JP2000295341A - Mobile phone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a mobile phone in which all functions can be used without troublesome operation such as inputting a personal identification number when used, while a lock function is reliably operated when lost or stolen. I do. SOLUTION: In a mobile phone 10 composed of a pair of a main body 10A and a key transmitter 10B, the main body 10A outputs a detection signal when a key signal (for example, radio wave) uniquely determined for the main body 10A is received. The key transmitting body 10B includes a signal receiving unit 21 that transmits the key signal. The main body control section 19 locks a predetermined function of the main body 10A when the key signal receiving section 21 does not output a detection signal for a predetermined time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable telephone used for transmitting and receiving mobile communication. Note that a mobile phone in this specification includes all types of phones (mobile phones, PHSs, and the like) used for mobile communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Portable telephones have become widespread today, but there is a problem associated with the portable telephones such as theft or loss. For example, as a result of a mobile phone being lost or stolen and passed over to the hands of a third party other than the owner (payer or a person who has obtained a license from the payer) and the third party making unauthorized calls There is a possibility that the payer will be charged a large amount of call charges. In addition, many of recent mobile phones have a function of storing personal information such as the name and telephone number of a frequent caller (this function is referred to as a memory dial function in this specification). Such personal information may be used illegally by a third party who has acquired the mobile phone.

[0003] In view of the above-mentioned problems, various types of portable telephones having a lock function for preventing a person other than the owner from easily using a predetermined function such as calling are developed. The most common lock function is a software lock function in which a predetermined function cannot be used unless a password is input with a dial button. Note that examples of the lock target function include a transmission function, a reception function, a memory dial function, and the like.

[0004]

In a portable telephone provided with a lock mechanism using a password as described above, it is necessary to input the password every time the locked function is used, which is troublesome. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to make it possible to use all functions at the time of use without performing troublesome operations such as inputting a password, while An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile phone in which a lock function is surely activated at the time of theft or theft.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A portable telephone according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, has a main body used for transmitting and receiving a call, and a main body separate from the main body. A portable key transmitter, the key transmitter comprising key signal transmitting means for transmitting, as a key signal, a radio signal representing predetermined key information uniquely determined to the main body, wherein the main body includes: A key signal receiving unit that receives the key signal; and a lock control unit that performs lock control of a predetermined function in accordance with a reception state of the key signal by the key signal receiving unit.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The main body of a portable telephone according to the present invention comprises various functional parts (for example, an operation part including a dial button, a sound collecting part including a microphone, a speaker) similar to a general portable telephone. And a display unit including a display for displaying character information and the like. In the present invention, the main body further includes a key signal receiving means for receiving a predetermined key signal, and a lock control for performing lock control such as lock setting and unlocking of a predetermined function in accordance with the reception state of the key signal by the key signal receiving means. Means are provided.

The key signal received by the key signal receiving means is a radio signal representing certain key information defined for the main body. It is a wave whose energy (wavelength, frequency, amplitude, etc.) changes in a certain pattern. Examples of the form of the wave include a radio wave, a sound wave, an ultrasonic wave, and an infrared ray. However, it is preferable to use a radio wave in order to avoid loss of key information due to noise or an obstacle. The contents of the key information are uniquely determined for each main body at the time of manufacturing the main body, and are written in a recording medium such as a nonvolatile memory built in the main body.

The lock control means locks and unlocks a predetermined function among the functions of the main body according to the reception state of the key signal by the key signal reception means. As a specific control method, for example, a method of locking a predetermined function immediately after a key signal is interrupted, or a method of locking a predetermined function when a key signal is not detected for a predetermined time can be considered.

The key transmitter of the portable telephone according to the present invention is:
There is provided transmitting means for transmitting a radio signal receivable by the receiving means of the main body, and a predetermined key signal is transmitted to the main body forming a pair with the transmitting means using the transmitting means. The transmission of the key signal may be continuous or intermittent, but in order to make the key transmitter portable, a small power source such as a battery must be built in the key transmitter. Life is shortened. In consideration of this, it is preferable that the transmission of the key signal be performed intermittently at appropriate time intervals.

When using the portable telephone constructed as described above, the main body is carried like a general portable telephone, while the key transmitter is not easily lost (for example, put in the inner pocket of clothes). , Hang around your neck like a pendant). If the main body is lost or stolen, the distance between the main body and the key transmitter becomes far larger than usual, so that the key signal transmitted by the key transmitter does not reach the main body. As a result, the lock control means automatically operates on the main body side, and the predetermined function is locked and cannot be used.

In the portable telephone according to the present invention, when a predetermined password is input to the lock control means through the operation unit of the main body while the lock control means locks a predetermined function of the main body, the lock control means is controlled. May be unlocked. In this way, even if the owner loses the key transmitter by mistake, no call using the main unit can be disabled. However, even when unlocking by inputting a security code, it does not mean that all functions can be used unconditionally after unlocking,
For example, it is preferable that the predetermined function be locked again when one call is completed after the lock is released.

Further, in the portable telephone according to the present invention,
The main body includes a response signal transmitting unit that transmits a predetermined wireless signal as a response signal when a key signal is received by the key signal receiving unit, and a response signal receiving unit that receives the response signal to the key transmitter. Warning means may be provided which operates in accordance with the response signal receiving state of the response signal receiving means. If the distance between the main unit and the key transmitter is abnormally large due to the loss or theft of the main unit during use of such a mobile phone, a response signal from the main unit will not reach the key transmitter. The key transmitter determines whether an abnormality such as loss or theft of the main body has occurred based on the reception state of the response signal, and if it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, activates the warning means and activates the key transmitter. Notify the owner of the abnormal occurrence. In addition, the warning means,
It can be configured using a buzzer, a light emitting diode, a vibrator, and the like.

Further, in the portable telephone according to the present invention, the key transmitting body is provided with transmission stopping means in consideration of bringing the portable telephone into a place where use of a device emitting electromagnetic waves is restricted, such as a hospital. It is preferable that the transmission stopping means of the key transmitter be automatically operated when the main body is turned off.

Further, in the portable telephone according to the present invention, the main body allows the key information stored in the first storage means incorporated therein to be readable using a predetermined information processing terminal, while the key transmitter is provided. It is preferable that key information of arbitrary content can be written in a second storage means built therein using a predetermined information processing terminal. In this way, for example, even if the owner loses the key transmitter by mistake, another key transmitter is prepared, the key information of the main body is written therein, and the other key transmitter is already acquired. By combining this with the main body, the main body can be used again as the mobile phone according to the present invention. It is also possible to prepare a second key transmitter and write the same key information as the key information written in the first key transmitter in the second key transmitter and use it as a spare.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a portable telephone according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 10 includes a main body 10A and a key transmitting body 10A.
B.

The main unit 10A is a device having the same basic configuration as a general portable telephone, and includes an operation unit 11 including a dial button and a memory edit button, and a sound collection unit 12 including a microphone for converting voice into an electric signal during a call. A voice output unit 13 including a speaker for restoring an electric signal to voice during a call;
A display unit 14 including a display for displaying character information and symbols, a call transmitting unit 15 for transmitting radio waves during a call, a call receiving unit 16 for receiving radio waves during a call, and a readable and writable unit for storing information such as a telephone number. A memory 17, a timer 18 for outputting a signal indicating the time, a main body control unit 19 for controlling the operation of each unit, and the like are provided. Electric energy for operating each unit of the main body 10 </ b> A is supplied from the power supply unit 20.

In addition to the above basic configuration, the main body 10
A includes a key signal receiving unit 21 that sends a radio wave detection signal to the main body control unit 19 when receiving a key signal that is a radio wave having a predetermined energy pattern (frequency and / or amplitude fluctuation pattern); And a response signal transmitting unit 22 that transmits a response signal that is a radio wave having a predetermined energy pattern when an instruction is issued from the control unit.

The key transmitter 10B includes a key signal transmitter 31 for transmitting the key signal, and a response signal receiver 32 for outputting a predetermined detection signal when receiving the response signal. The key signal transmitting unit 31 and the response signal receiving unit 32 are connected to the key control unit 33. The key control unit 33 sends a signal instructing the key signal transmission unit 31 to transmit the key signal at predetermined time intervals based on the instruction of the timer 34. The ROM 35 is an electrically erasable and rewritable memory in which key information for determining an energy pattern of a key signal is recorded in advance. Operation state display section 36
Is the key transmitter 10B according to the instruction of the key controller 33.
The operation state (key signal transmission, response signal reception, abnormality detection, etc.) is displayed, for example, by using a light emitting diode or the like. The sound source unit 37 emits a warning sound when receiving a predetermined signal from the key control unit 33. Warning release unit 38
Is an operation unit (switch, etc.) used to instruct the key control unit 33 to stop the warning sound. In addition, electric energy for operating each part of the key transmitter 10 </ b> B is supplied from the power supply unit 39.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling each part of the main body 10A. In a state before the control is started, a predetermined function of the main body 10A (a call transmission function,
The call receiving function, the memory dial function, etc.) are all locked by the main body control unit 19 and cannot be used.

First, in step S10, the main body control section 19 resets a counter t1 indicating the time measured based on the output of the timer 18, and starts (restarts) time measurement. In the next step S12, the main body control section 19 determines whether or not the value of the counter t1 is larger than a predetermined value t10. Here, when it is determined that t1 is smaller than t10, the control proceeds to step S14, and the main body control unit 19
Determines whether a key signal has been received based on the output signal of the key signal receiving unit 21. Here, when it is determined that the key signal has not been received, the control returns to step S12. On the other hand, when it is determined that the key signal has been received,
The main body control section 19 unlocks the predetermined function (step S16) and sends a signal instructing the transmission of a response signal to the response signal transmission section 22 (step S18).
Thereafter, the control returns to step S10.

When it is determined in step S12 that t1 is greater than t10, it means that no key signal has been received during the predetermined time t10. Therefore, in this case, there is a high possibility that the main body 10A is located abnormally away from the key transmitter 10B. Then, the control proceeds to step S20, and the main body control unit 19 locks each of the above functions. If the above functions are already locked at this point, the main body control unit 19
Maintains its locked state. Next, in step S22, the main body control unit 19 executes a warning operation. The warning operation executed here is, for example, an operation of outputting a predetermined warning sound from the audio output unit 13 and displaying a message to the effect that the key signal is not received on the display unit 14.

While locking the functions as described above, the main body control unit 19 monitors whether an operation signal from the operation unit 11 is detected (step S24). Here, if no operation signal is detected, the control returns to step S14.
On the other hand, when the operation signal is detected, the main body control unit 19 determines whether the operation signal is a signal corresponding to a predetermined password input operation (hereinafter, referred to as a password input signal) (step S26). ). If the detected operation signal is not the password input signal, the control proceeds to step S14.
Return to According to the above control flow, step S
The function lock state is maintained until a key signal is received in 14 or a password input signal is sent in step S26.

If it is determined in step S26 that the detected operation signal is a password input signal, the main body control section 19 temporarily releases the function lock (step S28). The unlocked state is maintained until one operation using one of the memory dial function, the call transmission function, and the call reception function is completed (step S29).
Upon completion of the above operation, control returns to step S20,
The function is locked again.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling each part of the key transmitter 10B. First, in step S30, the key control unit 33 resets the counter t2 indicating the time measured based on the output of the timer 34, and starts (restarts) time measurement. In the next step S32, the key control unit 33 determines that the value of the counter t2 is a predetermined value t.
Determine if it is greater than 20. Here, the value of t20 is set to be substantially the same as or smaller than the value of t10. The determination in step S32 is repeated until t2 becomes greater than t20. In step S32, t2
Is larger than t20, the key controller 33 sends a signal instructing the key signal transmitter 31 to transmit a key signal (step S34). After the key signal is transmitted, the key control unit 33 determines whether a response signal has been received based on the output signal of the response signal receiving unit 32 (step S3).
6). Here, if it is determined that the response signal has been received,
Control returns to step S30.

If it is determined in step S36 that no response signal has been received, there is a high possibility that the main body 10A is located abnormally away from the key transmitter 10B. Therefore, if it is determined in step S36 that no response signal has been received, the key control unit 33 executes a warning operation (step S38). The warning action performed here is
For example, a predetermined warning sound is generated for a predetermined time by using the sound source unit 37, and the operation state display unit 36 displays character information indicating abnormality detection or turns on a light emitting diode.

After performing the warning operation as described above, the key control unit 33 determines whether or not a warning release operation has been performed based on the output signal from the warning release unit 38 (step S40). This determination is repeated until a warning release operation is performed. If it is determined in step S40 that the warning release operation has been performed, the key control unit 33 sends a signal instructing transmission of a key signal to the key signal transmission unit 31 (step S42), and based on the output signal of the response signal reception unit 32. It is determined whether a response signal has been received (step S4).
4). If it is determined in step S44 that no response signal has been received, the control returns to step S38,
The warning state is maintained. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S44 that the response signal has been received, the key control unit 3
3 releases the warning state (step S46), and the control returns to step S30.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the lock control of the main body function is performed in accordance with the reception state of the key signal transmitted by the key transmitter prepared separately from the main body of the mobile phone, Thus, a troublesome operation does not need to be performed every time a call is made, and a mobile phone excellent in operability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of controlling each unit of the main body.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a method for controlling each part of the key transmitter.

[Description of Signs] 10 mobile phone 10A main body 19 main body control unit 21 key signal receiving unit 22 response signal transmitting unit 10B key transmitter 31 key signal transmitting unit 32 response signal receiving unit 33 key control Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone, comprising: a main body used for making and receiving a call; and a portable key transmitter configured separately from the main body, wherein the key transmitter is unique to the main body. Key signal transmitting means for transmitting a wireless signal representing predetermined key information defined in the key signal as a key signal, the main body, the key signal receiving means receiving the key signal, the key signal receiving means by the key signal receiving means And a lock control means for performing lock control of a predetermined function according to a reception state.