JP2012238920A - Information processing device, information processing device control method, control program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention enables a user to operate data sharing between apparatuses more intuitively and more easily.
An upper terminal state in which a mobile phone 1 having a main display portion 13a detects the presence of another mobile phone 1 on the back side opposite to the display surface side on which the main display portion 13a is disposed. When the determination unit 41 and the upper terminal state determination unit 41 detect another mobile phone 1, the content acquisition unit acquires content identification information indicating the content stored in the other mobile phone 1 from the other mobile phone 1. 43, a first display area corresponding to the own device and a second display area corresponding to the other mobile phone 1 are set in the display area of the main display unit 13a, and contents stored by the own device are stored in the first display area. A display control unit 3 that displays in one display area and displays the content stored in the other mobile phone 1 in the second display area based on the content identification information acquired by the content acquisition unit 43. Provided with a door.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus that processes information stored in its own apparatus and information stored in another apparatus, a control method for the information processing apparatus, a control program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, mobile information terminals such as mobile phones are equipped with high-performance arithmetic processing devices, large-capacity storage devices, cameras capable of taking pictures and videos, etc., and contents handled by the mobile information terminals (contact information) , Text, images, videos, music information, etc.) and the amount of data is increasing. For this reason, the user holds a large amount of various contents in the portable information terminal, and the contents held by the users are exchanged with each other.

  Here, when a user exchanges contents between apparatuses, it is desired that data can be transmitted and received between apparatuses with a simple operation. Conventionally, as a system for transmitting and receiving data between devices, for example, there are the following techniques.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a terminal device including an ID tag reader that detects an ID tag held by a user and transmits data operated during the ID tag detection period to the detected user terminal device. Have been described.

  Patent Document 2 describes a mobile phone equipped with a display unit including a light receiving element, which transmits and receives data by optical communication with the display units of a plurality of mobile phones facing each other.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-151867 is a mobile phone having a sensor on a side surface, and performs various processing on each mobile phone for content stored in each mobile phone in a state where the side surfaces of a plurality of mobile phones are in contact with each other. Is described.

  Further, Patent Documents 4 and 5 are exemplified as documents indicating the technical level.

  In Patent Document 4, in a communication system including a plurality of communication terminals that transmit and receive images and messages to and from other communication terminals and display images, a user's captured image is displayed on the communication terminals when the distance between the communication terminals is short However, a technique for displaying a user's avatar image on a communication terminal when the distance between the communication terminals is long is described.

  In Patent Document 5, in a display system including a plurality of devices including a position detection unit that detects the position of another device and a display unit, display data having a size larger than one display unit is based on the positional relationship of each device. Thus, a technique for displaying continuously on the display unit of each device is described.

JP 2008-276560 A (published November 13, 2008) JP 2004-336203 A (published November 25, 2004) JP 2010-108212 A (released May 13, 2010) JP 2008-270913 A (published November 6, 2008) JP 2007-225803 A (published September 6, 2007)

  However, the above-described conventional technology is still insufficient in terms of intuitively transmitting and receiving data between devices.

  For example, in Patent Document 3, when sharing data, mobile phones are arranged side by side. However, the present inventor has another state that more intuitively represents a state in which data between two terminals is shared. Think.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and an information processing apparatus that allow a user to more intuitively and easily operate data sharing between apparatuses. To realize a control method, a control program, and a recording medium.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus including a display unit, and the other information processing is performed on the back side opposite to the display surface side on which the display unit is disposed. When the back side device detecting unit detects that there is a device and the back side device detecting unit detects another information processing device, the content stored in the other information processing device is indicated from the other information processing device. Content identification information acquisition means for acquiring content identification information, a first display area corresponding to the own device, and a second display area corresponding to the other information processing apparatus are set in the display area of the display unit, The operation display information for specifying the content stored in the device itself is displayed in the first display area, and the other information processing is performed based on the content identification information acquired by the content identification information acquisition means. Device is the operation display information for specifying a content to be stored characterized by comprising a display control means for displaying on the second display area.

  An information processing apparatus control method according to the present invention is a method for controlling an information processing apparatus provided with a display unit in order to solve the above-described problem, and is a back surface opposite to a display surface side on which the display unit is disposed. A back side device detecting step for detecting that there is another information processing device on the side, and after the other information processing device is detected in the back side device detecting step, the other information A content identification information acquisition step for acquiring content identification information indicating content stored in the processing device; a display region of the display unit; a first display region corresponding to the own device; and a first display region corresponding to the other information processing device. 2 display areas are set, and the display information for operation specifying the content stored in the device itself is displayed in the first display area, and the acquired content identification information acquisition unit acquires the control information. Based on Ntsu identification information, and the operation display information for identifying the content to the another information processing apparatus is stored; and a display control step of displaying on the second display area.

  According to said structure, the said back side apparatus detection means detects that there exists another information processing apparatus in the back side opposite to the display surface side where the said display part is arrange | positioned, and acquires the said content identification information When the back side device detecting means detects another information processing apparatus, the means acquires content identification information indicating the content stored in the other information processing apparatus from the other information processing apparatus, and the display control means Sets the first display area corresponding to its own apparatus and the second display area corresponding to the other information processing apparatus in the display area of the display unit, and specifies the content stored in the own apparatus For displaying the display information in the first display area and for identifying the content stored in the other information processing apparatus based on the content identification information acquired by the content identification information acquisition means The shown information displayed on the second display area.

  Therefore, the user places the other information processing device on the back side of the information processing device, so that the content stored in the information processing device and the other information processing device are displayed on the display unit of the information processing device. The content to be stored can be displayed separately. That is, the user superimposes the information processing device on the other information processing device, so that not only the content stored in the information processing device but also the other information processing device under the information processing device is stored. The content to be stored can be recognized.

  Therefore, the effect that the user can know the content possessed by the other user by an intuitive and simple operation in which the information processing device possessed by the user is superimposed on the other information processing device possessed by the other user. Play.

  Here, even if the two information processing devices that intuitively represent the state in which the contents stored by the two information processing devices are shared are overlapped (integrated state), the upper information processing By classifying and displaying both contents stored in the two information processing apparatuses on the display unit of the apparatus, the user can recognize the contents stored in the two information processing apparatuses without any inconvenience.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input unit that receives an operation input from a user, and an operation input that moves the operation display information displayed in one of the first display area and the second display area to the other. Is input by the input means, the content specified by the operation display information is moved or moved from the information processing device corresponding to the one display region to the information processing device corresponding to the other display region. It is preferable to further include a moving duplicating means for duplicating.

  According to the above configuration, the moving duplicating means receives an operation input for moving the operation display information displayed in one of the first display area and the second display area to the other by the input means. Then, the content specified by the display information for operation is moved or copied from the information processing apparatus corresponding to the one display area to the information processing apparatus corresponding to the other display area.

  For this reason, the user performs an operation of moving the content displayed in one of the first display area and the second display area to the other display area, so that the information processing apparatus moves from one information processing apparatus to the other information processing apparatus. You can move or copy content. Therefore, the user can move or copy the content between the two information processing apparatuses with an intuitive and simple operation.

  Furthermore, when a user moves or duplicates content between two information processing devices, it can be performed simply by operating the upper information processing device, and content can be moved or duplicated with a simpler operation. .

  In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the display control unit arranges the first display area and the second display area so that the display area of the display unit has a vertical or horizontal positional relationship. Is preferred.

  According to said structure, the said display control means each arrange | positions the said 1st display area and the said 2nd display area so that it may become a vertical or horizontal positional relationship in the display area of the said display part. That is, for example, the content stored in the information processing device on the upper side is displayed in the first display area on the upper side of the display unit, and the content stored in the other information processing device on the lower side is displayed below the display unit. In the second display area on the side. In the display area of the display unit, the vertical direction may be set, and the first display area may be arranged side by side so that the first display area is on the upper side and the second display area is on the lower side. The first display area and the second display area may be arranged in a state where a part of the second display area is superimposed on the bottom.

  Further, for example, the content stored in the information processing device on the upper side is displayed in the first display area on the left side of the display unit, and the content stored in the other information processing device on the lower side is displayed on the right side of the display unit. In the second display area. In the display area of the display unit, the left and right directions are set, and the first display area may be arranged on the left side and the second display area on the right side. The first display area and the second display area may be arranged in a state where a part of the second display area is superimposed below.

  For this reason, the vertical positional relationship between the two information processing devices and the vertical or horizontal positional relationship between the contents displayed on the display unit correspond to each other, so that the user can intuitively understand the content stored in the two information processing devices. Can be distinguished and recognized.

  In order to solve the above problems, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus including a display unit, and detects that there is another information processing device on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed. Content identification information transmission for transmitting content identification information indicating the content stored in the own apparatus to the other information processing apparatus when the surface side apparatus detection means detects the other information processing apparatus. Means.

  An information processing apparatus control method according to the present invention is a method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a display unit in order to solve the above-described problem, and is configured to perform other information processing on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed. A front-side device detecting step for detecting the presence of the device, and content identification indicating the content stored in the own device after the other information-processing device is detected in the front-side device detecting step And a content identification information transmitting step for transmitting information.

  According to said structure, the said surface side apparatus detection means detects that there exists another information processing apparatus in the display surface side in which the said display part is arrange | positioned, and the said content identification information transmission means is the said surface side When the device detection unit detects another information processing device, it transmits content identification information indicating the content stored in the device itself to the other information processing device.

  Therefore, the user can notify the other information processing apparatus of the content stored in the information processing apparatus by placing the other information processing apparatus on the display surface side of the information processing apparatus. That is, the user can notify the other information processing apparatus of the content stored in the information processing apparatus by superimposing the other information processing apparatus on the information processing apparatus.

  Accordingly, the user can inform other users of the content held by the user with an intuitive and simple operation in which the other information processing device possessed by another user is superimposed on the information processing device possessed by the user. There is an effect.

  The information processing system according to the present invention preferably includes one each of the first information processing apparatus and the second information processing apparatus. Here, the first information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus including a display unit, and detects that there is another information processing apparatus on the back side opposite to the display surface side on which the display unit is arranged. When the back side device detecting means and the back side device detecting means detect another information processing device, content identification information indicating the content stored in the other information processing device is acquired from the other information processing device. Content stored in the self-device by setting a content identification information acquisition means, a first display region corresponding to the own device, and a second display region corresponding to the other information processing device in the display area of the display unit Is displayed in the first display area, and the content stored in the other information processing apparatus based on the content identification information acquired by the content identification information acquisition means. The operation display information for identifying the at least comprising the information processing apparatus and display control means for displaying on the second display area. The second information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus including a display unit, and a surface-side device detection unit that detects that there is another information processing apparatus on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed. When the surface side device detecting means detects another information processing device, the information processing device includes at least content identification information transmitting means for transmitting content identification information indicating the content stored in the device to the other information processing device. Device.

  According to said structure, an information processing system has an effect similar to the said information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus may be realized by a computer. In this case, a control program for causing the computer to realize the information processing apparatus by causing the computer to operate as each unit of the information processing apparatus, and A computer-readable recording medium on which it is recorded also falls within the scope of the present invention.

  As described above, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a back side device detection unit that detects that there is another information processing apparatus on the back side opposite to the display side on which the display unit is disposed, Content identification information acquisition means for acquiring content identification information indicating content stored in the other information processing apparatus from the other information processing apparatus when the back side apparatus detection means detects the other information processing apparatus; In the display area of the display unit, a first display area corresponding to the own apparatus and a second display area corresponding to the other information processing apparatus are set, and operation display information for specifying content stored in the own apparatus is displayed. The display information for operation for specifying the content stored in the other information processing apparatus based on the content identification information displayed on the first display area and acquired by the content identification information acquisition means. Which is a configuration in which a display control means for displaying on the second display area.

  Moreover, the control method of the information processing device according to the present invention includes a back side device detection step for detecting that there is another information processing device on the back side opposite to the display surface side on which the display unit is disposed, A content identification information acquisition step of acquiring content identification information indicating the content stored in the other information processing device from the other information processing device after the other information processing device is detected in the back side device detection step; The operation display for setting the first display area corresponding to the own apparatus and the second display area corresponding to the other information processing apparatus in the display area of the display unit and specifying the content stored in the own apparatus Content displayed in the first display area and stored in the other information processing apparatus based on the content identification information acquired by the content identification information acquisition means The operation display information for specifying and a display control step of displaying on the second display area.

  Therefore, the effect that the user can know the content possessed by the other user by an intuitive and simple operation in which the information processing device possessed by the user is superimposed on the other information processing device possessed by the other user. Play.

  The information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a surface-side device detection unit that detects that there is another information processing apparatus on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed, and the surface-side device detection unit includes other When the information processing apparatus is detected, the apparatus includes a content identification information transmitting unit that transmits content identification information indicating the content stored in the self apparatus to the other information processing apparatus.

  The information processing apparatus control method according to the present invention includes a surface-side apparatus detection step for detecting that there is another information processing apparatus on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed, and the surface-side apparatus detection step. And a content identification information transmitting step of transmitting content identification information indicating content stored in the device to the other information processing device after the other information processing device is detected.

  Accordingly, the user can inform other users of the content held by the user with an intuitive and simple operation in which the other information processing device possessed by another user is superimposed on the information processing device possessed by the user. There is an effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the block diagram which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows an example of the principal part structure of a mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the front side and back side of the said mobile phone. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the side view in the state in which the said two mobile phones overlap. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the communication application execution process mounted in the said mobile telephone. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the multilayer state determination process contained in the communication application execution process described above. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the communication connection establishment process of the upper terminal and lower terminal which are contained in the communication application execution process described above. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content display process of the upper terminal and lower terminal which are contained in the communication application execution process described above. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the content transmission / reception process of the upper terminal contained in the communication application execution process described above, and a lower terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the main display part of the said upper mobile phone in a multilayer state. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a main part of a mobile phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the front side and back side of the said mobile phone. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the side view in the state in which the said two mobile phones overlap. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the multilayer state determination process contained in the communication application execution process mounted in the said mobile telephone. FIG. 10, showing a third embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of a mobile phone. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the front side and back side of the said mobile phone. It is a figure which shows a mode that it shifts to the state where the said two mobile telephones overlap, (a) is a figure which shows the external view of the side view in the state before the two said mobile telephones overlap, (b) It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the side view in the state in which two mobile telephones overlap. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the multilayer state determination process contained in the communication application execution process mounted in the said mobile telephone, and the communication connection establishment process of an upper terminal and a lower terminal. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of a mobile phone according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the front side and back side of the said mobile phone. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the side view in the state in which the said two mobile phones overlap. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the multilayer state determination process contained in the communication application execution process mounted in the said mobile telephone, and the communication connection establishment process of an upper terminal and a lower terminal. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the multilayer state determination process contained in the communication application execution process mounted in the said mobile telephone, and the communication connection establishment process of an upper terminal and a lower terminal. It is sectional drawing of the side view which shows an example of schematic structure of the housing | casing of the said mobile telephone. It is sectional drawing of the side view which shows another example of schematic structure of the housing | casing of the said mobile telephone. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional side view of the schematic structure of the casings of the two mobile phones in the multi-layer state, where (a) shows the case where the mobile phone shown in FIG. 23 is in the multi-layer state, and (b) is FIG. The case where the mobile phone shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the side view which shows another example of schematic structure of the housing | casing of the said two mobile telephones in a multilayered state.

<Outline of the present invention>
In the present invention, two information processing devices such as a mobile phone are stacked so that data stored in each information processing device can be transmitted to and received from each other, and each information processing device stores the information in the display unit of the upper information processing device. The data to be displayed is displayed in a different area for each information processing apparatus. Further, according to the present invention, in this state, data transmission / reception between the upper and lower information processing apparatuses can be executed by an operation on the upper information processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a mobile phone will be exemplified as the information processing apparatus, and the present invention will be described in detail based on each embodiment. In the present invention, basically, when the mobile phone is starting a predetermined application, it is detected that two mobile phones are overlapping, and the upper mobile phone displays the data stored in each mobile phone. Or data transmission / reception. Hereinafter, this application is referred to as “communication application to be loaded”.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 as follows. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone 1 is equipped with a touch panel photosensor liquid crystal as a main display unit (display unit) 13a on the front side (display side) and a sub-display on the back side. It is assumed that an optical sensor liquid crystal is mounted as the part 13b.

  Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, the sub-display unit 13b detects light emitted from the main display unit 13a of another mobile phone, whereby the mobile phone 1 is another mobile phone on the back side. It is determined that and are overlapping. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the sub-display unit 13b of the mobile phone 1A is positioned opposite to the main display unit 13a of the other mobile phone 1B when the mobile phone 1A and the other mobile phone 1B overlap each other. The arrangement and the size are not limited to those shown in FIG. That is, the size of the main display unit 13a and the sub display unit 13b, the arrangement of the main display unit 13a on the front side of the mobile phone 1, and the arrangement of the sub display unit 13b on the back side of the mobile phone 1 can be appropriately designed. Good.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the optical sensor 17a of the main display part 13a detects the shadow of the object on the front side of the mobile phone 1a, so that the mobile phone 1a overlaps with another mobile phone 1a on the front side. It is determined that. Therefore, the optical sensor 17a only needs to be able to detect whether there is an object on the front side of the mobile phone 1a, and the arrangement, size, and the like of the optical sensor 17a (main display unit 13a) may be appropriately designed.

  In the following, in a state where two mobile phones 1 are overlapped, the mobile phone 1 on the upper side is referred to as a mobile phone 1A, the mobile phone 1 on the lower side is referred to as a mobile phone 1B, and the upper side and the lower side are referred to. Unless otherwise distinguished, they are collectively referred to as the mobile phone 1.

  That is, the information processing system according to the present invention includes the mobile phone 1A on the upper side and the mobile phone 1B on the lower side.

[Configuration of mobile phone]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the mobile phone 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 1 includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a main display unit 13a, a sub display unit 13b, a short-range wireless communication unit 14, a telephone network communication unit 15, and an operation unit (input means) 16a. It has. The mobile phone 1 may include members such as a voice input unit and a voice output unit, but these members are not shown because they are not related to the features of the invention.

  In the following description, when the member of the mobile phone 1A and the member of the mobile phone 1B are distinguished, “A” or “B” is appended to the member number. For example, the control unit 11A indicates the control unit 11 of the mobile phone 1A, and the main display unit 13aB indicates the main display unit 13a of the mobile phone 1B.

  As described above, the main display portion 13a and the sub display portion 13b are composed of photosensor liquid crystals. The optical sensor liquid crystal is a sensor that incorporates an optical sensor on the transistor shape surface of the liquid crystal panel, and recognizes finger multi-touch (multi-point detection), pen movement, and shape on the liquid crystal surface. That is, the main display unit 13a and the sub display unit 13b include an optical sensor (input unit) 17a and an optical sensor 17b, respectively, and have a function of detecting light in addition to an image display function as a display unit.

  In the present invention, the optical sensor 17 a and the optical sensor 17 b function as an operation unit that receives a user's input operation and also functions as a detector that detects another mobile phone 1.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 14 communicates with other devices (for example, other mobile phones 1 and the like) by wireless communication means, and exchanges data according to instructions from the control unit 11. In the present embodiment, the short-range wireless communication unit 14 performs wireless communication using Bluetooth (registered trademark), but is not limited thereto. The short-range wireless communication unit 14 may perform communication using a wireless communication technology such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), IrDA, IrSimple, and the like.

  The telephone network communication unit 15 communicates with other devices via the mobile phone network, and exchanges voice data and communication data in accordance with instructions from the control unit 11.

  The operation unit 16 a is configured by input devices such as operation buttons, and is used by the user to input an instruction signal to the mobile phone 1 and operate the mobile phone 1.

  The control unit 11 performs various calculations by executing a program read from the storage unit 12 to a temporary storage unit (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit included in the mobile phone 1. .

  The control unit 11 reads communication application data to be loaded from the storage unit 12, and when the own device overlaps with another mobile phone 1 after the communication app to be loaded is activated, the control unit 11 acquires the data from the other mobile phone 1, and Data stored in the telephone 1 is displayed, and data is transmitted / received based on a user instruction.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 11 includes a multilayer state determination unit 31, a display control unit (display control unit) 32, an input operation specifying unit 33, a communication connection control unit 34, and a content processing unit 35 as functional blocks. is there. Each of the functional blocks (31 to 35) of the control unit 11 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that stores a program stored in a storage device realized by a ROM (read only memory) or the like (RAM (random access memory)). This can be realized by reading and executing the temporary storage unit realized by the above.

  The multilayer state determination unit 31 determines whether or not the mobile phone 1 is in a state where it overlaps with another mobile phone 1. Hereinafter, a state in which the mobile phone 1 overlaps with another mobile phone 1 is referred to as a multi-layer state. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a state in which the cellular phone 1A and the cellular phone 1B are overlapped is defined as a multilayered state. The multilayer state determination unit 31 includes an upper terminal state determination unit (back side device detection unit) 41 and a lower terminal state determination unit (front side device detection unit) 42.

  The upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether or not the own device is the upper terminal A (mobile phone 1A) on the upper side of the other mobile phone 1. In other words, the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether or not there is another mobile phone 1 on the back side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether or not the optical sensor 17b of the sub display unit 13b has detected predetermined light emitted from the main display unit 13a, and the optical sensor 17b is the main sensor. When the predetermined light emitted from the display unit 13a is detected, the device is determined to be the upper terminal A. More specifically, the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether the optical sensor 17b of the sub display unit 13b has detected light having a predetermined frequency at a predetermined light receiving interval.

  When the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines that the own device is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41 notifies the communication connection control unit 34 to that effect.

  The lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines whether or not the own device is the lower terminal B (mobile phone 1B) on the lower side of the other mobile phone 1. In other words, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines whether there is another mobile phone 1 on the front side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines whether or not the optical sensor 17a of the main display unit 13a has detected a shadow. When the optical sensor 17a detects a shadow, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 It is determined that

  When the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 notifies the display control unit 32 to that effect and emits light of a predetermined frequency from the main display unit 13a to the display control unit 32. Instructs to emit light at a predetermined light emission interval. Further, when the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 notifies the communication connection control unit 34 to that effect.

  The upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether or not the optical sensor 17b has detected a predetermined light emitted from the main display unit 13a in order to determine whether or not the terminal is the upper terminal A. Is. That is, the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether the sub display unit 13b faces the main display unit 13a of the mobile phone 1B, and detects light emitted from the main display unit 13a (detected by the optical sensor 17b). (Light) may be arbitrary and may be set appropriately in advance.

  The input operation specifying unit 33 acquires a user's input operation signal from the operation unit 16a, the optical sensor 17a, and the optical sensor 17b, and specifies what input operation the acquired input operation signal is. The input operation specifying unit 33 specifies, for example, that the communication application loaded by the user's input operation is activated or ended, or specifies that the content is moving or copying. The input operation specifying unit 33 notifies the display control unit 32 or the content processing unit 35 of the content of the input operation according to the content of the specified input operation.

  The communication connection control unit 34 establishes a communication connection between the short-range wireless communication unit 14 and the short-range wireless communication unit of another mobile phone 1. When the communication connection control unit 34 receives a notification that the own device is the upper terminal A from the upper terminal state determination unit 41, the communication connection control unit 34 transmits a communication start signal to the mobile phone 1B via the short-range wireless communication unit 14. Next, when receiving the terminal ID from the mobile phone 1B, the communication connection control unit 34 transmits the terminal ID of its own device to the mobile phone 1B via the short-range wireless communication unit 14.

  In addition, when the communication connection control unit 34 receives a notification that the own device is the lower terminal B from the lower terminal state determination unit 42, the communication connection control unit 34 instructs the short-range wireless communication unit 14 to start waiting for communication connection. . Next, when receiving the communication start signal from the mobile phone 1A, the communication connection control unit 34 transmits the terminal ID of the own device to the mobile phone 1A via the short-range wireless communication unit 14.

  The terminal ID is information for identifying a device for specifying the other party at the time of communication connection, and is, for example, an address.

  The content processing unit 35 processes the content held by the own device, and performs, for example, content movement and duplication, content reproduction, content deletion, and the like. Further, the content processing unit 35 stores the acquired content in the storage unit 12. In addition, when the content processing unit 35 is in a layered state with another mobile phone 1, the content processing unit 35 processes content held by the other mobile phone.

  The content processing unit 35 includes a content acquisition unit (content identification information acquisition unit, mobile duplication unit) 43 and a content transmission unit (content identification information transmission unit, mobile replication unit) 44.

  The content acquisition unit 43, in a multi-layer state with another mobile phone 1, establishes a communication connection, and then, from another mobile phone 1, content entity data held by the other mobile phone 1 or content identification information indicating the content Is something to get. Here, the content identification information is information that uniquely identifies the content held by the mobile phone 1, and is, for example, a content ID or a file name of the content.

  After the communication connection is established in the multi-layered state with the other mobile phone 1, the content transmission unit 44 transmits the content entity data held by the own device or the content identification information indicating the content to the other mobile phone 1. To be sent.

  The content transmission unit 44 reads not only the content identification information from the storage unit 12 but also content attached information such as a content thumbnail image, content content type information, content size information, content creation date / time information, and the like. The identification information and the content attached information may be transmitted to another mobile phone 1.

  The display control unit 32 displays images on the main display unit 13a and the sub display unit 13b based on instructions from the lower terminal state determination unit 42, the input operation specifying unit 33, and the like. The display control unit 32 includes a shared content display area WA (first display area) corresponding to its own device and a shared content display area WB (second display) corresponding to another mobile phone 1 in the display area of the main display unit 13a. Area), display the operation display information for specifying the content held by the own device in the shared content display area WA, and display the operation display information for specifying the content held by the other mobile phone 1 as the shared content. Display in the display area WB.

  Here, the display information for operation may be information that allows the user to specify the content, such as a file name, an icon, and a thumbnail of the content.

  When the content acquisition unit acquires only the content identification information, the display control unit 32 may use the content identification information as the display information for operation and display the content ID or the file name of the content on the display unit. Further, when the content acquisition unit acquires the content identification information and the content attached information, the display control unit 32 uses the content attached information as the operation display information, and displays the content with an icon or a thumbnail indicating the type of the content. May be.

  The storage unit 12 stores programs, data, and the like that the control unit 11 refers to. For example, images, videos, text data, html data, contact information, and the like that the content processing unit 35 transmits and receives with other mobile phones. Various contents such as application data are stored.

  Here, when the communication application to be loaded is executed, the content that can be moved or copied with another mobile phone 1 may be all of the content held by the mobile phone 1 or a part of the content. For example, among the contents stored in the mobile phone 1, a content that can be moved or copied with another mobile phone 1 may be set in advance. Hereinafter, content that is held by the mobile phone 1 and that can be moved or copied with another mobile phone 1 when a communication application to be loaded is executed is referred to as shared content.

[Communication application execution processing to be placed]
Next, communication application execution processing to be placed on the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a communication application execution process to be placed on the mobile phone 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, the control unit 11 activates a communication application to be loaded based on a user operation (S1). After the activation, the multi-layer state determination unit 31 determines whether or not the mobile phone 1 is in a multi-layer state where it overlaps with another mobile phone 1, and determines whether the own device is the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B. Specify (S2).

  Next, the mobile phone 1A, which is the upper terminal A, and the mobile phone 1B, which is the lower terminal B, each execute a communication connection establishment process to establish a mutual communication connection (S3A, S3B). After both establish a communication connection, both perform content display processing, and the cellular phone 1A displays the contents held by the cellular phones 1A and 1B on the main display portion 13aA (S4A, S4B). Then, both perform content transmission / reception processing based on the user's operation received by the mobile phone 1A, and move, copy, etc. the content (S5A, S5B).

  After that, both determine whether or not the two mobile phones 1 are separated (S6A, S6B). If the multi-layered state is maintained (NO in S6A and S6B), both continue processing S5A and S5B, respectively, while the two mobile phones 1 are not multi-layered (YES in S6A and S6B). Both end communication applications to be loaded (S7A, S7B).

[Details of each process in the communication application execution process to be posted]
Next, the processes of S2 to S5 (multilayer state determination process, communication connection establishment process, content display process, and content transmission / reception process) in FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the multistory state determination process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of communication connection establishment processing between the upper terminal and the lower terminal. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of content display processing of the upper terminal and the lower terminal. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of content transmission / reception processing of the upper terminal and the lower terminal.

  Finally, a determination process for determining whether or not the two mobile phones 1 in S6A and S6B maintain the multi-layer state will be described.

[Multilayer state judgment processing]
First, the multilayer state determination process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, after starting the communication application to be mounted, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 of the mobile phone 1 determines whether or not the light sensor 17a of the main display unit 13a has detected a shadow (S11).

  When the optical sensor 17a detects a shadow (YES in S11), the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines that the own device is the lower terminal B (S12) and notifies the display control unit 32 accordingly. When notified from the lower terminal state determination unit 42 that the own device is the lower terminal B, the display control unit 32B causes the main display unit 13aB to emit light having a predetermined frequency at a predetermined light emission interval. That is, the display control unit 32B causes the main display unit 13aB to blink (S13).

  On the other hand, when the optical sensor 17a does not detect a shadow (NO in S11), the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines whether the optical sensor 17b of the sub display unit 13b has detected blinking display of the main display unit 13a. (S14). When the optical sensor 17b detects blinking display (YES in S14), the upper terminal state determination unit 41 determines that the own device is the upper terminal A (S15). When the optical sensor 17b does not detect the blinking display (NO in S14), the process returns to S11 again.

  In the processing examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the multi-layer state determination process is performed after the communication application to be loaded is activated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the optical sensor 17a detects a shadow, the communication application to be placed is started, the lower terminal state determination unit 42 determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, and the optical sensor 17b detects blinking display. At that time, the communication application to be placed may be activated, and the upper terminal state determination unit 41 may determine that the own device is the upper terminal A.

  Although not shown, when the optical sensor 17a does not detect a shadow and the optical sensor 17b does not detect a blinking display for a predetermined period, an error is displayed on the main display unit 13a so as to be in a multi-layer state. Display a message prompting you, or close the communication app that you want to post if timed out.

[Communication connection establishment process]
Next, the communication connection establishment process will be described in detail based on FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the communication connection control unit 34B of the mobile phone 1B that has determined that the own device is the lower terminal B is notified of the lower terminal B from the lower terminal state determination unit 42B, The wireless communication unit 14B is activated to start waiting for communication connection (S21).

  On the other hand, when the communication connection control unit 34A of the mobile phone 1A that has determined that its own device is the upper terminal A is notified of the upper terminal A from the upper terminal state determination unit 41A, the communication connection control unit 34A Then, a communication start signal is transmitted to the mobile phone 1B (S22).

  When the communication start signal is received from the mobile phone 1A, the communication connection control unit 34B transmits the terminal ID of its own device (mobile phone 1B) to the mobile phone 1A (S23). When receiving the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1B from the mobile phone 1B, the communication connection control unit 34A transmits the terminal ID of its own device (mobile phone 1A) to the mobile phone 1B (S24).

  The communication connection control unit 34B receives the terminal ID from the mobile phone 1A and completes the establishment of the communication connection. The communication connection control unit 34A receives the response to the terminal ID transmission and the establishment of the communication connection is completed. Make sure.

[Content display processing]
Next, content display processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, in the mobile phone 1A, after the communication connection is established, the content acquisition unit 43A transmits a shared content request instruction to the mobile phone 1B via the short-range wireless communication unit 14A (S31).

  On the other hand, when the mobile phone 1B receives the shared content request instruction from the mobile phone 1A after establishing the communication connection, the content transmitting unit 44B, from the storage unit 12B, the shared content identification information indicating the shared content of its own device (mobile phone 1B) And the read shared content identification information is transmitted to the mobile phone 1A via the short-range wireless communication unit 14B (S32).

  When the content acquisition unit 43A receives the shared content identification information from the mobile phone 1B, the content acquisition unit 43A reads the shared content identification information indicating the shared content of the own device (mobile phone 1A) from the storage unit 12A, and the shared content identification information of the mobile phone 1A and The shared content identification information of the mobile phone 1B is output to the display control unit 32A. The display control unit 32A sets the shared content display areas WA and WB in the display area of the main display unit 13aA, and specifies the shared content indicated by the shared content identification information of the mobile phone 1A in the shared content display area WA. Information is displayed, and display information for operation for specifying the shared content indicated by the shared content identification information of the mobile phone 1B is displayed in the shared content display area WB (S33).

  In S32, the content transmission unit 44B not only stores the shared content identification information from the storage unit 12B but also the thumbnail image of the shared content, the content type information of the shared content, the size information of the shared content, the creation date information of the shared content, and the like. The attached information of the shared content may be read, and the shared content identification information and the shared content attached information may be transmitted to the mobile phone 1A.

  In the above-described content display processing example, the mobile phone 1B transmits the shared content identification information after receiving the shared content request instruction from the mobile phone 1A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mobile phone 1B transmits the shared content identification information to the mobile phone 1A after the communication connection is established, and the mobile phone 1A waits for the shared content identification information to be transmitted from the mobile phone 1B after the communication connection is established. It may be.

[Content transmission / reception processing]
Next, content transmission / reception processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in the mobile phone 1A, after displaying the shared content of the mobile phone 1A and the mobile phone 1B, the input operation specifying unit 33A receives an instruction to operate the displayed content from the optical sensor 17aA or the operation unit 16aA. Wait for input (S41). If no instruction for operating the content is input (NO in S41), the content transmission / reception process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the input operation specifying unit 33A acquires a content operation instruction from the optical sensor 17aA or the operation unit 16aA (YES in S41), the input operation specifying unit 33A specifies the content operation instruction, and the display control unit 32A and the content The specified content is notified to the processing unit 35A.

  When receiving the notification from the input operation specifying unit 33A, the display control unit 32A updates the display of the main display unit 13aA based on the content operation instruction (S42). Further, the content processing unit 35A processes the content based on the content operation instruction (S43).

  On the other hand, in the mobile phone 1B, the content processing unit 35B waits for a content operation instruction to be transmitted from the mobile phone 1A (S44). If no content operation instruction is transmitted (NO in S44), the content transmission / reception process is terminated.

  When the content processing unit 35B receives the content operation instruction from the mobile phone 1A (YES in S44), the content processing unit 35B processes the content of the mobile phone 1B based on the received content operation instruction (S45).

  Here, specifically, in S41, it is assumed that an instruction to copy the content CA1 of the mobile phone 1A to the mobile phone 1B is input to the input operation specifying unit 33A. In this case, in S42, the display control unit 32A adds the content CA1 to the shared content display area WB and displays it. In S43, the content transmission unit 44A reads the actual data of the content CA1 from the storage unit 12A, and transmits the read actual data of the content CA1 to the mobile phone 1B.

  In S44 and 45, the content acquisition unit 43B receives the actual data of the content CA1 transmitted from the mobile phone 1A, and stores the received actual data of the content CA1 in the storage unit 12B.

  As another example, in S41, it is assumed that an instruction to copy the content CB1 of the mobile phone 1B to the mobile phone 1A is input to the input operation specifying unit 33A. In this case, in S42, the display control unit 32A adds the content CB1 to the shared content display area WA and displays it. In S43, content acquisition unit 43A transmits an instruction to request content CB1 to mobile phone 1B.

  In S44, when the content processing unit 35B receives an instruction for requesting the content CB1 from the mobile phone 1A, the content transmission unit 44B reads the actual data of the content CB1 from the storage unit 12B, and the read actual data of the content CB1 is transmitted to the mobile phone. It is transmitted to 1A (S45).

  As a response to the instruction for requesting the content CB1, the content acquisition unit 43A receives the actual data of the content CB1 from the mobile phone 1B, and stores the received actual data of the content CB1 in the storage unit 12A (S43).

[Multilayer state maintenance judgment processing]
Finally, the determination process of whether or not the two mobile phones 1 in S6A and S6B maintain the multi-layer state will be described in detail.

  In S6A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41A continuously determines whether or not the optical sensor 17bA detects blinking display of the main display unit 13aB every predetermined period. If the optical sensor 17bA continuously detects blinking display, the upper terminal state determination unit 41A determines that the multistory state is maintained (NO in S6A). On the other hand, when the optical sensor 17bA no longer detects the blinking display, the upper terminal state determination unit 41A determines that the mobile phone 1A is separated from the mobile phone 1B (YES in S6A), and ends the communication application carried by the control unit 11A. (S7A).

  In S6B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42B continuously determines whether or not the optical sensor 17aB has detected a shadow for each predetermined period. The lower terminal state determination unit 42B determines that the multistory state is maintained if the optical sensor 17aB continuously detects shadows (NO in S6B). On the other hand, when the optical sensor 17aB no longer detects a shadow, the lower terminal state determination unit 42B determines that the mobile phone 1B has moved away from the mobile phone 1A (YES in S6B), and terminates the communication application carried by the control unit 11B ( S7B). In other words, the lower terminal state determination unit 42B determines that the mobile phone 1B has moved away from the mobile phone 1A when the optical sensor 17aB detects a predetermined amount or more of light (YES in S6B).

  However, the determination process of whether or not the multilayer state is maintained is not limited to this. For example, when the mobile phone 1 includes an acceleration sensor, it is determined whether or not the mobile phone 1 is moved a certain distance in a predetermined direction from the multi-layer state, and whether or not the multi-layer state is maintained is determined. Good. Further, when an instruction to end the communication application to be placed by the user is input, it may be determined that the user is not in the multi-layer state and the communication application to be placed may be terminated. Also, when one of the two mobile phones 1 is determined not to be in a multi-layer state or when the communication application to be placed is terminated, the determined or terminated mobile phone 1 notifies the other to that effect, It may be determined that the mobile phone 1 is not in the multi-layer state, or the communication application to be placed may be terminated.

[Display screen example]
Next, an example of a screen displayed on the main display unit 13aA in the stacked state will be described based on FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the main display unit 13aA of the mobile phone 1A in the multi-layer state.

  The state a shown in FIG. 9 is a normal state before the layered state. As illustrated, in this state a, it is assumed that the mobile phone 1A holds the shared contents CA1 and CA2, and the mobile phone 1B holds the shared contents CB1 and CB2.

  It is assumed that the cellular phone 1A is overlaid on the cellular phone 1B from the state a to be in a multilayered state (state b). As shown in FIG. 9, in the state b, the shared content display area WA in which the shared content held by the mobile phone 1A is displayed and the shared content held by the mobile phone 1B are displayed in the display area of the main display portion 13aA. Shared content display area WB is set. Then, shared content CA1 and CA2 are displayed in the shared content display area WA, and shared content CB1 and CB2 are displayed in the shared content display area WB.

  When the user performs a drag operation on the shared content CA1 from the shared content display area WA to the shared content display area WB in the state b, the state transitions to the state c. As a result of this operation, the shared content CA1 is copied to the mobile phone 1B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, in the state c, the shared content CA1 is displayed in the shared content display area WB in addition to the shared content CB1 and CB2. Is done.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 9, in the state b, the display control unit 32 causes the shared content display area WA and the shared content display area to correspond to the upper and lower positional relationships of the mobile phone 1A and the mobile phone 1B in the multi-layer state. The WBs are arranged so as to have a vertical positional relationship in the display area of the main display unit 13a. In the display area of the display unit, as shown in FIG. 9, in the state b, the up and down directions are set, and along this, the shared content display area WA is on the upper side and the shared content display area WB is on the lower side. Alternatively, the shared content display area WA and the shared content display area WB are arranged in a state where a part of the shared content display area WB is superimposed below the shared content display area WA. Also good.

  Further, the shared content display area WA and the shared content display area WB are made to correspond to the left and right positional relations in the display area of the main display unit 13a in correspondence with the upper and lower positional relations of the mobile phone 1A and the mobile phone 1B in the multi-layer state. Each may be arranged so as to be.

  Further, in order to allow the user to understand that in the states b and c, the shared content display area WA and the shared content display area WB correspond to the mobile phone 1A and the mobile phone 1B, respectively, as shown in FIG. As described above, the display control unit 32 may display “A” indicating the mobile phone 1A in the shared content display area WA and display “B” indicating the mobile phone 1B in the shared content display area WB. For example, instead of displaying “A” indicating the mobile phone 1A in the shared content display area WA, the user name of the mobile phone 1A may be displayed. Further, instead of displaying the text information indicating the mobile phones 1A and 1B in the shared content display areas WA and WB, the frame color and / or the background color of the shared content display areas WA and WB are displayed in different colors. The user may be able to distinguish and recognize both. In this case, the color corresponding to the upper terminal and the color corresponding to the lower terminal may be set in advance, or the color may be set in advance for each user.

[Modification 1]
In the present embodiment, a mobile phone is exemplified as the information processing apparatus of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information processing apparatus of the present invention only needs to include a display unit and a communication unit. For example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), an electronic book terminal, a portable game machine, a digital camera, a digital TV, a notebook PC, portable music playback It may be a machine.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the two mobile phones 1 are the same model (size) is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Different devices may be stacked, or devices of different sizes may be stacked. For example, a portable game machine may be stacked on a digital TV display to share the content, or mobile phones having different display units or housing sizes may be stacked to share the content. It may be.

  That is, the multi-layer state may be not only a state where the information processing apparatus overlaps with the whole of the other information processing apparatus but also a state where it overlaps with a part of the other information processing apparatus. In this case, hardware (sensors and the like) and software (multilayer state determination unit 31) for determining the multilayer state in the information processing apparatus may be appropriately designed.

[Modification 2]
In the present embodiment, two mobile phones 1 are stacked to share content. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all the mobile phones 1 that are in a multi-layered state are stacked by stacking three or more mobile phones 1. You may make it share contents.

[Modification 3]
Further, the main display portion 13a of the mobile phone 1A may be configured with 3D liquid crystal. In this case, by displaying the shared content display area WA in front of the shared content display area WB, it is possible to display corresponding to the state of each mobile phone 1 in a multi-layered state, and the user operates more intuitively. be able to.

[Modification 4]
In the present embodiment, the content processing unit 35 moves and copies the shared content, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the mail application is started from the state shown in FIG. 9B and the mobile phone 1A transmits mail to another device, the shared contents CA1, CA2, CB1, and CB2 of the mobile phones 1A and 1B are transmitted. You may make it possible to select it as an attached file. When CB1 or CB2 is selected as the attached file, the content acquisition unit 43A may request and acquire the content from the mobile phone 1B when sending the mail.

  When the content CB1 or CB2 is a moving image or music data, the content may be reproduced on the mobile phone 1A by the user inputting a content reproduction instruction from the state shown in FIG. 9B.

  Further, when the mobile phones 1A and 1B hold items used in the game application as shared content, the game application is started from the state shown in FIG. 9B and used in the game application. You may enable it to share an item etc. in a game.

  Further, electronic approval of the user of the mobile phone 1A or the user of the mobile phone 1B may be obtained by the user selecting content from the state shown in FIG. 9B. For example, electronic approval of the user of the mobile phone 1B may be added to the content CA1 by selecting the content CA1.

[Modification 5]
In the present embodiment, the multi-layer state is determined using the main display unit 13a and the sub display unit 13b, which are optical sensor liquid crystals, and communication is performed with Bluetooth. However, the determination method and the communication method are not limited thereto. is not. For example, another mobile phone 1 may be detected by a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like. In the present invention, any method can be used as long as it can determine the state in which the two mobile phones 1 are overlapped, and if the two mobile phones 1 can communicate in the multi-layer state, Any communication method may be used.

  Other specific examples of the determination method and the communication method will be described in detail based on the following embodiments.

<Second Embodiment>
The following describes the second embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted. Further, the terms defined in the first embodiment are used according to the definitions in this embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the second embodiment, a proximity sensor and an optical sensor are provided in place of the two optical sensor liquid crystals (the optical sensors 17a and 17b) in the first embodiment. The communication method of the two mobile phones 1 is the same Bluetooth as in the first embodiment. That is, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the multilayer state determination process, and the other processes are the same. In the following description, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described in the second embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the mobile phone 1a is provided with a proximity sensor 18, a display unit 13c, and an operation unit 16b on the front side, and an optical sensor 17c on the back side. Has been placed.

  In addition, although mentioned later for details, in this embodiment, when the optical sensor 17c detects the light irradiated from the display part 13c of the other mobile telephone 1a, the other mobile telephone 1a in which the mobile telephone 1a is on the back side is detected. It is determined that and are overlapping. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the optical sensor 17c of the mobile phone 1aA is disposed at a position facing the display unit 13c of the other mobile phone 1aB when the mobile phone 1aA and the other mobile phone 1aB overlap each other. The arrangement and the size shown in FIG. 11 are not limited. That is, the size of the display unit 13c and the optical sensor 17c, the arrangement of the display unit 13c on the front side of the mobile phone 1a, and the arrangement of the photosensor 17c on the back side of the mobile phone 1a may be designed as appropriate.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the proximity sensor 18 detects an object on the front side of the mobile phone 1a, thereby determining that the mobile phone 1a is in a state of being overlapped with another mobile phone 1a on the front side. Yes. Therefore, the proximity sensor 18 only needs to be able to detect whether there is an object on the front side of the mobile phone 1a, and the arrangement, size, and the like of the proximity sensor 18 may be appropriately designed.

[Configuration of mobile phone]
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the mobile phone 1a. As shown in FIG. 10, the mobile phone 1a includes a control unit 11a, a storage unit 12, a display unit 13c, a short-range wireless communication unit 14, a telephone network communication unit 15, an operation unit 16a, an operation unit 16b, an optical sensor 17c, and a proximity. A sensor 18 is provided. The mobile phone 1a may include members such as a voice input unit and a voice output unit, but these members are not shown because they are not related to the features of the invention.

  The display part 13c displays an image according to the instruction | indication of the control part 11a. The display unit 13c only needs to display an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11a. For example, an LCD (liquid crystal display), an organic EL display, a plasma display, or the like can be applied.

  The operation unit 16b is for a user to input an instruction signal to the mobile phone 1a and operate the mobile phone 1a. The operation unit 16b may be configured with input devices such as a pointing device, a keypad, and operation buttons. A touch panel in which the operation unit 16b and the display unit 13c are integrated may be used.

  The optical sensor 17c detects light. In the present embodiment, light having a predetermined frequency emitted from the display unit 13c of another mobile phone 1a at a predetermined irradiation interval is detected.

  The proximity sensor 18 detects an object within a predetermined range from the proximity sensor 18. The proximity sensor 18 may be anything such as an inductive proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, or the like that detects the other mobile phone 1a.

  The control unit 11a performs various calculations by executing a program read from the storage unit 12 to a temporary storage unit (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit included in the mobile phone 1a. .

  The control unit 11a reads the communication application data to be placed from the storage unit 12, and when the own device overlaps with another mobile phone 1a after the communication application to be placed is activated, the control unit 11a acquires the data from the other mobile phone 1a, The data held by the telephone 1a is displayed, and data is transmitted / received based on a user instruction.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 11a includes a multi-layer state determination unit 31a, a display control unit 32, an input operation specifying unit 33, a communication connection control unit 34, and a content processing unit 35 as functional blocks. In each functional block (31a, 32-35) of the control unit 11a, the CPU reads a program stored in a storage device realized by a ROM or the like to a temporary storage unit realized by a RAM or the like and executes the program. This can be achieved.

  The multilayer state determination unit 31a determines whether or not the mobile phone 1a is in a state where it overlaps with another mobile phone 1a. The multilayer state determination unit 31a includes an upper terminal state determination unit 41a and a lower terminal state determination unit 42a.

  The upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether or not the own device is the upper terminal A (mobile phone 1aA) on the upper side of the other mobile phone 1a. In other words, the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether or not there is another mobile phone 1a on the back side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether or not the optical sensor 17c has detected predetermined light emitted from the display unit 13c, and the optical sensor 17c is irradiated from the display unit 13c. When the predetermined light is detected, the device is determined to be the upper terminal A. More specifically, the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether or not the light sensor 17c detects predetermined light at a predetermined light receiving interval.

  When the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines that the own device is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41a notifies the communication connection control unit 34 to that effect.

  The lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines whether or not the own device is the lower terminal B (mobile phone 1aB) on the lower side of the other mobile phone 1a. In other words, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines whether or not there is another mobile phone 1a on the front side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines whether or not the proximity sensor 18 has detected an object, and determines that the own device is the lower terminal B when the proximity sensor 18 has detected an object. .

  When the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a notifies the display control unit 32 to that effect, and the display control unit 32 receives predetermined light from the display unit 13c. It is instructed to emit light at the light emission interval. Further, when the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a notifies the communication connection control unit 34 to that effect.

  In addition, in order to determine whether it is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination part 41a determines whether the optical sensor 17c detected the predetermined light irradiated from the display part 13c. It is. That is, the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether the optical sensor 17c is facing the display unit 13c of the mobile phone 1aB, and light emitted from the display unit 13c (light detected by the optical sensor 17c) is It may be arbitrary and may be set appropriately in advance.

[Multilayer state judgment processing]
Next, based on FIG. 13, the multilayer state determination processing in the second embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the multilayer state determination process according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, after starting the communication application to be placed, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a of the mobile phone 1a determines whether or not the proximity sensor 18 has detected an object within a predetermined range (S51).

  When the proximity sensor 18 detects a proximity object (YES in S51), the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines that the own device is the lower terminal B (S52) and notifies the display control unit 32 accordingly. When the display control unit 32B is notified by the lower terminal state determination unit 42a that the own device is the lower terminal B, the display control unit 32B emits light of a predetermined frequency from the display unit 13cB at a predetermined emission interval. That is, the display control unit 32B causes the display unit 13cB to blink and display (S53).

  On the other hand, when the proximity sensor 18 does not detect a proximity object (NO in S51), the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines whether or not the optical sensor 17c has detected blinking display on the display unit 13c (S54). When the optical sensor 17c detects blinking display (YES in S54), the upper terminal state determination unit 41a determines that the own device is the upper terminal A (S55). When the optical sensor 17c does not detect blinking display (NO in S54), the process returns to S51 again.

  In the processing example of FIG. 13, the multilayer state determination process is performed after the communication application to be loaded is activated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the proximity sensor 18 detects an object, the communication application to be placed is activated, the lower terminal state determination unit 42a determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, and the optical sensor 17c detects blinking display. At that time, the communication application to be placed may be activated, and the upper terminal state determination unit 41a may determine that the own device is the upper terminal A.

  Although not shown, when the proximity sensor 18 does not detect an object for a predetermined period and the optical sensor 17c does not detect blinking display, an error is displayed on the display unit 13c to prompt the player to enter a multilayer state. Display a message or close a communication application that is posted as timed out.

[Multilayer state maintenance judgment processing]
Further, in the second embodiment, the determination process of whether or not the two mobile phones 1a in S6A and S6B shown in FIG. 4 maintain the multi-layer state is also different from the first embodiment. The multilayer state maintenance determination process of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  In S6A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41aA continuously determines whether the optical sensor 17cA detects the blinking display of the display unit 13cB every predetermined period. If the optical sensor 17cA continuously detects blinking display, the upper terminal state determination unit 41aA determines that the multi-layer state is maintained (NO in S6A). On the other hand, when the optical sensor 17cA no longer detects the blinking display, the upper terminal state determination unit 41aA determines that the mobile phone 1aA has moved away from the mobile phone 1aB (YES in S6A), and ends the communication application carried by the control unit 11aA. (S7A).

  In S6B, lower terminal state determination unit 42aB continuously determines whether or not proximity sensor 18B detects an object for each predetermined period. If the proximity sensor 18B continuously detects the object, the lower terminal state determination unit 42aB determines that the multi-layer state is maintained (NO in S6B). On the other hand, when the proximity sensor 18B no longer detects an object, the lower terminal state determination unit 42aB determines that the mobile phone 1aB has moved away from the mobile phone 1aA (YES in S6B), and ends the communication application carried by the control unit 11aB ( S7B).

<Third Embodiment>
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted. Further, the terms defined in the first embodiment are used according to the definitions in this embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the third embodiment, a camera is provided in place of the two photosensor liquid crystals (the photosensors 17a and 17b) in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, the communication method of the two mobile phones 1 is the same Bluetooth as in the first embodiment, but the communication connection establishment process is different from that in the first embodiment. That is, the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the multi-layer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process, and the other processes are the same. In the following description, differences of the third embodiment from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, in the mobile phone 1b, a display unit 13d is arranged on the front side, and a camera 19 is arranged on the back side.

  Although details will be described later, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16A, after the camera 19 recognizes the unique code displayed on the display unit 13d of the other mobile phone 1b, the camera 19 takes a picture. When the obtained image becomes dark, it is determined that the mobile phone 1b is in a state of being overlapped with the other mobile phone 1b on the back side. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the camera 19 of the mobile phone 1bA is in a state before and when the mobile phone 1bA and another mobile phone 1bB are overlapped. It only needs to be disposed at a position facing the 1 bB display portion 13d, and is not limited to the arrangement and the size (shooting range) shown in FIG. That is, the size of the display unit 13d and the camera 19 (shooting range), the arrangement of the display unit 13d on the front side of the mobile phone 1b, and the arrangement of the camera 19 on the back side of the mobile phone 1b may be appropriately designed.

[Configuration of mobile phone]
FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of the mobile phone 1b. As shown in FIG. 14, the mobile phone 1b includes a control unit 11b, a storage unit 12, a display unit 13d, a short-range wireless communication unit 14, a telephone network communication unit 15, an operation unit 16a, and a camera 19. The mobile phone 1b may include members such as a voice input unit and a voice output unit, but these members are not shown because they are not related to the features of the invention.

  The display unit 13d displays an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11b. The display unit 13d only needs to display an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11b. For example, an LCD (liquid crystal display), an organic EL display, a plasma display, or the like can be applied. The display unit 13d is provided with an operation unit 16c and is a touch panel.

  The operation unit 16c is for the user to input an instruction signal to the mobile phone 1b and operate the mobile phone 1b. Note that the display unit 13d and the operation unit 16c may be separate bodies as in the second embodiment.

  The camera 19 acquires an image photographed by the image sensor as digital data.

  The control unit 11b performs various calculations by executing a program read from the storage unit 12 to a temporary storage unit (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit included in the mobile phone 1b. .

  The control unit 11b reads out communication application data to be loaded from the storage unit 12, and when the own device overlaps with the other mobile phone 1b after the communication application to be loaded is activated, the control unit 11b acquires the data from the other mobile phone 1b, and The data held by the telephone 1b is displayed, and data is transmitted / received based on a user instruction.

  In this embodiment, the control part 11b is the structure provided with the multilayer state determination part 31b, the display control part 32, the input operation specific | specification part 33, the communication connection control part 34b, and the content process part 35 as a functional block. In each functional block (31b, 32, 33, 34b and 35) of the control unit 11b, the CPU stores a program stored in a storage device realized by a ROM or the like in a temporary storage unit realized by a RAM or the like. This can be realized by reading and executing.

  The multilayer state determination unit 31b determines whether or not the mobile phone 1b is in a state where it overlaps with another mobile phone 1b. The multilayer state determination unit 31b includes an upper terminal state determination unit 41b and a lower terminal state determination unit 42b.

  The upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines whether or not the own device is the upper terminal A (mobile phone 1bA) on the upper side of the other mobile phone 1b. In other words, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines whether there is another mobile phone 1b on the back side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines whether the camera 19 has recognized the unique code displayed on the display unit 13d of the other mobile phone 1b, and further, the image acquired by the camera 19 Determine if has become dark. The upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines that the device is the upper terminal A when the camera 19 recognizes the unique code and the image acquired by the camera 19 becomes dark thereafter. More specifically, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines whether or not the image captured by the camera 19 includes a unique code. If the unique code is included, the image captured by the camera 19 is then captured. It is determined whether or not the luminance of the image has become a predetermined value or less.

  When the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines that the own device is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b notifies the communication connection control unit 34b to that effect.

  The lower terminal state determination unit 42b determines whether or not the own device is the lower terminal B (mobile phone 1bB) on the lower side of the other mobile phone 1b. In other words, the lower terminal state determination unit 42b determines whether or not there is another mobile phone 1b on the front side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the lower terminal state determination unit 42b determines whether or not the unique code has been transmitted from another mobile phone 1b via the short-range wireless communication unit 14, and when the unique code is received, The own device is determined to be the lower terminal B.

  When the lower terminal state determination unit 42b determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42b notifies the communication connection control unit 34b to that effect.

  The unique code displayed on the display unit 13d may be a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode, or a predetermined image. The unique code may be determined in advance between the two mobile phones 1b, and may be set arbitrarily.

  The communication connection control unit 34b establishes a communication connection between the short-range wireless communication unit 14 and the short-range wireless communication unit 14 of another mobile phone 1b. The communication connection control unit 34b starts waiting for communication connection after starting the communication application to be placed, and upon receiving a notification that the own device is the upper terminal A from the upper terminal state determination unit 41, ends the waiting for communication connection, A communication start signal and a unique code are transmitted to the mobile phone 1bB via the distance wireless communication unit 14. Next, when the communication connection control unit 34bA receives the terminal ID from the mobile phone 1bB, the communication connection control unit 34bA transmits the terminal ID of its own device to the mobile phone 1bB via the short-range wireless communication unit 14.

  Further, the communication connection control unit 34b starts waiting for communication connection after starting the communication application to be mounted, receives a communication start signal and a unique code, and notifies the lower terminal state determination unit 42 that the own device is the lower terminal B. Is received, the terminal ID of its own device is transmitted to the mobile phone 1A via the short-range wireless communication unit 14.

[Multilayer state determination processing and communication connection establishment processing]
Next, based on FIG. 17, the multi-layer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process in the third embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a multi-layer state determination process and a communication connection establishment process in the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 17, after starting the communication application to be loaded, the control unit 11b instructs the display control unit 32 to display the unique code on the display unit 13d (S61). In addition, the communication connection control unit 34b activates the short-range wireless communication unit 14 and waits for communication connection (S62). Further, the control unit 11b activates the camera 19 (S63).

  Next, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines whether or not the camera 19 has recognized the unique code (S64). If a unique code is included in the image captured by the camera 19 (YES in S64), the upper terminal state determination unit 41b then determines whether the image captured by the camera 19 has become dark (S65). . The upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines that the device is the upper terminal A when the camera 19 recognizes the unique code and the image captured by the camera 19 becomes dark thereafter (YES in S65) ( S66).

  When the upper terminal state determination unit 41b determines that the own device is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41b notifies the communication connection control unit 34b to that effect. When the communication connection control unit 34bA receives the notification from the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA, the communication connection control unit 34bA ends standby for communication connection, and transmits a communication start signal and a unique code to the mobile phone 1bB via the short-range wireless communication unit 14A. (S67).

  On the other hand, when the camera 19 does not recognize the unique code or the image captured by the camera 19 does not become dark (NO in S64 or NO in S65), the communication connection control unit 34b communicates with another mobile phone 1b. It waits for a unique code to be transmitted together with the connection start signal (S68).

  When the communication connection control unit 34b does not receive the communication connection start signal and the unique code (NO in S68), the process returns to S64 again. On the other hand, when the communication connection control unit 34b receives the communication connection start signal and the unique code (YES in S68), it notifies the lower terminal state determination unit 42b to that effect. The lower terminal state determination unit 42b that has received the notification determines that the own device is the lower terminal B (S69).

  Then, the communication connection control unit 34bB transmits the terminal ID of the own device (mobile phone 1bB) to the mobile phone 1bA (S70). When receiving the terminal ID of the mobile phone 1bB from the mobile phone 1bB, the communication connection control unit 34bA transmits the terminal ID of the own device (the mobile phone 1bA) to the mobile phone 1bB (S71).

  The communication connection control unit 34bB receives the terminal ID from the mobile phone 1bA and completes the establishment of the communication connection, and the communication connection control unit 34bA receives the response to the terminal ID transmission and the establishment of the communication connection is completed. Make sure.

  Although not shown, when the camera 19 does not recognize the unique code for a predetermined period and the communication connection control unit 34b does not receive the unique code, an error is displayed on the display unit 13d so as to be in a multi-layered state. The message that prompts the user to be displayed, or the communication application to be posted that the timeout has occurred is terminated.

[Multilayer state maintenance judgment processing]
In the third embodiment, the process for determining whether or not the two mobile phones 1b in S6A and S6B shown in FIG. 4 maintain the multi-layer state is also different from the first embodiment. The multilayer state maintenance determination process of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  In S6A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA continuously determines whether the image captured by the camera 19 remains dark for each predetermined period. If the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA continuously detects that the image captured by the camera 19 remains dark, the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA determines that the multi-layer state is maintained (NO in S6A). On the other hand, the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA determines that the mobile phone 1bA is separated from the mobile phone 1bB when the image taken by the camera 19 is not dark, that is, when the brightness of the image taken by the camera 19 exceeds a predetermined value ( The communication application carried by the control unit 11bA is terminated (S7A).

  If the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA determines that the mobile phone 1bA is away from the mobile phone 1bB, the upper terminal state determination unit 41bA notifies the communication connection control unit 34bA to that effect. Receiving the notification, the communication connection control unit 34bA notifies the mobile phone 1bB that it is no longer in the multi-layer state via the short-range wireless communication unit 14.

  Here, in S6B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42bB continuously determines whether or not the communication connection control unit 34bB has received a notification indicating that the mobile phone 1bA is not in the multi-layer state every predetermined period. If the communication connection control unit 34bB does not receive the notification, the lower terminal state determination unit 42bB determines that the multi-story state is maintained (NO in S6B). On the other hand, when the communication connection control unit 34bB receives the notification, the lower terminal state determination unit 42bB determines that the mobile phone 1bB has moved away from the mobile phone 1bA (YES in S6B), and ends the communication application carried by the control unit 11bB. (S7B).

<Fourth Embodiment>
The following will describe a fourth embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. For convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as those shown in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and explanation thereof is omitted. Further, the terms defined in the first embodiment are used according to the definitions in this embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  In the first embodiment, the multi-layer state is determined using the two photosensor liquid crystals (the optical sensors 17a and 17b). However, in the fourth embodiment, whether or not the multi-layer state is determined based on a user operation. And determine whether the device is the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B. In the first embodiment, communication is performed using Bluetooth. In the fourth embodiment, communication connection is performed using bidirectional infrared communication such as IrDA. That is, the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the multilayer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process, and the other processes are the same. Hereinafter, differences of the fourth embodiment from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, in the mobile phone 1c, a front side IR module 22a is arranged on the front side, and a back side IR module 22b is arranged on the back side.

  Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether the own device is the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B based on a user's operation input, and the back surface of the mobile phone 1cA that is the upper terminal A The side IR module 22b and the front side IR module 22a of the mobile phone 1cB, which is the lower terminal B, establish communication connection.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 20, the front side IR module 22a and the back side IR module 22b only have to be arranged at positions facing each other in a state where the mobile phone 1cA and the other mobile phone 1cB are overlapped. The arrangement shown in FIG. 19 and the size thereof are not limited. That is, the arrangement and size of the front side IR module 22a and the back side IR module 22b may be designed as appropriate.

[Configuration of mobile phone]
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a main configuration of the mobile phone 1c. As shown in FIG. 18, the mobile phone 1c includes a control unit 11c, a storage unit 12, a display unit 13d, an infrared communication unit 21, a telephone network communication unit 15, and an operation unit 16a. The mobile phone 1c may include members such as a voice input unit and a voice output unit, but these members are not shown because they are not related to the features of the invention.

  The display unit 13d displays an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11c. The display unit 13d only needs to display an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11c. For example, an LCD (liquid crystal display), an organic EL display, a plasma display, or the like can be applied. The display unit 13d is provided with an operation unit 16c and is a touch panel.

  The operation unit 16c is for a user to input an instruction signal to the mobile phone 1c and operate the mobile phone 1c. Note that the display unit 13d and the operation unit 16c may be separate bodies as in the second embodiment.

  The infrared communication unit 21 communicates with other devices (for example, other mobile phones 1c and the like) by infrared wireless communication means, and exchanges data according to instructions from the control unit 11c. The infrared communication unit 21 includes a front-side IR module 22a disposed on the front side of the mobile phone 1c and a back-side IR module 22b disposed on the back side of the mobile phone 1c.

  The control unit 11c performs various calculations by executing a program read from the storage unit 12 to a temporary storage unit (not shown), and comprehensively controls each unit included in the mobile phone 1c. .

  The control unit 11c reads out communication application data to be placed from the storage unit 12, and when the own device overlaps with another mobile phone 1c after the communication application to be placed is activated, the control unit 11c acquires the data from the other mobile phone 1c, The data held by the telephone 1c is displayed, and data is transmitted / received based on a user instruction.

  In this embodiment, the control part 11c is the structure provided with the multilayer state determination part 31c, the display control part 32, the input operation specific | specification part 33, the communication connection control part 34c, and the content process part 35 as a functional block. In each functional block (31c, 32, 33, 34c and 35) of the control unit 11c, the CPU stores a program stored in a storage device realized by a ROM or the like in a temporary storage unit realized by a RAM or the like. This can be realized by reading and executing.

  The multilayer state determination unit 31c determines whether or not the mobile phone 1c is in a state where it overlaps with another mobile phone 1c. The multilayer state determination unit 31c includes an upper terminal state determination unit 41c and a lower terminal state determination unit 42c.

  The upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines whether or not the own device is the upper terminal A (mobile phone 1cA) above the other mobile phone 1c. In other words, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines whether or not there is another mobile phone 1c on the back side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines whether or not the own device is the upper terminal A based on a user operation instruction input to the own device using the operation unit 16a or the operation unit 16c. To do. More specifically, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines that the own device is the upper terminal A when the user sets the own device as the upper terminal.

  When the upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines that the own device is the upper terminal A, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c notifies the communication connection control unit 34c to that effect.

  The lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines whether or not the own device is the lower terminal B (mobile phone 1cB) on the lower side of the other mobile phone 1c. In other words, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines whether there is another mobile phone 1c on the front side of the own device. In the present embodiment, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines whether or not the own device is the lower terminal B based on a user operation instruction input to the own device using the operation unit 16a or the operation unit 16c. To do. More specifically, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines that the own device is the lower terminal B when the user sets the own device as the lower terminal.

  The lower terminal state determination unit 42c does not set whether the own device is the upper terminal or the lower terminal from the user, and when the communication connection control unit 34c receives the terminal ID from another mobile phone 1c, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c The terminal B may be determined.

  When the lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines that the own device is the lower terminal B, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c notifies the communication connection control unit 34c to that effect.

  The communication connection control unit 34c establishes a communication connection between the infrared communication unit 21 of its own device and the infrared communication unit 21 of another mobile phone 1c. When the communication connection control unit 34c receives a notification that the own device is the upper terminal A from the upper terminal state determination unit 41c, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the back side IR module 22b, and the terminal ID of the own device via the back side IR module 22b. Send. In addition, when the communication connection control unit 34c receives a notification that the own device is the lower terminal B from the lower terminal state determination unit 42c, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the front IR module 22a, and the own device via the front IR module 22a. Send the terminal ID. Note that when the front-side IR module 22a or the back-side IR module 22b is activated, the communication connection control unit 34 may perform control so that the other is not activated.

  The communication connection control unit 34c activates the front side IR module 22a after activation of the communication application to be placed, and receives the notification that the own device is the upper terminal A from the upper terminal state determination unit 41c, the front side IR module While stopping 22a, back side IR module 22b may be started and terminal ID of an own device may be transmitted via back side IR module 22b. In addition, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the front IR module 22a after starting the communication application to be placed, receives the terminal ID from the other mobile phone 1c, and then receives the terminal ID of the own device via the front IR module 22a. The terminal ID may be transmitted.

[Multilayer state determination processing and communication connection establishment processing]
Next, based on FIG. 21 and FIG. 22, the multilayer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process in the fourth embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an overlay state determination process and a communication connection establishment process according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the multi-layer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process in the fourth embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 21, after starting the communication application to be mounted, the control unit 11c sets the user whether the display device 13d is the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B to the display control unit 32. The message to be displayed is instructed to be displayed (S81). The input operation specifying unit 33 waits for an instruction from the user indicating whether the terminal is the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B (S82).

  When the user sets his / her device to be the upper terminal A, the input operation specifying unit 33 notifies the upper terminal state determining unit 41c to that effect. The upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines that the own device is the upper terminal A based on a user operation (S83). Here, the control unit 11c instructs the display control unit 32 to display on the display unit 13d a message that prompts the user to place the device on another mobile phone 1c.

  Then, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c notifies the communication connection control unit 34c that the own device is the upper terminal A. Receiving the notification, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the back side IR module 22b (S84), and transmits the terminal ID of the own device via the back side IR module 22b (S85).

  On the other hand, when the user sets his / her device as the lower terminal B, the input operation specifying unit 33 notifies the lower terminal state determination unit 42c to that effect. The lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines that the own device is the lower terminal B based on a user operation (S86). Here, the control unit 11c instructs the display control unit 32 to display a message prompting the user to place another mobile phone 1c on the own device on the display unit 13d.

  Then, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c notifies the communication connection control unit 34c that the own device is the lower terminal B. Receiving the notification, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the front IR module 22a (S87), and transmits the terminal ID of the own device via the front IR module 22a (S88).

  The communication connection control unit 34c confirms that the transmission of the terminal ID of its own device is completed and has received the terminal ID of the other mobile phone 1c, and completes establishment of the communication connection.

  Although not shown, if there is no input operation for selecting the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B for a predetermined period, an error is displayed on the display unit 13d, and the user is prompted to select the upper terminal A or the lower terminal B again. Display a message or close a communication application that is posted as timed out.

  Next, another example of the multi-layer state determination process and the communication connection establishment process in the fourth embodiment will be described based on FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 22, after starting the communication application carried by the control unit 11c, the communication connection control unit 34c starts the front IR module 22a (S91). Thereafter, the control unit 11c instructs the display control unit 32 to display a message on the display unit 13d that causes the user to set whether or not to set the own apparatus to the upper terminal A. Then, the input operation specifying unit 33 waits for an instruction to be the upper terminal A from the user (S92).

  When the user sets his / her own device as the upper terminal A (YES in S92), the input operation specifying unit 33 notifies the upper terminal state determining unit 41c to that effect. The upper terminal state determination unit 41c determines that the own device is the upper terminal A based on a user operation (S93). Here, the control unit 11c instructs the display control unit 32 to display on the display unit 13d a message that prompts the user to place the device on another mobile phone 1c.

  Then, the upper terminal state determination unit 41c notifies the communication connection control unit 34c that the own device is the upper terminal A. Receiving the notification, the communication connection control unit 34c activates the back side IR module 22b (S94), and transmits the terminal ID of its own device via the back side IR module 22b (S95).

  On the other hand, when there is no operation input from the user that the device is the upper terminal A (NO in S92), the communication connection control unit 34c receives the terminal ID from the other mobile phone 1c via the front IR module 22a. Wait for transmission (S96).

  If the terminal ID is not received (NO in S96), the process returns to S92 again. On the other hand, when receiving the terminal ID from the other mobile phone 1c (YES in S96), the communication connection control unit 34c notifies the lower terminal state determination unit 42c to that effect. Receiving the notification, the lower terminal state determination unit 42c determines that the own device is the lower terminal B (S97). And the communication connection control part 34c transmits terminal ID of an own apparatus via the front side IR module 22a (S98).

  The communication connection control unit 34c confirms that the transmission of the terminal ID of its own device is completed and has received the terminal ID of the other mobile phone 1c, and completes establishment of the communication connection.

  Although not shown, when there is no input operation for setting the terminal A from the user for a predetermined period and no terminal ID is received from the other mobile phone 1c, an error is displayed on the display unit 13d, and again A message that prompts the user to set the terminal A is displayed, or the communication application to be posted is terminated when time-out occurs.

[Multilayer state maintenance judgment processing]
Further, in the fourth embodiment, the determination processing as to whether or not the two mobile phones 1c in S6A and S6B shown in FIG. 4 maintain the multi-layer state is also different from the first embodiment. The multilayer state maintenance determination process of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  In S6A, when the communication connection control unit 34cA polls the other mobile phone 1cB via the back side IR module 22bA and receives a response from the other party, the upper terminal state determination unit 41cA It is determined that the state is maintained (NO in S6A). On the other hand, if the communication connection control unit 34cA polls the other mobile phone 1cB via the back side IR module 22bA and no response is received from the other party, the upper terminal state determination unit 41cA It is determined that 1cA is away from the mobile phone 1cB (YES in S6A), and the communication application loaded by the control unit 11cA is terminated (S7A).

  In S6B, when the communication connection control unit 34cB polls the other mobile phone 1cA via the front IR module 22a and receives a response from the other party, the lower terminal state determination unit 42cB It is determined that the state is maintained (NO in S6B). On the other hand, when the communication connection control unit 34cB polls the other mobile phone 1cA via the front IR module 22a and no response is received from the other party, the lower terminal state determination unit 42cB It is determined that 1cB has moved away from the mobile phone 1cA (YES in S6B), and the communication application loaded by the control unit 11cB is terminated (S7B).

[Variation 1 of mobile phone casing structure]
A modification of the housing structure of the mobile phone will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 and 24 are cross-sectional views in side view of the schematic structure of the casing of the mobile phone. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view in a side view of the schematic structure of the casings of two mobile phones in a multi-layered state.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, the casing of the mobile phone 1c has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, the front IR module 22a is arranged on the front side of the casing of the mobile phone 1c, and the back side is on the back side. Although the side IR module 22b is arranged, the shape of the casing of the mobile phone 1c and the positions of the front side IR module 22a and the back side IR module 22b on the casing are not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 24, a mortar-shaped recess 51 is provided in each of a part of the front side and the back side of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing, and the front IR module 22a and the back side are provided at the bottom of the recess 51. An IR module 22b may be arranged.

  Usually, the IR module is arranged on the surface of the casing as shown in FIG. 23, and it is assumed that the distance between the two IR modules is extremely short (when the two IR modules are almost in contact). Not. However, in the present invention, communication is performed in a state where the two mobile phones 1c are overlapped with each other, and therefore the case where the distance between the two IR modules becomes almost zero is considered. In this case, with the arrangement of the IR modules as shown in FIG. 23, even if the two mobile phones 1c are in a multi-layered state, the back side IR module 22bA and the front side IR module 22aB may not be able to communicate with each other. is there.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25A, the cellular phone 1cA and the cellular phone 1cB are in contact with each other in a multilayered state, but the back side IR module 22bA and the front side IR module 22aB are not in contact with each other. A communication path cannot be secured and communication with each other is not possible. In this way, with the arrangement of the IR module as shown in FIG. 23, even if the two mobile phones 1c are in a multi-layered state, they cannot communicate with each other with a slight deviation.

  On the other hand, when the IR module is disposed at the bottom of the recess 51, as shown in FIG. 25, even if the cellular phone 1dA and the cellular phone 1dB are in a state of being overlaid, Can be secured and can communicate with each other. Thus, by providing the recess 51 on the surface of the casing of the cellular phone 1d and disposing the IR module at the bottom of the recess 51, the degree of freedom of the communication path between the IR modules is increased, and the cellular phone 1d is somewhat Even if they are shifted and are in a multi-layered state, they can communicate with each other.

  In addition, the shape of the recessed part 51 is not restricted to a mortar shape, What is necessary is just a concave shape. Further, the recess 51 may be covered with an IR lens so that the entire surface of the casing of the mobile phone 1d is a flat plane.

[Modification 2 of the case structure of a mobile phone]
Next, another modification of the casing structure of the mobile phone will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view in side view of the schematic structure of the casings of two mobile phones in a multilayered state.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the casings of the mobile phones 1eA and 1eB are configured by a substantially rectangular parallelepiped base 52 and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped extending portion 53 extending from one end of the base 52 in the vertical direction on the front side. Here, on the surface of the extending portion 53, the surface on the multi-end side of the base portion 52 is referred to as an inner surface, and the surface on one end side of the base portion 52 is referred to as an outer surface.

  As shown in FIG. 26, in the mobile phones 1eA and 1eB, the front side IR module 22a is disposed on the inner side surface on the distal end side (front side) of the extending portion 53, and the rear side An IR module 22b is arranged.

  Thus, when the cross section of the side view of the mobile phone 1eA and 1eB is L-shaped, when the user puts the two mobile phones 1e into a multi-layered state, the two easily and accurately Mobile phone 1e can be stacked. Therefore, the two mobile phones 1e can be reduced from being overlapped with each other in the multi-layered state, so that the state in which the two mobile phones 1e cannot communicate in the multi-layered state can be reduced.

<Supplement>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Finally, each block of the cellular phones 1, 1a, 1b, and 1c, particularly the control units 11, 11a, 11b, and 11c, may be configured by hardware logic, or realized by software using a CPU as follows. May be.

  That is, the cellular phones 1, 1a, 1b, and 1c include a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program for realizing each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM that expands the program. (Random access memory), a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to read the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the mobile telephones 1, 1a, 1b and 1c, which is software that realizes the functions described above, with a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying the recorded recording medium to the mobile phone 1, 1a, 1b and 1c, and reading out and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU). .

  Examples of the recording medium include a tape system such as a magnetic tape and a cassette tape, a magnetic disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk / hard disk, and an optical disk such as a CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  Further, the cellular phones 1, 1a, 1b and 1c may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  The present invention can be used in an information processing apparatus including a display unit such as a mobile phone.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e Mobile phone (information processing apparatus)
13a Main display section (display section)
13c, 13d Display unit (display unit)
16a, 16b, 16c Operation unit (input means)
17a Optical sensor (input means)
32 Display control unit (display control means)
41, 41a, 41b, 41c Upper terminal state determination unit (rear side device detection means)
42, 42a, 42b, 42c Lower terminal state determination unit (surface side device detection means)
43 Content acquisition unit (content identification information acquisition means, moving duplication means)
44 Content transmission unit (content identification information transmission means, moving duplication means)

Claims (9)

An information processing apparatus including a display unit,
Back side device detection means for detecting that there is another information processing device on the back side opposite to the display side where the display unit is disposed;
Content identification information acquisition means for acquiring content identification information indicating content stored in the other information processing apparatus from the other information processing apparatus when the back side device detection means detects the other information processing apparatus;
The display information for operation which sets the 1st display area corresponding to an own apparatus, and the 2nd display area corresponding to the said other information processing apparatus in the display area of the said display part, and specifies the content which an own apparatus memorize | stores Is displayed in the first display area, and the display information for operation specifying the content stored in the other information processing apparatus based on the content identification information acquired by the content identification information acquisition unit is displayed in the second display area. An information processing apparatus comprising display control means for displaying on the display. An input means for receiving an operation input from a user;
When an operation input for moving the operation display information displayed in one of the first display area and the second display area to the other is input by the input means, information processing corresponding to the one display area The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving duplicating unit that moves or duplicates the content specified by the operation display information from an apparatus to an information processing apparatus corresponding to the other display area. Information processing device.   The said display control means arrange | positions the said 1st display area and the said 2nd display area, respectively so that it may become a vertical or horizontal positional relationship in the display area of the said display part, respectively. The information processing apparatus described in 1. An information processing apparatus including a display unit,
Surface side device detection means for detecting that there is another information processing device on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed;
When the surface-side device detection unit detects another information processing device, the surface-side device detection unit includes content identification information transmission unit that transmits content identification information indicating content stored in the own device to the other information processing device. Information processing apparatus. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a display unit,
A back side device detection step for detecting that there is another information processing device on the back side opposite to the display side on which the display unit is disposed;
A content identification information acquisition step of acquiring content identification information indicating the content stored in the other information processing device from the other information processing device after the other information processing device is detected in the back side device detection step; ,
The display information for operation which sets the 1st display area corresponding to an own apparatus, and the 2nd display area corresponding to the said other information processing apparatus in the display area of the said display part, and specifies the content which an own apparatus memorize | stores Is displayed in the first display area, and on the basis of the content identification information acquired in the content identification information acquisition step, operation display information for specifying content stored in the other information processing apparatus is displayed in the second display. And a display control step for displaying in the area. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a display unit,
A surface-side device detecting step for detecting that there is another information processing device on the display surface side where the display unit is disposed;
A content identification information transmitting step of transmitting content identification information indicating content stored in the own device to the other information processing device after the other information processing device is detected in the surface side device detection step. A control method for an information processing apparatus.   A control program for causing the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 to operate, wherein the control program causes a computer to function as each of the means.   A control program for operating the information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control program causes a computer to function as each of the means.   A computer-readable recording medium in which the control program according to at least one of claims 7 and 8 is recorded.

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