JP2015172861A - Method for switching use environment of portable electronic device, portable electronic device, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch a use environment of a smart phone by one-action operation.SOLUTION: Operation can be performed in a plurality of use environments, such as a business mode and a private mode. Swipe operation and a use environment are associated with each other in advance. While operated in the private mode, when edge-touch operation of an end part 161a of a touch screen 103a is detected, a guide image 351 is displayed. The swipe operation performed in succession to the edge-touch operation is recognized. According to recognition that the swipe operation is associated with the business mode, the touch screen 103a is switched to the business mode. When a series of swipe operation reach the touch screen 103b, the touch screen 103b is shifted to the business mode as well.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for switching the usage environment of a portable electronic device that can operate in a plurality of usage environments.

  Portable electronic devices such as tablet computers (tablet PCs) or multi-function mobile phones (smartphones) have become widespread, and their usage forms are expanding from personal use to business use. Until now, employees have often carried mobile phones for business use, but since mobile phones store only information stored in emails and phone books, they can be remotely locked or locked via a line when lost. By applying remote wipe, it was possible to prevent the risk of information leakage.

  Tablet PCs and smartphones have a telephone function and a PC function at the same time, and can be used in the same way as a mobile phone, and can store a large amount of data. In recent years, tablet PCs and smartphones owned by individuals have been frequently used together for business and private use. Although it is convenient if a smartphone that is convenient to carry can be used for meetings and negotiations on the go, the risk of information leakage when lost is increased.

  Problems in using personally owned portable electronic devices for business have recently been discussed as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Various measures against information leakage have already been taken for the business use of notebook personal computers (notebook PCs), but companies are also involved in MDM (Mobile Device Management) activities for tablet PCs and smartphones. Is preparing a unified management system. The MDM is not suitable for personal use because it restricts applications that can be installed on a portable electronic device for business use and restricts a photographing function and a data storage function.

  Therefore, the user carries around two portable electronic devices for business use and personal use. Cellrox (URL: http://www.cellrox.com/) provides technology for switching one information terminal between business mode and personal mode. According to the company's technology, the operating environment is switched between business mode and private mode by operating buttons or icons.

  Patent Document 1 discloses authentication using a graphical password that is used in the same manner as a password by using a user-defined swipe, tap, or drag on the surface of the touch screen. This document describes measuring a parameter range of a graphical password as a function of time or position. Patent Document 2 discloses an information terminal that switches a virtual environment with a portable terminal. This document describes that the virtual environment is switched by an icon operation, a gesture, a voice, or the like.

Special table 2011-52592 gazette International Publication No. 2013/124850

  If two usage environments such as the business mode and the private mode can be mounted and switched on one portable electronic device, it is more convenient than carrying two. In this case, it is more convenient if the use environment can be switched by a one-action operation. When switching the usage environment by icon operation as in Patent Document 2, when the number of startup icons increases on the home screen, the home screen is shifted by flicking to search for an icon for switching, and the touch operation is performed on the icon. Further, when shifting to the business mode, a plurality of operations such as inputting a pass code are required, which is complicated.

  The method of using a swipe or tap defined by the user as in Patent Document 1 needs to be distinguished from a swipe or tap performed on a screen displayed in the current usage environment, and thus the operation may be complicated. is there. Furthermore, the types of swipes and taps that can be used to operate the usage environment are limited. In a foldable smartphone that uses two touch screens adjacent to each other, there are many relationships between the left and right touch screens and the usage environment. It is convenient if it can be moved by one-action operation.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for switching the use environment of a portable electronic device with a simple operation. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for logging on to a predetermined use environment with a simple operation. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for switching the use environment of a portable electronic device having a plurality of touch screens by a simple operation. Furthermore, the objective of this invention is providing the computer program and portable electronic device which implement | achieve such a method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a portable electronic device having a touch screen and capable of operating in a plurality of usage environments operates in the first usage environment after associating the swipe operation with the usage environment. Furthermore, the swipe operation performed following the edge touch operation on the edge of the touch screen is identified, and the second use environment is set in response to recognizing that the swipe operation is associated with the second use environment. Transition. As a result, the use environment can be easily switched by a swipe operation following the edge touch operation.

  The edge touch operation may be the edge of the touch screen corresponding to a position that can be distinguished from the touch operation on the screen of the usage environment, but if the user touches both the touch screen and the edge frame, the user can change the usage environment. The operation for switching can be clearly recognized. The swipe operation performed after the edge touch operation may be started in a short time after releasing the finger after the edge touch operation, but if it is a continuous touch operation starting from the edge touch operation, The operating environment can be switched with a single action. If a guide image showing the position where the swipe operation passes is displayed on the touch screen according to the edge touch operation, the user can perform the swipe operation along the guide image, so that the swipe operation is complicatedly identified. A pattern can be applied. The guide image can be a matrix image composed of a plurality of position marks having position information.

  If the swipe operation can be performed in a direction that does not return away from the end portion, the operation environment can be easily changed, so that the use environment can be easily switched in a short time. At this time, whenever the touch operation on the position mark by the swipe operation is detected, if the screen of the second usage environment is displayed so as to gradually expand from the end portion, the screen of the usage environment relating to the progress and switching of the swipe operation is displayed. Since the display is linked, the user's operational feeling can be improved.

  If the guide image is displayed so as to be pulled out from the end portion on the touch screen, the direction of the subsequent swipe operation can be imaged, so that the operational feeling can be improved. When it is recognized that the identification of the swipe operation has failed before recognizing that the swipe operation corresponds to any use environment, the display of the guide image can be turned off. If the guide image is a matrix image composed of a plurality of position marks each assigned a number or a character, more complicated identification information can be created. At this time, the touch operation can include movement of the finger in the forward direction and the reverse direction. The plurality of usage environments can include usage environments having different security levels.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the operation is performed in the standby mode after associating the swipe operation with the use environment. Further, a swipe operation performed following the touch operation on the end portion of the touch screen is identified, and the user logs on to the second use environment in response to recognizing that the swipe operation is associated with the second use environment. . As a result, it is possible to log on to the intended use environment with a one-action operation.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device in which the first touch screen and the second touch screen disposed adjacent to the first touch screen can operate in the same or different usage environments. However, after associating the swipe operation with the use environment, the first touch screen and the second touch screen each operate in a predetermined use mode. Further, the first touch screen recognizes the swipe operation performed following the touch operation on the end portion of the first touch screen and recognizes that the swipe operation is associated with the second use environment. Migrate to the associated usage environment.

  As a result, the first touch screen can be shifted to a use environment different from that of the second touch screen by a one-action operation. In response to recognizing a series of swipe operations that pass through the boundary from the first touch screen toward the second touch screen, if the second touch screen shifts to the second use environment, the one-action operation can be performed. The first touch screen and the second touch screen can be shifted to the same use environment.

  In the predetermined operation mode, the first touch screen may operate in the standby mode. The operation in this case corresponds to a logon operation. In the predetermined operation mode, the first touch screen and the second touch screen may operate in the same use mode. The operation in this case corresponds to a switching operation of the usage environment. In the predetermined operation mode, the first touch screen and the second touch screen may operate in different use modes. The operation in this case corresponds to an operation of switching both the first touch screen and the second touch screen to one of the usage environments.

  According to the present invention, a method for switching the usage environment of a portable electronic device with a simple operation can be provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of logging on to a predetermined use environment with a simple operation. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for switching a use environment of a portable electronic device including a plurality of touch screens with a simple operation. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a computer program and a portable electronic device that realize such a method.

It is a figure explaining an example of the portable electronic device concerning this Embodiment. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic example of a hardware configuration of a smartphone 100. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the structure of the software which the smart phone 100 implements. It is a figure explaining edge touch operation and cross swipe operation. It is a figure for demonstrating the touch position of touch screen 103a, 103b which performs edge touch operation. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the control system 300 which switches use environment. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st identification system for displaying the guide image 351 and switching a use mode. It is a figure for demonstrating the 3rd identification system for displaying the guide image 381 and switching a use mode. It is a figure for demonstrating operation mode AI of smart phone 100. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure in which the control system 300 controls operation mode AI.

[Definition]
Terms used in this specification will be described. The touch screen includes two operation modes: a standby mode and a use mode. The standby mode refers to a state in which a logon screen (also referred to as a lock screen) is displayed on the touch screen and at least a touch operation for logon is possible. In the standby mode, it is possible to prevent an erroneous touch operation on the touch screen, display a customized fixed screen, or display dynamic information such as time, date, and mail notification.

  The use mode refers to a state in which all applications included in the use mode can be executed by performing a touch operation on the touch screen. The portable electronic device according to the present invention is mounted with a plurality of use modes (hereinafter also referred to as use environments) such as a business mode and a private mode described with reference to FIG. The logon operation refers to a touch operation performed on the logon screen displayed in the standby mode by the user in order to shift the system from the standby state to the logon state. The logon operation includes a touch operation for unlocking and a touch operation for inputting a passcode when a passcode is set. The touch operation for inputting the passcode includes a touch operation for inputting the user ID as necessary in addition to the touch operation for inputting the passcode.

  The touch operation is such that the touch screen can recognize the input coordinates regardless of whether a finger or an electronic pen (hereinafter referred to simply as a finger, including both of them) touches the surface of the touch screen. Refers to all input operations. The touch operation includes a tap operation that does not change the position of the touch operation in a series of operations and a gesture operation that changes. The gesture operation includes a single touch operation such as a flick operation, a swipe operation, a drag operation, and a rotation operation, and a multi-touch operation such as pinch-in and pinch-out.

  A flick operation refers to an operation of moving a finger performing a touch operation in a substantially constant direction by a short distance. The swipe operation is an operation for moving a finger performing a touch operation by a distance longer than the flick operation, and is also called a slide operation. A flick operation is an operation in which the moving speed of a finger is faster than a swipe operation. The drag operation refers to an operation of moving a finger that has performed a touch operation on a specific object to a predetermined position. The one-action operation is an operation for switching the use environment by one kind of touch operation.

  The edge touch operation refers to a touch operation performed on any one of the four ends of the rectangular touch screen in order to start the swipe operation. The cross-swipe operation refers to an operation of swiping from one touch screen to the other touch screen through adjacent ends of two touch screens arranged adjacent to each other. The edge touch operation and the cross swipe operation are touch operations unique to the present embodiment, and will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Other special terms used in this specification are appropriately defined below.

[Outline of portable electronic devices]
A portable electronic device to which the present invention can be applied is called a smartphone, a fablet terminal, a tablet terminal, or the like, each of which is equipped with one or a plurality of touch screens. FIG. 1 is a plan view and a bottom view showing an outer shape of a foldable smartphone 100 described as an example of such a portable electronic device. The smartphone 100 is configured such that a housing 101a on which the touch screen 103a is mounted and a housing 101b on which the touch screen 103b is mounted are connected by hinge mechanisms 105a and 105b to be opened and closed.

  The smartphone 100 has two postures, a storage mode in FIG. 1A and a spread mode in FIG. FIG. 1B is a plan view in the spread mode, and FIG. 1C is a bottom view in the spread mode. In the spread mode, the touch screens 103a and 103b are arranged adjacent to each other. The smartphone 100 may include three or more housings each mounted with a touch screen and coupled to each other by a hinge mechanism.

[Hardware configuration]
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic example of the hardware configuration of the smartphone 100. Since the hardware configuration of the smartphone 100 is well known within the scope of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows only a part of the elements and simplifies the description. As an example, the housing 101a includes a touch screen 103a connected to the system hardware 150 and the power supply circuit 151 and the system hardware 150, a camera module 111a, a gyro sensor 113a, an acceleration sensor 115a, a wireless module 117, an SSD 119, and the like. including.

  The housing 101 b includes a touch screen 103 b connected to the system hardware 150, a camera module 111 b, a gyro sensor 113 b, an acceleration sensor 115 b, an open / close sensor 133, and a power button 135 connected to a power supply circuit 151. The touch screens 103a and 103b include a screen display function and a touch operation function. For example, the touch screens 103a and 103b can be realized as a structure in which a flat panel display (FPD) and a touch panel are combined. The hardware configuration of the touch screens 103a and 103b is not particularly limited in the present invention.

  For example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display can be used for the FPD. The detection principle of the touch panel is not particularly limited, and a capacitance type, a resistance film type, an electromagnetic induction type, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave type, an infrared operation type, or the like can be adopted. The touch panel can employ either a single touch method that detects only the coordinates of one finger that performs a touch operation or a multi-touch method that detects the coordinates of a plurality of fingers at the same time. Among the hardware shown in FIG. 3, elements essential to the present invention are described in the claims.

[usage environment]
The smartphone 100 has a plurality of usage environments, and operates in one of the usage environments for each of the touch screens 103a and 103b. The usage environment can be defined by the difference in the range of the application and / or hardware that operates, or the presence / absence or range of functional restrictions on them. The usage environment can also be defined by different security levels. As an example, the usage environment can be defined as a business mode with a high security level and a private mode in which the user can determine the security level. The smartphone 100 operating in the business mode is required to comply with a company security policy.

  In the business mode, for example, the type of application to be installed and the use of hardware related to information leakage such as a camera and a storage device can be limited. In the business mode, it is possible to require the setting of a pass code for logon, or to set the remote lock function and the remote wipe function as a countermeasure against loss. On the other hand, the smartphone 100 operating in the private mode is not subject to such security policy restrictions.

  In another example of a usage environment, a kids mode can be defined for use by children. In Kids Mode, access to harmful sites and access to sites that charge you can be restricted. In yet another example of the usage environment, a guest mode can be defined in which a smartphone 100 is temporarily handed over to another person to view a stored photo or allow access to a website. In guest mode, you can limit the browsing of emails and address books that you do not want others to see.

  In yet another example of usage environment, usage modes for travel, health, etc. can be defined. In the travel usage mode, to make it easier to use the smartphone 100 for travel, only icons related to travel are displayed on the home screen, or only photos taken during travel are classified and saved. can do. In the health use mode, data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and number of walks can be automatically recorded, or the data can be transferred to a medical institution through a network.

Software configuration
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a software structure implemented by the smartphone 100. As an example, a plurality of usage environments can be realized by an application operating on an OS operating in a real environment. In the present embodiment, a case where a plurality of usage environments are realized using a virtual environment will be described. The hardware group 180 includes the hardware shown in FIG.

  On the hardware group 180, a virtualization program 201 called a hypervisor operates. On the layer of the virtualization program 201, the virtual machines 203a to 203c and 253 can operate in a time division manner. The virtual machines 203a to 203c are configured by software such as applications 205a to 205c, guest OSs 207a to 207c, and virtual hard airs 209a to 209c, and construct different usage environments.

  The applications 205a to 205c execute at least one of work applications such as a Web browser, a mailer, an SNS program, or a document program in each use environment. Therefore, each usage environment is a state in which only a program that assists the execution of work applications such as a software keyboard screen, a home screen that displays startup icons, or a logon screen for logon operation is executed. Different.

  The virtual machine 253 includes software such as an application 255, a management OS 257, and a virtual hard air 259, and switches the context of the virtual machines 203a to 203c to be executed to realize a predetermined use environment on each of the touch screens 103a and 103b. The application 255 includes an identification process for switching the use mode and an application for performing the switching process. The virtualization program 201 emulates the hardware group 180 and constructs virtual hardware 209a to 209c corresponding to each element of the hardware group 180 in the virtual machines 203a to 203c and 253.

  For example, when the virtual machine 203a implements the business mode and the virtual machine 203b implements the private mode, the virtual hard air 209a may not include the camera modules 111a and 111b. Further, the application 205a may not include a Web browser or an SNS program connected to the Internet. The application 205a may include a module for realizing a security policy such as authentication and remote lock.

  The guest OSs 207a to 207c and the management OS 257 are not particularly limited. For example, from the OS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), Windows phone (registered trademark), Windows RT (registered trademark), or Windows 8 (registered trademark). You can choose. When the virtualization program 201 and the virtual machines 203a to 203c, 253 press the power button 135 to shift the smartphone 100 from the off state to the standby state or the on state, the boot image is loaded into the system memory. The application 255 switches the usage environment for each of the touch screens 103a and 103b by switching the context held by the virtual hardware 209a to 209c such as the CPU and system memory of the virtual machines 203a to 203c. The program in FIG. 3 is stored in the SSD 119.

[Edge touch operation and cross swipe operation]
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an edge touch operation and a cross swipe operation. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the touch position of the edge touch operation. The touch screens 103a and 103b have a rectangular operation surface with left long side ends 161a and 163a, right long side ends 161b and 163b, upper short side ends 161c and 163c, and lower short side end 161d, 163d is surrounded by edge frames 165 and 167.

  The edge touch operation corresponds to a touch operation on a touch position (see FIG. 5) that is a starting point of a swipe operation performed to switch the use mode. The edge touch operation is also an operation for causing the system to recognize that the operation environment at that time is different from the touch operation for operating the screen to be displayed. When the swipe operation is performed on the screen displayed by the usage environment, the screen slides in many cases. However, when the system recognizes the edge touch operation, the system shifts to the identification mode and is used for the subsequent swipe operation. An identification process for determining the mode can be performed.

  The edge touch operation can be a touch operation for only the position of the end touch screen so that it can be distinguished from the touch operation for the screen displayed in the usage environment. However, if the edge touch operation is an operation in which the finger touches both the edge frames 165 and 167 and the touch screens 103a and 103b at the same time, it is different from the touch operation on the screen on which the usage environment is displayed for the system and the user. It can be clarified that it is an operation. At this time, the system confirms that the finger is simultaneously touching both the edge frames 165 and 167 and the touch screens 103a and 103b from the coordinates of the touch screens 103a and 103b contacting the edge frames 165 and 167 and the contour of the detected coordinates. Can be recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the edge touch operation when touching at the same time is performed on the touch positions 171 a to 171 d and 173 a to 173 d existing at one of the end portions 161 a to 161 d and 163 a to 163 d of the touch screens 103 a and 103 b. Can be done. In this embodiment, a gesture of a predetermined swipe operation performed following the edge touch operation is identified. The swipe operation may be started within a predetermined time after the tap operation with the edge touch operation as a tap operation.

  In this case, although a two-action operation is performed, an operation for searching for a start icon by shifting the home screen by a flick operation as in the conventional method is not necessary. Further, it is possible to notify the system that the operation of switching the use mode is performed by the edge touch operation. However, when the swipe operation is a continuous operation starting from the edge / touch operation, it is possible to realize a one-action operation in which the use mode is switched and the gesture is identified by a single swipe operation.

  The arrows shown in FIG. 5 indicate the general direction of the swipe operation following the corresponding touch positions 171a to 171d and 173a to 173d. FIG. 4A shows a state where an edge touch operation is performed on the touch position 171a of the touch screen 103a and then a swipe operation is performed in the direction of the arrow. The touch positions 171a to 171d and 173a to 173d may be any place in the length direction of the corresponding end portions 161a to 161d and 163a to 163d. For example, a user who is good at swiping in the right direction selects one of the vertical positions of the end portions 161a and 163a as the touch positions 171a and 173a, and a user who is good at swiping in the left direction is up and down at the end portions 161b and 163b. Any one of the directions can be selected as the touch positions 171b and 173b.

  The edge touch operation is an operation concept related to one touch screen for identifying the use mode, but the cross swipe operation is a 2 for determining whether or not to expand the identified use mode to the adjacent touch screen. It is the operation concept regarding two touch screens. FIG. 4B shows a state where a cross swipe operation is performed from the touch screens 103a to 103b so as to pass through the end portion 163a beyond the end portion 161b. At this time, if the operation surfaces of the touch screens 103a and 103b and the edge frames 165 and 167 that are arranged adjacent to each other in the spread mode are present on the same plane, the cross-swipe operation is facilitated.

  The cross-swipe operation may be performed from the touch screens 103b to 103a so as to pass through the end portion 161b beyond the end portion 163a in the direction opposite to that in FIG. As an example of the cross swipe operation, the continuous swipe operation starting from the touch position 171a, 173b from the one touch screen 103a, 103b to the other touch screen 103b, 103a exceeds the two end portions 161b, 163a. It can be a touch operation to be performed.

  Another example of the cross swipe operation includes two continuous swipe operations starting from the touch positions 171c and 171d or the touch positions 173c and 173d from one touch screen 103a, 103b to the other touch screen 103b, 103a. The touch operation can be performed beyond the end portions 161b and 163a. The edge frames 165 and 167 adjacent to the end portions 161b and 163a do not detect the coordinates of the touch operation. However, when performing the cross swipe operation, the edge frames 165 and 167 do not release the finger from the operation surface when passing through the edge frames 165 and 167. By doing so, the use mode for switching can be extended to the adjacent touch screen by one-action operation.

  The system can recognize the cross-swipe operation from the edge touch operation recognized at the moment when the finger touches the end 163a, 161b of the touch screen to which the finger is moved because the finger is not separated even in the edge frames 165, 167. . When the system detects an edge touch operation on the end portion 163a, a swipe operation starting from the touch position 171a is performed on the touch screen 103a immediately before, or an edge touch operation is performed on the end portion 161b. Recognize that it occurred.

  Therefore, the system can distinguish between the edge touch operation for the swipe operation for switching the use mode and the edge touch operation that occurs during the cross swipe operation. The system can recognize the cross-touch operation at the timing when the edge touch operation is detected, but at the timing when the finger performing the swipe operation completely moves over the edge frames 165 and 167 to the touch screen of the other party. You may do it.

[Control system]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the control system 300 for switching the usage environment. The control system 300 includes a use environment switching unit 301, a coordinate data generation unit 303, an image data generation unit 305, an application execution unit 307, and a registration, which are configured by the cooperation of the hardware and software described in FIGS. Part 309. The use environment switching unit 301, the coordinate data generation unit 303, and the image data generation unit 305 can be configured by a virtual machine 253.

  The use environment switching unit 301 identifies the use mode based on the coordinate data of the swipe operation starting from the touch position received from the coordinate data generation unit 303. In one example, the use environment switching unit 301 receives the coordinate data of the touch position by the edge touch operation from the coordinate data generation unit 303, and the touch screen 103a or the touch screen 103b through the image data generation unit 305 in FIG. 7 and FIG. One of the guide images 351 and 381 to be described is displayed.

  The use environment switching unit 301 determines the use environment by referring to the identification data registered in the registration unit 309 when a swipe operation is performed on the guide images 351 and 381. The use environment switching unit 301 displays a touch screen that displays an identification event associated with the use environment and a screen of the use environment when it is determined that the touch operation of any use environment with respect to the guide images 351 and 381 is successful. The screen event shown is sent to the application execution unit 307.

  The usage environment switching unit 301 sends a cross edge event to the application execution unit 307 when detecting a cross swipe operation. The use environment switching unit 301 displays a control event for displaying an image of the use environment related to the switching so that the image is gradually pulled out from the end portion to the touch screen in accordance with the progress of the swipe operation for identification. Can be sent to.

  The application execution unit 307 executes the applications 205a to 205c of any one of the virtual machines 203a to 203c based on the coordinate data received from the coordinate data generation unit 303 or a signal from other hardware, and sends it to the image data generation unit 305. Output image data. The application execution unit 307 switches the context of the operating environment based on the identification event, the screen event, and the cross edge event received from the use environment switching unit 301, and performs a predetermined virtual machine 203a for each of the touch screens 103a and 103b. It shifts to the use environment of ~ 203c.

  The coordinate data generation unit 303 generates data of coordinates detected by the touch screens 103a and 103b when a touch operation is performed, and sends the data to the application execution unit 307 or the usage environment switching unit 301. The image data generation unit 305 converts the image data received from the application execution unit 309 or the usage environment switching unit 307 into a display format and outputs the display data to the touch screens 103a and 103b. In the registration unit 309, the user registers in advance the identification data created from the swipe operation associated with the usage environment.

[First identification method]
Next, a first identification method performed by the control system 300 in order to shift to a predetermined use environment will be described with reference to FIG. The first identification method is suitable for switching the use environment in a private mode or a usage mode in which security is not an issue. For example, when the use environment switching unit 301 detects an edge touch operation with respect to the touch position 171a, the use environment switching unit 301 displays the guide image 351 on the touch screen 103a having the end portion 161a on which the edge touch operation has been performed.

  The guide image 351 may be displayed so as to be superimposed on an image of a predetermined use mode currently displayed on the touch screen 103a, or may be displayed so as to completely replace the image of the use mode. In the case of overlapping display, the guide image 351 can be a translucent image. The use environment switching unit 301 can display a guide image 351 on the touch screen 103b when detecting an edge touch operation on any of the end portions 163a to 163d of the touch screen 103b.

  When the guide image 351 is displayed so as to be pulled out or popped out from the end portion 161a where the touch position 171a is performed, the direction of the swipe operation performed subsequently to the user can be imaged, so that it is more intuitive. Can be realized. For example, the guide image 351 is configured as a matrix image including a total of 16 position marks 352 of 4 × 4 as components.

  The size of the matrix is not particularly limited and can be determined according to the sizes of the touch screens 103a and 103b. Also, the number of rows and columns need not match. Each position mark 352 has position information 353 corresponding to the row and column positions of the matrix component. A sequence of position information 353 corresponding to a plurality of position marks 352 through which the swipe operation has passed in order constitutes identification data.

  For example, identification data in which position information (4, 1), (1, 2), (3, 3), (2, 4) is arranged in order is registered in the registration unit 309 in association with the private mode. Assume that At this time, when the user performs a continuous swipe operation that passes through the four position marks 352 in the order shown in FIG. 7, the use environment switching unit 301 referring to the registration unit 309 identifies the swipe operation, You can switch from using mode to private mode.

  The usage environment switching unit 301 can send a control event to the application execution unit 307 whenever there is a touch operation on the correct position mark 352. When the swipe operation starting from the touch position 171a passes the correct position mark (4, 1) in the first row, the application execution unit 307 receives a control event, and ends the part on the right side of the screen in the private mode. It can be displayed in a state of jumping from 161a to the edge 355a. Thus, the user can recognize that the position mark 352 in the first row has been correctly selected and can realize the progress of the switching operation.

  When the continuous swipe operation passes the correct position mark (1, 2) in the second row, the application execution unit 307 that has received the control event may display the private mode screen up to the edge 355b. it can. Further, when the continuous swipe operation passes the correct position mark (3, 3) in the third row, the application execution unit 307 expands the private mode screen to the edge 355c and corrects the correct position mark (2 in the fourth row). , 4), the entire screen is displayed and the touch screen 103a is operated in the private mode.

  When the swipe operation passes the wrong position mark 352 in any row, the use environment switching unit 301 returns the edges 355a to 355c to the previous one, or erases the display of the guide image 351 from the beginning. The user can be prompted to identify. After a continuous swipe operation passes the position mark 352 in the fourth row, it reaches the touch screen 103b over the end 161b. The usage environment switching unit 301 that has detected the edge touch operation on the touch position 361 determines that the cross swipe operation has been performed, and sends a cross edge event to the application execution unit 307.

  Upon receiving the cross edge event, the application execution unit 307 expands the right edge 355d of the screen in the private mode so as to gradually slide to the end 163b, and the touch screen 103b is also private in addition to the touch screen 103a. -It can be operated in the mode usage environment. When both touch screens 103a and 103b operate in the private mode use environment, the application 205b that can be executed in the private mode is simultaneously displayed on each of the touch screens 103a and 103b, or two touch screens 103a and 103b are displayed as one. It can be used like a screen to execute a two-screen application 205b.

  Since the swipe operation from the touch position 171a to the position mark 352 in the first row is irrelevant to the identification, the shorter distance is easier to operate. Since the position information is independent of the coordinates of the touch screens 103a and 103b, the display position of the guide image 351 can be changed in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction according to the touch position on the end portion 161a. When the touch position 171a is set as a starting point, the swipe operation can be performed smoothly because the swipe operation can be prevented from returning in one direction from left to right. Further, since the screen in the use mode after switching is enlarged as the swipe operation progresses, the user can visually recognize the progress of the identification operation as an enlargement of the screen.

[Second identification method]
The first identification method can be easily estimated from the state of change of the edges 305a to 305c because the registered identification data is not suitable for a use environment subject to MDM restrictions such as a business mode. Next, an identification method with improved security using the same guide image 351 will be described. In this method, the screen of the use mode after switching is not displayed until a swipe operation that passes through the four correct position marks is performed.

  At this time, when the use environment switching unit 301 recognizes a touch operation on any of the position marks 352 included in each column by a swipe operation, the use environment switching unit 301 can notify the user through voice or a screen. By doing so, the user can know that it is not caused by not touching the position mark 352 when the switching operation finally fails. The use environment switching unit 301, which has recognized the position information of the four position marks 352 after the swipe operation for each column is completed, displays a business mode screen on the touch screen 103a when determining that correct identification data has been input. Can be displayed. Further, when the use environment switching unit 301 detects a cross swipe operation on the touch position 361, the touch screen 103b can also shift to the business mode operating environment.

  The use environment switching unit 301 moves the finger of the swipe operation away from the touch screen 103a before passing through the four position marks including the position marks 352 in each row or the four position marks 352 passed through. When the identification information 353 does not match the registered identification data, it is determined that the identification has failed and the display of the guide image 351 can be turned off. In the second identification method, since the correctness of the input identification data is unknown until four pieces of position information are input, it is difficult for a third party to easily shift to the business mode. If the identification is not successful even after a predetermined number of operations, the transition to the business mode may be locked and a passcode input to the logon screen may be requested.

[Third identification method]
In the second identification method, since the direction of the swipe operation is one direction, the number of digits of identification data is limited by the number of matrix component columns that can be displayed on the touch screens 103a and 103b. Therefore, it may not be possible to create identification data having a sufficient number of digits suitable for switching to business mode or logging on. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a third identification method for increasing the number of digits of identification data. In FIG. 8, the guide image 381 is displayed on the touch screen 103a in the same manner as in FIG. 7 by the edge touch operation on the touch position 171a.

  Similar to the guide image 351, the matrix image of the guide image 381 is composed of 16 4 × 4 position marks 382. Alphanumeric characters are assigned to the position marks 382 and displayed as images on the position marks 382. ing. The use environment switching unit 301 can register the positional information of the position mark 382 and the relationship between alphanumeric characters in the registration unit 309. The swipe operation on the guide image 381 can move back from the right to the left or move in the column direction (vertical direction) instead of moving from left to right in one direction. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the restriction on the number of digits of identification data even if the matrix images have the same size.

  In the matrix image of FIG. 7, the identification data has 4 digits. However, in the matrix image of FIG. 8, the identification data can be composed of 8-digit alphanumeric characters [c21afef7] as an example. When a continuous swipe operation is performed on the guide image 381, a touch operation is performed on position marks other than the intended position mark.

  In order to prevent erroneous input at this time, when the user touches the intended position mark, the user temporarily stops moving the finger at the position mark or slows the passing speed for a short time corresponding to the identification time of the use environment switching unit 301. You can do it. It should be noted that the user can prevent the display of the guide image 381 from disappearing by keeping the finger touched at this time away from the operation surface. In the third identification method, since the user can store the identification data as an alphanumeric character string, the use environment switching unit 301 displays a guide image in which the arrangement of the position mark 382 is different each time using a random number. You may make it do.

[Other identification methods]
Each of the first to third identification methods uses the position information of the position mark, but the present invention can also construct identification data using the coordinates of the touch screens 103a and 103b. At this time, the guide image 351 can always be displayed at a fixed position on the touch screens 103a and 103b. However, it is not always necessary to display the guide image 351 if the user gets used to the coordinates of the position marks on the touch screens 103a and 103b.

  In addition, the present invention identifies not only by the position information of the matrix component and the coordinates of the touch screen, but also by the gesture formed by the continuous swipe operation starting from the edge touch operation or the swipe operation following the edge touch operation. You can also At this time, the gesture may be started from the edge touch operation, or the gesture may be started from an arbitrary position within a predetermined time after the edge touch operation.

[Operation mode of smartphone]
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation mode of the smartphone 100. In the smartphone 100, since the touch screens 103a and 103b operate independently, for example, the business mode and the private mode are transitioned to one of nine operation modes A to I for the use environment. In the operation modes A to E, one or both of the touch screens 103a and 103b are in the standby mode.

  In the operation modes F to I, the touch screens 103a and 103b are both in the same or different usage environments. The control system 300 can identify a swipe operation including an edge touch operation and a cross swipe operation and shift from any operation mode A to I to another operation mode. A swipe operation for shifting from the standby mode to a predetermined operating environment corresponds to a logon operation.

[Control procedure for usage environment]
Next, an example of a procedure for the control system 300 to control the operation modes A to I in FIG. 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In block 401, the smartphone 100 transitions to one of the operation states A to I. In block 403, the use environment switching unit 301 detects an edge touch operation on one of the end portions 161a to 161d and 163a to 163d of the touch screens 103a and 103b. In step 405, the use environment switching unit 301 that has detected the edge touch operation sends an edge touch event to the application execution unit 307 and shifts to the identification mode. Thereafter, the application execution unit 307 ignores the coordinate data received from the coordinate data generation unit 303.

  In the identification mode, only the use environment switching unit 301 uses the coordinate data generated by the coordinate data generation unit 303. When the first to third identification methods are employed, in block 407, the use environment switching unit 301 displays one of the guide images 351 and 381 on one of the touch screens 103a and 103b on which the edge touch operation has been performed. indicate. When the user performs a swipe operation on the guide images 351 and 381 in block 409, the use environment switching unit 301 in block 411 identifies the business mode or private mode from the position information or alphanumeric sequence of the recognized position mark. Judgment is made.

  The usage environment switching unit 301 that has determined that the identification has failed returns to the block 403, erases the display of the guide images 351 and 381, and then requests the user to start again from the edge touch operation. The usage environment switching unit 301 that has determined that the identification regarding any of the usage modes has succeeded sends an identification event and a screen event to the application execution unit 307. In block 413, the application execution unit 307 may transfer the touch screen on which the edge touch operation has been performed to a usage environment corresponding to the identification event. The use environment switching unit 301 can turn off the display of the guide images 351 and 381 when the identification is successful.

  For example, when the operation mode is A in the block 301, the smartphone 100 can shift to one of the operation modes B to E. Further, when the operation mode is H or I in the block 301, the smartphone 100 can shift to either the operation mode F or G. Furthermore, when the operation mode is F or G in the block 301, the smartphone 100 can shift to either the operation mode H or I.

  When the use environment switching unit 301 detects a cross swipe operation from the swipe operation starting from the edge touch operation in block 403 in block 417, the process proceeds to block 417. In block 417, the use environment switching unit 301 sends a cross edge event to the application execution unit 307 to shift the touch screen that has detected the cross swipe operation to the same use mode as the use mode identified in block 411. At this time, it is possible to shift to any of the operation modes H and I from any of the operation modes A to G. If no cross swipe operation is detected, the process ends at block 419. For a smartphone equipped with one touch screen, the operation environment can be switched or the log-on operation can be similarly performed by the edge touch operation and the swipe operation, except for the expansion of the use environment by the cross swipe operation.

  Although the present invention has been described with the specific embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and is known so far as long as the effects of the present invention are achieved. It goes without saying that any configuration can be adopted.

100 Smartphones 101a and 101b Cases 103a and 103b Touch screens 161a to 161d, 163a to 163d Touch screen edges 171a to 171d, 173a to 173d, 361 Touch positions 203a to 203c, 253 Virtual machine 351, 381 Guide image 353 Matrix component Position information 355a to 355d of the image 352, 382 of the image of the usage environment for switching

Claims (20)

For portable electronic devices equipped with touch screens and capable of operating in multiple usage environments,
Associating a swipe action with your environment,
A step of operating in a first usage environment;
Identifying a swipe operation performed following an edge touch operation on an end of the touch screen;
A computer program for executing a process including a step of transitioning to the second usage environment in response to recognizing that the swipe operation is associated with the second usage environment.   The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the edge touch operation is an operation in which a finger is simultaneously brought into contact with both the touch screen and an edge frame.   The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the swipe operation is a continuous touch operation starting from the edge touch operation.   The computer program according to claim 1, further comprising: displaying a guide image indicating a position through which the swipe operation passes on the touch screen in response to detection of the edge touch operation.   The computer program according to claim 4, wherein the guide image is a matrix image composed of a plurality of position marks having position information.   The computer program according to claim 5, wherein the swipe operation is performed in a direction not to return away from the end.   The computer program product according to claim 6, further comprising a step of displaying a screen of the second usage environment so as to gradually expand from the end portion every time a touch operation on the position mark by the swipe operation is detected.   The computer program according to claim 4, wherein the guide image is a matrix image composed of a plurality of position marks each assigned a number or a character.   The computer program according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of use environments include use environments having different security levels. For portable electronic devices equipped with touch screens and capable of operating in multiple usage environments,
Associating a swipe action with your environment,
A step operating in standby mode;
Identifying a swipe operation performed following an edge touch operation on an end of the touch screen;
And a step of logging on to the second usage environment in response to recognizing that the swipe operation corresponds to the second usage environment. A portable electronic device in which the first touch screen and the second touch screen arranged adjacent to each other can operate in the same or different usage environments.
Associating a swipe action with your environment,
Each of the first touch screen and the second touch screen operating in a predetermined usage environment;
Identifying a swipe operation performed following an edge touch operation on an end of the first touch screen;
A computer for causing the first touch screen to transition to the associated usage environment in response to recognizing that the swipe operation is associated with the second usage environment. program.   In response to recognizing that the swipe operation passes a boundary from the first touch screen toward the second touch screen, the second touch screen transitions to the second usage environment. The computer program according to claim 11, comprising:   The computer program product according to claim 11, wherein in the step of operating in the predetermined usage environment, the first touch screen operates in a standby state.   The computer program according to claim 11, wherein in the step of operating in the predetermined usage environment, the first touch screen and the second touch screen operate in the same usage environment.   The computer program according to claim 11, wherein in the step of operating in the predetermined usage environment, the first touch screen and the second touch screen operate in different usage environments. A portable electronic device having a touch screen and capable of operating in a plurality of usage environments is a method of switching usage environments,
Associating a swipe action with your environment,
A step of operating in a predetermined use environment;
Detecting a touch operation on an end of the touch screen;
Invalidating the touch operation for the predetermined use environment in response to the detection of the touch operation;
Identifying a swipe operation performed following the touch operation;
Transitioning to a use environment with which the identified swipe operation is associated. A portable electronic device equipped with a first touch screen and a second touch screen arranged adjacent to each other and capable of operating in the same or different use environment is a method of switching the use environment,
Associating a swipe action with your environment,
Each of the first touch screen and the second touch screen operating in a predetermined usage environment;
Detecting a touch operation on an end of the first touch screen;
Invalidating the touch operation for the predetermined use environment in response to the detection of the touch operation;
Identifying a swipe operation on the first touch screen performed following the touch operation;
Transitioning to a use environment corresponding to the swipe operation identified by the first touch screen;
Recognizing that the swipe operation has reached the second touch screen;
Transitioning the second touch screen to the same usage environment as the first touch screen. A portable electronic device comprising a touch screen,
A registration unit for registering identification data that associates the swipe operation with the use environment;
An application execution unit capable of operating in multiple use environments;
A coordinate data generation unit for generating coordinate data of a touch operation on the touch screen;
An image data generation unit for generating image data to be displayed on the touch screen;
When the identification data extracted from the swipe operation following the edge touch operation on the edge of the touch screen is compared with the identification data of the registration unit, the current use environment is determined when the swipe operation for any use environment is recognized. A portable electronic device having a usage environment switching unit that switches to a usage environment corresponding to the swipe operation. A portable electronic device comprising a first touch screen and a second touch screen arranged adjacent to each other,
A registration unit for registering identification data that associates the swipe operation with the use environment;
An application execution unit capable of operating in multiple usage environments for each touch screen;
A coordinate data generation unit for generating coordinate data of a touch operation on the touch screen;
An image data generation unit for generating image data to be displayed on the touch screen;
The identification data extracted from the swipe operation following the touch operation on the end portion of the first touch screen is compared with the identification data of the registration unit to recognize the swipe operation for any use environment, and further, the second touch A portable electronic device having a use environment switching unit that detects a cross-swipe operation on a screen and switches the first touch screen and the second touch screen to a use environment corresponding to the swipe operation.   The portable electronic device is a foldable type that can be folded by a hinge mechanism that couples a casing on which the first touch screen is mounted and a casing on which the second touch screen is mounted. Portable electronic devices.

Images