Mobile communication terminal
View Patent ↗The mobile communication terminal has a main body unit and an attachment. When the main body unit separates from the attachment, the attachment transmits a predetermined radio signal. The main body unit receives the radio signal and determines whether its distance from the attachment exceeds specified distance. When the main body unit is at a distance from the attachment exceeding the specified distance, predetermined operation of the main body unit, for example, entering operation using a keypad, memory read-out operation, data transmission and data reception, are disabled. In this manner, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by third parties or information leaks to third parties when the main body unit has been lost.
1. A mobile communication terminal comprising: a main body unit having a radio unit; and an attachment that is detachable from the main body unit, wherein the main body unit comprises a first receiver for receiving a radio signal sent from the attachment, a determination section for determining whether or not the distance of the main body unit to the attachment exceeds specified distance, and a controller for disabling predetermined operation of the main body unit in accordance with a result of the determination section, and wherein the attachment comprises a first transmitter for transmitting the radio signal,
wherein the controller performs at least one of sending a predetermined e-mail and making a phone call to a predetermined party regardless of disablement of the predetermined operation, when the distance between the main body unit and the attachment exceeds the predetermined distance.
2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the controller disables the predetermined operation on receipt of notice from the determination section when the distance of the main body unit to the attachment exceeds the predetermined distance.
3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the determination section determines the predetermined distance on the basis of received electric field intensity of the radio signal.
4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first transmitter stops transmitting the radio signal when the main body unit connects to the attachment.
5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation to be disabled is at least one of entering operation using a keypad located on the main body unit, memory read-out operation, data transmission and data reception.
6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the main body unit comprises at least one of a display, a speaker and a vibrator, and the controller performs at least one of warning indication on the display, sound generation from the speaker and starting the vibrator when the distance between the main body unit and the attachment exceeds the predetermined distance.
7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first receiver is the radio unit.
8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the main body unit comprises a second transmitter for transmitting a predetermined radio signal, the attachment comprises a second receiver for receiving the predetermined radio signal, and wherein the second transmitter transmits the predetermined radio signal regardless of disablement of the predetermined operation.
9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined radio signal transmitted from the second transmitter has information about an incoming call to the main body unit.
10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8 , wherein the second transmitter transmits the predetermined signal when the distance of the main body unit to the attachment exceeds the predetermined distance.
11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8 , wherein the second transmitter stops transmitting the predetermined signal in case that the main body unit connects to the attachment.
12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 8 , wherein the second transmitter is the radio unit.
13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the main body unit has an own location informing section for forming information on the own location, and the radio unit transmits the information on the own location regardless of disablement of the predetermined operation.
14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13 , wherein the attachment has a receiver for receiving the information on the own location of the main body unit.
15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13 , the radio unit transmits the information on the own location of the main body unit when the distance of the main body unit to the attachment exceeds the predetermined distance.
16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13 , wherein the radio unit stops transmitting the information on the own location of the main body unit in case that the main body unit connects to the attachment.
17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 2 , wherein the disabled predetermined operation is enabled by connecting the main body unit to the attachment.