JP2007025957A - Portable information terminal device mounted with non-contact ic card function and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit an operation for making a non-contact IC card function valid only in a timing intended by a user by incorporating an inclination sensor in a portable information terminal device equipped with a non-contact IC card function. <P>SOLUTION: In this portable information terminal device 1 equipped with a non-contact IC card functioning part 20, an inclination sensor 16 detects the angle of inclination of the terminal equipment, and a control part 11 inhibits the reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card functioning part 20 when the detected angle of the inclination sensor 16 exceeds an angle in a predetermined range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable information terminal device equipped with a non-contact IC card function and a control method thereof, and more particularly to a portable information terminal device that restricts a non-contact IC card function based on a detection result of an inclination sensor and a control method thereof.

  A mobile information terminal device represented by a mobile phone terminal device or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) is increasingly equipped with a non-contact IC card function. This function is advantageous in that data communication can be performed with a weak radio wave with an external IC card reading / writing device literally without contact. As a result, necessary information can be transmitted / received by a reading / writing device provided in a store, a vending machine, a ticket gate, etc., and various services such as electronic money, electronic ticket, and ticket settlement can be received.

  In a portable information terminal device equipped with such a non-contact IC card function, in order to prevent unintentional use such as when it is lost, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, a lock function for a non-contact IC card using a personal identification number is used. Is disclosed.

  Also, as another prior art related to a mobile phone terminal device, a mobile phone has a built-in tilt sensor for regulating the shooting function of the built-in camera, and the shutter operation is invalidated when the detected angle is within the imaging prohibited range. A terminal device is disclosed in Patent Document 2 below.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-16398 (page 3-6, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-290818 (page 3-4, FIGS. 1 and 4)

  In the portable information terminal device provided with the non-contact IC card function as described above, the portable information terminal device in which the reader is pressed over the clothes in a crowded train or the like and is put in a chest pocket of an outer jacket or a pants pocket. There is anxiety that the information inside is stolen by the contactless communication function. In order to eliminate such anxiety, it is conceivable to use a lock function as described in Patent Document 1. However, such a lock function requires an input operation of a personal identification number in order to release the lock function, and there is a problem that a troublesome operation is always required before using the non-contact IC card function, thereby reducing convenience. . In addition, the tilt sensor described in Patent Document 2 is not related to the control of the non-contact IC card function, and thus cannot solve such a problem.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable information terminal device equipped with a non-contact IC card function that solves such a conventional problem and a control method thereof.

  A first portable information terminal device according to the present invention has a built-in inclination sensor that detects an inclination angle of the terminal device in a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, and the detected angle of the inclination sensor is within a predetermined range. When outside the angle, reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is prohibited.

  According to a second portable information terminal device of the present invention, in a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, an inclination sensor that detects an inclination angle of the terminal device, and an angle detected by the inclination sensor is outside a predetermined range angle. And a control means for prohibiting reading of information from outside by the non-contact IC card function.

  According to a third portable information terminal device of the present invention, in a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, an inclination sensor that detects an inclination angle of the terminal device, and a detection angle of the inclination sensor is a predetermined range angle. When reading outside information by the non-contact IC card function is prohibited when outside, and once it is detected that the angle is within a predetermined range angle, the information is read regardless of the detected angle for a predetermined time thereafter. And a control means for permitting the above.

  Further, in the portable information terminal device of the present invention, the tilt sensor may detect each inclination of the portable information terminal device in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

  The portable information terminal device of the present invention may further include an operation unit that sets the predetermined range angle by key input.

  The portable information terminal device of the present invention may further include an operation unit that sets the predetermined time by key input.

  In addition, the portable information terminal device of the present invention may further include display means for displaying a distinction between whether the reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is in a prohibited state or a permitted state.

  The portable information terminal device of the present invention may have a mobile phone function.

  A first control method of the present invention is a method for controlling a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, wherein an inclination angle of the portable information terminal device is detected by a built-in inclination sensor, and the detection of the inclination sensor is performed. When the angle is outside the predetermined range angle, the control unit prohibits reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function.

  According to a second control method of the present invention, in a method for controlling a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, an inclination angle of the portable information terminal device is detected by a built-in inclination sensor, and detection of the inclination sensor is performed. When the angle is outside the predetermined range angle, the control means prohibits reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function, and the control means once detects that the detected angle is within the predetermined range angle. The predetermined time is allowed to read the information of the non-contact IC card function regardless of the detection angle.

  A third control method of the present invention is a control method executed by a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, and determines an inclination angle of the portable information terminal device detected by a built-in inclination sensor. It includes a first procedure and a second procedure for prohibiting reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function when the detection angle is outside a predetermined range angle.

  A fourth control method of the present invention is a control method executed by a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, and determines an inclination angle of the portable information terminal device detected by a built-in inclination sensor. A first procedure, a second procedure for prohibiting reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function when the detection angle is outside the predetermined range angle, and the detection angle is within the predetermined range angle. The predetermined time after once detecting this includes a third procedure for permitting reading of information of the non-contact IC card function regardless of the detection angle.

  In the method for controlling a portable information terminal device of the present invention, a setting input procedure for setting the predetermined range angle by a key operation input may be performed before the first procedure.

  In the method for controlling a portable information terminal device of the present invention, a setting input procedure for setting the predetermined time by a key operation input may be performed at least before the third procedure.

  The method for controlling a portable information terminal device according to the present invention further includes a display procedure for displaying whether the reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is prohibited or permitted. Also good.

  According to the present invention, the risk of reading a non-contact IC card at a timing unintended by the user by judging the detection angle of the tilt sensor and prohibiting or permitting reading from the outside of the non-contact IC card function. Can be greatly reduced.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the portable information terminal device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a portable information terminal function unit 10 and a non-contact IC card function unit 20.

  The portable information terminal function unit 10 realizes main functions as a portable information terminal device such as a PDA, and includes a control unit 11, a memory unit 12, a battery unit 13, a display unit 14, and an operation unit. 15 and an inclination sensor 16. The control unit 11 controls each unit and controls the operation of the portable information function unit 10. The memory unit 12 stores various programs and data used by the control unit 11. The battery unit 13 supplies power to the portable information terminal device 1 and may be rechargeable or replaceable.

  The display unit 14 is a display such as an LCD, and displays various information as a portable information terminal device. The operation unit 15 is a device that is operated by a user to input information / data, and may be any one of a general key switch group, a simplified button group, a pointing device, or a combination thereof. . The tilt sensor 16 is a device that detects how much the mobile information terminal device 1 is tilted from the horizontal plane, and is connected to the control unit 11.

  The non-contact IC card function unit 20 includes a control unit 21 and an antenna unit 22. The control unit 21 realizes a function as a non-contact IC card. The antenna unit 22 transmits / receives data to / from an external reading / writing device using weak radio waves.

  About the external appearance of the portable information terminal device 1, a front surface is shown in FIG. 2 (a) and a back surface is shown in FIG. 2 (b). An example of the usage state is shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows the display unit 14 and the operation unit 15. The antenna unit 22 is built in the position shown in FIG. Normally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the data on the IC card is transferred by holding the back surface of the portable information terminal device 1 over the reading / writing unit 101 provided on the upper part of the non-contact IC card reading / writing device 100. Send and receive and receive various services. Therefore, the portable information terminal device 1 is held over the reading / writing unit 101 while being kept almost horizontal.

  The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the portable information terminal device 1, the control unit 11 of the portable information terminal function unit 10 monitors the detection output of the inclination sensor 16. If it is detected from this detection output that the portable information terminal device 1 is not in a horizontal state (NO in S1), the non-contact IC card function is disabled by an instruction from the control unit 11 to the control unit 21 of the non-contact IC card function unit 20 It is in a state (locked state) (S3). Thereby, data transmission / reception / reading / writing with the outside through the antenna unit 22 is prohibited. When the portable information terminal device 1 is placed in a substantially horizontal state so as to be held over the reading / writing unit 101 as shown in FIG. 3, this is detected by the tilt sensor 16 (YES in S1), and the non-contact IC card function unit from the control unit 11 The non-contact IC card function is enabled (unlocked) by an instruction to the control unit 20 (S2).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inclination sensor 16 of the present embodiment can detect an inclination with respect to the ground (horizontal plane) with the horizontal plane set to 0 ° (degrees) in each of the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In step S1 of FIG. 4, the portable information terminal device 1 is held in the range of + 30 ° (degrees) to −30 ° (degrees) on the X axis and + 30 ° (degrees) to −30 ° (degrees) on the Y axis. It is determined to be in a horizontal state when That is, it is determined that the user intends to access a regular reading / writing device. An image of the inclination within the range of the X axis is shown in FIG. 6A, and an image of the inclination within the range of the Y axis is shown in FIG. 6B. At other angles, it is determined that the device is not in the horizontal state, that is, it is not intended to access the outside, and the non-contact IC card function is disabled (locked state).

  As described above, in the portable information terminal device according to the present embodiment, the risk of reading the non-contact IC card at a timing not intended by the user is obtained by using the tilt sensor to switch the non-contact IC card function between valid and invalid. The sex can be greatly reduced. Since the determination is based on the detection angle, the lock is released when the portable information terminal is in a horizontal state in a bag or the like. In this case, the reading device is directly below or above the bag. The risk of eavesdropping is considered to be much lower than the pocket of clothes. In addition, when the lock function according to the present invention is set to the first operation mode and the known lock function based on the personal identification number is set to the second operation mode, the operation mode can be switched by the user's operation, and when it is put in the pocket of the clothes (that is, immediately The first operation mode may be switched to the first operation mode (when it is expected to be used), and it may be switched to the second operation mode at other times (for example, separated from the hand and placed in a bag).

  Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone will be described with reference to FIG. The portable information terminal device 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a portable information terminal function unit 30 and a non-contact IC card function unit 40.

  The mobile information terminal function unit 30 is a mobile phone function unit, and realizes main functions as a mobile phone terminal device, and includes a control unit 31, a memory unit 32, a battery unit 33, a display unit 34, and the like. , An operation unit 35, a tilt sensor 36, a radio unit 37, an audio processing unit 38, a speaker and a microphone. The control unit 31 controls each unit and controls the operation of the mobile phone function unit 30. The memory unit 32 stores various programs and data used by the control unit 11. The battery unit 33 supplies power to the portable information terminal device 2 and may be rechargeable or replaceable.

  The display unit 34 is a display such as an LCD, and displays various information as a portable information terminal device. The operation unit 35 is a device for a user to operate and input information, and may be any one of a general key switch group, a simplified button group, a pointing device, or the like, or a combination thereof. The tilt sensor 36 is a device that detects how much the mobile information terminal device 2 is tilted from the horizontal plane, and is connected to the control unit 31. The wireless unit 37 has a wireless function for communicating with a wireless base station using a wireless antenna. The voice data transmitted / received to / from the radio base station under the control of the control unit 31 is converted by the voice processing unit 38, and the user can talk using the speaker and the microphone.

  The non-contact IC card function unit 40 includes a control unit 41 and an antenna unit 42. The control part 41 implement | achieves the function as a non-contact IC card. The antenna unit 42 transmits / receives data to / from an external reading / writing device using weak radio waves.

  Also in this embodiment, the control operation of the tilt sensor 36 and the control unit 31 based on the detection result is the same as that shown in FIG. Thus, the present invention can also be applied to a mobile phone terminal.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, when the reading / writing unit of the non-contact IC card of the external device such as the storefront terminal is installed perpendicular to the ground, it is locked and is not The contact IC card function cannot be used. As an example, FIG. 8 shows a beverage vending machine 200 having a non-contact IC card reading / writing function. Since the reading / writing unit 201 of the non-contact IC card is on the front surface of the vending machine 200, it does not become horizontal when trying to read the non-contact IC card.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the internal block configuration is the same as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7, but the control operation is different, and a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) after the horizontal state is detected by the tilt sensor. The non-contact IC card function is enabled regardless of the angle detection result of the tilt sensor. This operation is shown in FIG.

  When the non-contact IC card function built in the portable information terminal device 1 is not used, it starts from the locked state shown in step S11 of FIG. 9 and waits for the horizontal state to be detected. When the user once sets the portable information terminal device 1 in a horizontal state and the inclination sensor 16 detects this (S12), the non-contact IC card function is controlled to be in an effective state (S13). At this time, the fact that the non-contact IC card function has been unlocked is displayed on the display unit 14 (S14). The valid state (unlocked state) of the non-contact IC card function is maintained for 5 seconds regardless of the subsequent angle detection of the tilt sensor 16. When 5 seconds have elapsed (S15), the display unit 14 displays that the non-contact IC card function is locked again (S16), and the non-contact IC card function is controlled to be invalid (locked state) (S17). .

  As a result, the user holds the portable information terminal device in a horizontal state for a moment just before using the non-contact IC card, and holds it over the reading / writing device within 5 seconds. As shown in FIG. / A storefront terminal device in which the writing unit 201 is not level with respect to the ground can receive a service using the non-contact IC card function.

  Further, by displaying the distinction between the locked state / unlocked state of the non-contact IC card function on the display units 14 and 34, it is possible to instantaneously determine the current state, and convenience is improved. In other words, the user immediately recognizes that the contactless IC card function is disabled (locked state) even if more than 5 seconds have passed since the portable information terminal device was leveled and held over the reading / writing device. The mobile information terminal device can be leveled again and unlocked.

  In addition, this invention is not limited only to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in each embodiment, the allowable angle for horizontal detection is within a range of 30 ° (degrees) from the horizontal in each of the X and Y axis directions, but is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the horizontal allowable range angle of the tilt sensors 16 and 36 may be set and changed by an operation input from the operation units 15 and 35.

  In addition, although the predetermined time for continuing the unlocking in the third embodiment has been described as 5 seconds, it is not limited to 5 seconds and can be changed as appropriate. The user may set and input an arbitrary number of seconds from the operation units 15 and 35.

  Also in the first and second embodiments, the distinction between the locked state / unlocked state of the non-contact IC card function may be displayed on the display units 14 and 34 as in the third embodiment.

It is a block diagram which shows 1st embodiment of this invention. The external appearance of the portable information terminal device of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a figure which shows a front surface, (b) is a figure which shows a back surface. It is a figure which shows an example of the use condition of the portable information terminal device of FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the inclination sensor in 1st embodiment of this invention. The example of the inclination state in 1st embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a figure which shows the inclination of a X-axis direction, (b) shows the inclination of a Y-axis direction. It is a block diagram which shows 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is an external view which shows an example of the vending machine which uses 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable information terminal device 10 Portable information terminal function part 11 Control part 12 Memory part 13 Battery part 14 Display part 15 Operation part 16 Inclination sensor 20 Non-contact IC card function part 21 Control part 22 Antenna part 2 Portable information terminal apparatus 30 Mobile telephone Function unit 31 Control unit 32 Memory unit 33 Battery unit 34 Display unit 35 Operation unit 36 Tilt sensor 37 Radio unit 38 Audio processing unit 40 Non-contact IC card function unit 41 Control unit 42 Antenna unit 100 Reading / writing device 101 Reading / writing Inserting part 200 Vending machine 201 Reading / writing part

Claims (15)

In a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function, a built-in tilt sensor that detects the tilt angle of the terminal device, and when the detected angle of the tilt sensor is outside a predetermined range angle, the non-contact IC card function A portable information terminal device that prohibits reading of information from outside by means of. In a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
A tilt sensor for detecting the tilt angle of the terminal device;
Control means for prohibiting reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function when the detection angle of the tilt sensor is outside a predetermined range angle;
A portable information terminal device comprising: In a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
A tilt sensor for detecting the tilt angle of the terminal device;
When the detected angle of the tilt sensor is outside the predetermined range angle, reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is prohibited, and once it is detected that the angle is within the predetermined range angle, a predetermined time thereafter Is a control means for permitting reading of the information regardless of the detection angle;
A portable information terminal device comprising: The portable information terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inclination sensor detects an inclination of each of the portable information terminal device in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction. The portable information terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising an operation unit that sets the predetermined range angle by an operation input. The portable information terminal device according to claim 3, further comprising an operation unit that sets the predetermined time by an operation input. 7. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising display means for displaying whether the reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is in a prohibited state or a permitted state. The portable information terminal device described in 1. The portable information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the portable information terminal device has a cellular phone function. In a method for controlling a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
An inclination angle of the portable information terminal device is detected by a built-in inclination sensor,
When the detection angle of the tilt sensor is outside the predetermined range angle, the control means prohibits reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function,
A method for controlling a portable information terminal device. In a method for controlling a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
An inclination angle of the portable information terminal device is detected by a built-in inclination sensor,
When the detection angle of the tilt sensor is outside a predetermined range angle, the control means prohibits reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function,
The control means permits reading of information of the non-contact IC card function for a predetermined time after once detecting that the detection angle is within a predetermined range angle, regardless of the detection angle.
A method for controlling a portable information terminal device. A control method executed by a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
A first procedure for determining a tilt angle of the portable information terminal device detected by a built-in tilt sensor;
A second procedure for prohibiting reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function when the detection angle is outside a predetermined range angle;
A method for controlling a portable information terminal device, comprising: A control method executed by a portable information terminal device having a non-contact IC card function,
A first procedure for determining a tilt angle of the portable information terminal device detected by a built-in tilt sensor;
A second procedure for prohibiting reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function when the detection angle is outside a predetermined range angle;
A third procedure for permitting reading of information of the non-contact IC card function for a predetermined time after once detecting that the detection angle is within a predetermined range angle;
A method for controlling a portable information terminal device, comprising: The method for controlling a portable information terminal device according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a setting input procedure for setting the predetermined range angle by an operation input is performed before the first procedure. 13. The method of controlling a portable information terminal device according to claim 12, wherein a setting input procedure for setting the predetermined time by an operation input is performed at least before the third procedure. 15. The display procedure according to claim 11, further comprising: a display procedure for displaying a discrimination as to whether reading of information from the outside by the non-contact IC card function is in a prohibited state or a permitted state. The control method of the portable information terminal device described in 1.

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