Information processing apparatus
View Patent ↗In a mobile phone applicable to an information processing apparatus, an illumination sensor detects a state of the mobile phone and generates a detection signal, a main controller determines whether or not the generated detection signal is larger than a predetermined reference value and allocates predetermined functions of operation to operation keys based on a result of determination with reference to a table in which the input units and the functions thereof are caused to previously correspond to each other and stored therein. With this arrangement, the number of operation keys or buttons is reduced without reducing the number of functions to be mounted, and the operability output stage line card group the mobile phone is improved even if the size thereof is reduced.
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a generation unit which detects a state of an external light detection hole formed in a surface of the information processing apparatus and which generates a detection signal according to a luminous intensity of external light irradiated to the information processing apparatus;
a determination unit which determines whether the detection signal generated by the generation unit is larger than a predetermined reference value; and
an allocation unit which selectively allocates one of a plurality of predetermined functions of operation to an input unit based on whether or not the generated detection signal is determined as being larger than the predetermined reference value by the determination unit by accessing a table in which the input unit and the plurality of predetermined functions of operation are set to previously correspond to each other and be stored therein,
wherein the predetermined reference value comprises a plurality of predetermined reference values, the determination unit is configured to sequentially determine whether the detection signal generated by the generation unit is larger than each of the plurality of predetermined reference values, and the allocation unit is configured to allocate selectively one of the plurality of predetermined functions of operation to the input unit based on the luminous intensity of the external light contained in the detection signal.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation unit allocates the one of the plurality of predetermined functions of operation to the input unit when at least one of a waiting screen and a mail generation screen is displayed.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an input receiving unit configured to receive an input of a switch key for switching the one of the plurality of predetermined functions of operation allocated to the input unit by the allocation unit to another predetermined function of operation; and
a switching unit configured to switch, when the input of the switch key is received by the input receiving unit, the one of the plurality of predetermined functions of operation allocated to the input unit by the allocation unit to the other predetermined function of operation.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the generation unit comprises at least one of an illumination sensor, a microphone unit, an electrostatic pad, a fingerprint authentication sensor, and a side key disposed at a predetermined position of the information processing apparatus.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines that the detection signal generated by the generation unit is not larger than a predetermined reference value when the external light detection hole is covered.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein when the determination unit determines that the detection signal generated by the generation unit is not larger than a predetermined reference value, the allocation unit selectively allocates one of a plurality of predetermined shift key functions of operation.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines that the detection signal generated by the generation unit is larger than a predetermined reference value when the external light detection hole is not covered.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein when the determination unit determines that the detection signal generated by the generation unit is larger than a predetermined reference value, the allocation unit selectively allocates one of a plurality of predetermined ordinary functions of operation.