Abstract:
A radio communication terminal includes a novel lighting control mechanism for selectively changing a lighting part in the radio communication terminal during a suitable time for a detected operating communication mode. The lighting part is flexibly changed in consideration of the detected operating communication mode to reduce total power consumption of the radio communication terminal. For example, if a moving picture communication mode is detected, the lighting control mechanism lights the display, but not the key operating unit, and if a voice call mode is detected, both the display and the key operating unit are not lighted. Further the lighting control mechanism can include a brightness control unit for controlling the brightness of the selected lighting suitable for a detected operating communication mode.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. P2000-275886, filed on Sep. 12, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a radio communication terminal having different radio communication modes. More particularly, the invention relates to a lighting control mechanism for flexibly lighting a part of the radio communication terminal in accordance with an operating radio communication mode.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Typically, a radio communication terminal, such as a mobile telephone, includes a display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a key operation unit having a plurality of keys. Further, the radio communication terminal includes a lighting control mechanism for back lighting the display and the plurality of keys in the key operating unit when the radio communication terminal transmits and receives radio data to and from a base station through an antenna.  
           [0006]    Usually, a conventional lighting control mechanism performs lighting on and off operations for back lighting both the display and the key operating unit at the same time. Thus, if the radio communications terminal receives radio data from a base station though the antenna or detects data input through the key operating unit, the lighting control mechanism turns on the lighting for both the display and the key operating unit simultaneously.  
           [0007]    In order to limit power consumption, the conventional lighting control mechanism limits the lighting on time for both the display and the key operating unit for a predetermined period of time. Since the lighting control mechanism controls both the display and the key operating unit simultaneously, even though the predetermined period of time has passed, the conventional lighting control mechanism may seriously inconvenience a user&#39;s operations by turning the lighting off.  
           [0008]    In order to obviate such shortcomings, another lighting control mechanism, disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent 10-200615, has been proposed. This mechanism controls both the display and the key lighting operation with more suitable timing by varying the predetermined light-on time in accordance with a status of an operating program. Although the mechanism varies the lighting-on time depending on the program, it still inconveniences the user since both the display and the key operating unit are still simultaneously lighted on and off.  
           [0009]    Therefore, there is a need in the art for a radio communication terminal control mechanism that reduces the power consumption of a radio communications terminal while more conveniently lighting both the display and the key operating unit.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In accordance with the current invention, a customer relationship management architecture method and system are provided that avoid the problems associated with prior art radio communication terminal control mechanisms as discussed herein above.  
           [0011]    In one aspect, a radio communication terminal having a plurality of communication modes comprising a transmitter-receiver unit configured to transmit and receive data, an input unit configured to input data, a display unit configured to display the data received by the transmitter-receiver unit and the data inputted by the input unit, a lighting unit configured to independently light the input unit and the display unit, a recognition unit configured to recognize an operating communication mode among the plurality of communication modes, and a control unit configured to control the lighting unit in accordance with the recognized operating communication mode.  
           [0012]    In another aspect, a radio communication terminal having a plurality of communication modes for transmitting and receiving data comprising an input unit configured to input data, the input unit which includes a first key and a second key a lighting unit configured to independently light the first and second keys, a recognition unit configured to recognize an operating communication mode among the plurality of communication modes, and a control unit configured to control the lighting unit in accordance with the recognized operating communication mode.  
           [0013]    Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of the invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of a radio communication terminal applicable to an apparatus and method for controlling lighting operation according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the lighting control mechanism in the radio communication terminal shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a circuit diagram applicable to lighting control mechanism according to the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention for performing lighting control consistent with the invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a circuit diagram applicable to a lighting control mechanism according to the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0021]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, a radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention comprises a radio unit  101 , a control unit  102 , an I/O unit  103 , and a power supply unit  104 . Radio unit  101  includes an antenna  105 , a transmitter  106 , a receiver  107 , a duplexer  108  and a synthesizer  109 . Control unit  102  includes a base band processor  110  for controlling operations in the radio communication terminal, a random access memory (RAM)  111  as a primary memory, and a read only memory (ROM)  112  for storing various control programs for the operations of radio communication terminal  10 . RAM  111  includes a flag area  113 .  
         [0022]    I/O unit  103  includes a display  114 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a display controller  115 , a moving picture processor  116 , a lighting unit  117 , a lighting controller  118 , a key operating unit  119  including a plurality of keys, a speaker  120 , a microphone  121  and an audio controller  122 . Power supply unit  104  includes a battery  123  and a battery charger  124 . Radio unit  101 , control unit  102  and I/O unit  103  are supplied power from power supply unit  104 .  
         [0023]    Antenna  105  in radio unit  101  transmits and receives radio signals to and from a base station (not shown). The signals received through antenna  105  are transmitted to duplexer  108  and receiver  107  in radio unit  101  and are further transmitted to base band processor  110  in control unit  102 . When radio communication terminal  10  transmits signals to the base station, base band processor  110  in control unit  102  sends the transmitting signals to transmitter  106  in radio unit  101 . Transmitter  106  transmits the signals to duplexer  108  that transmits the data through the air through antenna  105 . Further, base band processor  110  in control unit  102  controls synthesizer  109  in radio unit  101  so as to exchange communication channels for a transmission time and a reception time of radio communication terminal  10 .  
         [0024]    Flag area  113  in RAM  111  is used for indicating an operation status or non-operation status of a particular program. Thus, each of a plurality of flags stored in flag area  113  correspond to a particular operating communication mode of radio communication terminal  10 , such as a voice call mode, a moving picture communication mode, a mailing mode, a browsing mode, or a visual telephone mode. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other operating communication modes may be stored in flag area  113 . Thus, radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention can recognize the operating communication mode by storing a plurality of flags corresponded to each of the plurality of communication modes in RAM  111 .  
         [0025]    When a particular program is started under the control of base band processor  110 , a flag corresponding to the particular program is set in flag area  113  by base band processor  110 . When the operation of the particular program is complete, base band processor  110  cancels the flag corresponding to the particular program. Thus, radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention can store in memory a particular operating communication mode by setting and canceling a particular flag in flag area  113 . Alternatively, a flag area functionally similar to flag area  113  may be placed in a RAM area within base band processor  110 .  
         [0026]    Display  114  displays data received through radio unit  101  or data and commands inputted through key operating unit  119  under the control of display controller  115 . Moving picture processor  116  supplies moving picture data to display controller  115  by decoding received moving picture data. The received moving picture data may comprise moving picture experts group phase  4  (MPEG 4 ), however, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other formats may be used.  
         [0027]    Lighting unit  117  includes a plurality of light emitters, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). Some of the light emitters are used for back lighting display  114  and the remainder are used for lighting the keys in key operating unit  119  under control of lighting controller  118 .  
         [0028]    Audio controller  122  controls output signals sent to speaker  120  and input signals from microphone  121 . In addition to speaker  120  and microphone  122 , I/O unit  103  may include a camera (not shown) for inputting images, or a vibrator (not shown) or a sounder (not shown) for signaling reception indication.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 illustrates components of a lighting control mechanism for radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, base band processor  110  includes a detecting unit  201 , a controller  202 , and a timer  203 . Detecting unit  201  is coupled to receiver  107  in radio unit  101  and is configured for detecting reception of data from antenna  105 . Further, detecting unit  201  is coupled to key operating unit  119  in I/O unit  103  for detecting input operation through the keys of key operating unit  119 . The data detected by detecting unit  201  is transferred to controller  202 . Controller  202  sends a control signal for setting timer  203  for controlling lighting controller  118 . Thus, controller  202  sends lighting control data, which corresponds to the recognized operating communication mode, to lighting unit  117  by referencing flag area  113  for the operating communication mode. Alternatively, instead of setting a flag in RAM  111 , a table for indicating the relationship between the recognized operating communication mode and the lighting control data may be stored in ROM  112 .  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 illustrates circuits of the lighting control mechanism of radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention. Lighting controller  118  includes a first lighting control transistor  301   a  and a second lighting control transistor  301   b  for controlling lighting on/off operations of a first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m,  and a second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n  respectively in lighting unit  117 . First group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m  are used for back lighting display  114 . The second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n  are used for lighting key operating unit  119 . Second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n  includes a plurality of LEDs that are coupled in parallel. Corresponding to each of the LEDs, a plurality of current controlling resistors are provided in lighting unit  117 . A first group of current controlling resistors  303   a - 303   m  are disposed in parallel so as to correspond to each of the LEDs in first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m,  and a second group of current controlling resistors  305   a - 305   n  are disposed in parallel so as to correspond to each of the LEDs in second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n.  First lighting control transistor  301   a  and second lighting control transistor  301   b  control the flow of current to first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m,  for lighting display  114 , and to second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n,  for lighting key operating unit  119 , respectively. Whether lighting control transistors  301   a  and  301   b  turn on or shut off the flow of current is determined by control data supplied from controller  202  in control unit  102 . Accordingly, light on and off for display  114  and key operating unit  119  are controlled.  
         [0031]    With reference to FIG. 4, an exemplary method for controlling the lighting for radio communication terminal  10  consistent with the invention is shown. In this exemplary method, radio communication terminal  10  operates under two different communication modes, for example, a voice call mode and a moving picture communication mode. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that radio communication terminal  10  may operate under more than two communication modes and under modes other than voice call or moving picture communication mode.  
         [0032]    During operation of the radio communication terminal  10 , detecting unit  201  in base band processor  110  detects whether reception data from receiver  107  or input data from key operating unit  119  is to be received (stage S 401 ). When detecting unit  201  detects either of the aforementioned data, controller  202  sets timer  203  at a predetermined time t (stage S 402 ). When controller  202  sets timer  203 , controller  202  also turns on lighting control transistors  301   a  and  301   b  so as to turn on the lighting on both of first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m  and second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n  respectively. Thus the lighting is turned on for both display  114  and key operating unit  119  (stage S 403 ). Controller  202  maintains the lighting for both display  114  and key operating unit  119  during the predetermined time t.  
         [0033]    When timer  203  times out (stage S 404 ), controller  202  determines the present communication mode by referencing flag area  113 . Thus, in this example, whether the present communication mode is the moving picture communication mode or the voice call mode is determined in accordance with the status of flag area  113  (stage S 405 ). If the present communication mode is determined to be the moving picture communication mode, controller  202  keeps the light-on state of lighting control transistor  301   a  for continuing the lighting for display  114 . At the same time, controller  202  changes the state of lighting control transistor  301   b  to turn off second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n  in order to save power because the lighting for key operating unit  119  is not necessary during the moving picture communication mode (stage S 406 ). When the present communication has finished (stage S 407 ), controller  202  turns off lighting control transistor  301   a  which turns off first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m  for display  114  (stage S 408 ).  
         [0034]    At stage S 405 , however, if the present communication mode is determined to be the voice call mode, controller  202  turns off both lighting control transistors  301   a  and  301   b  for turning off both first group of LEDs  302   a - 302   m  and second group of LEDs  304   a - 304   n.  Thus the lighting for both display  114  and key operating unit  119  are off, since no lighting is required during the voice call mode (stage S 409 ).  
         [0035]    In this embodiment, at stage S 405 , it is determined whether the present communication mode is the voice call mode or the moving picture communication mode. These modes are examples of modes that light display  114  during a time when a user watches display  114 . Examples of other similar modes include a mail mode, a browsing mode, or a TV communication mode.  
         [0036]    Further it is possible to improve the operation of radio communication terminal  10  and conserve power by differing the lighting off time in accordance with a particular communication mode. For example, the time-out value of timer  203  in the voice call mode can be a smaller value than the time-out value of timer  203  in the mail communication mode.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the lighting control mechanism for a radio communication terminal consistent with the invention. In comparison to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, lighting controller  118  includes an increased number of control lines through a plurality of lighting control transistors for controlling light on and off of a plurality of LEDs. Thus, lighting unit  117  includes a number m of LEDs  502   a - 502   m  for display  114  and a number n of LEDs  504   a - 504   n  for key operating unit  119 . Consequently, lighting controller  118  includes a number m+n of lighting control transistors  501   a,    501   m,    501   m+ a, and  501   m+ n, respectively, for controlling lighting on and off states for each of the LEDs. Lighting unit  117  further includes a number m of current controlling resistors  503   a - 503   m  corresponding to each of LEDs  502   a - 502   m  for display  114  and a number n of current controlling resistors  505   a - 505   n  corresponding to each of LEDs  504   a - 504   n  for key operating unit  119 . Thus, each of LEDs  502   a - 502   m  for display  114  is respectively coupled to each of current controlling resistors  503   a - 503   m.  And each of LEDs  504   a - 504   n  is respectively coupled to each of current controlling resistors  505   a - 505   n.  According to this embodiment, lighting can be controlled for a particular part, for example, a particular key in key operating unit  119  with accompanying lighting on display  114  in accordance with a communication mode.  
         [0038]    For example, it becomes possible to light a call end key during the lighting on of display  114  during a moving picture communication mode. It is also possible to light a record key and a call end key during a voice call mode. Further, if a volume of receiving data is large and a scrolling display data is needed, it is possible to light a particular key for the scrolling. Thus, the usability of communication terminal  10  can be improved.  
         [0039]    In FIG. 5, a pulse width modulator (PWM)  506  is provided between base band processor  102  and lighting control unit  118  for controlling brightness of the light emitting elements, such as LEDs, by pulse driving of them. Thus, PWM  506  generates a PWM signal based on control data from controller  202  in base band processor  102 . The PWM signal is supplied to each of lighting control transistors  501   a,    501   m,    501   m+ a, and  501   m+ n in order to control the brightness of each of the number m+n of LEDs  502   a - 502   m,  and  504   a - 504   n.  It is possible to store the relationship between the brightness for a particular light emitting element and a communication mode in ROM  112 .  
         [0040]    In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present invention provides a system and method for providing a radio communication terminal having a lighting control mechanism. Still, it should be understood that the foregoing relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claim.