file having a file size, which is zero (0), may be added as a dummy file, based on the user&#39;s operation. 
         [0071]    In this case, when the establishment of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected in step S 6 , the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  acquires a name list L 1  of files in the storage area  164 , as the first information about the predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16 . Thereafter, when the release of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected in step S 8 , the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  again acquires a name list L 2  of files in the storage area  164 , as the second information about the predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16 . 
         [0072]    Then, the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  compares the two acquired name lists L 1 , L 2  of files in step S 9 . When it is determined that the two name lists L 1 , L 2  of files are different, more specifically, when a file, the name of which is included in one of the name list L 1  of files and the name list L 2  of files but is not included in the other of the name list L 1  of files and the name list L 2  of files, exists, the processor  11  releases the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; release Exam Mode) and switches the operation mode of the electronic calculator  1  to the normal mode (step S 12 ). On the other hand, when it is determined that the two name lists L 1 , L 2  of files are the same (step S 91 ; No), the processor  11  keeps the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; keep Exam Mode) without executing the processing of releasing the Exam Mode. 
         [0073]    In other exemplary embodiments, when any file having a file size, which is zero (0), is added as a dummy file on the basis of the user&#39;s operation in step S 23 , the processor  11  may operate as follows. 
         [0074]    When the establishment of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected in step S 6 , the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  acquires the name list L 1  of files in the storage area  164  and a size V 1   n1  of each file (n1: an integer of zero or greater), as the first information relating to the predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16 . Then, when the release of the USB connection with the external device  50  is detected in step S 8 , the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  again acquires the name list L 2  of files in the storage area  164  and a size V 1   n2  of each file (n2: an integer of zero or greater), as the second information relating to the predetermined items of the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16 . 
         [0075]    Then, the processor  11  of the electronic calculator  1  compares the two acquired name lists L 1 , L 2  of files in step S 9 . When it is determined that a file, which is not included in the name list L 1  of files, is included in the name list L 2  of files and a size of the corresponding file is zero (0), the processor  11  releases the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; release Exam Mode) and switches the operation mode of the electronic calculator  1  to the normal mode (step S 12 ). On the other hand, when it is determined that the two name lists L 1 , L 2  of files are the same (step S 91 ; No), the processor  11  keeps the Exam Mode (step S 9 ; keep Exam Mode) without executing the processing of releasing the Exam Mode. 
         [0076]    The case where a file, which is not included in the name list L 1  of files, is included in the name list L 2  of files means that a file is added to the storage area  164  of the flash ROM  16  of the electronic calculator  1  during the USB connection between the electronic calculator  1  and the external device  50 . Also, when a size of the added file is zero (0), there is a high possibility that the corresponding file is a dummy file. 
         [0077]    While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently or hereafter claimed.