IP Library Granted Patent US 8,041,532
Granted Patent B2
US 8,041,532 · App. 11/585,893 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Method for information processing, information processing apparatus, and computer program for information processing

Assignee: Vodafone Group PLC
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,041,532
App. No.
11/585,893
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a measured-value converting process, a shape-condition converting process and an absolute coordinate system converting process (S 16 ) are performed on a value measured by a sensor. In the shape-condition converting process, when a mobile terminal has a shape 1 and shape 2 , the converting process is not performed (S 12 and S 13 ). When the mobile terminal has a shape 3 , a converting process of rotating through 180° around Y S axis is performed (S 14 ). Moreover, when the mobile terminal has a shape 4 , a converting process of rotating through 180° around Z S axis (S 15 ) is performed. Therefore, even in an information processing apparatus of which a shape changes, a sensor which detects a movement of the information processing apparatus can be used as an input device, irrespective of the shape.

Claims (20)

1. A computer program product comprising instruction steps for operating an information processing apparatus that is configured to change into two or more different shapes, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring movement of the information processing apparatus using a movement sensor to obtain a measured movement value;

determining using a shape sensor, which of the two or more different shapes the information processing apparatus has; and

converting the measured movement value into a converted movement value using a conversion procedure specific to the determined shape of the information processing apparatus.

2. The computer program product of claim 1 , wherein the conversion procedure specific to the determined shape of the information processing apparatus is a coordinate conversion.

3. The computer program product according to claim 2 , wherein the coordinate conversion procedure is a coordinate conversion from a sensor coordinate system which is fixed with respect to the movement sensor, to a display-section coordinate system which lets a direction of a display surface of a display device which is an output device of the information processing apparatus, to be one axial direction.

4. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the measured movement value is an acceleration value and an attitude angle value of the information processing apparatus.

5. The computer program product according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion scheme is executed by a middleware in a software structure.

6. An information processing apparatus that is configured to change into two or more different shapes, comprising:

a movement sensor arranged to measure movement of the information processing apparatus to obtain a measured movement value;

a shape sensor, which provides a signal corresponding to the shape of the information processing apparatus; and

a converting section arranged to convert the measured movement value into a converted movement value using a conversion procedure specific to the signal corresponding to the shape of the information processing apparatus.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the conversion procedure is a coordinate conversion.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the coordinate conversion is a coordinate conversion from a sensor coordinate system which is fixed with respect to the movement sensor, to a display-section coordinate system which lets a direction of a display surface of a display device which is an output device, to be one axial direction.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a wireless communication section for communicating with a base station of a mobile communication network.

10. A computer program product comprising instruction steps for operating an information processing apparatus that is configured to change into two or more different shapes, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring movement of the information processing apparatus using a movement sensor to obtain a measured movement value;

determining using a shape sensor, which of the two or more different shapes the information processing apparatus has;

converting the measured movement value into a converted movement value using based on the determined shape of the information processing apparatus; and

notifying the converted movement value to a computer program, which uses the converted movement value.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2008
From: SOFTBANK MOBILE CORP.
To: VODAFONE GROUP PLC
Reel/Frame 020409/0037 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2008
From: VODAFONE K.K.
To: SOFTBANK MOBILE CORP.
Reel/Frame 020401/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2006
From: KUSUDA, HIROHISA; TSUJINO, DAISUKE; YAMAZAKI, JUN; NISHIDE, YASUHIRO
To: VODAFONE K.K.
Reel/Frame 018467/0613 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2004-338412 · Nov 24, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2005021425 · Nov 22, 2005
Related Publication 20070129909A1 · Jun 7, 2007