Patent Abstract:
A control unit  102  of a mobile telephone  10  sets a radio wave mode to ON or OFF, and stores the setting of the radio wave mode internally. ON shows that radio wave transmission is permitted, and OFF shows that radio wave transmission is prohibited. When the stored radio wave mode setting is OFF, radio wave transmission is suppressed even if input such as that for mail transmission is received. By setting the radio wave mode to OFF, functions that do not require radio wave transmission can be used, even in places where radio wave transmission is prohibited.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is based on application No. 2001-318625 filed in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a mobile telephone that includes a function for suppressing transmission of radio waves.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Use of mobile telephones is prohibited in places such as hospitals and crowded trains because of the detrimental effect of radio waves transmitted by mobile telephones on medical devices and the like. It is necessary for people who have a mobile telephone (hereinafter “user(s)”) to turn their mobile telephone off in such places.  
           [0006]    However, in addition to call functions and electronic mail (hereinafter simply referred to as “mail”) functions, modern mobile telephones perform various functions such as telephone book management, schedule management, reproduction of downloaded music, images and the like, games, and photography. Many of these functions do not require transmission of radio waves.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The object of the present invention is to provide a mobile telephone in which functions such as viewing received mail and transmitted mail, schedule management, and games can be used while a radio wave transmission function of the mobile telephone is suspended, even in a place where transmission of radio waves is prohibited.  
           [0008]    In order to achieve the stated object, the mobile telephone of the present invention is a mobile telephone that communicates with use of radio waves, including: a radio wave flag setting unit for setting a radio wave flag that shows either ON or OFF, ON showing that transmission of radio waves is permitted, and OFF showing that transmission of radio waves is suppressed; and radio wave suppression unit for suppressing transmission of radio waves while the radio wave flag is set to OFF.  
           [0009]    According to the stated construction, when the radio wave flag is set to OFF, the mobile telephone does not transmit radio waves, therefore while the mobile telephone is on, functions that do not require radio waves to be transmitted can be used even in a place where radio wave transmission is prohibited.  
           [0010]    Here, the mobile telephone may further include: automatic power-on unit for, on occurrence of a predetermined event while power supply to main components is suspended, supplying power to the main components; and suppression flag setting unit for, on the automatic power on means supplying power to the main components, setting a suppression flag that shows whether transmission of radio waves is being suppressed, wherein the radio wave flag setting unit sets the radio wave flag to OFF when the predetermined event occurs and the suppression flag shows that transmission of radio waves is suppressed.  
           [0011]    According to the stated construction, when the mobile telephone that is off is then turned on according to an auto-power-on function even in a place where use of mobile telephones is prohibited, the radio wave flag is set to OFF regardless of the stored radio wave flag. Therefore, radio wave transmission can be suppressed even if the user does not notice that the mobile telephone has turned on.  
           [0012]    Here, when a power-on operation and a predetermined operation are performed simultaneously by the user, the radio wave flag setting unit may set the radio wave flag to OFF and power may be supplied to main components.  
           [0013]    According to the stated construction, the radio wave flag is set to OFF when the user presses the power button. Therefore, even in a place where use of mobile telephones is prohibited, radio wave transmission can be suppressed after the power has been turned on until the user sets the radio wave mode to OFF.  
           [0014]    Here, when a power-on operation and a predetermined operation are performed simultaneously by the user, the flag setting unit may set the radio wave flag to OFF and power may be supplied to main components.  
           [0015]    According to the stated construction, when the power of the mobile telephone is off and the radio wave flag is set to OFF, the radio wave flag can be set to ON simultaneous to the power being turned on. Therefore, in an emergency radio waves can be transmitted as soon as the power is turned on. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]    In the drawings:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile telephone  10 ;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a flowchart, which continues in FIG. 3, showing operations of the mobile telephone  10 ;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a flowchart, which continues from and returns to in FIG. 2, showing operations of the mobile telephone  10 ;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations of the mobile telephone  10  at “auto-power-on”;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5A is a diagram of a screen  201  that is displayed by a display unit  103  when a “ 0 ” button is pressed together with a power button;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5B is a diagram of a screen  202  that is displayed by a display unit  103  when a “ 1 ” button is pressed together with a power button;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6A is a diagram of a screen  301  that is a function setting screen that is displayed by the display unit  103  of the mobile telephone  10  in which the radio wave mode is set to ON;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6B is a diagram of a screen  302  that is displayed by the display unit  103 , and that is used for setting the radio wave mode to ON and OFF;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6C is a diagram of a screen  303  that is displayed by the display unit  103 , and that is for the user to confirm the set radio wave mode;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6D is a diagram of a screen  304  that is a function setting screen that is displayed by the display unit  103  of the mobile telephone  10  whose radio wave mode is set to OFF;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7A is a diagram of a screen  401  displayed by the display unit  103  when input to make a call is received while the radio wave mode of the mobile telephone  10  is set to OFF;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7B is a diagram of a screen  402  displayed by the display unit  103  when input to transmit mail or connect to the Internet is received while the radio wave mode of the mobile telephone  10  is set to OFF;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 8A is a diagram of a main menu screen  501  displayed by the display unit  103 ;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 8B is a diagram of a screen  502  displayed by the display unit  103 ; and  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8C is a diagram of a screen  503  displayed by the display unit  103  at “auto-power-on”, that shows that the radio wave mode is set to OFF. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    The following describes the mobile telephone  10  as an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings.  
         [0034]    1. Structure of the Mobile Telephone  10   
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the mobile telephone  10 .  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile telephone  10  is composed of a transmission/reception unit  101 , a control unit  102 , a display unit  103  and an input unit  104 .  
         [0037]    The mobile telephone  10  is a portable telephone that communicates with use of radio waves. Specifically, the mobile telephone  10  is a computer system that includes a microprocessor, a ROM (read only memory), a RAM (Random access memory), an LCD (liquid crystal display) unit, a key operation unit, a communication unit and an antenna.  
         [0038]    The transmission/reception unit  101  performs communication such as transmission and reception of mail and connection to the Internet.  
         [0039]    The control unit  102  stores a control program, and controls functions of the mobile telephone  10  such as calls, transmission and reception of mail, connection to the Internet, telephone book management, schedule management, multimedia content, and games. This control is performed according to the microprocessor executing the control program.  
         [0040]    The control unit  102  further stores a radio wave mode. The radio wave mode is set to either ON or OFF. ON shows that transmission of radio waves is permitted, and OFF shows that transmission of radio waves is prohibited. The control unit  102  sets the radio wave mode in the following way.  
         [0041]    The control unit  102  internally pre-stores the radio wave mode set to either ON or OFF. The control unit  102  receives input of the radio wave mode from the user via the input unit  104 . When the received radio wave mode differs to the pre-stored radio wave mode, the control unit  102  stores the newly received radio wave mode instead of the pre-stored radio wave mode.  
         [0042]    On receiving an input to initiate a call, transmit mail, or connect to the Internet from the user via the input unit  104 , the control unit  102  reads the internally-stored radio wave mode, and when the radio wave mode is OFF, outputs an instruction to the transmission/reception unit  101  to suspend transmission of radio waves. On receiving an instruction from the control unit  102  to recommence transmission of radio waves, the transmission/reception unit  101  recommences transmitting radio waves.  
         [0043]    The display unit  103 , which includes the LCD, displays screens that are generated by the control unit  102 . When each screen is being displayed, the display unit  103  further displays screens whose content corresponds to operations received from the user via the input unit  104 .  
         [0044]    The input unit  104  includes a plurality of buttons such as numeric keys, an up arrow, a down arrow, an “OK” button, and a power button. These buttons are provided on an operation surface of the mobile telephone  10 . While the display unit  103  displays each screen, the input unit  104  receives operations from the user and outputs corresponding operation signals to the control unit  102 .  
         [0045]    The following describes power-on state and the power-off state of the mobile telephone  10 .  
         [0046]    “Power off” denotes a state is which power is supplied only to a monitoring unit in the mobile telephone  10 . The monitoring unit denotes a clock function and the power button. The clock function operates to manage an alarm. The power button receives inputs by being pressed by the user.  
         [0047]    The power being on denotes a state in which power is supplied to the main components of the mobile telephone  10 . The main components include all the composite elements for achieving ordinary functions of the mobile telephone  10 , such as communication and display functions.  
         [0048]    2. Operations of the Mobile Telephone  10   
         [0049]    The following describes the operations of the mobile telephone  10  with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS.  2  to  4 , and FIGS.  5  to  8 .  
         [0050]    &lt;Turning the Power on According to a Press of the Power Button&gt; 
         [0051]    The following describes operations of the mobile telephone  10  when power is supplied to the main components of the mobile telephone  10  according to the user pressing the power button.  
         [0052]    The input unit  104  of the mobile telephone  10  receives an input to turn the power on (step S 101 ), and judges which button the user has pressed simultaneously with the power button (step S 102 ).  
         [0053]    When the “1” button has been pressed simultaneously (step S 102 , “1”), the control unit  102  sets the radio wave mode to ON, and stores the set radio wave mode internally (step S 103 ). An example of the screen displayed by the display unit  103  at this time is a screen  202  shown in FIG. 5B. The screen  202  is the ordinary stand-by screen. Here “pressed simultaneously” denotes detection of input by the power button while the “1” button is being pressed.  
         [0054]    When the “0” button has been pressed simultaneously (step S 102 , “0”), the control unit  102  sets the radio wave mode to OFF, and stores the set radio wave mode internally (step S 104 ). An example of the screen displayed by the display unit  103  at this time is a screen  201  shown in FIG. 5A. An antenna bar display area in the screen displays “OFF”. Here “pressed simultaneously” denotes detection of input by the power button while the “0” button is being pressed.  
         [0055]    Next, the control unit  102  judges the type of operation signal shown by the button that received the input (step S 105 ).  
         [0056]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is “radio wave mode” (step S 105 , “radio wave mode”), the control unit  102  receives and input of radio wave mode via the input unit  104  (step S 106 ), and rewrites the internally pre-stored radio wave mode to the received mode (step S 107 ). The control unit  102  then returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0057]    Examples of the screens displayed by the display unit  103  at this time are shown in FIGS. 6A to  6 D. A screen  301  shown in FIG. 6A is for setting various functions, and is displayed when selecting the radio wave mode setting. Antenna bars are displayed in the antenna bar display area. This shows that the radio wave mode of the mobile telephone is ON. A screen  302  shown in FIG. 6B is displayed when selecting to set the radio wave mode either ON or OFF. A screen  303  shown in FIG. 6C is for the user to confirm the newly-set radio wave mode OFF. A screen  304  in FIG. 6D is displayed after the radio wave mode has been set. Here, “OFF” displayed in the antenna bar display area shows that radio wave mode is OFF.  
         [0058]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is “end” (step S 105 , “end”), the control unit  102  measures the length of time that the “END” button is held down by the user (step S 108 ), and judges whether the measured length of time is at least three seconds (step S 109 ). If the measured length of time is at least three seconds (step S 109 , YES), the control unit  102  stops the supply of power to the main components, and turns the power off (step S 110 ). If the measured length of time is less than three seconds (step  109 , NO), the control unit  102  returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0059]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is “view mail” (step S 105 , “view mail”), the control unit  102  reads internally-stored received mail, transmitted mail, and so on, displays the read screens on the display  103 , and performs processing for viewing (step S 121 ). The control unit  102  then returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0060]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is “reproduce” (step S 105 , “reproduce”), the control unit  102  reads internally-stored, pre-downloaded multimedia content such as a game, animation, music or the like, performs reproduction processing by outputting to the display unit  103  and a speaker as appropriate (step S 122 ). The control unit  102  then returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0061]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is one of “call initiation”, “mail transmission” and “Internet connection” (step S 105 , “call initiation”, “mail transmission”, or “Internet connection”), the control unit  102  ditinguishes the internally-stored radio wave mode (step S 123 ).  
         [0062]    When the radio wave mode is ON (step S 123 , ON), the control unit  102  performs processing for initiating a call, transmitting mail or connecting to the Internet according to the type of operation signal (step S 124 ). The control unit  102  then returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0063]    When the radio wave mode is set to OFF (step S 123 , OFF), the control unit  102  returns to step S 105  to continue processing. Examples of screens displayed by the display unit  103  at this time are shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. A screen  401  shown in FIG. 7A is displayed when the operation signal is “call initiation”. A screen  402  shown in FIG. 7B is displayed when the operation signal is “mail transmission” or “Internet connection”.  
         [0064]    When the operation signal shown by the button that received the input is different to those described above (step S 105 , “other”), the control unit  102  performs processing according to the operation signal (step S 125 ), and then returns to step S 105  to continue processing.  
         [0065]    &lt;Auto-Power-On Function&gt; 
         [0066]    The following describes operations by the mobile telephone  10  for when power is supplied to the main components of the mobile telephone  10  according to the auto-power-on function or the alarm-power-on function.  
         [0067]    The auto-power-on function turns on the mobile telephone  10 , which has been turned off, at a specific pre-set time. At the specific time, the control unit  102  instructs a power supply unit to supply power to the main components. The alarm-power-on function turns the mobile telephone  10  on at a specific time and has an alarm sound output via the speaker when it turns the mobile telephone  10  on.  
         [0068]    The following describes with use of FIGS. 8A to  8 C the method for turning the mobile telephone  10  on by either the auto-power-on function or the alarm-power-on function and setting the radio wave mode to “OFF”.  
         [0069]    The auto-power-on function or the alarm-power-on function is pre-set in the mobile telephone  10 . On the input unit  104  detecting a long press of the power button while the display unit  103  displays a screen  501  shown in FIG. 8A, the mobile telephone  10  is turned on by the auto-power-on function or the alarm-power-on function. On the mobile telephone  10  being turned on, the control unit  102  sets a suppression flag to show that the radio wave mode is set to OFF, and stores the set suppression flag internally.  
         [0070]    The display unit  103  then displays a screen  502  shown in FIG. 8B, to show the user that the power of the mobile telephone  10  is to be turned off. Next, when the mobile telephone  10  is turned on at the pre-set time according to auto-power-on or alarm-power-on, the display unit  103  displays a screen  503  shown in FIG. 8C showing that the radio wave mode has been set to OFF. Then the control unit  102  turns the mobile telephone  10  off.  
         [0071]    The following describes with use of the flowchart in FIG. 4 operations of the mobile telephone  10  when the auto-power-on function or the alarm-power-on function and the suppression flag have been set.  
         [0072]    The control unit  102  judges whether the present time is the pre-set time (step S 151 ), and if the present time is the pre-set time (step S 151 , YES), the control unit  102  has the mobile telephone  10  turned on, by outputting an instruction to the power supply unit to supply power to the main components, and by the power supply unit supplying power to the main components (step S 152 ). Next, the control unit  102  reads the internally-stored radio wave mode, and if the radio wave mode is set to OFF, continues processing. If the radio wave mode is set to ON, the control unit  102  stores ON instead of OFF as the radio wave mode (step S 153 ).  
         [0073]    At step S 151 , when the present time is not the pre-set specified time (step S 151 , NO), the control unit  102  repeats step S 151 .  
         [0074]    3. Conclusion  
         [0075]    As has been described, according to the present invention the control unit  102  of the mobile telephone  10  has a function of setting a radio wave mode showing whether radio wave transmission is ON or OFF, and storing the setting. On receiving an operation instruction for initiating a call, transmitting mail, or the like, the control unit  102  reads the internally-stored radio wave mode, and, when the radio wave mode is OFF, suppresses the radio wave transmission function of the transmission/reception unit  101 .  
         [0076]    Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The following cases are also included in the present invention.  
         [0077]    (1) The method for setting the radio wave mode is not limited to the above-described method in which the control unit  102  receives an input of the radio wave setting via the input unit  104  while a function setting screen is displayed by the display unit  103 . For example, the input unit  104  may include a “radio wave button” that is similar to a conventional “manner button”, and the radio wave mode may be switched on and off by the user pressing the radio wave button.  
         [0078]    (2) The method of setting the radio wave mode is not limited to setting the radio wave mode to OFF while the power is on by a simultaneous long press of the power button and the “0” button, and setting the radio wave to ON while the while the power is on by a simultaneous long press of the power button and the “1” button. The button pressed simultaneously with the power button in each case may be instead be any button besides “0” and “1 respectively.  
         [0079]    (3) The method for setting the radio wave mode to be OFF when the power is turned on according to the auto-power-on function is not limited to a long press of the power button in a menu screen. For example, the radio wave mode may be set to be OFF in a screen for setting the auto-power-on time.  
         [0080]    (4) The control unit  102  may have a structure in which, when the radio wave mode is set to OFF, it switches the radio wave mode to ON and performs call initiation processing when the input unit receives input for initiating a call to a predetermined emergency services number.  
         [0081]    (5) The present invention may be methods shown by the above. Furthermore, the methods may be a computer program realized by a computer, and may be a digital signal of the computer program.  
         [0082]    Furthermore, the present invention may be a computer-readable recording medium apparatus such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory), and MO (magneto-optical), a DVD-ROM (digital versatile disk-read only memory), a DVD-RAM (digital versatile disk random access memory), or a semiconductor memory, that stores the computer program or the digital signal. Furthermore, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on any of the aforementioned recording medium apparatuses. Furthermore, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal transmitted on a electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, or a network of which the Internet is representative.  
         [0083]    Furthermore, the present invention may be a computer system that includes a microprocessor and a memory, the memory storing the computer program, and the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.  
         [0084]    Furthermore, by transferring the program or the digital signal to the recording medium apparatus, or by transferring the program or the digital signal via a network or the like, the program or the digital signal may be executed by another independent computer system.  
         [0085]    (6) The present invention may be any combination of the above-described embodiments and modifications.  
         [0086]    Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7