Patent Description:
In 5th generation mobile communication system (<NUM>), standardization for large-capacity communication such as for <NUM> to <NUM> Gbps using wideband transmission that uses a frequency band (<NUM>) higher than that of <NUM> (LTE) has proceeded. Centimeter waves or millimeter waves used in such a high frequency band have a short wavelength, achieving an increased capacity of data to be transmitted and a reduced size of antennas. Prior art includes <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

However, the centimeter waves and millimeter waves have highly straight propagation, and are easily affected by an obstruction such as a building, a person, or a vehicle. For example, when a user himself/herself becomes an obstruction between a communication apparatus such as a smartphone supporting <NUM> and a base station, signal strength is reduced depending on the direction in which the user faces even at the same place, considerably deteriorating communication quality. Therefore, it is necessary to guide the user to turn in a direction in which high signal strength is received.

Meanwhile, depending on a method of guiding the orientation of the user, there is a possibility to hinder, for example, the user experience (UX) of the user who enjoys video distribution, games, or the like on the communication apparatus.

Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a communication apparatus, a method, and a program that are configured to guide a user to turn in a direction in which high signal strength is received, without hindering the UX of the user of the communication apparatus using high frequency band as much as possible.

The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims.

The present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the present description and the drawings, substantially the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

Note that the description will be given in the following order.

A communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described first. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. The communication apparatus <NUM> is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet PC carried and used by a user. The communication apparatus <NUM> is connected to base stations <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "base stations <NUM>") by wireless communication.

When a radio wave transmitted by each base station <NUM> is a radio wave in a high frequency band, the user himself/herself becomes an obstruction to each base station <NUM>, in some cases. For example, when the user stands between the base station <NUM>-<NUM> and the communication apparatus <NUM>, the user may be the obstruction to the base station <NUM>-<NUM>. In this case, even if the user stands at a position closer to the base station <NUM>-<NUM> than to the base station <NUM>-<NUM>, the base station <NUM>-<NUM> is higher than the base station <NUM>-<NUM> in a strength of the radio wave from each base station <NUM> received by the communication apparatus <NUM>, in some cases.

However, the radio waves from the base stations <NUM> are invisible, and the most users do not know where the base stations <NUM> are installed, thereby not being aware that the orientation of the user causes deterioration in communication quality. Therefore, as a matter of course, the user is not aware that the communication quality can be improved if the user turns in the spot. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user is guided to turn in a direction in which high signal strength is received.

Next, an example of the functional configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary functional configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in <FIG>, the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a determination unit <NUM>, a measurement unit <NUM>, a notification unit <NUM>, a display unit <NUM>, a vibration unit <NUM>, an output selection unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is wirelessly connected to various communication networks such as the Internet, and transmits and receives information to and from the base stations <NUM>, other information processing devices, and the like on the network.

The storage unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a storage area for temporarily or permanently storing various programs and data. For example, the storage unit <NUM> is configured to store programs and data for the communication apparatus <NUM> to perform various functions. As a specific example, the storage unit <NUM> may store a program and data for measuring and displaying the signal strength, a user interface (UI), management data for managing various settings and the like. As a matter of course, the above description is merely examples, and the type of data to be stored in the storage unit <NUM> is not particularly limited.

The determination unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment determines a direction (orientation) in which the communication apparatus <NUM> is facing. Therefore, the determination unit <NUM> includes, for example, a magnetic sensor. Furthermore, the determination unit <NUM> is configured to include an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor, and is also configured to determine the inclination and rotation direction of the communication apparatus <NUM> on the basis of acceleration and angular velocity measured by various sensors.

The measurement unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment measures the strength of the radio wave (signal strength) received by the communication unit <NUM>. The measurement unit <NUM> continues to measure the signal strength, but may change a measurement interval according to the change of the direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> is facing, determined by the determination unit <NUM>. For example, in a case where it can be determined that the user turns in the spot to measure the signal strength on the basis of the change of the direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> is facing, the measurement interval of the measurement unit <NUM> can be further reduced. Furthermore, in this case, when it can be determined, on the basis of the change of the direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces, that the turning of the user is stopped and the measurement of the signal strength is finished, the measurement interval of the measurement unit <NUM> can be returned to the original measurement interval.

The notification unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is configured so that when the signal strength measured by the measurement unit <NUM> falls below a predetermined threshold (corresponding to "first threshold"), the user is notified of the signal strength. Although a method of notifying the user will be described later, the notification unit <NUM> is configured to notify the user by, for example, displaying a signal strength indicator <NUM> for displaying the signal strength, outputting a predetermined message in text or by sound, outputting a sound or vibration with a specific pattern, or blinking LED light.

The display unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment displays various visual information under the control of the control unit <NUM>. The display unit <NUM> may display, for example, an image, characters, or the like related to the application. Therefore, the display unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes various display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device.

Furthermore, when the signal strength measured by the measurement unit <NUM> exceeds a predetermined threshold (corresponding to "second threshold"), the display unit <NUM> superimposes a direction in which the signal strength exceeds the predetermined threshold (corresponding to "first display"), on a display on the display unit <NUM> (e.g., display of any application, corresponding to "second display"). In addition, the display unit <NUM> displays a direction in which the measurement of the signal strength by the measurement unit <NUM> is completed.

In addition, the display unit <NUM> is configured to hide the first display described above, on the basis of an elapsed time, such as passage of a certain time period in which the communication apparatus <NUM> is kept facing in a direction in which the signal strength measured by the measurement unit <NUM> exceeds the predetermined threshold (corresponding to the "second threshold").

In addition, the display unit <NUM> is configured to display the direction in which the signal strength exceeds the predetermined threshold, at a display position set in advance by the user. Note that the display position is allowed to be set for each application. Furthermore, the display position may be determined in advance depending on the type of application (classification such as video viewing application, game, browsing, etc.). In addition, when a predetermined application is being used, the display position may be adjusted by automatically determining a position where drawing is updated less frequently. Therefore, it is possible to change the display position of the first display described above, for each application being displayed on the display unit <NUM>, suppressing hindrance of the UX of the user of the communication apparatus <NUM>.

The vibration unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment vibrates by changing at least one of the strength and pattern of vibration depending on the signal strength received by the communication unit <NUM>.

The output selection unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment selectively determines, on the basis of an application being displayed on the display unit <NUM>, whether to output notification of the signal strength to the user through the first display by the display unit <NUM>, described above, or through the vibration by the vibration unit <NUM>. This configuration makes it possible to selectively use the display, the vibration, or both thereof to notify the user of the signal strength, for each application being used with displayed on the display unit <NUM>, suppressing hindrance of the UX of the user of the communication apparatus <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment controls each configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM>. In addition to the control of each configuration, the control unit <NUM> is configured to control, for example, each application displayed on the display unit <NUM>.

The exemplary functional configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment has been described. Note that the functional configuration described above with reference to <FIG> is merely an example, and the functional configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is not limited to such an example. For example, the communication apparatus <NUM> may not necessarily include all of the configurations illustrated in <FIG>. The functional configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment can be flexibly modified according to specifications and operations.

In addition, an arithmetic device such as a central proccessing unit (CPU) may perform the function of each component element by reading a control program from a storage medium such as a read only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM) storing control programs in which process procedures to implement the functions of the component elements are described, and by interpreting and performing the program. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately change the configuration to be used, according to technical level whenever the present embodiment is carried out. Furthermore, an example of a hardware configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> will be described later.

Next, functions of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. The communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment guides the user to turn in the direction in which high signal strength is received. As a specific method of guiding the user, the communication apparatus <NUM> measures the signal strength in a direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces, and displays the measured signal strength via the signal strength indicator <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a display example of the signal strength indicator <NUM> being measuring signal strength, according to the embodiment. The signal strength indicator <NUM> is configured to be displayed on the display unit <NUM>, for example, when the signal strength received and measured by the communication apparatus <NUM> falls below the predetermined threshold (corresponding to the "first threshold"). On the left side of <FIG>, states of the signal strength indicator <NUM> and the user, at the beginning of the measurement of the signal strength are illustrated. In the signal strength indicator <NUM>, for example, a direction in which the user is facing is indicated by an arrow <NUM> through <NUM>° around the user.

In the example illustrated on the left side of <FIG>, the user holds the communication apparatus <NUM> facing in an appropriate direction, and the signal strength indicator <NUM> is displayed on the display unit <NUM>. Then, when the user turns clockwise or counterclockwise in the spot, the signal strength in a direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces is measured.

In the center of <FIG>, states of the signal strength indicator <NUM> and the user, during the measurement of the signal strength are illustrated. As illustrated in the center of <FIG>, when the user turns <NUM>° clockwise (or counterclockwise) in the spot from the state at the beginning of measurement, the communication apparatus <NUM> measures the signal strength during the <NUM>° turning. In this case, as illustrated in the center of <FIG>, a measurement completion range <NUM> is displayed on the signal strength indicator <NUM> so that the direction in which the measurement of the signal strength is completed can be visually recognized. Then, when the user further continues to turn in the spot, the direction in which the measurement of the signal strength is completed increases, and the measurement completion range <NUM> that increases as the measurement is completed is displayed, as illustrated on the right side of <FIG>.

Next, display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> will be described, where the user has turned round in the spot and the measurement of the signal strength has been completed in all directions. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a display example of the signal strength indicator <NUM> upon completion of the measurement of the signal strength, according to the present embodiment. On the left side of <FIG>, a display example of the signal strength indicator <NUM> upon completion of the measurement of the signal strength in all directions is illustrated. In this case, as illustrated on the left side of <FIG>, the measurement completion range <NUM> is displayed through all directions.

Note that the measurement of the signal strength in all directions does not necessarily require measurement in all directions, and may be measurement, for example, in four directions of east, west, north, and south, or in only two directions of a direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces at the start of measurement and a direction opposite to the direction by <NUM>°. However, the limitation of the directions in which the signal strength is measured as described above reduces the granularity (e.g., fineness in a direction indicated as a direction in which high signal strength is received) of a result of the measurement. In addition, a learning model that is trained by training data having an input of results of the measurement (e.g., a direction for which the measurement is performed and the signal strength thereof) and having a correct output of the direction in which high signal strength is received may be used to estimate the direction in which high signal strength is received from the signal strength measured in a certain direction, not all direction.

When the measurement of the signal strength is completed, the direction in which high signal strength is received is displayed as a high-strength range <NUM>, as illustrated in the center of <FIG>. In the example illustrated in the center of <FIG>, the high-strength range <NUM> concentrates into a single location, but may disperses into a plurality of locations. Note that the high-strength range <NUM> may indicate a direction in which the signal strength is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold, or may indicate a direction in which higher signal strength is received, from among all directions measured.

Furthermore, the threshold may be a fixed value, or may be dynamically set referring to a surrounding radio wave environment. Alternatively, the threshold may be determined for each application being used on the communication apparatus <NUM>. This is because the communication quality required at that time differs depending on the application being used. For example, in a case where the application being used on the communication apparatus <NUM> is a video distribution application or the like requiring a large communication volume, a certain level of high communication quality is required, and thus the threshold is also determined to be higher. Meanwhile, in a case where the application being used on the communication apparatus <NUM> is a mail application, chat application, or the like requiring a low communication volume, the high communication quality as required in the above is not required, and thus the threshold is determined to be lower.

As illustrated in the center and on the right side of <FIG>, when the high-strength range <NUM> is displayed on the signal strength indicator <NUM>, the user turns in the spot so that the communication apparatus <NUM> faces in the direction in which high signal strength is received (so that the arrow <NUM> falls within the high-strength range <NUM>. Therefore, the user can turn in the direction in which high signal strength is received. Note that as illustrated on the right side of <FIG>, when a certain period of time has passed while the arrow <NUM> remains within the high-strength range <NUM>, the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be hidden.

Note that the display forms such as the shapes, colors, sizes, and transparencies of the signal strength indicator <NUM>, the arrow <NUM>, the measurement completion range <NUM>, and the high-strength range <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are merely examples, and are not limited to the examples in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Next, superimposed display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of superimposed display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> during a portrait mode, according to the present embodiment. The example illustrated on the left side of <FIG> shows a state in which the communication apparatus <NUM> is in the portrait mode (so-called vertical holding) and an application is being used with displayed on the display unit <NUM>.

For example, when the signal strength falls below the predetermined threshold in this state, the signal strength indicator <NUM> is displayed as illustrated on the right side of <FIG>. At this time, the signal strength indicator <NUM> is superimposed on the application being displayed on the display unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the signal strength indicator <NUM> can also be displayed by a predetermined user operation (e.g., double tap operation at a predetermined position). This configuration makes it possible for the user to search for a direction in which higher signal strength is received, even if the signal strength does not fall below the predetermined threshold.

Note that the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> is configured to be changed to any position as described later. In addition, as described above, when the certain period of time has passed while the communication apparatus <NUM> is kept facing in the direction in which high signal strength is received, the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be hidden. Alternatively, the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be hidden by a user operation (e.g., long tap or flick operation on the signal strength indicator <NUM>).

In addition, the signal strength indicator <NUM> in a landscape mode (so-called horizontal holding) of the communication apparatus <NUM> is also displayed as in the portrait mode. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of superimposed display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> during the landscape mode, according to the present embodiment. The display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be changed between the landscape mode and the portrait mode. Therefore, for example, when the communication apparatus <NUM> is switched from the portrait mode to the landscape mode, the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can also be switched depending on the display on the display unit <NUM>.

Next, changing the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of changing the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> according to the present embodiment. For example, the user performs a tap operation on the signal strength indicator <NUM> as illustrated on the left side of <FIG>. Then, as illustrated on the right side of <FIG>, the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be changed by performing a drag-and-drop operation to transfer the signal strength indicator <NUM> to a position to which the signal strength indicator <NUM> is desired to be moved. Note that changing the position of the indicator by the drag-and-drop operation is merely an example, and the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can also be changed to any position by another operation such as a tap operation or flick operation.

Note that the display position is stored in the storage unit <NUM> of the communication apparatus <NUM>, and for subsequent display of the signal strength indicator <NUM>, the signal strength indicator <NUM> is displayed at the changed display position. In addition, the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be stored for each application used with displayed on the display unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the display position of the signal strength indicator <NUM> can be stored for each display format of the display unit <NUM>, that is, the portrait mode or the landscape mode. Furthermore, the user can also perform, for example, a pinch in/out operation for the signal strength indicator <NUM> to appropriately change the size of the signal strength indicator <NUM>. As described above, displaying the signal strength indicator <NUM> makes it possible for the user to freely customize the display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> so as not to obstruct the UX of the user of the communication apparatus <NUM> as much as possible.

In addition, some users may not desire to display the signal strength indicator <NUM> or for some applications being used on the communication apparatus <NUM>, the display of the signal strength indicator <NUM> may be not desired. In this case, the user can be notified of the signal strength by vibrations caused by a vibration function. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of the method of notifying of the signal strength by the vibration function according to the present embodiment.

In the example illustrated on the left side of <FIG>, the user holds the communication apparatus <NUM> facing in an appropriate direction. When the signal strength received and measured by the communication apparatus <NUM> falls below the predetermined threshold, the vibration unit <NUM> vibrates in a specific pattern to notify the user that the signal strength has decreased. Therefore, when the user turns clockwise or counterclockwise in the spot, the signal strength in a direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces is measured.

The center of <FIG> shows that the user turns in the spot and the communication apparatus <NUM> faces in a direction in which low signal strength is received. In this case, the vibration unit <NUM> vibrates weakly to notify the user that the user is facing in the direction in which low signal strength is received.

The right side of <FIG> shows that the user turns in the spot and the communication apparatus <NUM> faces in a direction in which high signal strength is received. In this case, the vibration unit <NUM> vibrates strongly to notify the user that the user is facing in the direction in which high signal strength is received.

Note that the example illustrated in <FIG> is merely an example, and the vibration unit <NUM> can vibrate strongly when the communication apparatus <NUM> is facing in the direction in which low signal strength is received, or the vibration unit <NUM> can vibrate weakly (i.e., the vibrations are opposite in magnitude to those in the example illustrated in <FIG>) when the communication apparatus <NUM> faces in the direction in which high signal strength is received. Furthermore, the vibration unit <NUM> can vibrate by changing not only the strength of vibration but also the vibration pattern depending on the level of the signal strength.

Furthermore, the method of notifying of the signal strength by the vibration function as illustrated in <FIG> can be used in combination with a method of notifying of the signal strength by the signal strength indicator <NUM>. In other words, the communication apparatus <NUM> is configured to notify the user of the direction in which high signal strength is received by vibration caused by the vibration function while displaying the signal strength indicator <NUM>. Note that whether notification of the signal strength to the user is output by the signal strength indicator <NUM>, by the vibration function as illustrated in <FIG>, or by combination thereof can be set for each application. This configuration makes it possible to selectively use the methods of notifying the user, depending on the application being used on the communication apparatus <NUM>. The selective use of the methods of notifying the user means to notify the user, for example, by using vibration in a video viewing application, by using LED light or sound and voice in a game application, and by displaying the signal strength indicator <NUM> in other applications.

Next, a procedure of measurement of the signal strength and display processing will be described with reference to <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a process of measurement of the signal strength and display processing, according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the measurement unit <NUM> of the communication apparatus <NUM> measures the signal strength received (Step S101). When the measured signal strength is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold (Step S102: No), the process returns to Step S101.

On the other hand, when the measured signal strength is lower than the predetermined threshold (Step S102: Yes), it is determined that the signal strength is low, and the notification unit <NUM> of the communication apparatus <NUM> notifies the user of the low signal strength (Step S103). As described above, the notification to the user is, for example, display of the signal strength indicator <NUM>, output of text or voice of the predetermined message, output of the sound or vibration with a specific pattern, or blinking of LED light. Whether to perform what kind of notification is determined by the output selection unit <NUM> of the communication apparatus <NUM> on the basis of the application being used with displayed on the display unit <NUM> of the communication apparatus <NUM>.

When the user turns in the spot in response to the notification to the user by the notification unit <NUM>, the measurement unit <NUM> measures the signal strengths in all directions (Step S104). Note that the signal strength may not necessarily be measured in all directions.

When the measurement of the signal strength is completed, the communication apparatus <NUM> notifies the user of the direction in which high signal strength is received (Step S105). As described above, the notification here can also be performed by, for example, displaying the signal strength indicator <NUM>, outputting text or voice of the predetermined message, outputting the sound or vibration with a specific pattern, or blinking LED light. The notification method here is also determined by the output selection unit <NUM> on the basis of the application being used on the communication apparatus <NUM>. After Step S105, the present process ends.

Next, an exemplary hardware configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment will be described. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating the exemplary hardware configuration of the communication apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, the communication apparatus <NUM> includes, for example, a processor <NUM>, ROM <NUM>, RAM <NUM>, a host bus <NUM>, a bridge <NUM>, an external bus <NUM>, an interface <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, an output device <NUM>, a storage <NUM>, a drive <NUM>, a connection port <NUM>, and a communication device <NUM>. Note that the hardware configuration shown here is merely an example, and some of the component elements may be omitted. In addition, a component element other than the component elements shown here may be further included.

The processor <NUM> functions, for example, as an arithmetic processing device or a control device, and controls all or part of the operation of each component element, on the basis of various programs recorded in the ROM <NUM>, the RAM <NUM>, the storage <NUM>, or a removable recording medium <NUM>.

The ROM <NUM> is a unit that stores a program read by the processor <NUM>, data used for calculation, and the like. The RAM <NUM> temporarily or permanently stores, for example, a program read by the processor <NUM>, various parameters appropriately changing upon running the program, and the like.

The processor <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, and the RAM <NUM> are connected to each other, for example, via the host bus <NUM> configured to transmit data at high speed. Meanwhile, the host bus <NUM> is connected to, for example, the external bus <NUM> configured to transmit data at a relatively low transmission rate, via the bridge <NUM>. In addition, the external bus <NUM> is connected to various component elements via the interface <NUM>.

For the input device <NUM>, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a switch, a lever, and the like are used. Furthermore, for the input device <NUM>, a remote controller configured to transmit a control signal by using infrared ray or another radio wave is sometimes used. Furthermore, the input device <NUM> includes a voice sound input device such as a microphone.

The output device <NUM> is a device that is configured to visually or audibly notify the user of acquired information, the device including a display device such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), LCD, or organic EL, an audio output device such as a speaker or headphone, a printer, a mobile phone, or a facsimile. Furthermore, the output device <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes various vibrating devices that are configured to output tactile stimulation. In addition, the output device <NUM> is a device, such as a smart speaker, exclusively outputting voice sound, and may have a text to speech (TTS) function of reading out a character string.

The storage <NUM> is a device for storing various data. For the storage <NUM>, for example, a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a semiconductor storage device, an optical storage device, a magneto-optical storage device, or the like is employed.

The drive <NUM> is, for example, a device that reads information recorded on the removable recording medium <NUM> such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, or that writes information in the removable recording medium <NUM>.

The connection port <NUM> is a port, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, an IEEE1394 port, a small computer system interface (SCSI), an RS-232C port, or a port for connecting an externally connected device <NUM>, such as an optical audio terminal.

The communication device <NUM> is a communication device that is used for connection to various communication networks such as a mobile network, including the Internet and a mobile phone network by using a centimeter wave or a millimeter wave using a high frequency band, and that is, for example, a wireless LAN, a communication card for a wireless USB (WUSB), a router for optical communication, a modem for various communications, or the like.

The removable recording medium <NUM> is, for example, a DVD medium, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) medium, an HD DVD medium, various semiconductor storage media, and the like. As a matter of course, the removable recording medium <NUM> may be, for example, an IC card with a noncontact IC chip, an electronic device, or the like.

The externally connected device <NUM> includes, for example, a printer, a portable music player, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, or an IC recorder.

As described above, the communication apparatus <NUM> includes the determination unit <NUM> that determines the direction in which the communication apparatus <NUM> faces, the measurement unit <NUM> that measures the signal strength indicating the strength of the radio wave received by the communication apparatus <NUM>, the notification unit <NUM> that notifies the user of the signal strength falling below the first threshold, and the display unit <NUM> that superimposes the direction in which the signal strength exceeds the second threshold, as the first display, on the second display being displayed.

This configuration makes it possible to guide the user to turn in the direction in which high signal strength is received, without hindering the UX of the user of the communication apparatus <NUM> using the high frequency band as much as possible.

Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to these examples. A person skilled in the art may obviously find various alternations and modifications within the technical concept described in claims, and it should be understood that the alternations and modifications will naturally come under the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A communication apparatus (<NUM>) including:
a determination unit (<NUM>) that determines a direction in which the communication apparatus faces;
a measurement unit (<NUM>) that measures signal strength indicating strength of a radio wave received by the communication apparatus;
a notification unit (<NUM>) that notifies a user of the signal strength falling below a first threshold; and
a display unit (<NUM>) that superimposes a direction in which the signal strength exceeds a second threshold, as a first display, on a second display being displayed; and
wherein at least one of the first threshold and the second threshold is determined by an application being used on the communication apparatus.