Portable terminal equipment

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device that transmits images and sounds via a communication line.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Conventional video conferencing terminals and videophones are stationary devices, and their power is supplied from a commercial AC power source, so there is no need to consider power consumption management.

【0003】

In recent years, it has become more realistic to add a video capture function and a data communication function to a personal computer to make it a video conferencing terminal. In the future, notebook computers, microphones, and small electronic devices will be used. A wireless video conferencing terminal can be realized by combining a camera and a wireless telephone.

【0004】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

Under such circumstances, it is considered that most of the required power depends on the drive battery of the notebook computer, and it is necessary to save power and lengthen the communicable time.

【0005】

An object of the present invention is to present a mobile terminal device capable of increasing the communicable time.

【0006】

[Means for solving problems]

In the present invention, the power supply to the image input means is cut off when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value based on the monitoring result of the battery monitoring means for monitoring the remaining capacity of the battery as a power source.

【0007】

Furthermore, the voice input by the voice input means is monitored by the voice input monitoring means, and the power supply to the image input means is cut off even when there is no voice input.

【0008】

By doing so, even if the image cannot be transmitted for the time being, the sound can be transmitted. Compared to image transmission, voice transmission requires less power, so battery consumption can be slowed down and communication time can be lengthened accordingly.

【0009】

In addition, the voice input monitoring means monitors the voice input by the voice input means, and the power supply to the image input means is cut off even when there is no voice input. As a result, the power is supplied to the image input means only while there is voice input, so that the battery consumption can be reduced and the communicable time can be lengthened accordingly.

【0010】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

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

【0011】

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. 10 is the CPU, 12 is the battery that serves as the power supply, 14 is the power management device (power monitoring control device) that monitors the remaining amount of the battery 12 and controls the power supply to each part, and 16 is between the communication partner or the relay station. Communication device that sends and receives data with, 18 is a video camera, 20 is an image input device that captures the output image of the video camera 18, 22 is a microphone, 24 is an audio input device that captures the output audio signal of the microphone 22, 26 is a monitor A display, 28 is an image output device for displaying a received image or an input image by a camera 18 on a monitor display 26, 30 is a speaker, and 32 is an audio output device for supplying an audio signal to be output to the speaker 30.

【0012】

When the communication partner is connected and the video conference starts, the CPU 10 captures the image data to be transmitted from the image input device 20 and the audio data to be transmitted from the audio input device 24, and the image data and the audio data are transmitted to the communication device. Send from 16 to the communication partner. The power management device 14 constantly monitors the remaining battery level, and notifies the CPU 10 of the remaining battery level as needed.

【0013】

When the remaining battery level of the battery 12 falls below a certain value during communication, the power management device 14 notifies the CPU 10 that the remaining battery level of the battery 12 is low. Upon receiving this notification, the CPU 10 is operated as follows in order to operate in the power saving mode. That is, the CPU 10 first notifies the communication partner via the communication device 16 that the transmission of the image data will be stopped and only the voice data will be transmitted. The CPU 10 then permits the power management device 14 to reduce the power supply to the image input device 20 and the camera 18, and in response, the power management device 14 allows the image input device 20 and the camera 18 to reduce the power supply. Reduce the power supply to (cut off in extreme cases). At this time, the power management device 14 may also reduce or cut off the power supply to the image output device 28 and the monitor display 26.

【0014】

FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. 110 is the CPU, 112 is the battery that serves as the power supply, 114 is the power management device (power monitoring control device) that monitors the remaining amount of the battery 112 and controls the power supply to each part, and 116 is between the communication partner or the relay station. Communication device that sends and receives data with, 118 is a video camera, 120 is an image input device that captures the output image of the video camera 118, 122 is a microphone, 124 is an audio input device that captures the output audio signal of the microphone 122, 126 is a monitor The display, 128 is an image output device that displays a received image or an input image by the camera 118 on the monitor display 126, 130 is a speaker, and 132 is an audio output device that supplies an audio signal to be output to the speaker 130.

【0015】

The voice input device 124 constantly monitors the presence or absence of voice input by the microphone 122, and notifies the CPU 110 of the monitoring result, particularly while the voice input is interrupted.

【0016】

When the communication partner is connected and the video conference starts, the CPU 110 captures the image data to be transmitted from the image input device 120 and the audio data to be transmitted from the audio input device 124, and transfers the image data and the audio data to the communication device. Send from 116 to the communication partner.

【0017】

The voice input device 124 constantly monitors the sound pressure level by the microphone 122, determines that there is a voice input when there is a sound pressure above a certain level, and notifies the CPU 110 of the presence or absence of the voice input. The CPU 110 causes the power management device 114 to cut off (or reduce) the power supply to the image input device 120 and the camera 118 while there is no audio input. When there is a voice input, the CPU 110 causes the power management device 114 to restart the power supply to the image input device 120 and the camera 118.

【0018】

Just like the power management device 14, the power management device 114 constantly monitors the remaining battery level of the battery 112, and notifies the CPU 110 of the remaining battery level as needed. When the remaining battery level of the battery 112 falls below a certain value during communication, the power management device 114 notifies the CPU 110 that the remaining battery level of the battery 112 is low. Upon receiving this notification, the CPU 110 notifies the communication partner via the communication device 116 that the transmission of the image data will be stopped and only the audio data will be transmitted, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. The management device 114 cuts off (reduces) the power supply to the image input device 120 and the camera 118. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the power management device 114 may also cut off (or reduce) the power supply to the image output device 128 and the monitor display 126.

【0019】

[Effect of the invention]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, power saving operation is possible, and the communicable time can be lengthened.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a schematic block diagram of 1st Example of this invention.

[Figure 2]

It is a schematic block diagram of the 2nd Example of this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: CPU 12: Battery 14: Power management device (power monitoring control device) 16: Communication device 18: Video camera 20: Image input device 22: Mike 24: Voice input device 26: Monitor display 28: Image output device 30: Speaker 32: Audio output device 110: CPU 112: Battery 114: Power management device (power monitoring control device) 116: Communication device 118: Video camera 120: Image input device 122: Mike 124: Voice input device 126: Monitor display 128: Image output device 130: Speaker 132: Audio output device