KR20040069516A - Portable terminal having power-saving mode function and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable terminal having a power saving mode function and a control method thereof are disclosed. A portable terminal having a power saving mode function for reducing power consumption according to the present invention is an input unit for receiving user event information, a communication module for communicating with an external device and receiving external event information, and being operated in a power saving mode. When the external event information is received, the power saving mode is switched to the activation mode, and if the user event information is not input within a predetermined time after the completion of the external event in the activation mode, the control unit is provided with a power saving mode. As a result, it is not necessary to wait until the set waiting time elapses to enter the power saving mode, thereby reducing power consumption, and switching to the power saving mode automatically without the user's separate operation. Can be provided.

Description

Portable terminal having power saving mode function and its control method {Portable terminal having power-saving mode function and control method

The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a power saving mode function and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a portable terminal having a peak mode function capable of efficiently controlling power consumption according to a use condition of the portable terminal and a control method thereof. It is about.

Recently, with the development of digital technology, various portable terminals such as cellular phones, HPC (Hand Held PC), PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and notebook computers have been released. Early portable terminals were simply mobile devices, and had a function of generating, processing, and outputting various data desired by a user in a mobile environment. However, in addition to data management functions such as schedule management, address book, and notepad, the latest portable terminal has a mobile phone function through a telephone module, an MP3 player function through an MP3 module, and an Internet function using a LAN module.

In addition, the portable terminal uses a detachable thin battery device to enhance portability. The battery device mounted on the portable terminal is usually limited in size for convenience of portability, so that the time for driving the portable terminal is also limited. Therefore, the portable terminal has a structure that can be recharged by receiving power from the outside when the power charged in the battery device is consumed.

However, when a portable terminal consumes power charged in a battery while operating in a situation in which power cannot be supplied from the outside, there is a problem in that it cannot continue to perform a necessary operation. In this case, the portable terminal has a power saving mode.

In order to reduce power consumption, the conventional portable terminal checks the non-use time, and when the non-use time reaches a preset time, the power consumption element is turned off, for example, the display device is turned off, and the communication request signal is received from the outside or key input is received. The device is operated in a power saving mode that maintains only a function of detecting whether a signal is input.

When an event (call reception, message reception, alarm operation) occurs from the outside while the power saving mode is being operated, the portable terminal wakes up and switches to the active mode. When the external event task ends in the activation mode, the conventional portable terminal remains in the event termination state, that is, the activation mode state, regardless of the previous operation mode state.

The conventional portable terminal saves power only when the idle time has elapsed as much as the set standby time to determine whether the PDA is in the active mode again in order to switch the activation mode to the power saving mode. The mode is switched. In this case, there is a problem that unnecessary power is consumed in waiting time to enter the power saving mode in the non-use state. In particular, when a long time is set for determining whether to switch to the power saving mode, unnecessary power is consumed more.

As described above, the portable terminal having the conventional power saving mode function cannot enter the power saving mode only after the set waiting time has elapsed, regardless of the previous operation mode, and thus the power consumption cannot be properly controlled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a portable terminal having a power saving function capable of automatically reducing power consumption by switching to a power saving mode when an external event occurs in a power saving mode and maintaining an unused state for a predetermined time after the event termination. It is to provide a control method.

1 is a block diagram of a PDA device having a power saving mode function according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a PDA device having a power saving mode function shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: PDA device 110: input unit

120: display unit 130: interface unit

140: storage unit 150: communication module

160: control unit

In order to solve the above technical problem, a portable terminal having a power saving mode function for reducing power consumption according to the present invention, an input unit for receiving user event information, and communicates with an external device, and receives external event information When the external event information is received while the communication module is operating in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is switched to an activation mode, and the user event information is not input within a predetermined time after the external event is terminated in the activation mode. And a control unit for switching the activation mode to the power saving mode.

Here, the external event is characterized in that at least one of the telephone reception and the SMS received input through the communication module.

The controller may switch the power saving mode to the activation mode even when an event by a preset alarm function is generated in the power saving mode, but the event information is not input from the user within the predetermined time after the alarm ends. When the activation mode is switched to the power saving mode.

The predetermined time may be changed by the user and may be set to be shorter than the set waiting time for determining whether to switch to the power saving mode from the activation mode.

On the other hand, in order to solve the above technical problem, a control method of a portable terminal having a power saving mode function for reducing power consumption according to the present invention, in the power saving mode, whether or not event information is received from an external device; And determining that the external event information has been received. If the user event information is not input within a predetermined time after the completion of the external event in the activation mode, the power saving mode is switched to the activation mode. Transitioning to a power saving mode.

The external event may be at least one of a call request signal and an SMS transmission signal from the external device.

In addition, the switching step is performed even when an event by a preset alarm function occurs in the power saving mode.

The predetermined time may be changed by the user and may be set to be shorter than the set waiting time for determining whether to switch to the power saving mode from the activation mode.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a PDA device having a power saving function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the PDA device 100 includes an input unit 110, a display unit 120, an interface unit 130, a storage unit 140, a communication module 150, and a controller 160.

The input unit 110 includes a plurality of function keys such as a power button, a direction key button, and a quick launch button for selecting a function supported by the PDA device 100. The input unit 110 outputs event information input from the user to the controller 160. Here, the event information input from the user refers to the generation of an operation or an event generated by the user operating the function keys included in the input unit 110.

The display unit 120 displays an operation state of the PDA device 100 under the control of the controller 160 to be described later. As the display unit 120, a liquid crystal display (LCD) may be applied. In addition, the display 120 is a touch screen panel (Touch Screen Panel) that can be input by touching the menu screen and data screen displayed on the display screen with a stylus pen. Accordingly, the user may input data or commands by touching the touch screen panel.

The interface unit 130 may be connected to an external device (not shown) to support mutual data communication between the external device and the controller 160. The interface unit 130 may include a key input interface unit (not shown) provided to be connected to an external key input device such as a keyboard, an external input interface unit provided to be connected to an external input device such as a flash memory, a barcode scanner, or a digital camera ( And a display device interface unit (not shown) provided to be connectable to an external display device such as a television. As the interface unit 130, a USB port, an infrared ray (IrDA) port, and a PCMCIA slot for wireless data communication may be applied.

The storage 140 stores an operation program of the controller 160 and various reference data necessary for implementing the functions of the PDA device 100, and temporarily stores data according to program execution of the controller 160.

The communication module 150 is a module for communicating with an external communication device. The communication module 150 performs call setting when a communication request signal is received from the input unit 110 or an external communication device, and communicates with an external communication device when the call setting is normally performed. External communication devices capable of communicating with the controller 160 and the PDA device 100 through the communication module 150 include cellular phones and PCS phones.

When power is applied to the PDA device 100, the controller 160 controls the overall operation of the PDA device 100 according to a control program stored in the storage 140.

When external event information is received through the communication module 150 while the PDA device 100 is operating in a power saving mode, the controller 160 switches the operation mode to an activation mode so as to perform an external event. Here, the power saving mode means keeping only the elements involved in performing the functions currently used among various functions supported by the PDA device 100 and turning off the remaining elements. For example, when the controller 160 communicates with an external communication device (eg, a cellular phone) through a communication module, it means that only the signal channel with the communication module is maintained and other signal channels are turned off. . Alternatively, when the PDA device 100 is operated in the MP3 mode, when the display information does not need to be displayed through the display unit 120, the display unit 120 is turned off. In general, in the case of the LCD applied to the display unit 120, the power consumption is large. Therefore, when the display unit 120 does not need to be operated, power consumption may be reduced by turning off the LCD. The external event information refers to an operation or event (event) generated regardless of the user's intention such as a call request signal and an SMS transmission signal from an external communication device. In addition, the controller 160 switches the power saving mode to the activation mode even when an event by a preset alarm time as well as external event information received from an external communication device is generated.

When the controller 160 is switched to the activation mode, the controller 160 outputs a signal indicating an event occurrence through the display 120 and a speaker (not shown). The controller 160 determines whether event information is input from the user in response to the event notification signal. If it is determined that the user event information is input, the controller 160 processes an operation corresponding to the event information input from the user.

On the contrary, when the external event is terminated in the state where the user event information is not input, the controller 160 counts a predetermined time from the end time of the event and determines whether the event information is input from the user within the predetermined time. Here, the predetermined time is a time set by the user, and is set to switch back to the power saving mode within a few seconds according to the user's operation when the power saving mode is switched to the activation mode by an external event. That is, this time is set shorter than the set waiting time to determine whether to switch to the power saving mode by counting the non-use time in the active mode.

If it is determined that the user event information is not input within a predetermined time from when the external event ends, the controller 160 switches the operation mode to the power saving mode.

On the contrary, if it is determined that the event information is input from the user within a predetermined time while performing the task corresponding to the external event information, the controller 160 performs an operation corresponding to the event information input by the user. As such, when an event is performed by a user's operation, the controller 160 determines whether the non-use state has elapsed for a predetermined time to determine whether to switch to the power saving mode in the same manner as the normal method. Switch to

In the above, when the event is terminated without the user's operation after the end of the event is determined to switch to the activation mode by the external event in the power saving mode state, counting a predetermined time from the end of the event within the predetermined time If user event information is not input, it is converted to power saving mode. However, it may be implemented to switch to the power saving mode when the user event information is not input within a predetermined time by counting a predetermined time from the time when the event notification signal is output.

Hereinafter, a method of controlling a PDA device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

If some elements of the PDA device 100 are operating in the power saving mode (S200), the controller 160 determines whether an event has occurred from the outside (210).

In operation S210, when it is determined that an external event has occurred, the controller 160 releases the power saving mode and switches the operation mode to the activation mode (S220). Then, some elements that were operating in the power saving mode are switched to the active mode through the wake-up operation. When the operation mode is switched to the activation mode, the controller 160 outputs a message indicating that an event is generated through the display 120 and a speaker (not shown) (S230). For example, when the call request signal is received from an external communication device, the controller 160 displays a message indicating that the call request signal has been received through the display unit 120 and a message from which the user can select whether to permit the call. Output At the same time, the ringtone is output through the speaker.

In addition, the controller 160 determines whether event information is input from the user in response to a message informing of event occurrence (S240). In operation S240, when it is determined that event information is input from the user, an operation corresponding to event information input from the user is performed (S250). At this time, when the user event information is a call permission signal, the communication mode is switched to communicate with an external communication device requesting a call. In contrast, when the user event information is a call rejection signal, communication with the external communication device is terminated.

On the other hand, when the external event is terminated in the state that the event information is not input from the user (S260), the controller 160 determines whether or not the event information is input from the user within a predetermined time from the time when the event is terminated (S270). .

If it is determined in step S270 that event information is input from the user within a predetermined time, the controller 160 proceeds to step S250 to process an operation corresponding to the event input from the user.

In contrast, if it is determined in step S270 that event information is not input from the user within a predetermined time, the controller 160 switches the operation mode to the power saving mode (S280).

As described above, when an event occurs from the outside while the PDA device 100 is operating in the power saving mode, the PDA device 100 is switched to the activation mode. When the event generated without the user's operation in the activation mode ends, it may be determined whether or not the event information is input from the user within a predetermined time from the end time to automatically switch to the power saving mode. Therefore, the power consumption can be reduced, thereby extending the life of the rechargeable battery.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. I will understand. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims below and equivalents thereof.

As described above, according to the portable terminal having a power saving function and a control method thereof according to the present invention, when an event is generated from the outside while the power saving mode is being operated, the portable terminal is switched to the activation mode, and the user is activated for a predetermined time in the activation mode. If the event information is not input, the operation mode can be automatically switched to the power saving mode. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced because it is not necessary to wait until the set waiting time elapses to enter the power saving mode. In addition, when switching to the power saving mode can be automatically switched without the user's separate operation can provide a user convenience.

Claims (8)

A portable terminal having a power saving mode function for reducing power consumption, An input unit for receiving user event information; A communication module for communicating with an external device and receiving external event information; And When the external event information is received while operating in the power saving mode, the power saving mode is switched to an activation mode, and when the user event information is not input within a predetermined time after the external event is terminated in the activation mode, the activation mode is activated. And a control unit for switching to the power saving mode. The method of claim 1, The external event is a portable terminal having a power saving mode function, characterized in that at least any one of the telephone reception and SMS received input through the communication module. The method of claim 1, The control unit switches the power saving mode to the activation mode even when an event by a preset alarm function occurs in the power saving mode, and when the event information is not input from the user within the predetermined time after the alarm ends. A portable terminal having a power saving mode function, characterized by switching an activation mode to the power saving mode. The method according to claim 1 or 3, The predetermined time is changeable by the user, and a portable terminal having a power saving mode function characterized in that it is set shorter than the set standby time to determine whether to switch to the power saving mode in the activation mode. In the control method of a portable terminal having a power saving mode function for reducing power consumption, In the power saving mode, determining whether event information is received from an external device; And If it is determined that the external event information has been received, the power saving mode is switched to an activation mode, and if the user event information is not input within a predetermined time after the external event is terminated in the activation mode, the activation mode is switched to the power saving mode. Control method of a portable terminal having a power saving mode function comprising a. The method of claim 5, And the external event is at least one of a call request signal and an SMS transmission signal from the external device. The method of claim 5, The switching step is a control method of a portable terminal having a power saving mode function, characterized in that is performed even when an event by a preset alarm function in the power saving mode. The method of claim 6, The predetermined time may be changed by the user, and the control method of the portable terminal having a power saving mode function, characterized in that it is set shorter than the set standby time for determining whether to switch to the power saving mode from the activation mode.