Abstract:
A portable electronic device for receiving an incoming call from an external network, includes an incoming call indication unit configured to indicate the incoming call, an illuminance measurement unit configured to measure illuminance of a peripherally of the portable electronic device, an acceleration detection unit configured to detect an acceleration of the portable electronic device, and a status determination unit configured to determine a status of the portable electronic device in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit and the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit. When the status determination unit determines that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than a threshold value and a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than a predetermined value, the status determination unit controls the incoming call indication unit to change an output indicating the incoming call.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a portable electronic device that outputs a ring tone when received an incoming call from an external network. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When a portable phone is held in a bag, a briefcase, and the like, it is hard to hear a ring tone from the portable phone. Patent Document 1 describes a portable phone having an optical sensor for detecting ambient brightness. Since the portable phone automatically changes a ring tone according to the ambient brightness, the user can ascertain an incoming call without fail. 
         [0003]    Patent Document 1: JP-A-9-121236 
         [0004]    In the above-described portable phone, the optical sensor detects the ambient brightness. Therefore, it is impossible to distinguish between a brightness change result from the portable phone being taken out of or put into a bag, a briefcase, and the like and a brightness change result from activation or deactivation of illumination of a room. Further, when the portable phone is held in the bag, the briefcase, and the like, a volume of a ring tone is automatically set to a high level. However, when the portable phone outputting the ring tone is taken out of the bag, the briefcase, and the like, the tone may pose inconvenient to those around a user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device that enables enhancement of convenience and reducing of user&#39;s stress. 
         [0006]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device for receiving an incoming call from an external network, comprising: 
         [0007]    an incoming call indication unit configured to indicate the incoming call; 
         [0008]    an illuminance measurement unit configured to measure illuminance of a peripherally of the portable electronic device; 
         [0009]    an acceleration detection unit configured to detect an acceleration of the portable electronic device; and 
         [0010]    a status determination unit configured to determine a status of the portable electronic device in accordance with the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit and the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit, 
         [0011]    wherein when the status determination unit determines that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than a threshold value and a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than a predetermined value, the status determination unit controls the incoming call indication unit to change an output indicating the incoming call. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the incoming call indication unit includes a ring tone output unit that outputs a ring tone at a time of receiving the incoming call, and when the status determination unit determines, during the portable electronic device receives the incoming call, that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the illuminance changes from darkness to brightness, the status determination unit controls the ring tone output unit so as to mute or reduce the ring tone. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the portable electronic device further includes a control unit configured to change the portable electronic device to an absence mode when a responding operation is not performed after a predetermined period has elapsed since the incoming call is received. When the status determination unit determines, during the portable electronic device receives the incoming call, that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the illuminance changes from darkness to brightness, the status determination unit commands the control unit to extend a time during which the change to the absence mode is performed or not to perform the change to the absence mode. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the portable electronic device further includes a time count unit configured to count a time, and a display unit configured to display a text or a graphic. When the status determination unit determines that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the illuminance changes from darkness to brightness, the status determination unit displays on the display unit a time counted by the time count unit. 
         [0015]    Preferably, in the portable electronic device, when the status determination unit determines, during the portable electronic device receives the incoming call, that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the illuminance changes from brightness to darkness, the status determination unit controls the incoming call indication unit so as to stop the output indicating the incoming call. 
         [0016]    In the portable electronic device, the incoming call indication unit includes a vibration unit that vibrates the portable electronic device at a time of receiving the incoming call. When the status determination unit determines, during the portable electronic device receives the incoming call, that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the illuminance changes from brightness to darkness, the status determination unit controls the incoming call indication unit so as to stop the output except vibration by the vibration unit. 
         [0017]    The portable electronic device further includes a missed call recording unit configured to records a missed call or a receipt of a mail. When the status determination unit determines that the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit is greater than the threshold value, a change in the illuminance measured by the illuminance measurement unit is greater than the predetermined value, and the change in the illuminance changes from darkness to brightness, the status determination unit controls the incoming call indication unit so as to perform an outputting operation by light, sound or vibration if the missed call or the receipt of the mail is recorded in missed call recording unit. 
         [0018]    The portable electronic device according to the present invention changes the output indicating the incoming call in accordance with the change in the illuminance detected by the illuminance measurement unit and the acceleration detected by the acceleration detection unit, and hence it becomes possible to assist user&#39;s operation and reduce user&#39;s stress. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a portable phone of a first embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a determination made by a status determination unit using data from an acceleration sensor; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a determination made by the status determination unit  125  using data from an optical sensor; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart for determining a status of a portable phone according to respective results obtained from the respective flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Embodiments of the present invention are hereunder described by reference to the drawings. 
       First Embodiment 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a portable phone according to a first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portable phone  100  includes a CPU  121 , memory  116 , an antenna  118 , a radio communication unit  119 , an optical sensor  117 , an acceleration sensor  124 , a timer/RTC  120 , an LCD  114 , a backlight control unit  115 , a key input unit  123 , a sound input unit  112 , an audio/sound output unit  113 , a vibration motor  111 , an LED  122 , and a status determination unit  125 . 
         [0026]    The CPU  121  controls entirety of the portable phone  100 . The memory  116  is a storage medium. The portable phone  100  is operated based on a command code stored in the memory  116 . The antenna  118  and the radio communication unit  119  transmit or receive a radio wave to and from a phone network. The optical sensor  117  has a light receiving unit that receives light and an illuminance measurement unit that measures light intensity as illuminance. Data indicating the illuminance measured by the optical sensor  117  is delivered to the status determination unit  125 . 
         [0027]    The acceleration sensor  124  detects an acceleration occurred when the user moves the portable phone  100 . Data indicating the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor  124  is delivered to the status determination unit  125 . A sensor for detecting motion of the portable phone  100  may also be used instead of the acceleration sensor  124 . The timer/RTC  120  periodically measures a time and stores a preset time. 
         [0028]    The LCD  114  is a display device. The backlight control unit  115  controls activation/deactivation of a backlight illuminating the LCD  114  from back and an amount of light quantity of the backlight. The LCD  114  and the backlight control unit  115  may be provided in plural respectively. In this case, illumination of the backlight on the LCDs  114  is separately controlled, and the respective LCDs  114  are displayed. 
         [0029]    The key input unit  123  is an interface through which the user operates the portable phone  100 . The sound input unit  112  is a device for inputting sound. The audio sound output unit  113  outputs a ring tone and music and outputs a voice received during operation of the phone from a speaker. The vibration motor  111  is a motor for vibrating the portable phone  100 . An incoming call or occurrence of another event is indicated to the user by a vibration of the portable phone  100  performed by the vibration motor  111 . The LED  122  indicates an incoming call or occurrence of another event to the user by lighting or blinking. Incidentally, the word “incoming call” includes receipt of a mail, or the like, as well as a receipt of a call. 
         [0030]    The status determination unit  125  determines a status of the portable phone  100  by use of respective sets of data sent from the acceleration sensor  124  and the optical sensor  117 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing a determination made by the status determination unit  125  by use of the data from the acceleration sensor  124 .  FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a determination made by the status determination unit  125  by use of the data from the optical sensor  117 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart for determining the status of the portable phone  100  according to respective results obtained from the respective flowcharts shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the status determination unit  125  determines a status of the portable phone  100  when the portable phone  100  is moved from a bright location to a dark location or from the dark location to the bright location, from the respective sets of data sent from the optical sensor  117  and the acceleration sensor  124 . 
         [0031]    A determination whether motion/non-motion of the portable phone  100  made by the status determination unit  125  is described by reference to  FIG. 2 . In step S 201 , the data detected by the acceleration sensor  124  is acquired by the status determination unit  125 . In step S 202 , a threshold value compared with the data acquired in step S 201  is acquired, and the acquired threshold value is stored in the memory  116 . In step S 203 , the status determination unit  125  compares the data acquired in step S 201  with the threshold value acquired in step S 202 , thereby determining whether or not the portable phone  100  has been moved. When the data acquired in step S 201  is greater than the threshold value, the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  has been moved. For instance, when the user takes the portable phone  100  out of the bag, the briefcase, or the like, the portable phone  100  is determined to have been moved in step S 203 . 
         [0032]    By reference to  FIG. 3 , there is now described a determination as to a change in received light made by the status determination unit  125 . In step S 301 , the status determination unit  125  acquires the data indicating the illuminance measured by the optical sensor  117 . In step S 302 , the status determination unit  125  acquires the data stored in the memory  116  in the past. In step S 303 , the status determination unit  125  compares the data acquired in step S 301  with the data acquired in step S 302 , thereby determining whether or not a change occurs in the illuminance. When a difference between a value indicated by the data acquired in step S 301  and a value indicated by the data acquired in step S 302  is greater than the threshold value, the status determination unit  125  determines that the change occurs in the illuminance. For instance, when the user takes the portable phone  100  out of the closed bag, the closed briefcase, or the like, or puts the portable phone in the bag, the briefcase, or the like, in a bright space, it is determined that the illumination changes in step S 303 . 
         [0033]    When it is determined that the illumination is changed in step S 303 , the data acquired in step S 301  is stored in the memory  116  in step S 304 . In step S 305 , it is determined that the illuminance is changed from brightness to darkness or the illumination changes from darkness to brightness. When a value represented by the data acquired in step S 301  is equal to or less than a value represented by the data acquired in step S 302 , the status determination unit  125  determines that the illuminance changes from brightness to darkness. On the contrary, when the value represented by the data acquired in step S 301  is greater than the value represented by the data acquired in step S 302 , the status determination unit  125  determines that the illuminance changes from darkness to brightness. Meanwhile, when it is determined that the illumination is unchanged in step S 303 , a determination result indicating “no change” is output. 
         [0034]    A determination of the status of the portable phone  100  performed by the status determination unit  125  is now described by reference to  FIG. 4 . In step S 401 , the motion determination represented by the flowchart shown in  FIG. 2  is performed, and a determination is made in step S 402  as to whether or not motion occurs. When “no motion” is determined, processing proceeds to step S 404 , and “no motion” is output as a status determination result. In the meantime, when “motion” of the portable phone  100  is determined, processing proceeds to step S 403 . 
         [0035]    In step S 403 , a determination as to the change in the illuminance represented by the flowchart shown in  FIG. 3  is performed. In step S 405 , it is determined whether or not a change occurs in the illuminance and whether the illuminance is changed from brightness to darkness or from darkness to brightness. When “no illumination change” is determined, processing proceeds to step S 406 , and “motion is detected but illuminance is unchanged” is output as the status determination result. On the contrary, when it is determined that the illuminance is changed from darkness to brightness “change from darkness to brightness”, processing proceeds to step S 407 , and “change from darkness to brightness” is output as the status determination result. In the meantime, when it is determined that the illuminance is changed from brightness to darkness “change from brightness to darkness”, processing proceeds to step S 408 , and “change from brightness to darkness” is output as the status determination result. 
         [0036]    In the portable phone  100  of the above described embodiment, when the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  is moved from a dark location to a bright location (“motion is detected” and a “change from darkness to brightness”) during the portable phone  100  receives an incoming call, a ring tone is muted or a volume of the ring tone is reduced. Therefore, when the portable phone  100  is taken out of the bag, the briefcase, or the like, no inconvenience is posed to those around the user. 
         [0037]    In the portable phone  100  of the present embodiment, when a responding operation is not performed until a predetermined period has elapsed since the incoming call is received, the CPU  121  controls the portable phone  100  to change to an absence mode, that is a telephone answering state or a record message state. However, when the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  is moved from the dark location to the bright location (“motion is detected” and “change from darkness to brightness”) during the portable phone  100  receives the incoming call, the status determination unit  125  commands the CPU  121  to extend a time during which the change to the absence mode is performed or not to perform the change to the absence mode. 
         [0038]    Further, when the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  is moved from the dark location to the bright location (“motion is detected” and “change from darkness to brightness”), the time stored in the timer/RTC  120  is displayed on the LCD  114 . The amount of light lighting the LCD  114  is controlled by the backlight control unit  115  according to the illuminance measured by the optical sensor  114 . Power consumption is reduced by performance of the control operation. 
         [0039]    When the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  is moved from the bright location to the dark location (“motion is detected” and “change from brightness to darkness”) during the portable phone  100  receives the incoming call, all incoming call operations, such as generation of a ring tone performed by the audio/sound output unit  113 , vibration generated by the vibration motor  111 , lighting, blinking, or the like, of the LED  122 , are stopped. Incidentally, only vibration performed by the vibration motor  111  may be allowed. 
         [0040]    When the portable phone  100  is changed to a missed call state in which an incoming call is not responded or an unread state in which a received mail, or the like, has not been read, the LED  122  is blinked or the like. However, when the status determination unit  125  determines that the portable phone  100  is moved from the dark location to the bright location (“motion is detected” and “change from darkness to brightness”) while the portable phone  100  is in the missed call state or the unread state of the mail, generation of sound and vibration, lighting or blinking, or the like, is performed in order to inform the user of the status. The missed call status and the unread status of the mail are recorded in the memory  116 . 
         [0041]    Although the present invention has been described in detail by reference to the specific embodiments, as well, it is manifest to those skilled in the art that the present invention be susceptible to various alterations or modifications without departing the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]    The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. JP-2008-007972 filed on Jan. 17, 2008 including specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0043]    The portable electronic device of the present invention is useful as a portable phone, or the like, that performs optimum assistance of a user according to a situation of the user and operation, thereby enhancing user&#39;s operability. 
       DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           100  PORTABLE PHONE 
           111  VIBRATION MOTOR 
           112  SOUND INPUT UNIT 
           113  AUDIO/SOUND OUTPUT UNIT 
           114  DISPLAY DEVICE 
           115  BACKLIGHT CONTROL UNIT 
           116  MEMORY 
           117  OPTICAL SENSOR 
           118  ANTENNA 
           119  RADIO COMMUNICATION UNIT 
           120  TIMER/RTC 
           121  CPU 
           122  LED 
           123  KEY INPUT UNIT 
           124  ACCELERATION SENSOR 
           125  STATUS DETERMINATION UNIT