Patent Application
20070157271
The present disclosure relates to a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus and an operation control method, by which it is possible to utilize an interactive service.
An interactive service of digital broadcasting is a service in which a user can participate by operating a broadcasting receiving apparatus, which is receiving broadcasting waves, to transmit information through a communication line. In order to enter into such a service, a key operation has to be carried out correctly, in accordance with an instruction displayed on a screen of a program corresponding to an interactive service. Especially, in case of transmitting an answer of a quiz program, or in case of entering into a program such as auction, TV shipping etc. of hot items, a user has such a strong desire that the user must carry out a key operation at short times, and habituation is necessary in order to carry out a correct key operation at short times.
In the mean time, in case of carrying out an interactive service by the use of a fixed mount type (stationary type) digital broadcasting receiving apparatus, an operation method by use of color buttons (4 colors) as an operation section is commonly used. In addition, as one example of this broadcasting receiving apparatus, there is a portable telephone on which a digital broadcasting receiving function is mounted. However, in case of a portable telephone, a lot of operation keys have been already mounted, in association with realization of high performance. Therefore, over fear of such a matter that an operation method becomes complex by adding any further operation keys, it is also considered to respond to it by allocating functions of color buttons to existing operation keys, without newly adding a color button.
Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2001-217904 discloses a technology which enables realization of multiple functions, by utilizing an operation key section, without interfering with miniaturization of a telephone main body and expansion of an area of a display section.
However, transmission of information to an interactive service is carried out by use of a communication line. Therefore, the information cannot be always transmitted by use of a communication line even if digital broadcasting can be received. Especially, in case that a communication line is of wireless, it varies from hour to hours, depending on a position and an environment where the broadcasting receiving apparatus is utilized.
Therefore, not only in case of carrying out an operation by use of a color button, but also in case of carrying out an operation by use of an operation key (button) which is allocated for use in watching digital broadcasting (TV application), there occurs such a problem that a user has to check display for a communication line and check a status of the communication line, in case of transmitting information to an interactive service by use of the communication line.
In addition, especially, in case of a portable telephone on which a digital broadcasting receiving function is mounted, there is a case that the user uses full-screen display to watch the digital broadcasting because of the small screen size. In that case, display for a communication line is omitted, and it is not possible to check a status of the communication line.
In addition, in order to avoid it, if display for a communication line is carried out on a part of a display screen, a data (program) display area of broadcasting waves becomes small, and there occurs such a problem that it becomes difficult for a user to watch a program by the small data display area. Even if viewing difficulty is not concerned, in case that a user concentrates on TV watching, there is also such a problem that the user is not aware of display information for a communication line, which is displayed at an end portion of a display screen.
In addition, in case of carrying out an operation by use of an operation key (button) which is allocated for watching digital broadcasting (TV application), it becomes complex to know which function is allocated to which operation key, and there occurs such a problem that a user transmits information by mistake, and transmits it redundantly.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus, by which it is possible to utilize an interactive service, which can improve user's usability and prevent a user's erroneous operation.
According to an aspect of one or more embodiments of the invention, a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus comprises a judgment section which judges whether or not digital broadcasting corresponding to an interactive service is received, and a control section which enables an operation section corresponding to the interactive service when it is judged by the judgment section that the digital broadcasting is received and transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is possible, and which disables the operation section when it is judged by the judgment section that the digital broadcasting is received and transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is impossible.
In the present invention, preferably, it comprises a light emitting section which illuminates the operation section, and the control section notifies enable/disable of the operation section by light emission control of the light emitting section.
In the present invention, preferably, it comprises a wireless communication section for use in data communication, which can carry out data transmission for the interactive service, and a status judgment section which judges an electromagnetic wave status used by the wireless communication section, and the control section judges whether or not transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is possible based on the electromagnetic wave status judged by the status judgment section.
In the present invention, preferably, the control section controls, when the operation section is operated in a state that the operation section is disabled, holding of information based on the operation and reserving of data transmission and transmitting of the held reserved and held information when data transmission becomes possible.
In the present invention, preferably, the control section cancels transmission reservation and deletes corresponding information, when the reserved data transmission is not carried out within a predetermined period of time.
In the present invention, preferably, the control section obtains the predetermined period of time, from data of the interactive service.
According to another aspect of one or more embodiments of the invention, an operation control method monitors whether or not digital broadcasting corresponding to an interactive service is received, and enables an operation section corresponding to the interactive service when the digital broadcasting is received and transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is possible, and disables the operation section when the digital broadcasting is received and the transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is impossible.
In the present invention, preferably, it is judged whether or not transmission of data corresponding to the interactive service is possible based on a status of wireless communication of a wireless communication business entity to a communication network.
In the present invention, preferably, enable/disable of the operation section is notified by light emission control of the operation section.
Various implementations may include one or more the following advantages. For example, in a digital broadcasting receiving apparatus by which it is possible to utilize an interactive service, a user is easy to use it, and does not carry out an erroneous operation.
The present invention is widely applicable to such a case that a broadcasting receiving function is added to a computer, a portable telephone, a game machine, a camera, a car navigation system or a motion picture reproducing apparatus, etc., especially to a portable type device which is freely movable.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained by using a portable telephone with a broadcasting receiving function (hereinafter, referred to as a portable terminal) as an example.
A portable terminal 1, which is shown graphically, has a function of receiving digital broadcasting.
As a basic configuration for realizing this function, the portable terminal 1 has a display section 2, a telephone receiving section 6, a key operation section 10, a broadcasting antenna section 12, a tuner section 13, a demodulation section 14, a multiple separation section 15, an image processing section 16, a data processing section 17 and a sound processing section 18. The display section 2 displays received program contents or image information and data of a channel selection and other setting screen etc. The telephone receiving section 6 outputs sound. The key operation section 110 carries out various inputs. The broadcasting antenna section 12 receives digital broadcasting waves. The multiple separation section 15 separates a data stream from the demodulation section 14.
The image processing section 16 is constituted by three processing sections and carries out processing to images, data and sound which are separated by the multiple separation section 15.
The above-mentioned each section is controlled by a control section 11, and carries out a predetermined function.
The broadcasting section 12 of the portable terminal 1 receives signals (OFDM modulating signals) which were overlapped with digital broadcasting waves transmitted from an electromagnetic wave tower (not shown in the figure) of a broadcasting station (or for use in relay) placed every receiving coverage. This digital broadcasting waves includes digital broadcasting signals of plural broadcasting stations every frequency band (channel) thereof. A channel selection screen is displayed on the display section 2, and when a user, who saw it, selects one channel from the key operation section 10, channel selection frequency of the tuner section 13 is tuned with frequency of a receiving signal of that selected channel, and the receiving signal of the channel is demodulated by the demodulation section 14, and it is converted into an encode string (data stream) by its A/D conversion function.
The data stream is, then, separated into broadcasting images (moving images), data and sound, in the multiple separation section 15, and the images are sent to the image processing section 16, and the data is sent to the data processing section 17, and the sound is sent to the sound processing section 18. Here, the “data” means, in case that received digital broadcasting corresponds to a service by interactive data (hereinafter, referred to as interactive service), that data. The “data” includes textual information in news flash, TV shipping etc., pictographic information of an operation panel etc. in an operation guide service, sound information such as emergency warning, a still image such as a logo mark of a broadcasting station, and so on. In addition, since it is interactive, in case of sending textual information etc. from the portable terminal 1 side to a broadcasting station, that textual information etc. are one kind of the above-mentioned “data”.
Images (still images and moving images), which are processed by the image processing section 16, the data processing section 17 and the sound processing section 18, are displayed on the display section 2, and sound is outputted from the telephone receiving section 6, a speaker which is not shown in the figure, and so on.
The portable terminal 1 has, as a configuration for realizing a talking function, a communication antenna section 19 for a wireless telephone line, a wireless section 20, and a memory section 21 which stores user data and communication channel information etc.
The wireless section 20 is a communication section for carrying out wireless communication to a communication network of a wireless communication business entity, and although a detail is not especially shown, it has a function of separation/mixing, and in routes of transmission and reception, functions of transmission (reception) processing (down convert, noise rejection and amplification etc.), modulation (demodulation), encoding/decoding, A/D conversion etc.
A configuration for realizing these communication functions is utilized in case of sending data from the portable terminal 1 to a broadcasting station, at the time of an interactive data transmission service of digital broadcasting.
In this embodiment, the portable terminal 1 has, as a notifying section, a LED light emitting section 22 which has operation keys emitted light, in addition to a vibrator (not shown in the figure) for informing an incoming call.
The LED light emitting section 22 is disposed also for key illumination during nighttime hours etc., but here, it is further used for informing whether an interactive service of data broadcasting is available or not by use of light emission control of LED. Detail of the control will be described later.
In this example, the control section 11 includes a broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 which monitors (judges) whether broadcasting waves correspond to an interactive service, and a key operation/light emission control section 24 which controls enable/disable of a key operation and light emission of LED.
It is all right even if these broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 and key operation/light emission control section 24 are disposed as hardware in an inside of the control section 11. In this regard, however, in case that the control section 11 is configured by CPU etc., it is desirable to realize the broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 and the key operation/light emission control section 24 as software, as a function on its built-in program.
The broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 monitors, for example signals in the multiple separation section 15, and detects (judges) whether or not data streams of digital broadcasting includes the above-described data which corresponds to an interactive service. Alternatively, it monitors (judges) whether an interactive service is watched/listened by an operation of a user.
The key operation/light emission control section 24 carries out key operation control of enabling all or a part of all operation keys which can be selected in a response (data transmission) of an interactive service of data broadcasting, when the interactive service is possible, and of disabling them when it is not possible. This enable/disable of operation keys can be controlled so as to be “enable” during such a period that data of an interactive service is detected by the broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 etc., and to be “disable” when it becomes undetected. In addition to this, it is possible to set “enable” in case that data transmission of an interactive service is possible, and “disable” in case that it is impossible.
The key operation/light emission control section 24 controls the LED light emitting section 22 in such a manner that an enabled operation key emits light (turns on alight), and a disabled operation key stops light emission (turns off a light) or blinks on and off.
Meanwhile, in case that there is a telephone incoming call during a period of data broadcasting and an off-hook button is pushed and it enters into a talking mode, in a receiving mode of normal digital broadcasting which is not data broadcasting and an operation mode (e.g., radio reception etc.) other than data broadcasting, key operation control and light emission control at the time of the above-mentioned data broadcasting are released. Alternatively, if it is not possible to carry out a transmission operation which corresponds to an interactive service because it is during a period of communication, the LED light emitting section 22 is controlled in such a manner that an operation key stops light emission (turns off a light) or blinks on and off.
Meanwhile, in case that there is need to temporarily store information at the time of the above-mentioned image processing, data processing and sound processing, the memory section 21 can be utilized also as its temporary storage memory. In addition, in case that memory capacity is large, it is possible to store these information. It is all right even if an external memory, which is attached from an outside in an attachable and detachable manner, is disposed for storing information.
In a situation shown in
As each section of the key operation section 10 which appears in
In the key operation section 10 in this embodiment, color buttons 8 of four colors, which correspond to an interactive service of terrestrial digital broadcasting, are further placed. It is desirable that these color buttons 8 are ones of the same colors, same arrangement as color buttons which are mounted on a remote controller of a stationary type terrestrial digital TV.
In an inside of the portable terminal 1 which corresponds to a back side of the color buttons 8 of four colors, the LED light emitting section 22, which is shown in
In an example shown in the figure, data broadcasting is TV shopping, and it shows such a situation that a screen at the time of deciding purchase of a commercial product (here, a personal computer) is displayed on the display section 2. This screen shows an external appearance of a personal computer and button operation display. By this means, it is understood that the “blue” button is pushed in case of skipping to a detailed commercial product explanation screen, and the “red” button is pushed in case of purchase, and the “green” button is pushed in case of cancel, and the “yellow” button is pushed in case of inquiry.
In addition, in the example shown in the figure, all of the color buttons 8 of four colors of the portable terminal 1 are lighted up. This shows such a situation that an electromagnetic wave reception status etc. are good, and it is possible to carry out transmission from the portable terminal 1, and it is possible to do about an interactive service.
In addition, in this example, it is configured so as to have the color buttons 8 emitted light by LED, but it is possible to have the direction key 4, the decision key 5 and/or number keys 3 emitted light as an operation key by which it is possible to input. For example, in case of selecting a commercial product category prior to this commercial product purchase screen, the direction key 4 and the decision key 5 are lighted up according to need, and after that, the commercial product purchase screen is displayed, and in case that a user pushes the “red” color button 8 and decides purchase, it is possible to turn the number keys 3 into a lighting-up situation on the occasion of inputting a cash card number and a user registration validation number, and to inform that an input from it is possible. In this embodiment, in case that the color buttons 8 of four colors and other keys are lighted up, it shows that it is possible to do about an interactive service, and in case that they blink on and off (or are turned off), it shows that an electromagnetic wave reception status etc. are bad, or because of another reason, it is impossible to do about an interactive service.
Meanwhile, in the above-mentioned example, the color buttons 8 are exemplified, but it is applicable to a method of operating a cursor by the direction key 4 without using the color buttons 8 and carrying out an input by the decision key 5, a method of carrying out an input by use of the soft key 7, and so on.
The portable terminal 1 in this embodiment is a thing which carries out light emission control by using, as a trigger, such a matter that digital broadcasting (data broadcasting), which corresponds to an interactive service, is received.
Hereinafter, steps S1 through S6, which are shown in
Digital broadcasting is received, and a channel is selected, and watching of a specific program is started, and then, it is turned into a watching situation (S1). The watching situation of this step S1 includes to watch another program by user's changing a channel.
In mid-flow as this watching situation continuing, reception of data broadcasting is monitored periodically by the broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 shown in
1. Case that an initial program as the time of TV start-up is data broadcasting,
2. Case that a user pushes down a specific key and changes over to data broadcasting,
3. Case that a user purposefully changes over a channel to a program including data broadcasting, and
4. Case that data of data broadcasting is overlapped with a program which is now watched, at specific timing.
When “reception of data broadcasting” is detected in any one of the above-mentioned cases, the control section 11 shown in
On the one hand, when reception of data broadcasting is not detected in the step S2, the control section 11 shown in
When an electromagnetic wave reception status of a communication line is checked in the above-mentioned step S3, the control section 11 judges whether data transmission from the portable terminal 1 is possible or not, for the purpose of an interactive service of data broadcasting, on the basis of its check result (S4).
In case that data transmission is possible, the control section 11 shown in
In more detail, in case that a reception status is good and data transmission is possible for an interactive service of data broadcasting, LED of a predetermined button and operation key in the key operation section 10 shown in
This lighting-up and blinking may be terminated in case that there is a user operation, or may be terminated in case that data transmission for an interactive service is completed, or terminated when a given length of time passes even if there is not a user operation. A preferable example of this termination processing will be explained in subsequent
According to light emission control of LED shown in
In this LED light emission control method, it is desirable to add a step of checking a watching situation of digital broadcasting again (the same step as S1), after the steps S5 and S6. When a watching situation of digital broadcasting is confirmed in this step, processing is returned to the step 2, and in case that it is not confirmed, it is terminated.
If it is carried out in this way, it is possible to monitor data broadcasting continuation confirmation on a steady basis, and it is possible to monitor an electromagnetic wave reception status, on a steady basis, in response to such a matter that the electromagnetic status fluctuates in the portable terminal 1 which is premised on movement. As a result, it is easily detected that a reception status of data broadcasting is changed in the above-mentioned four cases, and it becomes possible to carry out LED light emission control depending on it. In addition, when it is moved from an inside of a data communication available range to an outside of the range, LED light emission is changed from lighting-up to blinking, and inversely, at the time of movement from an outside of the range to an inside of the range, it is possible to change LED light emission from blinking to lighting-up.
Although it is expected that a basic operation system of data input keys for data broadcasting is different, when it is configured so as to light up an operation key by which it is possible input, and to blink the operation key in case that it is impossible to input, in the LED light emission control method shown in
In addition, it is conceivable that the number of items, which can be selected in an interactive service, fluctuates in a range of 1 through 4 items by data which is sent from a broadcasting station, but even in that case, for example in case of 4 items, 4 keys emit light, and in case of 2 items, 2 keys emit light, and in this way, only an operation key by which an input is possible, is lighted up, blinked, and therefore, it eliminates such a case that a user is puzzled by an operation method.
Furthermore, assuming that it is possible to identify the color buttons 8 of four colors shown in
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned “blinking” is one embodiment, and there is no need to limit to the above-mentioned embodiment, if it is a thing such as turning off a light and emitting light by a specific color, which a user can understand that it is not possible to carry out data transmission.
In addition, by configuring in such a manner that the control section etc. controls so as to give warning by a vibrator and warning sound, on the occasion that a user pushes a key (button) which shows that data transmission is impossible, it is possible to surely report an operating status to a user.
By the foregoing, it is possible to provide the portable terminal 1 which has no worry of imposing a burden of an operation on a user and gives consideration also to a handicapped person having defect in color perception.
When predetermined LED blinks (S11) in the same manner as in the step S6 of
After that, the control section 11 detects whether or not predetermined time of the OFF timer expires (time-out) (S14), and in case of time-out, the description, which is displayed on a screen in the above-mentioned step S12, is turned off automatically (S15). On the one hand, in case that time-out is not detected in the step S14, it is turned into a standby state until time-out.
During this standby period, or after automatic disappearance of description, it is checked that a blinking operation key was operated (e.g., pushed down) by a user (S16 and S17). In this case, the control section 11 returns a processing flow to a previous one of the step S12. By this means, during a period of description, the description OFF timer is reset, and a description period is extended, and after automatic disappearance of description, description display of a predetermined period is started again.
According to processing shown in
In addition, in the processing shown in
Furthermore, on the occasion that a user pushes down an operation key where LED blinks, after the above-mentioned description disappearance, this effect is described again, and it is notified to a user once more that the current portable terminal 1 is in such a status that transmission is difficult and does not support an interactive service of data broadcasting. On this account, in case that an inexperienced user pushes down an operation key without knowing a meaning of blinking of LED, it becomes easy for the user to learn the meaning of LED blinking.
By the foregoing, an operation method of the portable terminal 1 is simplified widely, in an easily visually understandable fashion, and it becomes possible to remarkably improve operability of a user.
Hereinafter, steps S21 through S31 shown in
In case that it was judged as “(an electromagnetic wave status of a communication is bad, and) transmission is impossible” in the step S4 of
When a key operation is detected in the step S23, transmission data (pushed down content), which corresponds to an interactive service of data broadcasting, inputted from the key operation section 10 of
Next, it is investigated whether it is within predetermined time to be transmitted (S25). In case that it is within predetermined time, processing is advanced to a route in which transmission of reservation content is possible (S28 through S31), and in case that it exceeds predetermined time, processing is diverged to a reservation cancel route (S26, S27).
With regard to the step S25, it is desirable that the broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 shown in
When the passage of predetermined time is detected in the step S25, the control section 11 shown in
On the one hand, in case that predetermined time has not yet passed in the step S25, it is checked by the control section 11 whether an environment (electromagnetic wave status) changed and transmission became possible (S28), and in case that transmission is still impossible, processing is returned to the step S25. By this means, a loop of the steps S25 and S28 turns over within predetermined time, and when passage of the predetermined time is detected during that period, it is shifted to the reservation cancel step S26.
When it is judged in step S28 that transmission is possible, passage of the predetermined time is checked again (S29), and when the passage of the predetermined time is detected at this step, the process is shifted to the reservation cancel step S26.
Subject to such a matter that it is shifted to a status that transmission is possible and it is within predetermined time, the control section 11 shown in
According to control shown in
After that, subject to the passage of predetermined time to be transmitted (“Yes” in both of S25 and S29) and shifting to a transmission possible status (“Yes” in S28). A reservation content is transmitted (S30), and description having an effect of “transmission was completed” is displayed on a display screen (S31). Meanwhile, in case that a series of operations from reservation up to transmission are temporally short, it is all right even if description having an effect of “transmission was completed” is not displayed, if unnecessary.
By this series of processing, a user can know that transmission was surely carried out. In addition, since transmission is carried out in wait for such a matter that a transmission content is reserved and transmission conditions are in order, there is no need for a user to carry out an overlapped operation. In sum, in case that a transmission content is not reserved (stored), when an electromagnetic wave status is turned for the better and the transmission conditions are in order, a user has to input a transmission content by pushing down an operation key which is blinking, again, but, in the control shown in
In the control shown in
A reason that subsequent processing is differentiated depending on judgment of the step 25 in this way is that it deals with such a matter that, from a constructional viewpoint of a program, there are a program in which transmission timing is restricted to relatively short time like a quiz form, and a program in which reception of relatively long transmission data is possible if it is during a period of program broadcast line TV shopping, and there are short and long in predetermined time to be transmitted (reception time of transmission data of an interactive service). Concretely speaking, when decided predetermined time is short and it has already exceeded the predetermined time, it counts for nothing even if transmission processing is advanced, and in addition, time of storing a reservation content in a memory section for nothing is generated, and timing of opening up its memory capacity in such a manner that it is possible to be used for others becomes late, and as a result, increases of a burden to CPU and a memory and unavailing electric power consumption are generated.
The control shown in
FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B) show one example of a program screen utilizing an interactive service of terrestrial digital broadcasting in a portable terminal.
A screen of the display section 2 shown in
On the occasion of watching television broadcasting by use of a small display screen like that of a portable telephone, a user's wish is that the user wishes to watch by use of a larger display screen as much as possible.
Then, in this embodiment, during a period of watching normal digital broadcasting, in a period except processing time for transmission at the time of watching data broadcasting, it is desirable to stop display of the picto display area 2B and use a full screen of an effective display screen of the display section 2, as the data display area 2A, as shown in
It is all right if the display of this picto display area 2B is started on the basis of such a matter that the broadcasting wave monitoring section 23 shown in
In the meantime, it is common that the picto display area 2B is used by turning it into non-display when an image is watched, and in the suchlike case, in order to do about an interactive service, an operation of displaying the picto display area 2B, which was turned into non-display, again, for the purpose of checking an electromagnetic wave reception status of a communication line.
In contrast to this, in this embodiment, changeover of display/non-display of the picto display area 2B is automatically carried out in a cooperative fashion, and it is possible to save user's labor for an operation.
FIGS. 6 (A) and 6(B) show an example of a message (description) regarding processing and a status. It is all right if description at such timing that a next operation is not conceivable to be carried out, for example like “an electromagnetic wave status is bad and transmission is not possible” (2C) etc. shown in
On the one hand, it is all right if description at such timing that it is assumed there is an operation by a user continuously, such as reservation change etc. after a broadcasting screen is watched, for example like “transmission was reserved” (2D) etc. shown in
Hereinafter, major advantages (benefits) in this embodiment, will be explained by comparison with a comparative example.
This portable terminal 100 is different from the portable terminal 1 (
The portable terminal 100 of this comparative example, although it is not shown in the figure especially, has a direction key used for a menu operation and cursor movement by which it is possible to select up, down, left and right, 4 directions, and a decision key used for a menu selection etc., and carries out various calling out and terminal operations, by use of these things. In addition, in an improved user interface, two or three keys are placed immediately beneath a display screen, in addition to the above-mentioned keys, and a function of “return” etc. are allocated with respect to each display screen, and thereby, it has become to process a lot of functions easily. In addition to this, there is such a case that a key called as a side key is placed on both sides of a terminal, and functions are allocated to these things.
In case that the suchlike portable terminal 100 received digital broadcasting received waves fraught with an interactive service, there is need to notify an operation key which can be selected according to an interactive service, to a user.
In order to respond to this need, it is also possible to adopt such a method that a plurality of operation keys, which can be selected for an interactive service, are disposed, and they are displayed with different colors, and a key to be selected is specified by using a color as a clue. However, there is such a drawback that it wants for consideration to a handicapped person having defect in color perception.
In the meantime, the portable terminal 100 already has a lot of operation keys along with realization of high performance thereof. On this account, worrying about such a matter that an operation method becomes complex by more increase of operation keys, it is conceivable to respond by allocating a selection function of an interactive service to an existing operation key, without newly adding an operation key. For example, it is conceivable to display “in case of . . . , please push “0”, and in case of . . . , please push “1”” etc. on a broadcasting screen. However, it is inconvenient to a user, since there is such a case that the user pushes another key by erroneously reading a checking text.
In addition, especially in the portable terminal 100 which is premised on movement, there is such a case that a trouble is generated in a communication line and a terminal itself, and furthermore, such a case that data transmission is impossible in some locations, because of an interactive service. For example, since receiving areas of digital broadcasting waves and data communication waves are different, even if a user has such an intention that the user wishes to join during a period of watching a program fraught with an interactive service in broadcasting waves, it is outside the area where it is possible to receive communication waves. Alternatively, there is such a case that electromagnetic wave strength is unstable by the reason that a trouble is generated. On this account, a situation that it is not possible to carry out transmission from a portable terminal is likely to occur. In the suchlike case, it is inconvenient if there is need to carry out data transmission after a user checked reception sensitivity. In addition, it is inconvenient if it is not possible to check whether data transmission is possible, and carried out effectively or not.
In contrast to this comparative example, the portable terminal 1 in this embodiment has the following benefits.
It is possible to visually recognize an operation key, which can be selected and is effective in data broadcasting fraught with an interactive service, by a status of key's emitting light (lighting up). Especially, since an operation key by which an input is possible is lighted up, a user who is of low use of data broadcasting, and a user who utilizes it for the first time, can identify it at one glance. In addition, since an operation key by which an input is possible is lighted up, a handicapped person having defect in color perception can specify it. By this easiness of visual recognition of a selected key, it is possible to guide a user to a next operation smoothly, and it does not have to worry, and it is easy to use.
In addition, it is possible to visually recognize that it is not possible to utilize an interactive service, by a status of an operation key's emitting light (blacking out or blinking), and this remarkably increase operability of a portable terminal in an interactive service. Therefore, there is no need for a user to carry out an unavailing operation such as input and transmission of information. This is a benefit, also judging from an aspect of a processing burden and unavailing consumption of electric power.
By mounting the color buttons 8 on the portable terminal 1, it is possible to adopt a consistent operation method which is the same as that for a remote controller of a stationary type terrestrial digital TV. On this account, it eliminates such a case that a user is puzzled by an operation method, and pervasion, popularization of a service are facilitated.
When an operation is carried out by a user in such a status that it is not possible to utilize an interactive service, a status of the operation (operated key and its procedure) is stored, and reservation of data transmission is carried out. Then, when it is turned into such a status that an interactive service is available, stored information is automatically read out and transmitted. On this account, it avoids double labor hours for a transmission data input by a user, and it eliminates a burden of monitoring that an interactive service becomes available, and it is easy to use.
On the one hand, in case of continuing such a status that data transmission is impossible even if predetermined time has passed, reservation is automatically canceled, and a memory are, in which information was stored, is released, and therefore, memory utilization efficiency is high. If this predetermined time is obtained from data of an interactive service, it can be interlocked with response possible time of a program, and certainty of judgment of right and wrong of data transmission is high.
In a part of all of 4 statuses of a status that an electromagnetic wave status is bad and data transmission is not possible, a status that reservation was carried out, a status that transmission of a reservation content was completed, and a status that reservation was canceled, it is possible to display descriptions (messages etc.) of explaining that statuses. By this means, feeling of security is given to a user about progress of processing, and a user is released from a monitoring burden of the progress, and in addition, this gives a user recognition about what-like state transition was brought about by a result of an operation by oneself, and generates a learning effect.
The above-described embodiment is simply exemplification of the present invention, and it does not mean that the present invention is limited to the above-described embodiment.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| P.2005-190746 | Jun 2005 | JP | national |
