U.S. patent application number 15/824362 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-22 for control method for communication terminal connectable to wearable terminal via network.
This patent application is currently assigned to PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AME RICA. The applicant listed for this patent is PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Invention is credited to Hideshi AOKI, Tetsuji FUCHIKAMI, Kazuki FUNASE, Akinori OZEKI.
Application Number | 20180084072 15/824362 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58189538 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180084072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
AOKI; Hideshi ; et
al. |
March 22, 2018 |
CONTROL METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION TERMINAL CONNECTABLE TO WEARABLE
TERMINAL VIA NETWORK
Abstract
A method includes controlling a communication terminal, which is
connected to a wearable terminal via a network, to notify
notification information that includes push notification to a user,
without transmitting the notification information to the wearable
terminal when both the communication terminal and the wearable
terminal are in use, and transmitting the notification information
to the wearable terminal when the communication terminal is not in
use and the wearable terminal is in use.
Inventors: |
AOKI; Hideshi; (Osaka,
JP) ; FUCHIKAMI; Tetsuji; (Osaka, JP) ;
FUNASE; Kazuki; (Osaka, JP) ; OZEKI; Akinori;
(Osaka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA |
Torrance |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CORPORATION OF AME RICA
Torrance
CA
|
Family ID: |
58189538 |
Appl. No.: |
15/824362 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15209857 |
Jul 14, 2016 |
9860330 |
|
|
15824362 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 10/00 20180101;
G06F 1/1626 20130101; H04M 1/72552 20130101; G06F 1/3209 20130101;
G06F 1/1698 20130101; H04L 67/26 20130101; H04M 1/7253 20130101;
H04B 1/385 20130101; G06F 1/3231 20130101; G06F 3/04883 20130101;
G06F 1/163 20130101; G06F 1/3234 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725; H04B 1/3827 20060101
H04B001/3827; G06F 3/0488 20060101 G06F003/0488 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2015 |
JP |
2015-174698 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: controlling a communication terminal, which
is connected to a wearable terminal via a network, to notify
notification information that includes push notification to a user,
without transmitting the notification information to the wearable
terminal when both the communication terminal and the wearable
terminal are in use, and transmitting the notification information
to the wearable terminal when the communication terminal is not in
use and the wearable terminal is in use.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the communication
terminal has a high priority relative to the wearable terminal, to
notify the notification information to the user when both the
communication terminal and the wearable terminal are in use.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the notification
information further includes information indicating a notification
intensity, biological information about the user is received from
the wearable terminal, the biological information having been
detected by the wearable terminal, the biological information
including a value indicating a degree of activity of a user, and
when the notification information is transmitted to the wearable
terminal, the larger a value indicating a degree of activity of the
user is included in the received biological information, the higher
is the notification intensity, indicated by information included in
the notification information to be transmitted to the wearable
terminal.
4. A non-transitory recording medium storing thereon a computer
program, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor
to perform operations comprising: controlling a communication
terminal, which is connected to a wearable terminal via a network,
to notify notification information that includes push notification
to a user, without transmitting the notification information to the
wearable terminal when both the communication terminal and the
wearable terminal are in use, and transmitting the notification
information to the wearable terminal when the communication
terminal is not in use and the wearable terminal is in use.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 15/209,857, filed Jul. 14, 2016, which claims
priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-174698, filed Sep.
4, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a control method, a
communication terminal, a communication system, and a
non-transitory recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] There is a known wearable terminal that is attachable to
part of the body of a user such as the user's arm or head. This
type of wearable terminal has a communication function, so it can
communicate with a communication terminal such as a smartphone.
[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2015-41829, for example, discloses a technology by which a user can
use a wearable terminal attached to the user to transmit and
receive a message through an information processing apparatus that
the user possesses.
[0005] According to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application
Publication No. 2015-41829, if an event of which the user is
notified by a smartphone or another communication terminal, such
as, for example, a reception of a message or a notification of an
application, occurs, a wearable terminal paired with the
communication terminal is also notified of the event. Therefore,
the user can simply know the contents of the event by checking the
notification from the wearable terminal, without having to check
the information processing apparatus each time an event occurs.
SUMMARY
[0006] Since a wearable terminal is used by being attached to part
of the body of the user such as the user's arm or head, however,
when a notification by a sound or vibration is transmitted to the
wearable terminal, the user may react hypersensitive to the
notification. That is, the technology disclosed in Japanese
Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-41829 is
problematic in that since a notification by a sound or vibration is
transmitted to the wearable terminal, the activity of the user is
impaired.
[0007] Under the present circumstances, the inability of mounting a
battery with a sufficient capacity is a tradeoff for making the
wearable terminal compact and lightweight. Therefore, the
notification that impairs the activity of the user is not necessary
and further has the problem that the battery is consumed
unnecessarily.
[0008] One non-limiting and exemplary embodiment provides a
communication terminal controlling method, a communication
terminal, a communication system, and a non-transitory recording
medium that can suppress the activity of the user from being
impaired and can also suppress a battery in a wearable terminal
from being consumed.
[0009] In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature
a communication terminal controlling method by which a processor in
a communication terminal that can be connected to a wearable
terminal via a network is caused to control the communication
terminal, the wearable terminal being attachable to part of the
body of a user. The processor stores, in a memory in the
communication terminal, a push notification in an application
installed in the communication terminal; the processor detects
whether the communication terminal is being manipulated; if it has
been detected that the communication terminal is not being
manipulated, the processor makes a control so that notification
information that includes information indicating the push
notification is transmitted to the wearable terminal; if it has
been detected that the communication terminal is being manipulated,
the processor makes a control so that a notifier in the
communication terminal is notified of the information indicating
the push notification without transmitting the notification
information to the wearable terminal.
[0010] According to this disclosure, a communication terminal
controlling method and the like can be achieved that can suppress
the activity of the user from being impaired and can also suppress
a battery in a wearable terminal from being consumed.
[0011] It should be noted that general or specific embodiments may
be implemented as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a
computer program, a storage medium, or any selective combination
thereof.
[0012] Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed
embodiments will become apparent from the specification and
drawings. The benefits and/or advantages may be individually
obtained by the various embodiments and features of the
specification and drawings, which need not all be provided in order
to obtain one or more of such benefits and/or advantages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the entire structure of a
communication system in an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the entire structure of
another communication system in an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the hardware structure of a
computer that implements functions of a communication terminal in
an embodiment with software;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
structure of the communication terminal in the embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a
controller in FIG. 4 in detail;
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a push notification in an application,
the push notification being in an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an
operation of the communication terminal in the embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of
another operation of the communication terminal in the
embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the example of the other
operation of the communication terminal in FIG. 8; and
[0022] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of yet
another operation of the communication terminal in the
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] In a control method, in one aspect of the present
disclosure, by which a processor in a communication terminal that
can be connected to a wearable terminal via a network is caused to
control the communication terminal, the wearable terminal being
attachable to part of the body of a user: the processor stores, in
a memory in the communication terminal, a push notification in an
application installed in the communication terminal; the processor
detects whether the communication terminal is being manipulated; if
it has been detected that the communication terminal is not being
manipulated, the processor makes a control so that notification
information that includes information indicating the push
notification is transmitted to the wearable terminal; if it has
been detected that the communication terminal is being manipulated,
the processor makes a control so that a notifier in the
communication terminal is notified of the information indicating
the push notification without transmitting the notification
information to the wearable terminal.
[0024] Accordingly, while the user is operating the communication
terminal, the user can check a push notification on the
communication terminal, so it possible to prevent a further push
notification from being indicated to the wearable terminal while
the user is operating the communication terminal. This can suppress
the activity of the user with the wearable terminal attached from
being impaired and can also suppress a battery in the wearable
terminal from being consumed.
[0025] For example, the communication terminal may have a display.
When the processor is caused to detect whether the communication
terminal is being manipulated, if information is displayed on the
display, the processor may detect that the communication terminal
is being manipulated; if information is not displayed on the
display, the processor may detect that the communication terminal
is not being manipulated.
[0026] For example, the communication terminal may further have an
input acceptor that accepts a manipulation input performed by the
user. When the processor is caused to detect whether the
communication terminal is being manipulated, if the input acceptor
is accepting a manipulation input, the processor may detect that
the communication terminal is being manipulated. If the input
acceptor is not accepting a manipulation input, the processor may
detect that the communication terminal is not being
manipulated.
[0027] For example, assuming that, if the push notification is
neither selected nor viewed on the communication terminal, it has
been detected that the communication terminal is not being
manipulated, a control may be made in the above control so that the
information indicating the push notification is transmitted to the
wearable terminal.
[0028] For example, the communication terminal may further be
connectable to an external server via a network. The communication
terminal may receive the push notification in the application from
the server and may store the push notification in the memory.
[0029] For example, the push notification in the application may be
created by the processor and may be stored in memory.
[0030] For example, in the control method, attachment information
indicating whether the wearable terminal is attached to the user
may be further received from the wearable terminal, it may be
deiced from the received attachment information whether the
wearable terminal is attached to the user, and a control may be
made in the above control so that, if it is decided that the
wearable terminal is not attached to the user, then even if it is
detected that the communication terminal is not being manipulated,
the notifier in the communication terminal is notified of the
information indicating the push notification without transmitting
the notification information to the wearable terminal.
[0031] Thus, when the wearable terminal is not attached to the
user, it is possible to prevent a push notification from being
indicated to the wearable terminal. Therefore, it is possible to
suppress the battery in the wearable terminal from being
consumed.
[0032] For example, if it is detected that the wearable terminal is
attached to the user and it has been detected that the
communication terminal is not being manipulated, a control may be
made in the above control so that the notification information is
transmitted to the wearable terminal.
[0033] For example, the notification information may further
include information indicating a notification intensity. In the
above control method, biological information about the user may be
further received from the wearable terminal, the biological
information having been detected by the wearable terminal. In a
control to transmit the notification information to the wearable
terminal, a control may be made so that the larger a value
indicating the degree of the user's activity is, the value being
included in the received biological information, the higher the
notification intensity indicated by information included in the
notification information to be transmitted to the wearable terminal
is.
[0034] Accordingly, in a case in which the user with the wearable
terminal attached is exercising or is under tension, it is possible
to prevent the user from failing to notice (being unable to
recognize) a push notification of which the user has been notified.
That is, even if the user with the wearable terminal attached is
exercising or under tension, it is possible to have the user
recognize a push notification.
[0035] For example, the notification information may further
include information indicating a notification intensity. In the
above control method, acceleration information about the wearable
terminal may be further received from the wearable terminal, the
acceleration information having been detected by the wearable
terminal. In a control to transmit the notification information to
the wearable terminal, a control may be made so that the larger a
value indicated by the received acceleration information is, the
higher the notification intensity indicated by information included
in the notification information to be transmitted to the wearable
terminal is.
[0036] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the user from failing
to notice (being unable to recognize) a push notification of which
the user has been notified because the user with the wearable
terminal attached is exercising or is under tension. That is, even
if the user with the wearable terminal attached is exercising or
under tension, it is possible to have the user recognize a push
notification.
[0037] For example, after it has been decided that the wearable
terminal is not attached to the user, then if attachment
information indicating that the wearable terminal has been attached
to the user is received and it has been detected that the
communication terminal is not being manipulated, a control may be
further made in the above control so that the notification
information is transmitted to the wearable terminal.
[0038] Therefore, it is possible not only to suppress a push
notification from being transmitted to the wearable terminal when
the wearable terminal is not attached to the user, but also to
transmit a push notification to the wearable terminal at a time
when the wearable terminal is attached to the user, that is, at a
time when the user is ready to recognize the contents of a
notification.
[0039] For example, the wearable terminal can be controlled as to
whether the user can manipulate the wearable terminal. After it has
been decided that the wearable terminal is not attached to the
user, then if attachment information indicating that the wearable
terminal has been attached to the user and manipulation control
information indicating that the wearable terminal has been changed
to a state in which the wearable terminal is ready for being
manipulated are received from the wearable terminal and it has been
detected that the communication terminal is not being manipulated,
a control may be further made in the above control so that the
notification information is transmitted to the wearable
terminal.
[0040] Therefore, it is possible to suppress a push notification
from being transmitted to the wearable terminal when the wearable
terminal is not attached to the user. However, at a time when the
user is ready to recognize the contents of a notification, that is,
at a time when the wearable terminal is attached to the user, is
unlocked, and is ready for accepting information indicating a push
notification, the push notification can be transmitted to the
wearable terminal.
[0041] For example, in the control method, a decision may be
further made as to whether the wearable terminal and communication
terminal have been mutually connected via a network. If it is
decided that the wearable terminal and communication terminal have
not been mutually connected, a control may be made in the above
control so that the notifier in the communication terminal is
notified of the information indicating the push notification
without transmitting the notification information to the wearable
terminal. After the wearable terminal and communication terminal
have been decided not to have been mutually connected, then if it
is decided that the wearable terminal and communication terminal
have been mutually connected and it has been detected that the
communication terminal is not being manipulated, a control may be
made so that the notification information is transmitted to the
wearable terminal.
[0042] Therefore, it is possible not only to suppress a push
notification from being transmitted to the wearable terminal when a
connection has not been established between the wearable terminal
and the communication terminal, but also to transmit a push
notification to the wearable terminal at a time when a connection
is established between the wearable terminal and the communication
terminal and the user is ready to recognize the contents of a
notification on the wearable terminal.
[0043] For example, the wearable terminal may be capable of
detecting whether the wearable terminal is attached to the user and
may be capable of notifying the user of information. If the
wearable terminal detects that the wearable terminal is attached to
the user, the user may be notified of the information indicating
the push notification, the information being included in the
notification information.
[0044] For example, the wearable terminal may be capable of
notifying the user of information. The notification information may
further include a notification command that causes the wearable
terminal to notify the user of the information indicating the push
notification, the information being included in the notification
information.
[0045] For example, the wearable terminal may be capable of
notifying the user of information. The notification information may
further include flag information that indicates whether the
communication terminal is being manipulated and may be used by the
wearable terminal to make a decision as to whether to notify the
user of the information indicating the push notification, the
information being included in the notification information.
[0046] A communication terminal in one aspect of the present
disclosure is, for example, a communication terminal that can be
connected to a wearable terminal via a network, the wearable
terminal being attachable to part of the body of a user. The
communication terminal includes a communicator that communicates
with the wearable terminal via the network, a detector that detects
whether the communication terminal is being manipulated, a memory
that stores a push notification in an application installed in the
communication terminal, a notifier that is notified of the
information indicating the push notification in the application,
and a controller that operates so that, if it has been detected by
the detector that the communication terminal is not being
manipulated, the controller causes the communicator to transmit, to
the wearable terminal, notification information that includes the
information indicating the push notification stored in the memory,
and, if it has been detected by the detector that the communication
terminal is being manipulated, the controller notifies the notifier
of the information indicating the push notification without causing
the communicator to transmit the notification information to the
wearable terminal.
[0047] A communication system in one aspect of the present
disclosure is, for example, a communication system that includes a
wearable terminal attachable to part of the body of a user and a
communication terminal connectable to the wearable terminal via a
network. The communication terminal includes a communicator that
communicates with the wearable terminal via the network, a detector
that detects whether the communication terminal is being
manipulated, a memory that stores a push notification in an
application installed in the communication terminal, a notifier
that is notified of the information indicating the push
notification in the application, and a controller that operates so
that, if it has been detected by the detector that the
communication terminal is not being manipulated, the controller
causes the communicator to transmit, to the wearable terminal,
notification information that includes the information indicating
the push notification stored in the memory, and, if it has been
detected by the detector that the communication terminal is being
manipulated, the controller notifies the notifier of the
information indicating the push notification without causing the
communicator to transmit the notification information to the
wearable terminal.
[0048] Upon receipt of the notification information, the wearable
terminal attachable to part of the body of the user, the wearable
terminal being part of the communication system in one aspect of
the present disclosure, may notify the user of the notification
information.
[0049] Embodiments described below are only specific examples of
the present disclosure. Numerals, shapes, constituent elements,
steps, the sequence of these steps, and the like are only examples,
and are not intended to restrict the present disclosure. Of the
constituent elements in the embodiments below, constituent elements
not described in independent claims, each of which indicates the
topmost concept of the present disclosure, will be described as
arbitrary constituent elements. Contents in all embodiments may be
combined.
Embodiment
[0050] Entire Structure
[0051] First, the entire structure of a communication system 1 in
this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of
the entire structure of a communication system in this embodiment.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the entire structure of another
communication system in an embodiment.
[0052] The communication system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 has a
communication terminal 10 and a wearable terminal 11. The
communication system 1 may be a communication system 1A illustrated
in FIG. 2. That is, the communication terminal 10 may be capable of
communicating with an external server 15, as in the communication
system 1A. The external server 15 may be included or may not be
included in the communication system 1A.
[0053] FIGS. 1 and 2 each illustrate an example in which a wearable
terminal 11 is attached to an arm 12 of a user as a band-type
(wristwatch-type) device.
[0054] The wearable terminal 11, which is a device attachable to
part of the body of the user, can be connected to the communication
terminal 10 via a network 13. The wearable terminal 11 can notify
the user of information. The wearable terminal 11 may be capable of
detecting whether the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user.
The method by which the wearable terminal 11 notifies the user is
such that if, for example, the wearable terminal 11 has a display,
the wearable terminal 11 displays information of which the wearable
terminal 11 notifies the user. Alternatively, if the wearable
terminal 11 has a speaker mechanism, the wearable terminal 11 may
generate a sound to indicate that there is information of which the
wearable terminal 11 notifies the user or may generate a voice that
indicate information itself of which the wearable terminal 11
notifies the user. Alternatively, if the wearable terminal 11 has a
vibration mechanism, the wearable terminal 11 may generate a
vibration to indicate that there is information of which the
wearable terminal 11 notifies the user.
[0055] The wearable terminal 11 is not limited to a band-type
(wristwatch-type) device as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
wearable terminal 11 may be an eyeglass-type device or a
head-mounted device. That is, the wearable terminal 11 may be any
device that can be attached to part of the body of the user and can
notify the user of information.
[0056] The network 13 is, for example, a wireless communication
network conforming to Bluetooth (registered trademark) or based on
WiFi.
[0057] The communication terminal 10 is, for example, a computer
that the user can carry, such as a smartphone or tablet. The
communication terminal 10 can be connected to the wearable terminal
11 via the network 13. In the descriptions below, the communication
terminal 10 will be assumed to be a smartphone that has a touch
panel display 106a. Although described later in detail, the
communication terminal 10 displays, on the touch panel display
106a, a push notification in an application installed in the
communication terminal 10, and transmits the push notification to
the wearable terminal 11, for example. In the example in FIG. 1,
the communication terminal 10 creates a push notification in a
specific application by itself. In addition, the communication
terminal 10 may be capable of being connected to the external
server 15 via a network 14 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In this
arrangement, the communication terminal 10 receives the push
notification from the external server 15.
[0058] The network 14 is, for example, the Internet or a WiFi
network. The external server 15 creates a push notification in a
specific application installed in the communication terminal 10 and
transmits the push notification to the communication terminal 10
via the network 14.
[0059] Structure of the Communication Terminal 10
[0060] The communication terminal 10 will be described below in
detail.
[0061] First, the hardware structure of the communication terminal
10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the hardware structure of a
computer that implements functions of the communication terminal 10
in this embodiment with software.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 10 is a
computer that has an input device 1001, an output device 1002, a
central processing unit (CPU) 1003, a built-in storage device 1004,
a random-access memory (RAM) 1005, a read device 1007, a
transmission and reception device 1008, and a bus 1009. The input
device 1001, output device 1002, CPU 1003, built-in storage device
1004, RAM 1005, read device 1007, and transmission and reception
device 1008 are mutually connected through the bus 1009.
[0064] The input device 1001 has buttons, a touch pad, a touch
panel display, or another user interface. The input device 1001
accepts a manipulation performed by the user. In addition to
accepting a contact manipulation performed by the user, the input
device 1001 may accept a voice-based manipulation and a remote
manipulation performed with a remote controller or the like.
[0065] The built-in storage device 1004 is, for example, a flash
memory. In the built-in storage device 1004, programs that
implement the functions of the communication terminal 10 and
applications that use the functions of the communication terminal
10 may be prestored.
[0066] The RAM 1005 is employed to store data and the like that are
used during the execution of programs and applications.
[0067] The read device 1007 reads information from a universal
serial bus (USB) memory and other storage media. From storage media
in which programs and application as described above are stored,
the read device 1007 reads these programs and applications and
stores them in the built-in storage device 1004.
[0068] The transmission and reception device 1008 is a
communication circuit that performs wireless or wired
communication. The transmission and reception device 1008
communicates with, for example, a server device connected to a
network to download programs and applications as described above
and stores them in the built-in storage device 1004.
[0069] The CPU 1003 copies programs and applications stored in the
built-in storage device 1004 to the RAM 1005, and sequentially
reads out commands included in the programs and applications from
the RAM 1005 and executes these the commands.
[0070] Next, the functional constituent elements of the
communication terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 and 5.
[0071] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the
structure of the communication terminal 10 in this embodiment. FIG.
5 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of a controller 101
in FIG. 4 in detail.
[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the communication terminal 10 has
the controller 101, a communicator 102, a memory 103, a detector
104, a notifier 105, and an input acceptor 106.
[0073] The communicator 102, which is implemented by the CPU 1003,
the transmission and reception device 1008, and the like, has a
function that communicates with the wearable terminal 11 via the
network 13. The communicator 102 may have a function that
communicates with the external server 15 illustrated in FIG. 2 via
the network 14. In this embodiment, the communicator 102 can
communicate with the wearable terminal 11 via the network 13, so
the communicator 102 receives, from the wearable terminal 11,
attachment information that indicates whether the wearable terminal
11 is attached to the user. The communicator 102 can communicate
with the external server 15 via the network 14, so the communicator
102 may receive, from the external server 15, a push notification
in an application installed in the communication terminal 10 or a
command that creates the push notification.
[0074] Under control of the controller 101, the communicator 102
transmits, to the wearable terminal 11, notification information
that includes information indicating a push notification stored in
the memory 103.
[0075] The memory 103, which is implemented by the built-in storage
device 1004 and the like, has a function that stores a push
notification in an application installed in the communication
terminal 10. In this embodiment, a push notification created by the
communication terminal 10 is stored in the memory 103. If the
communication terminal 10 receives a push notification from the
external server 15, the received push notification is stored in the
memory 103.
[0076] Now, a push notification, in an application, that is stored
in the memory 103 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG.
6 illustrates a push notification in an application, the push
notification being in this embodiment.
[0077] In a push notification, an application notifies the user of
contents that are permitted to the user in advance, without the
user having to activate the application in the communication
terminal 10. In this embodiment, a plurality of applications that
include at least application A and application B have been
installed in the communication terminal 10. In the example in FIG.
6, the contents of push notifications in application A are a
message, a friend request, and a notice. Of these, the message and
friend request are permitted to the user in advance. Similarly, the
contents of push notifications in application B in the example in
FIG. 6 are an alarm, a reminder, update information, and a notice.
Of these, the reminder and update information are permitted to the
user in advance.
[0078] The notifier 105 has a function that notifies the user of
information indicating a push notification in an application. In
this embodiment, the notifier 105 is the touch panel display 106a
and displays, for example, information indicating a push
notification.
[0079] The notifier 105 is not limited to the touch panel display
106a. For example, the notifier 105 may be a display and may
display information indicating a push notification. Alternatively,
the notifier 105 may have a vibration function and may generate a
vibration to notify the user of information indicating a push
notification. Alternatively, the notifier 105 may have a voice
generating function and may generate a sound to notify the user of
information indicating a push notification.
[0080] The input acceptor 106 has a function that accepts a
manipulation input performed by the user. In this embodiment, the
input acceptor 106 is the touch panel display 106a.
[0081] The detector 104 detects whether the communication terminal
10 is being manipulated. In this embodiment, if information is
displayed on the touch panel display 106a of the communication
terminal 10, the detector 104 detects that the communication
terminal 10 is being manipulated; if information is not displayed
on the touch panel display 106a, the detector 104 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated. In addition,
for example, if the input acceptor 106 is accepting a manipulation
input performed by the user, the detector 104 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated. If the input
acceptor 106 is not accepting a manipulation input, detector 104
detects that the communication terminal 10 is not being
manipulated.
[0082] The controller 101 has functions that control the
communicator 102, memory 103, detector 104, notifier 105, and input
acceptor 106.
[0083] If it has been detected by the detector 104 that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated, the controller
101 causes the communicator 102 to transmit, to the wearable
terminal 11, the notification information that includes the
information indicating the push notification stored in the memory
103. If it has been detected by the detector 104 that the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated, the controller 101
causes the communicator 102 to transmit the information indicating
the push notification to the notifier 105, without causing the
communicator 102 to transmit the notification information to the
wearable terminal 11. In this embodiment, the controller 101 has a
decider 1011, a communication controller 1012, and an intrinsic
functioner 1013, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0084] The intrinsic functioner 1013 is a function that makes a
control so that intrinsic functions of the communication terminal
10 such as a call function and a communication function are
derived. In this embodiment, the intrinsic functioner 1013 creates
a push notification in response to a command to create a push
notification, the command being received at the communicator 102,
and stores the created push notification in the memory 103.
Furthermore, the intrinsic functioner 1013 creates a push
notification in advance so as to use the push notification at a
scheduled time determined by a timer function or a calendar
function and stores the created push notification in the memory
103.
[0085] The decider 1011 decides whether the wearable terminal 11 is
attached to the user. For example, in a case in which the
communicator 102 receives attachment information that indicates
whether the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user, the
decider 1011 may decide whether the wearable terminal 11 is
attached to the user, according to the received attachment
information.
[0086] If it is decided by the decider 1011 that the wearable
terminal 11 is not attached to the user, then even if it has been
detected by the detector 104 that the communication terminal 10 is
not being manipulated, the communication controller 1012 may make a
control so as to notify the notifier 105 in the communication
terminal 10 of information indicating a push notification, without
transmitting the notification information to the wearable terminal
11. If it is decided by the decider 1011 that the wearable terminal
11 is attached to the user and it has been detected by the detector
104 that the communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated,
the communication controller 1012 may make a control so that the
notification information is transmitted to the wearable terminal
11.
[0087] If the push notification stored in the memory 103 (push
notification received at the communicator 102 or push notification
created by the controller 101) is neither selected nor viewed on
the communication terminal 10, the communication controller 1012
may make a control so that notification information that includes
information indicating the push notification is transmitted to the
wearable terminal 11, assuming that the communication terminal 10
is not being manipulated. Cases in which a push notification is
selected or viewed on the communication terminal 10 include, for
example, a case in which the push notification has been already
read on the touch panel display 106a of the communication terminal
10, a case in which the push notification has been already
displayed on the touch panel display 106a of the communication
terminal 10, and a case in which an application that transmits a
push notification has been activated.
[0088] Operations of the Communication Terminal 10
[0089] Next, examples of operations of the communication terminal
10 structured as described above will be described with reference
to FIGS. 7 to 9.
[0090] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an
operation of the communication terminal 10 in this embodiment. An
operation of the communication terminal 10 will be described with
reference to FIG. 7.
[0091] First, if the communication terminal 10 acquires (receives
or creates) a push notification in an application installed in the
communication terminal 10 (the result in S11 is Yes), the
communication terminal 10 stores the push notification in the
memory 103 in the communication terminal 10 (S13). To acquire a
push notification, the communicator 102 may receive a push
notification from the external server 15 via the network 14 or the
controller 101 may create a push notification in an application, as
described above.
[0092] Next, the communication terminal 10 detects whether the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated (S15).
[0093] If the communication terminal 10 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated (the result in S15
is Yes), the communication terminal 10 makes a control so that the
notifier 105 is notified of the information indicating the push
notification that has been stored in the memory 103 in S13 (S19),
without transmitting the notification information to the wearable
terminal 11. If the communication terminal 10 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated (the result in
S15 is No), the communication terminal 10 makes a control so that
the notification information that includes the information
indicating the push notification that has been stored in the memory
103 in S13 is transmitted to the wearable terminal 11 (S17).
[0094] Although, in the example of the operation in FIG. 7, it has
been described that the push notification is indicated without
deciding whether the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user,
it may be decided whether the wearable terminal 11 is actually
attached to the user before the push notification is indicated. An
example of an operation in this case will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0095] FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of
another operation of the communication terminal 10 in this
embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the example of the
other operation of the communication terminal 10 in FIG. 8. The
sequence diagram in FIG. 8 indicates a case in which the
communication terminal 10 receives a push notification from the
external server 15. In FIG. 8, steps that are the same as in FIG. 7
are given the same step numbers.
[0096] First, the external server 15 transmits a push notification
in an application installed in the communication terminal 10 (S20
in FIG. 8).
[0097] Then, the communication terminal 10 acquires (receives) the
push notification in an application installed in the communication
terminal 10 (the result in S11 in FIG. 9 is Yes), after which the
communication terminal 10 stores, in its memory 103, the push
notification in an application installed in the communication
terminal 10 (S13).
[0098] Next, the communication terminal 10 detects whether the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated (S15).
[0099] If the communication terminal 10 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated (the result in
S15 is No), the communication terminal 10 further performs wearable
terminal attachment deciding processing (S26). Specifically, the
communication terminal 10 receives attachment information, which
indicates whether the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user,
from the wearable terminal 11 in S26 (S261), and decides whether
the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user, according to the
received attachment information (S262).
[0100] If the communication terminal 10 decides in S262 that the
wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user (the result in S262 is
Yes), the communication terminal 10 makes a control so that the
notification information that includes the information indicating
the push notification that has been stored in the memory 103 in S13
is transmitted to the wearable terminal 11. Upon receipt of the
notification information that includes the information indicating
the push notification, the wearable terminal 11 notifies the user
of the information indicating the push notification (S171).
[0101] If the communication terminal 10 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is being manipulated (the result in S15
is Yes) or decides that the wearable terminal 11 is not attached to
the user (the result in S262 is No), the communication terminal 10
makes a control so that the notifier 105 in the communication
terminal 10 is notified of the information indicating the push
notification that has been stored in the memory 103 in S13 without
transmitting the notification information to the wearable terminal
11 (S19).
[0102] Although, in the example of the operation illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 9, it has been described that the communication
terminal 10 decides whether the wearable terminal 11 is actually
attached to the user, this is not a limitation. The wearable
terminal 11 itself may decide whether it is actually attached to
the user. An example of an operation in this case will be described
below with reference to FIG. 10.
[0103] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of yet
another operation of the communication terminal 10 in this
embodiment. The sequence diagram in FIG. 10 indicates a case in
which the communication terminal 10 receives a push notification
from the external server 15, as in FIG. 8. In FIG. 10, steps that
are the same as in FIG. 8 are given the same step numbers and their
detailed descriptions will be omitted. Specifically, processing in
S20, S13, S15, S17, and S19 is the same as in FIG. 8, and its
descriptions will be omitted.
[0104] If, in S15, the communication terminal 10 detects that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated (the result in
S15 is No), the communication terminal 10 further performs wearable
terminal attachment deciding processing (S36).
[0105] Specifically, in S36, the communication terminal 10 first
creates notification information that includes flag information or
a notification command (S361) and transmits the notification
information to the wearable terminal 11 (S362). The flag
information indicates whether the communication terminal 10 is
being manipulated and is used by the wearable terminal 11 to make a
decision as to whether to notify the user of information, included
in the notification information, that indicates a push
notification. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the flag
information indicates that the communication terminal 10 is not
being manipulated. The notification command is a command that
causes the wearable terminal 11 to notify the user of the
information, included in the notification information, that
indicates the push notification.
[0106] Next, the wearable terminal 11 decides whether the wearable
terminal 11 is attached to the user (S363). Specifically, when the
wearable terminal 11 receives notification information that
includes a notification command or flag information indicating that
the communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated, the
wearable terminal 11 detects whether the wearable terminal 11 is
attached to the user to make a decision.
[0107] If the wearable terminal 11 decides that the wearable
terminal 11 is attached to the user (the result in S363 is Yes),
the wearable terminal 11 notifies the user of the information
indicating the push notification (S171).
[0108] If the wearable terminal 11 decides that the wearable
terminal 11 is not attached to the user (the result in S363 is No),
the wearable terminal 11 transmits, to the communication terminal
10, attachment information indicating that the wearable terminal 11
is not attached to the user (S364). In this case, when the
communication terminal 10 receives the attachment information
indicating that the wearable terminal 11 is not attached to the
user (S365), the communication terminal 10 makes a control so that
the notifier 105 in the communication terminal 10 is notified of
the information indicating the push notification that has been
stored in the memory 103 in S13 (S19).
[0109] Effects and the Like
[0110] As described above, in the control method in one aspect of
the present disclosure, a processor in the communication terminal
10 that can be connected to the wearable terminal 11 via the
network 13, the wearable terminal 11 being attachable to part of
the body of the user, is caused to control the communication
terminal 10. The processor stores, in the memory 103 in the
communication terminal 10, a push notification in an application
installed in the communication terminal 10; the processor detects
whether the communication terminal 10 is being manipulated; if it
has been detected that the communication terminal 10 is not being
manipulated, the processor makes a control so that notification
information that includes information indicating the push
notification is transmitted to the wearable terminal 11; if it has
been detected that the communication terminal 10 is being
manipulated, the processor makes a control so that the notifier 105
in the communication terminal 10 is notified of the information
indicating the push notification without transmitting the
notification information to the wearable terminal 11.
[0111] Thus, while manipulating the communication terminal 10, the
user can check a push notification on the communication terminal
10, so it is possible to prevent a push notification from being
indicated to the wearable terminal 11 while the user is
manipulating the communication terminal 10. Therefore, it is
possible to suppress the activity of the user with the wearable
terminal 11 attached from being impaired and to suppress a battery
in the wearable terminal 11 from being consumed.
[0112] In the control method in one aspect of the present
disclosure, attachment information indicating whether the wearable
terminal 11 is attached to the user may be further received from
the wearable terminal 11, it may be decided from the received
attachment information whether the wearable terminal 11 is attached
to the user, and a control may be made in the above control so
that, if it is decided that the wearable terminal 11 is not
attached to the user, then even if it is detected that the
communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated, the notifier
105 in the communication terminal 10 is notified of the information
indicating the push notification without transmitting the
notification information to the wearable terminal 11.
[0113] Thus, when the wearable terminal 11 is not attached to the
user, it is possible to prevent a push notification from being
indicated to the wearable terminal 11. Therefore, it is possible to
suppress the battery in the wearable terminal 11 from being
consumed.
[0114] First Modification
[0115] Although, in the above embodiment, it has been described
that, if the communication terminal 10 decides that the wearable
terminal 11 is not attached to the user, the communication terminal
10 does not transmit a push notification to the wearable terminal
11, this is not a limitation. For example, after the communication
terminal 10 has decided that the wearable terminal 11 is not
attached to the user, then if the communication terminal 10
receives attachment information indicating that the wearable
terminal 11 has been attached to the user and it has been detected
that the communication terminal 10 is not being manipulated, the
communication terminal 10 may transmit the push notification to the
wearable terminal 11.
[0116] Therefore, the communication terminal 10 can suppress a push
notification from being transmitted to the wearable terminal 11
when the wearable terminal 11 is not attached to the user. However,
at a time when the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user and
the user is ready to recognize the contents of a notification on
the wearable terminal 11, the communication terminal 10 can
transmit the push notification to the wearable terminal 11.
[0117] Second Modification
[0118] Although, in the above embodiment, it has been described
that a wireless communication network, for example, conforming to
Bluetooth (registered trademark) or based on WiFi has been mutually
connected between the wearable terminal 11 and the communication
terminal 10, this is not a limitation.
[0119] The controller 101 in the communication terminal 10 may
decide whether the wearable terminal 11 and communication terminal
10 have been mutually connected via the network 13. If the
controller 101 decides that the wearable terminal 11 and
communication terminal 10 have not been mutually connected, the
controller 101 can make a control so that the communicator 102
notifies the notifier 105 of the information indicating the push
notification without transmitting the notification information to
the wearable terminal 11. After the wearable terminal and
communication terminal have been decided not to have been mutually
connected, then if the controller 101 decides that the wearable
terminal 11 and communication terminal 10 have been mutually
connected and it has been detected that the communication terminal
10 is not being manipulated, the controller 101 may make a control
so that the communicator 102 transmits the notification information
to the wearable terminal 11.
[0120] Therefore, it is possible to suppress a push notification
from being transmitted to the wearable terminal 11 when a
connection has not been established between the wearable terminal
11 and the communication terminal 10 because, for example, the
wearable terminal 11 is outside the communication range. However,
at a time when a connection is established between the wearable
terminal 11 and the communication terminal 10 because, for example,
the wearable terminal 11 has entered the communication range and a
connection has been restored and the user is ready to recognize the
contents of a notification on the wearable terminal 11, the
communication terminal 10 can transmit the push notification to the
wearable terminal 11.
[0121] Third Modification
[0122] Although, in the above embodiment, it has been described
that, when the wearable terminal 11 is attached to the user, the
wearable terminal 11 is always active (in a state in which
manipulation control is possible, that is, the wearable terminal 11
is unlocked), in which case, for example, a push notification can
be received, this is not a limitation.
[0123] The wearable terminal 11 may be non-active (in a state in
which manipulation control is not possible, that is, the wearable
terminal 11 is locked), in which case the wearable terminal 11
cannot receive a push notification until the user enters a passcode
or a gesture manipulation. That is, the wearable terminal 11 can be
controlled as to whether the user can manipulate the wearable
terminal 11.
[0124] In this case, for example, after the controller 101 in the
communication terminal 10 has decided that the wearable terminal 11
is not attached to the user, then if the controller 101 receives
attachment information indicating that the wearable terminal 11 has
been attached to the user and manipulation control information
indicating that the wearable terminal 11 has been changed to a
state in which the wearable terminal 11 is ready for being
manipulated and it has been detected that the communication
terminal 10 is not being manipulated, the controller 101 may make a
control so that the communicator 102 transmits the notification
information to the wearable terminal 11.
[0125] Therefore, the communication terminal 10 can suppress a push
notification from being transmitted to the wearable terminal 11
when the wearable terminal 11 is not attached to the user. However,
at a time when the user is ready to recognize the contents of a
notification, that is, at a time when the wearable terminal 11 is
attached to the user, is unlocked, and is ready for accepting
information indicating a push notification, the communication
terminal 10 can be transmit the push notification to the wearable
terminal 11.
[0126] Fourth Modification
[0127] Although, in the above embodiment, it has been described
that the wearable terminal 11 can detect whether the wearable
terminal 11 is attached to the user, this is not a limitation. The
wearable terminal 11 may be further capable of detecting biological
information about the user with the wearable terminal 11 attached,
such as the user's heart rate, heart rate, or bloodstream.
[0128] In this case, the communicator 102 in the communication
terminal 10 may transmit, to the wearable terminal 11, notification
information that includes information indicating a notification
intensity besides information indicating the push notification. The
information indicating the notification intensity indicates an
intensity with which the wearable terminal 11 notifies the user of
the information indicating the push notification, the information
being included in the notification information. If vibration of the
wearable terminal 11, for example, is used to notify the user, the
notification intensity is the intensity of the vibration.
Alternatively, if a sound generated by the wearable terminal 11,
for example, is used to notify the user, the notification intensity
is the intensity of the sound.
[0129] Therefore, when the communication terminal 10 receives
biological information about the user, the biological information
having been detected by the wearable terminal 11, from the wearable
terminal 11, the controller 101 in the communication terminal 10
may make a control so that the larger a value indicating the degree
of the user's activity is, the value being included in the received
biological information about the user, the higher the notification
intensity indicated by information included in the notification
information to be transmitted to the wearable terminal 11 is.
[0130] Accordingly, in a case in which the user with the wearable
terminal 11 attached is exercising or is under tension, it is
possible to prevent the user from failing to notice (being unable
to recognize) a push notification of which the user has been
notified. That is, even if the user with the wearable terminal 11
attached is exercising or under tension, it is possible to have the
user recognize a push notification.
[0131] Fifth Modification
[0132] Although, in the fourth modification, a case has been
described in which the wearable terminal 11 can detect biological
information about the user with the wearable terminal 11 attached
such as the user's heart rate, heart rate, or bloodstream, this is
not a limitation. The wearable terminal 11 may be capable of
detecting the acceleration of the wearable terminal 11.
[0133] Specifically, when the communication terminal 10 receives,
from the wearable terminal 11, acceleration information that
indicates the acceleration of the wearable terminal 11, the
acceleration having been detected by the wearable terminal 11, the
controller 101 in the communication terminal 10 may make a control
so that the larger a value indicated by the received acceleration
information about the wearable terminal 11 is, the higher the
notification intensity indicated by information included in the
notification information to be transmitted to the wearable terminal
11 is.
[0134] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the user from failing
to notice (being unable to recognize) a push notification of which
the user has been notified because the user with the wearable
terminal 11 attached is exercising or is under tension. That is,
even if the user with the wearable terminal 11 attached is
exercising or under tension, it is possible to have the user
recognize a push notification.
Other Embodiments and the Like
[0135] The embodiment described above is only an example. It will
be appreciated that various modifications, additions, omissions,
and the like are possible.
[0136] The functions of the decider 1011 and communication
controller 1012 in the controller 101 described above can be shared
in any way. Part or all of the functions of one of these elements
may be included in the other.
[0137] Part or a whole of the operational procedures described
above for the communication terminal 10 and the like may be
implemented by hardware in the communication terminal 10 or the
like or may be implemented by software. Processing by software is
implemented when a processor included in the communication terminal
10 or the like executes a control program stored in a memory. The
control program may be distributed or placed on the market in the
form of being recorded in a recording medium. For example, when the
distributed control program is installed in an apparatus and is
executed by a processor in the apparatus, the apparatus can
perform, for example, part or a whole of the operations of the
communication terminal 10 described above and the like.
[0138] The range of the present disclosure also includes
embodiments implemented by combining arbitrary constituent elements
and functions indicated in the embodiment described above.
[0139] Various comprehensive or specific aspects in the present
disclosure include one of an apparatus, a system, a method, an
integrated circuit, a computer program, a computer-readable
recording medium, and the like or a plurality of combinations
thereof.
[0140] In addition, the present disclosure includes embodiments
obtained by applying various variations that a person having
ordinary skill in the art thinks of to the embodiment described
above, and also includes embodiments implemented by combining
arbitrary constituent elements and functions in various embodiments
without departing from the intended scope of the present
disclosure.
[0141] The present disclosure can be used in, for example, a
communication terminal, such as a smartphone or a tablet, and a
method of controlling the communication terminal. Particularly, the
present disclosure can be used in a method of controlling a
communication terminal, such as a smartphone or a tablet, that can
be connected to a wearable terminal attachable to part of the body
of a user via a network, as well as in a communication terminal, a
communication system, and a program.
* * * * *