Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an information processor including, a first function portion including communication means for executing processing relating to communication of data, and communication managing means for controlling the communication means and for managing information representing whether or not the communication means is executing the processing relating to the communication of the data, a second function portion different from the first function portion, instructing means for issuing an instruction to stop the first function portion, determing means provided in the second function portion for, when the instructing means issues the instruction to stop the first function portion, determing based on the information managed by the communication managing means whether or not the communication means is executing the communication processing, and stopping means provided in the second function portion for, when the determing means determines that the communication means is executing the communication processing, stopping the first function portion after the communication processing is completed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Application JP 2004-368672 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Dec. 21, 2004, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an information processor, an information processing method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly to an information processor, an information processing method, a program, and a recording medium which are capable of allowing a more comfortable communication environment to be provided for more users.  
         [0003]     In recent years, a large number of music delivery services each utilizing a mobile phone have been presented. Also, the number of users each listening to a received musical piece utilizing his/her own mobile phone having an audio function installed therein has been increased. On the other hand, mobile terminal equipment which has a communication function such as a mobile phone installed in a portable terminal narrowed down to an audio function (the so-called “WALKMAN” (Registered Trademark of Sony Corporation)) and thus can make communication, or receives a music delivery service has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-111724.  
         [0004]     The portable terminal which has developed in such a manner has a convenient function (e.g., a function able to reproduce data of audio contents and to receive or transmit an e-mail) which cannot be realized in a audio player in related art. On the other hand, such a portable terminal involves a problem that has been left out of consideration in any of the audio players in related art. For example, a situation occurs such that a user desires to disable a call function (communication function) to limit the functions to only an audio reproducing function when an incoming call arrives from other mobile phone at his/her own portable terminal while he/she listens to a musical piece, or when he/she is on an airplane, a train, a hospital, etc.  
         [0005]     For this reason, of the mobile phones, some models have been developed each of which has a mode called a personal mode provided therein in order to enable only the communication function to be disabled.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     However, since the portable terminal in related art has been developed on the mobile phone basis, in order to set a mode of the portable terminal to the personal mode, it is necessary to make the setting while an operation menu of the mobile phone is selected. Thus, for the user who listens to and enjoy the musical piece while having a feeling about the audio player in related art, a problem is encountered such that the operation is complicated and thus hardly used as compared with the operation for activation, stop or the like of the audio player (e.g., reproduction of the musical piece). In addition, while the user is on an airplane or the like, he/she is generally instructed not to set the mode of his/her own mobile phone to the personal mode, but to turn OFF a power source of his/her own mobile phone (since if for example, the power source is held turned ON, the crew cannot distinguish whether or not the personal mode is really set). Hence, when the user desires to disable the communication function, he/she takes such coping with such a situation as to turn OFF the power source of the mobile phone itself.  
         [0007]     Moreover, when the power source of the mobile phone is turned OFF during the communication processing (e.g., during the download of the musical piece data, the reception of the e-mail, etc.) to interrupt the communication processing, the same processing needs to be repeated again later. Thus, many users leave the power sources of their mobile phones not turned OFF even when they are in the vicinity of priority seats in a train, a hospital or the like. As a result, there is encountered such a problem that it is impossible to provide the comfortable function for the user, and provide the comfortable environment for those as well around the user.  
         [0008]     The present invention has been made in the light of such circumstances, and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to allow a more comfortable communication environment to be provided for more users.  
         [0009]     In order to attain the above-mentioned object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processor including: a first function portion including communication means for executing processing relating to communication of data, and communication managing means for controlling the communication means and for managing information representing whether or not the communication means is executing the processing relating to the communication of the data, a second function portion different from the first function portion, instructing means for issuing an instruction to stop the first function portion, determing means provided in the second function portion for, when the instructing means issues the instruction to stop the first function portion, determing based on the information managed by the communication managing means whether or not the communication means is executing the communication processing, and stopping means provided in the second function portion for, when the determing means determines that the communication means is executing the communication processing, stopping the first function portion after the communication processing is completed.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for use in an information processor including a first function portion having a communication step of executing processing relating to communication of data, and a communication managing step of controlling the communication step and of managing information representing whether or not the processing relating to the communication of the data is being executed in the communication step, and a second function portion having a function different from that of the first function portion, the method including the steps of: receiving an instruction to stop the first function portion; determining based on the information managed in the processing of the communication managing step whether or not the communication processing is being executed in the processing of the communication step, when the instruction to stop the first function portion is received in the processing of an instruction receiving step, a determing step being executed in the second function portion, as one function of a plurality of function portions, different from the first function portion; and stopping the first function portion after the communication processing is completed, when it is determined in the processing of the determing step that the communication processing is being executed in the processing of the communication step.  
         [0011]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable program for making an information processor execute information processing, the information processor including a first function portion having a communication step of executing processing relating to communication of data, and a communication management step of controlling the communication step and of managing information representing whether or not the processing relating to the communication of the data is being executed in the communication step, and a second function portion having a function different from that of the first function portion, the program including the steps of: receiving an instruction to stop the first function portion; determining based on the information managed in the processing of the communication management controlling step whether or not the communication processing is being executed in the processing of the communication controlling step, when the instruction to stop the first function portion is received in the processing of an instruction reception controlling step, the determing controlling step being executed in the second function portion, as one function of a plurality of function portions, different from the first function portion; and stopping the first function portion based on the determined results obtained from the processing of the determing controlling step executed in the second function portion.  
         [0012]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium having a computer readable program recorded, the program serving to make an information processor execute information processing, the information processor including a first function portion having a communication step of executing processing relating to communication of data, and a communication management step of controlling the communication step and of managing information representing whether or not the processing relating to the communication of the data is being executed in the communication step, and a second function portion having a function different from that of the first function portion, the program including the steps of: receiving an instruction to stop the first function portion; determining based on the information managed in the processing of the communication management controlling step whether or not the communication processing is being executed in the processing of the communication controlling step, when the instruction to stop the first function portion is received in the processing of an instruction reception controlling step, the determing controlling step being executed in the second function portion, as one function of a plurality of function portions, different from the first function portion; and stopping the first function portion based on the determined results obtained from the processing of the determing controlling step executed in the second function portion.  
         [0013]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processor including: a communication function portion for executing processing relating to communication of data; a reproduction function portion for executing processing relating to reproduction of data of content containing data of content downloaded through communication with other information processor made by the communication function portion; first instructing means for issuing an instruction to activate or stop a predetermined function; second instructing means for issuing an instruction to activate the communication function portion; and power supplying means for, when the first instructing means issues the instruction to execute the predetermined function, supplying a power to the reproduction function portion, for, when the second instructing means issues the instruction to activate the communication function portion, supplying a power to the communication function portion, and for, when the first instructing means issues the instruction to stop the predetermined function, stopping the supply of the power to the reproduction function portion and the communication function portion.  
         [0014]     According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method for use in an information processor including a communication function portion for executing processing relating to communication of data; a reproduction function portion for executing processing relating to reproduction of data of content containing data of content downloaded through communication with other information processor made by the communication function portion; power supplying means for supplying a power required to drive the information processor; first instructing means for issuing an instruction to activate or stop a predetermined function; and second instructing means for issuing an instruction to activate the communication function portion.  
         [0015]     In this information processor, when the first instructing means issues the instruction to activate the predetermined function, the power supplying means supplies the power to the reproduction function portion, when the second instructing means issues the instruction to activate the communication function portion, the power supplying means further supplies the power to the communication function portion, and when the first instructing means issues the instruction to stop the predetermined function, the power supplying means stops the supply of the power to the reproduction function portion and the communication function portion.  
         [0016]     According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a communication environment. In particular, it is possible to provide a more comfortable communication environment for more users. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a view showing an example of a construction of a communication system according to the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of a communication unit shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of an AV unit shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of a program which is executed by a main control portion shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a timing chart explaining a time relationship between an operation of a button, and ON/OFF of power sources of the communication unit and the AV unit;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a timing chart explaining a time relationship between the operation of the button, and ON/OFF of the power sources of the communication unit and the AV unit;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart explaining operation controlling processing;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart explaining the operation controlling processing;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a flow chart explaining processing for activating the communication unit;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart explaining processing in the communication unit;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart explaining processing for stopping the communication unit; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing another example of the internal configuration of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a view showing a construction of an embodiment of a communication system according to the present invention.  
         [0031]     In the figure, a terminal  11  is miniaturized enough for a user  21  to carry it, and has the same function as that of a mobile phone. That is, the portable terminal  11  makes a telephone call with other terminal such as a mobile phone through a base station, or makes transmission/reception of an e-mail with a server or the like on a network which is connected through the base station  12  by making communication with the base station  12  in a wireless manner. In addition, the portable terminal  11  receives data of contents such as musical piece data or image data which is transmitted from the base station  12  by utilizing a music delivery service, an Internet connection service, etc. of a mobile phone to accumulate the data of the contents in a recording medium for example which is installed in the portable terminal  11  itself.  
         [0032]     Moreover, the portable terminal  11  also has a function as a portable audio (or visual) player, and is adapted to reproduce the data of the contents such as the musical piece data or the image data which is recorded in the recording medium. The user  21 , for example, can look at or listen to desired contents even when he/she is traveling on a train, an airplane or the like, or in a desired place such as a place where he/she is out using a headphone  12  or the like connected to the portable terminal  11  which he/she carries.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of the portable terminal  11  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this example, the portable terminal  11  includes a communication unit  51 , an Audio Video (AV) unit  52 , a power source unit  53 , a switching unit  54 , an operation unit  55 .  
         [0034]     The communication unit  51  is a function block for making radio-communication with the base station  12  by using a communication system of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) for example to realize a mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11 . An antenna  71  through which input or output of a transmission/reception electric wave to/from the base station  12  is made, a microphone  72  to which a call voice of the user  21  is inputted, and a speaker  73  through which a voice of a user with whom the user  21  possessing the portable terminal  11  is calling, a predetermined operation sound or the like is outputted are connected to the communication unit  51 . It should be noted that the communication system of the communication unit  51  is not limited to only the GSM, and thus other communication system such as a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)  2000  may also be adopted.  
         [0035]     The AV unit  52  is a function block for reproducing data of contents recorded in a recording medium to output an image or an audio signal of the contents, thereby realizing a portable audio (or visual) player function of the portable terminal  11 . In this example, a flash memory  76  is connected as a recording medium for recording therein the data of the contents to the AV unit  52 . In addition, a headphone terminal  74  for outputting therethrough an audio signal contained in the reproduced contents is connected to the AV unit  52 . Thus, the headphone  12  is connected to the headphone terminal  74 , whereby the user  21 , for example, can listen to a musical piece as the reproduced contents. Incidentally, it is supposed that when an image is contained in the contents reproduced by the AV unit  52 , a signal of the reproduced image is outputted to a display device (not shown) or the like.  
         [0036]     The power source unit  53  supplies a power required to drive (activate) the portable terminal  11  to the individual portions of the portable terminal  11 , respectively. The power source unit  53  supplies the power to the communication unit  51  through a power source line A, and supplies the power to the AV unit  52  through a power source line B different from the power source line A.  
         [0037]     The switching unit  54  drives an internal switch in accordance with a control signal outputted from the AV unit  52  so that the internal switch is opened or closed, thereby connecting or disconnecting the power source line A as a power supply line extending from the power source unit  53  to or from the communication unit  51  if necessary.  
         [0038]     In addition, the AV unit  52  makes communication with the communication unit  51  to turn ON, turn OFF, or turn ON and OFF a Light Emitting Diode (LED)  75  based on a status representing an operation state of the communication unit  51 .  
         [0039]     The operation unit  55  is constituted in the form of a button or a key which the user can operate in a state of grasping the portable terminal  11 . In this example, buttons  91  and  92  are provided in the operation unit  55 . The button  91  is provided as a main power source switch (main switch) of the portable terminal  11 . When the button  91  is depressed, the power source unit  53  supplies the power to the overall portable terminal  11  including both the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52  to activate the portable terminal  11 .  
         [0040]     When the button  92  is depressed in this state, the AV unit  52  outputs a control signal to the switching unit  54  to disconnect the power source line A from the communication unit  51 , thereby cutting off the supply of the power to the communication unit  51 . Moreover, when the button  92  is depressed again in this state, the AV unit  52  outputs a control signal to the switching unit  54  to connect the power source line A to the communication unit  51 , thereby supplying the power to the communication unit  51 . Incidentally, when the main switch (the button  91 ) is depressed again in a state in which the power source of the portable terminal  11  is in a turn-ON state (in a state in which the portable terminal  11  is driven), the supply of the power to the overall portable terminal  11  including both the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52  is stopped.  
         [0041]     That is, the button  91  as the main switch of the portable terminal  11  is depressed, thereby issuing an instruction to activate or stop the portable terminal  11 . The button  92  is depressed while the portable terminal  11  is driven, thereby issuing an instruction to activate or stop the communication unit  51  as the unit which provides the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11 . In addition, the AV unit  52  for reproducing the data of the contents is not stopped while the portable terminal  11  is driven. Thus, the AV unit  52  controls the switching unit  54  based on the operation for the button  92  to control the supply of the power from the power source unit  53  to the communication unit  51 , thereby activating or stopping the communication unit  51 . At that, a time relationship between the operation for the button  92  and the activation of the communication unit  91  or the AV unit  92  will be described later with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0042]     In such a manner, the user  21  can stop the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  and can activate the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  again while the contents are reproduced by operating the button  92  of the operation unit  55 . Thus, for example, when the user  21  carries the portable terminal  11  on an airplane, a train, a hospital, etc., he/she can simply stop the mobile phone function. As a result, it is possible to provide a comfortable communication environment for not only the user  21 , but also those around the user  21 .  
         [0043]     In this example, the description has been given such that when the button  91  as the main switch is depressed, the power source unit  53  supplies the power to both the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52 , respectively. Alternatively, the procedure may also be adopted such that when the button  91  as the main switch is depressed, the power source unit  53  supplies the power to the AV unit  52 , and when the button  92  is depressed in this state, the AV unit  52  outputs the control signal to the switching unit  54  and the power source line A is connected to the communication unit  51 , so that the power is supplied to the communication unit  51 .  
         [0044]     In addition, while not illustrated in the figure, it is supposed that an operation inputting portion for receiving an operation input such as an originating call of the mobile phone, production or transmission/reception of an e-mail, or download or reproduction/stop of contents is provided separately from the operation unit  55 , and the various kinds of instructions (control signals) which are inputted through the operation inputting portion based on the operation by the user  21  are outputted to the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52 . At that, the operation inputting portion, for example, may be constituted by a display device for displaying thereon the operation contents, and a zero to nine numeric key and several kinds of symbol keys similarly to the general mobile phone, or may be constituted by a display device for displaying thereon the operation contents, keys for moving a cursor, and a key for issuing an instruction to select one(s) from among displayed items.  
         [0045]     At that, in the portable terminal  11  which is actually manufactured, the communication unit  51 , the AV unit  52 , the power source unit  53 , and the switching unit  54 , for example, may be constituted in the form of a unit  81 , indicated by a dotted line in the figure, on one substrate or the like. In this case, the communication unit  51 , the AV unit  52 , the power source unit  53 , and the switching unit  54  are made as the respective function blocks constituting the unit  81 . In this case as well, however, as described above, the power is supplied to the function block corresponding to the communication unit  51 , or the function block corresponding to the AV unit  52 , whereby the user  21  also can stop the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11 , or activate the mobile phone function thereof again, while reproducing contents, by operating the button  92  of the operation unit  55 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the communication unit  51 . In the figure, the antenna  71  receives thereat a received signal transmitted from the base station  12 , outputs the received signal to a transmission/reception controlling portion  112 , and transmits therethrough a transmission signal which is outputted from the transmission/reception controlling portion  112  in order to be transmitted to the base station  12 .  
         [0047]     For example, the received signal which is received at the antenna  71  during the voice call phase is amplified and subjected to frequency conversion processing and analog to digital conversion processing in the transmission/reception controlling portion  112 , and outputted to a modulating and demodulating portion  113 . The modulating and demodulating portion  113  subjects the signal outputted from the transmission/reception controlling portion  112  to spectrum inverse diffusion processing, and output the resulting signal to a CODEC  116 . The resulting signal is decoded into a digital signal having a predetermined format by the CODEC  116 , and the resulting digital signal is outputted to an AD/DA converting portion  117 . The outputted signal is converted into an analog audio signal by the AD/DA converting portion  117 . The analog signal is then amplified by an amplifier  118 , and a voice corresponding to the analog audio signal is outputted through a speaker.  
         [0048]     In addition, the signal of the sound which is collected with a microphone during the voice call phase is outputted to the AD/DA converting portion  117  through the amplifier  118 . The outputted audio signal is then converted into a digital signal by the AD/DA converting portion  117  and outputted to the CODEC  116 . After the outputted signal is converted (encoded) into digital audio data having a predetermined format by the CODEC  116 , the resulting digital audio signal is subjected to spectrum diffusion processing in the modulating and demodulating portion  113 . The resulting data is subjected to digital to analog conversion processing and frequency conversion processing in the transmission/reception controlling portion  112 , and the resulting data is then transmitted through the antenna  71 .  
         [0049]     A main control portion  115  constituted by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), etc. controls the individual portions constituting the communication unit  51  based on an operation input by the user  21  which is received in an operation inputting portion (not shown). In addition, the main control portion  115  manages a status as information representing an operation situation of the communication unit  51  such as a call processing phase, a data reception phase, or a data transmission phase, and outputs the status information to the AV unit  52  when necessary. As a result, the AV unit  52  can determine whether or not at present, there is execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 .  
         [0050]     An application processing executing portion  114  is also constituted by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. and executes the various kinds of application processing, other than the voice call, such as processing for downloading data of contents by utilizing transmission/reception of an e-mail, a music delivery service or the like. Incidentally, the data of the contents which is downloaded by the application processing executing portion  114  is recorded in a recording medium such as the flash memory  76  installed in the AV unit  52 .  
         [0051]     The individual blocks described above and an interface  119  are connected to each other through a bus  120 . The interface  119  controls transmission/reception of the data to/from the AV unit  52 .  
         [0052]     It should be noted that the configuration of the communication unit  51  is not limited to thereto, and thus any other configuration may be adopted as long as it can realize the above-mentioned functions. For example, the communication unit  51  may also be configured by using an IC chip, etc. for the mobile phone which is manufactured for the purpose of being utilized in the general mobile phone and distributed in the market. Thus, the compact portable terminal  11  can be realized at low cost.  
         [0053]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an example of a detailed configuration of the AV unit  52  shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in the figure, individual blocks constituting the AV unit  52  are connected to one another through a bus  160 . A drive  156  reads out data of contents from the recording medium (e.g., the flash memory  76  shown in  FIG. 2 ) installed in the drive  156  or records data of contents supplied from the communication unit  51  through an interface  151  in the recording medium in accordance with the control made by the main control portion  153 .  
         [0054]     In the present invention, the recording medium in which the data of the contents is recorded is installed in the drive  156  provided in the AV unit  152 . Hence, even when the user  21  carries the portable terminal  11  on an airplane, a train, a hospital, etc. and thus stops the mobile phone function, the contents can be continuously reproduced.  
         [0055]     The data of the contents which is read out from the recording medium through the drive  156 , or the data of the contents which is supplied from the communication unit  51  through the interface  151  is accumulated in a buffer  152 . A CODEC  153  reads out the data of the contents from the buffer  152 , and decodes the data (e.g., execute processing for decoding the compressed or encoded data) to reproduce the contents. The data of the reproduced contents is converted into an analog signal in an AD/DA converting portion  154 , and outputted from a headphone for example through an amplifier  155 . At that, it is supposed that when an image is contained in the contents, an image signal is outputted to a display device or the like connected to the bus  160  through a display portion  157 .  
         [0056]     A main control portion  158  constituted by a CPU, a ROM, a ROM, etc. controls the individual portions constituting the AV unit  52 . In addition, the main control portion  158  outputs a control signal used to control the driving of the switching unit  54  in accordance with an instruction inputted through the operation unit  55  by the user  21 . Moreover, the main control portion  158  outputs a signal used to control the display portion  157 , and controls light emission of the LED  75  connected to the bus  160  through the display portion  157 . In addition, the display portion  157  also controls the display of the display device. The main control portion  158  changes a power supply mode for the AV unit  52  from one mode to another mode by controlling the power supplied to the AV unit  52  through the power source line B.  
         [0057]     Here, it is supposed that two kinds of modes, i.e., a normal mode in which the power is supplied to all the individual portions constituting the AV unit  52 , and a standby mode in which the power is supplied to only the main control portion  158  among the individual portions of the AV unit  52  are previously set as the power supply modes. For example, when the processing for reproducing the contents is stopped, the main control portion  158  changes the power supply mode from the normal mode over to the standby mode, thereby suppressing the consumed power.  
         [0058]     It should be noted that the recording medium installed in the drive  156  is not limited to only the flash memory  76 , and thus removable media such as a magneto disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, or a semiconductor memory may be suitably installed in the drive  156 .  
         [0059]     Also, it should be noted that the AV unit  52  may be configured in the form of one IC chip similarly to the communication unit  51 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an example of a functional structure of a program which is executed in the CPU of the main control portion  158  shown in  FIG. 4 . In the figure, an operation input receiving portion  201 , for example, receives an operation input which is inputted through the operation unit  55  by the user  21  and outputs the operation input to a status managing portion  202 . The status managing portion  202  checks the status of the communication unit  51  and outputs the check results to a display controlling portion  203 . In addition, the status managing portion  202  manages the status together as the information representing whether or not the AV unit  52  is reproducing the contents.  
         [0061]     The display controlling portion  203  controls the driving of the display portion  157  based on the output results from the status managing portion  202  to cause the LED  75  to emit light. The display controlling portion  203 , for example, executes the processing for turning ON and OFF the LED  75  in a case where when the status of the communication unit  51  is in the call processing phase, the data reception phase, or the data transmission phase, an instruction to stop the function of the communication unit  51  (stop the mobile phone function) is issued, and executes the processing for turning OFF the LED  75  in a case where when the status of the communication unit  51  is not in any of the call processing phase, the data reception phase, or the data transmission phase (when there is no execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 ), an instruction to stop the function of the communication unit  51  (stop the mobile phone function) is issued.  
         [0062]     A switch controlling portion  204  receives the processing results from the operation input receiving portion  201 , the status managing portion  202  and the display controlling portion  203 , and executes the processing for controlling the switching unit  54  to disconnect or connect the above-mentioned power source line A from or to the communication unit  51  based on the operation input made by the user  21 , thereby controlling the supply of the power to the communication unit  51 . For example, in a case where when the status of the communication unit  51  is in the call processing phase, the data reception phase, or the data transmission phase, the instruction to stop the function of the communication unit  51  is issued, the switch controlling portion  204  makes the control so as to interrupt the supply of the power to the communication unit  51  after waiting until there has been performed no execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 .  
         [0063]     Next, a description will be given with respect to a time relationship between the operation for the button  92  of the operation unit  55 , and ON/OFF of the power sources of the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52  with reference to timing charts shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  
         [0064]      FIG. 6  is a timing chart in a case where the button  92  is depressed to stop the communication unit  51  in a state in which the communication unit  51  is driven (in a state in which the power source line A is connected to the communication unit  51 ). In the figure, an axis of abscissa represents time. In addition, it is supposed that the time goes by (elapses) from a left-hand side to a right-hand side in the figure. As shown in the figure, when the instruction to turn OFF the communication circuit  51  is issued by the operation (by depressing the button  92 ), after the time elapses a little, the status of the communication unit  51  changes from the communication processing phase to the completion of the communication processing. That is, the communication unit  51  completes the communication processing being executed after the instruction to turn OFF the communication unit  51  is issued by the operation. Hence, after the time elapses a little, the status of the communication unit  51  changes from the communication processing phase to the completion of the communication processing.  
         [0065]     When the status of the communication unit  51  changes from the communication processing phase to the completion of the communication processing, the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned OFF almost simultaneously with that change. That is, the AV unit  52  which verifies that the status of the communication unit  51  has become the completion of the communication processing controls the switching unit  54  to disconnect the power source line A from the communication unit  51 , thereby turning OFF the power source of the communication unit  51 .  
         [0066]     Incidentally, the power source of the AV unit  52  is held turned ON during this operation.  
         [0067]      FIG. 7  is a timing chart in a case where the button  92  is depressed to activate the communication unit  51  in a state in which the communication unit  51  is stopped (in a state in which the power source line A is disconnected from the communication unit  51 ). In the figure, an axis of abscissa represents time. In addition, it is supposed that the time goes by (elapses) from a left-hand side to a right-hand side in the figure. As shown in the figure, when the instruction to turn ON the communication unit  51  is issued by the operation (by depressing the button  92 ), the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned ON almost simultaneously with that operation. In addition, after the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned ON, the communication processing is started at arbitrary timing by the communication unit  51 , and the status of the communication unit  51  changes to the communication processing phase.  
         [0068]     Moreover, when the instruction to turn ON the communication unit  51  is issued by the operation (by depressing the button  92 ), after the time elapses a little, the power source of the AV unit  52  is turned OFF (exactly speaking, the AV unit  52  is set to a standby mode and thus the power consumption is suppressed). That is, after the instruction to turn ON the communication unit  51  is issued by the operation, the AV unit  52  stops the reproduction of the contents and enters the standby mode. Hence, after the time elapses a little, the power source of the AV unit  52  is turned OFF.  
         [0069]     Next, a description will be given with respect to processing for controlling the operation of the portable terminal  11  by the main control portion  158  with reference to flow charts shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . This processing is executed while the power is supplied to the AV unit  52  through the power source line B. That is, this processing is executed for a period of time from a point when once the main switch (e.g., the button  91 ) of the portable terminal  11  is depressed to a point when the main switch of the portable terminal  11  is depressed again. At that, in this example, it is supposed that the setting is made such that when the button  91  as the main switch is depressed, the power source unit  53  supplies the power to the AV unit  52 , and when the button  92  is depressed in this state, the AV unit  52  outputs the control signal to the switching unit  54  to connect the power source line A to the communication unit  51 , thereby supplying the power to the communication unit  51 .  
         [0070]     In step S 1 , the operation input receiving portion  201  determines whether or not an instruction to activate the communication unit  51  is issued through the operation input by the user  21 , and stands by until it is determined that the instruction to activate the communication unit  51  is issued.  
         [0071]     For example, when the button  92  shown in  FIG. 2  is depressed, the operation input receiving portion  201  determines that the instruction to activate the communication unit  51  is issued through the operation input by the user  21 . When it is determined in step S 1  that the instruction to activate the communication unit  51  is issued, the processing proceeds to step S 2 .  
         [0072]     In step S 2 , the status managing portion  202  determines whether or not the AV unit  52  is reproducing the contents. When it is determined in step S 2  that the AV unit  52  is reproducing the contents, the processing proceeds to step S 3 .  
         [0073]     In step S 3 , the display controlling portion  203  causes the display device to display thereon a message representing whether or not it is necessary to stop the reproduction of the contents, i.e., a message urging the user  21  to select whether or not it is necessary to stop the reproduction of the contents being currently reproduced. At this time, the user  21 , for example, performs the operation for selecting an icon for issuing an instruction to stop the reproduction of the contents based on the display on the display device, thereby issuing the instruction to stop the reproduction of the contents.  
         [0074]     For example, in a case where when the user  21  reproduces and listens to the musical piece as the contents, he/she needs to make a telephone call using his/her own mobile phone, a flow of the musical piece (the continuous output of the sound) becomes a hindrance to the telephone call using the mobile phone in some cases. In such cases, the user  21  can issue an instruction to stop the reproduction of the contents to stop the flow of the musical piece.  
         [0075]     In step S 4 , the operation input receiving portion  201  determines whether or not the instruction to stop the reproduction of the contents is issued. When it is determined in step S 4  that the instruction to stop the reproduction of the contents is issued, the processing proceeds to step S 5 .  
         [0076]     In step S 5 , the switch controlling portion  204  sets a mode of the AV unit  52  to the standby mode. As a result, the power consumption in the AV unit  52  is suppressed. However, as described above, the power is continuously supplied to the main control portion  158  of the AV unit  52  without a break while the mode of the AV unit  52  is set to the standby mode. Thus, the status of the communication unit  51  notified from the communication unit  51  is updated while the mode of the AV unit  52  is set to the standby mode. In addition, the main control portion  158  can control the switching unit  54  based on the input through the operation unit  55  while the mode of the AV unit  52  is set to the standby mode.  
         [0077]     After completion of the processing in step S 5 , in step S 6 , the processing for activating the communication unit is executed. Here, a description will be given with respect to the details of the processing for activating the communication unit  51  in step S 6  shown in  FIG. 8  with reference to a flow chart shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0078]     In step S 31  of  FIG. 10 , the switch controlling portion  204  controls the switching unit  54  to turn ON the power source of the communication unit  51 . At this time, the power source line A is connected to the communication unit  51 , so that the power source unit  53  starts to supply the power to the communication unit  51 .  
         [0079]     In step S 32 , the display controlling portion  203  turns ON the LED  75 . As a result, the user  21  or those around the user  21  are informed of that the communication unit  51  is activated and thus the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  is in operation.  
         [0080]     In such a manner, the communication unit  51  is activated.  
         [0081]     Here, the processing in the communication unit  51  will be described with reference to a flow chart shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0082]     In step S 51 , the main control portion  115  of the communication unit  51  determines whether or not the power source of the communication unit  21  is turned ON, and waits until it is determined that the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned ON. When the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned ON in step S 31  shown in  FIG. 10 , it is determined in step S 51  as well that the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned ON, and the processing proceeds to step S 52 .  
         [0083]     In step S 52 , the main control portion  115  drives the individual blocks constituting the communication unit  51 .  
         [0084]     In this example, the processing in steps S 51  and S 52  is described as the processing which is executed by the main control portion  115 . However, the processing in steps S 51  and S 52  may also be automatically executed when the power is started to be supplied to the communication unit  51 .  
         [0085]     In step S 53 , the main control portion  115  executes the communication processing based on the operation input by the user  21 . At this time, for example, the processing for a call with other mobile phone or the like, the processing for transmitting/receiving an e-mail, the processing for downloading the data of the contents, etc. are executed.  
         [0086]     In step S 54 , the main control portion  115  informs the AV unit  52  of the status of the communication unit  51 . The status of the communication unit  51  of which the AV unit  52  is informed is received by the main control portion  158  through the interface  151  of the AV unit  52  and preserved in a memory or the like built in the main control portion  158 . At that, the status of the communication unit  51  preserved in the main control portion  158  of the AV unit  52  is updated whenever the main control portion  115  informs the AV unit  52  of a new status of the communication unit  51 .  
         [0087]     In step S 55 , the main control portion  115  determines whether or not the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned OFF. When it is determined in step S 55  that the power source of the communication unit  51  is not turned OFF, the processing returns back to step S 53 , and the subsequent processing is repeatedly executed.  
         [0088]     For example, when processing of step S 71 , shown in  FIG. 12 , which will be described later is executed, it is determined in step S 55  that the power source of the communication unit  51  is turned OFF, and the processing is completed.  
         [0089]     In such a manner, the main control portion  115  informs the AV unit  52  of the status of the communication unit  51  while the power is supplied to the communication unit  51 . As a result, it can be determined in the AV unit  52  as well whether or not currently, there is the execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 .  
         [0090]     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , after completion of the processing of step S 6 , the operation input receiving portion  201  determines in step S 7  of  FIG. 9  whether or not the instruction to stop the communication unit  51  is issued.  
         [0091]     For example, when the button  92  shown in  FIG. 2  is depressed, the operation input receiving portion  201  determines that the instruction to stop the communication unit  51  is issued through the operation input by the user  21 . When it is determined in step S 7  that the instruction to stop the communication unit  51  is issued, the processing proceeds to step S 8 .  
         [0092]     In step S 8 , the status managing portion  202  determines whether or not the status of the communication unit  51  is currently in the communication processing phase. At this time, the status managing portion  202  checks the status of the communication unit  51  preserved in the memory provided inside the main control portion  158 . When the status of the communication unit  51  is in the call processing phase, the data reception phase, or the data transmission phase (When there is the execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 ), it is determined that the communication unit  51  is currently in the communication processing phase, and the processing proceeds to step S 9 .  
         [0093]     In step S 9 , the display controlling portion  203  turns ON and OFF the LED  75  through the display portion  157 . As a result, the user  21  or those around the user  21  are informed of that the communication unit  51  is intended to be stopped. Thereafter, the processing returns back to step S 8 .  
         [0094]     When the processing in the communication unit  51  is completed, the status of the communication unit  51  preserved in the memory provided inside the main control portion  158  is updated, and thus it is determined in step S 8  that the status of the communication unit  51  is not in the communication processing phase (When there is no execution of the processing by the communication unit  51 ), the processing proceeds to step S 10 .  
         [0095]     Thereafter, in step S 10 , processing for stopping the communication unit  51  is executed. Here, a description will be given with respect to the details of the processing for stopping the communication unit  51  in step S 10  shown in  FIG. 9  with reference to a flow chart of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0096]     In step S 71  of  FIG. 12 , the switch controlling portion  204  controls the switching unit  54  to turn OFF the power source of the communication unit  51 . At this time, the power source line A is disconnected from the communication unit  51 , and thus the supply of the power from the power source unit  53  to the communication unit  51  is stopped.  
         [0097]     In step S 72 , the display controlling portion  203  turns OFF the LED  75 . As a result, the user  21  or those around the user  21  are informed of that the communication unit  51  is stopped and thus the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  is not in operation.  
         [0098]     The communication unit  51  is stopped in such a manner.  
         [0099]     Referring back to  FIG. 9 , after completion of the processing of step S 10 , the processing returns back to step S 1  of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0100]     It should be noted that when it is determined in step S 2  that no contents are being reproduced, the processing from step S 3  to step S 5  is skipped. In addition, when it is determined in step S 4  that no instruction to stop the reproduction is issued, the processing of step S 5  is skipped.  
         [0101]     In the present invention, the processing for controlling the operation of the portable terminal  11  is executed in such a manner, whereby the user  21  can stop the communication unit  51  to stop the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  without being nervous about whether or not the portable terminal  11  is in the communication processing phase by operating the operation unit  55 . In addition, since the LED  75  is turned ON, turned ON and OFF, or turned OFF in correspondence to the status of the communication unit  51 , it is possible to demonstrate clearly for not only the user  21  possessing the portable terminal  11 , but also those around the user  21  whether or not the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  is currently in operation. Moreover, in the present invention, since not only the operation is changed by simply setting the mode as in the personal mode of the mobile phone in the past, but also the supply of the power to the communication unit  51  is stopped, it is possible to suppress the power consumption in the portable terminal  11 .  
         [0102]     In addition, the instruction to stop the communication unit  51  is issued by depressing the button  92 . Hence, for example, the mobile phone function of the portable terminal  11  can be simply stopped as compared with a case where the mode is set to the personal mode by selecting the hierarchized menu as in the mobile phone in the past.  
         [0103]     At that, while the description has been given with respect to the example in which the operation unit  55  is constituted by the button  91  as the main switch, and the switch  92  for issuing the instruction to activate/stop the communication unit  51  with reference to  FIG. 2 , the construction of the operation unit  55  may be further simplified.  
         [0104]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram showing another example of the internal configuration of the portable terminal  11  shown in  FIG. 1 . In the figure, the portions corresponding to those in  FIG. 2  are designated with the same reference numerals. In this example, unlike the case of  FIG. 2 , the operation unit  55  is constituted by a switch  90  which can be set in three positions, i.e., a position  90 - 1  to a position  90 - 3 . At that, while in the figure, for the sake of convenience, the switch  90  in the position  90 - 2  and the switch  90  in the position  90 - 3  are indicated by dotted lines, respectively. Actually, the single switch  90  is moved in a vertical direction in the figure by the operation by the user  21 , whereby the switch  90  is set in one position, which the user  21  desires, of the three positions  90 - 1  to  90 - 3 .  
         [0105]     When the switch  90  is set in the position  90 - 1 , the power source unit  53  supplies no power to the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52 , and thus the portable terminal  11  is in the OFF state.  
         [0106]     When the switch  90  is set in the position  90 - 2 , the power source unit  53  supplies the power to only the AV unit  52 . That is, in the portable terminal  11 , only the reproduction of the contents (e.g., the audio contents such as the musical piece) is performed by the AV unit  52 , and thus the mobile phone function is in the stop state. In this case, as described above, the LED  75  is in the turn-OFF state.  
         [0107]     When the switch  90  is set in the position  90 - 3 , the power source unit  53  supplies the power to the communication unit  51  and the AV unit  52 , respectively. That is, in the portable terminal  11 , the communication processing is executed by the communication unit  51 , and the contents (e.g., the audio contents such as the musical piece) are reproduced by the AV unit  52 . Thus, the mobile phone function is in the activation state. In this case, as described above, the LED  75  is in the turn-ON state.  
         [0108]     The operation unit  55  is constructed in such a manner, whereby the activation or stop of the mobile phone function in the portable terminal  11  can be more simply performed.  
         [0109]     It should be noted that the above-mentioned series of processing can be executed by the hardware or software. When the above-mentioned series of processing is executed by the software, a program constituting that software is installed from the network such as the Internet, or the recording medium such as the removable media.  
         [0110]     In this specification, steps of executing the above-mentioned series of processing includes the processing which is executed in parallel or individually even if not being necessarily processed in a time series manner as well as the processing which is executed in a time series manner along the described order.