USOO7376442B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Yoshioka
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`May 20, 2008
`
`(54) MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
`AND APPLICATION STARTING CONTROL
`METHOD THEREOF
`(75) Inventor: Kenji Yoshioka, Tokyo (JP)
`(73) Assignee: NEC Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 254 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/104,483
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 13, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/024376O A1
`Nov. 3, 2005
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 14, 2004 (JP)
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2004-118826
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04B I/38
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................... 455/556.2: 455/566; 718/107
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 370/338;
`455/566,550.1, 556.2: 718/107
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(56)
`
`1/1996 Bass et al. .................. 710,244
`5.487,170 A *
`ck
`2.
`R ck 3. Racil- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.
`7,103,387 B2 * 9/2006 Seo ............................ 455,566
`2004/0172631 A1* 9, 2004 Howard ...................... T18, 100
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`:
`:
`E.
`wo w83. H2
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Silberschatz, A.S. et al. Operating System Concepts” Operating
`System Concepts, 1994, Reading, MA.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Edward F. Urban
`Assistant Examiner—Adeel Haroon
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`In a mobile communication terminal for starting and simul
`taneously using a plurality of applications, one desired
`application starts fast to improve the operability when the
`number of started applications reaches a present limiting
`
`number of applications. An application Start determining
`
`unit searches a list of started applications in response to the
`instruction of the start of application to obtain the number of
`started applications, and determines that the application
`cannot start when the number of started applications reaches
`a preset limiting number of applications. An ending-appli
`cation selecting unit selects, as an ending application to be
`ended, the application with the low priority from the start
`applications based on the preset priority of application when
`the application start determining unit determines that the
`application cannot start. An application ending unit performs
`the ending processing of the ending application selected by
`the ending-application selecting unit and deletes the selected
`ending application from the list of started applications.
`
`3 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`Display appenu screenh-S101
`TCTSELECTION OF
`JSERESIREAP
`
`S102
`
`NUMr FSTARTED APS
`<LIMITING NUMBER OF
`ALS
`
`ALTRAN
`COMMUNICATIONAPLS
`NCLUED INSARTE
`APLS
`
`APOTHERTHANEDITINGVy
`APSINCLUDEON
`STARTE APLs?
`
`STARTEDITINGAPS
`NRGress of ETINGS
`
`
`
`
`
`DATANRGRESS Of
`ETING CAN BE SORE
`
`NARSTRING ATAN
`PROGRESS OFDITING
`ELETEETING ALFRON
`STARECAPS
`
`DISPLAYSCRNFor
`SLECTNG COMMUNICATION
`A bed by USer
`
`s
`
`USERSELECTs
`COMMUNICATIONApo
`BEENE
`
`S12
`N
`
`EN COMMUNICATION
`APPLICAONSELECTED BY
`SR
`LeTemed APFROM
`STAR-APS
`
`
`
`
`
`NONE OF HERAPLS
`ELET FRMSTARTE).
`APLLIST
`No CNE OF ETNs
`ALCANS
`Let FroMSTARTE
`APLLIST
`
`STARTUSERESIRDAPL
`RSTERSTARTE APON
`SARE-APLIST
`
`
`
`SPLAYSREENINCATING
`AAPLCANNOBE
`starts
`
`S114
`
`ZTE, Ex. 1007
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`6
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`UNIT
`
`5
`
`STORAGE
`UNIT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3
`
`OPERATING
`UNIT
`
`
`
`76
`
`7 CONTROL UNIT
`
`77
`
`STARTED-APL
`LIST
`
`APL PRIORITY
`LIST
`
`
`
`APL START DETERMINING MEANS
`
`APL STARTING MEANS
`
`APL ENDING MEANS
`
`71
`
`72
`
`73
`
`ENDING-APL SELECTING MEANS
`
`74
`
`GUI MEANS
`
`75
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY UNIT
`
`F.G. 1
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`
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`
`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAYAPLMENUSCREEN
`DETECT SELECTION OF
`USER DESIRED APL.
`
`S101
`
`Y
`
`NUMBER OF STARTED APLS
`<LIMITING NUMBER OF
`APLSP
`
`AP OTHER THAN
`COMMUNICATIONAPLS
`INCLUDED IN STARTED
`APLS2
`
`
`
`APL OTHER THAN EDITING
`APS INCLUDED IN
`STARTED APLS
`
`STARTED EDITINGAPLS
`N PROGRESS OF EDTING 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DATA IN PROGRESS OF
`EDITING CAN BE STORED?
`
`END AFTER STORING DATAN
`PROGRESS OF EDITING
`DELETEEDITING APL FROM
`STARTED-APE LIST
`
`DISPLAYSCREEN FOR
`SELECTING COMMUNICATION
`AP TO BE ENDED BY USER
`
`USER SELECTS
`COMMUNICATIONAP TO
`BE ENDED?
`
`END COMMUNICATION
`APPLICATION SELECTED BY
`USER
`DELETE ENDED APL FROM
`STARTED-APL LST
`
`
`
`END ONE OF OTHERAPLS
`DELETE IT FROM STARTED
`APL LIST
`
`END ONE OF EDITING
`APPLICATIONS
`DELETE IT FROM STARTED
`APL LIST
`
`START USER DESIRED APL
`REGISTER STARTED APL ON
`STARED-APL LIST
`
`
`
`DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATING
`THAT APL CANNOT BE
`STARTED
`
`S114
`
`FIG 2
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`ONJAN. 28 (WED)
`20:45
`
`
`
`EMA
`
`BROWSER GAME
`
`ACCES
`SETTING DATA Sy
`
`
`
`
`
`STAND BY SCREEN
`(a)
`
`MENUSCREEN
`(b)
`
`
`
`
`
`(MEMO)
`GO TODAY'S WEATHER: FINE
`(2) CLOSED: 10:30
`(3) <NON-REGISTERED>
`(4) TOKYO 10:10 10:25
`(5) <NON-REGISTERED>
`
`ACCESSORY
`OSCHEDULER
`(2) TODO
`(3) MEMO
`(4) CALCULATOR
`(5) DICTIONARY
`
`APL SCREEN
`(d)
`
`APL SELECTING
`(c)
`
`FIG. 3
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`SELECT ENDING
`FUNCTION
`DATA
`GD COMMUNICATION
`(2) GPS RECEIVE
`(3) INQUIRY TO CENTER
`(4) IR COMMUNICATION
`
`FG. 4
`
`
`
`WARNING
`
`OVER LIMITING
`NUMBER
`NOT START
`
`F.G. 5
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATING
`UNT
`
`8 CONTROL UNIT
`
`6
`
`DISPLAY
`UNIT
`
`5
`
`STORAGE
`UNIT
`
`STARTED
`APL LIST
`
`ENDING-PRIORITY
`LIST
`
`GUI MEANS
`
`APL START DETERMINING MEANS
`
`82
`
`APL STARTING MEANS
`
`APL ENDING MEANS
`
`ENDING-PRIORITY LIST CREATING
`MEANS
`
`8 3
`
`84
`
`85
`
`ENDING-APL SELECTING MEANS
`
`86
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY UNIT
`
`FIG. 6
`
`6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`DISPLAY APL MENUSCREEN
`DETECT SELECTION OF
`USER DESIRED APL
`
`S2O1
`
`y/ NUMBER OF STARIED
`APLS<LIMITING NUMBER
`OF APLSP
`
`
`
`CALCULATE VALUE
`NOICATING USING SITUATION
`OF STARTED APLAND CREATE
`LST OF ENDING PRORTY
`
`SELECT HEAD APLON
`LIST OF ENDING PRIORITY
`
`SELECTED APLS
`EDTINGAPL2
`
`Y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S210
`
`SELECT CORRESPONDING
`APL CLEAR LIST OF ENDING
`PRORTY
`
`END CORRESPONDINGAPL
`DELETE FROM STARTED-APL
`LIST
`
`DATA IN PROGRESS OF
`EDITING OF EDITINGAPL
`CAN BESTORED?
`
`
`
`SELEC CORRESPONDING
`APL.
`CLEAR ENDING-PRIORITY LIST
`
`
`
`STORE DATAN PROGRESS
`OF EDITING AND END
`DELETEEDITING APL
`FROM STARTED APL LIST
`
`
`
`END CORRESPONDINGAPL,
`DELETE FROM STARTED
`APL LIST, AND UPDATE LIST
`OF ENDING PRIORITY
`
`NUMBER OF APLS ON LIS
`S208 NOF ENDING PRIORITY = 02
`
`S214
`
`STARTUSER'S DESIRED APL uS209 DISPLAY SCREEN INDICATING
`REGISTER STARTED APL
`THAT APL CANNOT START
`ON STARTED-APL LIST
`
`FIG. 7
`
`7
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`a
`
`b
`
`c
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FG. 8
`
`BROWSER
`
`1
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 9
`
`8
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 20, 2008
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 7,376.442 B2
`
`START
`
`
`
`DISPLAY CHECKING SCREEN OF AUTOMATICALLY
`SELECTED ENDINGAPLAND STARTINGAPL
`
`USER APPROVES AUTOMATICALLY-SELECTED
`ENDINGAPL2
`
`N
`DISPLAY LIST OF STARTED APL ON SCREEN, AND
`PROMPT USERS SELECTION OF ENDINGAPL
`
`S301
`
`S302
`
`S303
`S304
`
`USER SELECTS ENDINGAPL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY ON SCREEN
`THAT APL CANNOT
`START
`
`END CORRESPONDING APL,
`UPDATE LIST OF STARTED APL.
`
`NEWLY START APL.
`UPDATE LST OF STARTED APL.
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 10
`
`END MEMO AND
`START CALCULATOR.
`OK?
`
`9
`
`

`

`US 7,376,442 B2
`
`1.
`MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL
`AND APPLICATION STARTING CONTROL
`METHOD THEREOF
`
`This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent
`application JP 2004-118826, the disclosure of which is
`incorporated herein by reference.
`
`5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a mobile communication
`terminal and an application starting control method thereof.
`More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile
`communication terminal for starting and simultaneously
`using a plurality of applications and an application starting
`control method thereof.
`Recently, one type of mobile phones is sold to start a
`plurality of applications and simultaneously use a plurality
`of functions similarly to a personal computer or the like,
`under the improvement of CPU processing capacity.
`Such a mobile phone terminal enables a user to send an
`email while viewing a site screen on the Internet or to check
`the schedule by a scheduler while having a call.
`However, the mobile phone terminal does not have a
`Sufficient memory capacity or power capacity. Therefore, if
`many applications simultaneously start similarly to the per
`Sonal computer, a malfunction is caused in the communica
`tion function or the started application operation becomes
`unstable.
`An unnecessary application must terminate without con
`tinuously staying resident in memory when the number of
`simultaneously-used applications reaches a predetermined
`limiting number. Preferably, the unnecessary application
`automatically ends.
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP
`A) No. 2003-330579 discloses a mobile electronic device
`which ends the applications whose number reaches the
`limiting number. As disclosed in the above-mentioned pub
`lication, the degree of importance is set to the application so
`as to use the application with the high degree of importance
`for a long time when the remaining amount of battery is
`reduced while a plurality of applications start, and the
`application with the low degree of importance ends when the
`remaining amount of battery reduces. However, when the
`number of applications to be started is over a predetermined
`number, the application to be ended does not automatically
`end.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`50
`
`It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile
`communication terminal and an application starting control
`method thereof, for fast starting a desired application and
`improving the operability by automatically selecting and
`ending the application to be ended when the number of
`55
`started applications reaches a predetermined limiting num
`ber upon starting the application.
`According to the present invention, there is provided an
`application starting control method of a mobile communi
`cation terminal for starting and simultaneously using a
`plurality of applications, comprising the steps of presetting
`a limiting number of simultaneously used applications;
`selecting, from started applications, an ending application to
`be ended based on the priority when applications over a
`limiting number are going to be started; and newly allowing
`to start an application after ending the selected ending
`application.
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`The priority may be preset or may be determined based on
`a using situation of the started application.
`The selected ending application may be displayed on a
`screen in response to the selection of the ending application.
`In this case, the selected ending application is ended in
`response to the approval operation of a user.
`According to the present invention, there is also provided
`a mobile communication terminal for starting and simulta
`neously using a plurality of applications, comprising appli
`cation start determining means which compares the number
`of started applications with a preset limiting number of
`simultaneously used applications, determines that the appli
`cation can start when the number of started applications is
`less than the limiting number, and determines that the
`application cannot start when the number of started appli
`cations reaches the limiting number, selecting means which
`selects an ending application to be ended on the basis of low
`priority from the started applications in response to the
`determination of the application start determining means
`that the application cannot start; application ending means
`which performs ending processing of the ending application
`selected by the ending application selecting means; and
`application starting means which starts the application
`instructed by a user in response to the determination of the
`application start determining means that the application can
`Start.
`The application starting means may start the application
`instructed by the user in response to the ending processing
`of the application ending means.
`The application start determining means may determine
`whether or not the application starts in response to the
`instruction to start the application from the user.
`The mobile communication terminal may have a list of
`started applications indicating the started applications. In
`this case, the application start determining means searches
`the list of started application to obtain the number of started
`applications. The application ending means deletes the
`selected ending application from the list of started applica
`tions. The application starting means starts the application
`determined as the start by the application start determining
`means and registers the started application to the list of
`started applications.
`The mobile communication terminal may further com
`prises means for receiving the approval of the user before the
`ending processing of the ending application in response to
`the selection of the ending application by the ending appli
`cation selecting means.
`According to the present invention, there is also provided
`a mobile communication terminal for starting and simulta
`neously using a plurality of applications, comprising appli
`cation start determining means which compares the number
`of started applications with a preset limiting number of
`simultaneously used applications, determines that the appli
`cation can start when the number of started applications is
`less than the limiting number, and determines that the
`application cannot start when the number of started appli
`cations reaches the limiting number, ending-priority list
`creating means which calculates values indicating the using
`situation of the started applications in response to the
`determination of the application start determining means
`that the application cannot start and creates a list of ending
`priority indicating the order of applications with low influ
`ence in the case of ending the application; ending-applica
`tion selecting means which selects the ending application
`based on the list of ending priority in response to the
`determination of the application start determining means
`that the application cannot start and clears the list of ending
`
`10
`
`

`

`US 7,376,442 B2
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`3
`priority; application ending means which performs the end
`ing processing of the ending application selected by the
`ending-application selecting means; and application starting
`means which starts the application instructed by a user in
`response to the determination of the application start deter
`mining means that the application starts.
`The ending-priority list creating means may collect data
`on evaluation items indicating the using situations including
`the total time displayed after starting the application, the
`number of Switching times for display operation, and the last
`display time, place a number to each of started applications
`in the order of their magnitude every evaluated item, mul
`tiply the number by a weighting coefficient preset every
`evaluated item and every type of application, add the mul
`tiplied results every application, calculate the values indi
`cating the using situations, sort the applications in order of
`the larger values, and create the list of ending priority.
`The mobile communication terminal may have a list of
`started applications indicating the started application. In this
`case, the application start determining means searches the
`list of started applications and obtains the number of started
`applications; the application ending means deletes the
`selected ending application from the list of started applica
`tions, and the application starting means starts the applica
`tion determined as the start by the application start deter
`mining means and registers the started application to the list
`of started applications.
`According to the present invention, the limiting number
`(maximum number) of applications for simultaneous use is
`set and when the start of a new application amounts to the
`number of applications over the limiting number, the appli
`cation for ending is automatically determined and is ended
`in accordance with the priority from among the using
`applications. Thus, in case that the number of applications
`reaches the limiting number, the new application is started
`quickly and the operability upon starting the application is
`improved.
`
`4
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Hereinbelow, description will be given of a mobile phone
`device among mobile communication terminals.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a mobile phone device
`according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
`A mobile phone 10 comprises a radio unit 2 which
`receives and sends signals via an antenna 1, an operating
`unit 3 having buttons operated by a user, a power Supply unit
`4 which Supplies power to units, a storage unit 5 which
`stores various applications and data, a display unit 6 which
`displays various information, and a control unit 7 which
`controls the start/end of application upon being instructed of
`the start of application designated by the user via the
`operating unit 3 and which instruct to display various
`information on the display unit 6.
`The control unit 7 reads various control programs stored
`in the memory in accordance with an instruction from the
`operating unit 3, and controls operations of the terminal.
`The control unit 7 comprises: a started application (abbre
`viated to an APL) list 76; and an APL priority list 77
`indicating the predetermined priority of application.
`The control unit 7 comprises APL start determining means
`71 which determines, based on a started-APL list 76 and a
`predetermined limiting number of applications, whether or
`not the user's desired application is allowed to start, upon
`being notified of the start of application: APL starting means
`72 which performs the start processing of the application
`determined to be started and which instructs to make an
`entry of application to the started-APL list 76; and APL
`ending means 73 which performs the ending processing of
`application for ending (i.e., application to be ended, which
`may herein be referred to as an ending application) and
`which deletes the ending application from the started-APL
`list 76.
`Further, the control unit 7 comprises ending-APL select
`ing means 74 which selects one of applications for ending
`from among the started applications based on the started
`APL list 76 and the predetermined APL priority list 77 when
`the APL start determining means 71 determines that the
`application is not allowed to start. In addition, the control
`unit 7 includes GUI (graphical user I/F) means 75 which
`attends to display an ending-APL selecting screen prompt
`ing a user's entry and notify the ending-APL selecting
`means 74 of a user selected result when the application for
`ending is not automatically selected by the ending-APL
`selecting means 74. The GUI also has a function to attend to
`display an APL menu screen and notify the APL start
`determining means 71 of a user selected result in accordance
`with the user button operation.
`In the first embodiment, let us assume a situation where
`the maximum number of applications for simultaneous use
`is set as a limiting number of applications. In this case, the
`memory size available to applications is determined based
`on the memory capacity. Therefore, the maximum number
`of applications for simultaneous use is set in consideration
`of the combination of applications for simultaneous use so
`as to prevent the trouble of a system due to the shortage of
`memory. For example, in the case of the mobile phone
`mainly having a communication function, the maximum
`number of applications for simultaneous use is set as 6.
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operating example of the
`control unit 7. A description is given of the mobile phone
`mainly having the communication function in accordance
`with the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, together with referring
`to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 to 5 showing display screens.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a mobile phone
`terminal according to a first embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operating example of a
`control unit shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 shows examples of a display screen;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the
`display Screen;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram showing yet another example of the
`display Screen;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a mobile phone
`terminal according to a second embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operating example of a
`control unit shown in FIG. 6;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a setting example of a
`weighting coefficient for calculating a value indicating a
`using situation of each application;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a calculating example of the
`value indicating the using situation and the order of each
`evaluation item of an application;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of a control
`unit according to a third embodiment of the present inven
`tion; and
`FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display
`SCC.
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`40
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`45
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`11
`
`

`

`US 7,376,442 B2
`
`10
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`15
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`25
`
`5
`The user operates a button of the operating unit 3 so as to
`start the desired application and instructs to display an APL
`menu screen. Then, the GUI means 75 attends to detect the
`button operation, instruct the display unit 5 to display the
`APL menu screen as shown in FIG.3(b) instead of a standby
`screen shown in FIG. 3(a) (in step S101).
`The APL menu screen displays application icons of email
`creation, Internet browser, game, system setting, accessory,
`communication, phone book, and digital camera.
`The user selects the icon including the desired application
`from the icons displayed on the APL menu screen and then
`the applications included in the selected one are displayed.
`On the screen shown in FIG.3(b), application “accessory”
`is selected. Then, referring to FIG. 3(c), the list of applica
`tions included in the application “accessory are displayed.
`Here, the user selects application “memo”. In response to
`the selection, the GUI means 75 sends a notification indi
`cating the start of application “memo” selected by the user
`to the APL start determining means 71.
`On receipt of the notification of the start of application,
`the APL start determining means 71 retrieves the started
`APL list 76. If the number of started applications is less than
`the limiting number of applications, it is determined that the
`application starts, and the APL start determining means 71
`notifies the APL starting means 72 of the start of application
`(in step S102).
`In response to the notification of start, the APL starting
`means 72 starts the application (here, application “memo'),
`registers it on the started-APL list 76, and sends a notifica
`tion to the GUI means, which instructs to display the screen
`of application “memo” as shown in FIG.3(d) (in step S110).
`When the APL start determining means 71 searches the
`started-APL list 76 in step S102 and the number of started
`applications reaches the limiting number, the APL start
`determining means 71 determines that the application is not
`allowed to start, and notifies the APL selecting means 74 of
`such denial (in step S102).
`In response to receipt of the notification of the denial, the
`ending-APL selecting means 74 performs the processing for
`selecting one application for ending from the started appli
`cations based on the predetermined APL priority list 77 and
`the started-APL list 76.
`Let us assume that the applications are classified, for
`example, into three types, i.e., communication application,
`editing application, and other application and that the three
`types of applications are registered in the started-APL list
`76.
`The type of communication application includes phone
`and data communication. The type of editing application
`includes email creation, memo, and phone book. The type of
`other applications includes the system setting, multimedia,
`and game.
`According to the priority of application, a priority 1 is
`assigned to the communication application type, a priority 2,
`the editing application type, and a priority 3, other applica
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`tion type. That is, the applications are registered in the APL
`priority list 77 in the order of the types of communication
`application, the editing application, and other application.
`The ending-APL selecting means 74 first searches, based
`on the started-APL list 76, whether or not the started
`applications include an application type other than the
`communication application type (in step S103).
`If YES in step S103, the ending-APL selecting means 74
`searches, based on the started-APL list 76, whether or not
`the started applications include an application type other
`than the editing application type (in step S104). If it is
`determined that the started applications include the other
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`application type in addition to the editing application type,
`that is, other application with the low priority, the ending
`APL selecting means 74 selects one of other applications
`and notifies the APL ending means 73 of the selected
`application. The APL ending means 73 performs the ending
`processing of the notified application, deletes the application
`from the started-APL list 76, and notifies the APL start
`determining means 71 of the completion of ending process
`ing (in step S105).
`If it is determined in step S104 that the started applica
`tions do not include the application other than the editing
`application, it is checked to see if the started editing appli
`cation is in progress of editing processing (in step S106),
`which indicates a state that the user is inputting character
`data and the edited data is not determined.
`If NO in step S106, the ending-APL selecting means 74
`selects one editing application as the ending application, and
`notifies the APL ending means 73 of the selection. The APL
`ending means 73 performs the ending processing of the
`notified application, deletes the notified application from the
`started-APL list 76, and notifies the APL start determining
`means 71 of the completion of ending processing (in step
`S107).
`In response to the notification of the completion of ending
`processing, the APL start determining means 71 determines,
`based on the started-APL list 76, the start of the user's
`desired application and notifies the APL starting means 72
`thereof to start the application (in step S102).
`Even during the editing processing of editing application,
`when necessary data is inputted in an input field and the
`memory area is available to store the data in progress of
`editing (in step S108), the ending-APL selecting means 74
`selects one of the editing applications, and notifies the APL
`ending means 73 of the selected editing application for
`ending processing.
`In this case, the APL ending means 73 stores the data in
`progress of editing of the editing application for ending
`processing in the storage unit 6, ends the editing application,
`deletes it from the started-APL list 76, and notifies the APL
`start determining means 71 of the completion of ending
`processing (in step S109).
`When the ending-APL selecting means 74 determines in
`step S103 that the started applications do not include any
`application other than the communication one, namely,
`when the entire started applications as the ending target are
`the communication applications with the high priority, the
`GUI means 75 instructs to display the screen for selecting
`the communication application for ending from among the
`started communication applications by the user as shown in
`FIG. 4 (in step S111).
`When the user selects the communication application for
`ending (in step S112), the GUI means 75 notifies the
`ending-APL selecting means 74 of the communication
`application selected by the user.
`The ending-APL selecting means 74 notifies the APL
`ending means 73 of the communication application selected
`by the user. The APL ending means 73 ends the notified
`communication application, deletes the ended communica
`tion application from among the started-APL list 76, and
`notifies the APL start determining means 71 of the comple
`tion of ending processing (in step S113).
`In response to notification of the completion of ending
`processing, the APL start determining means 71 determines
`based on the started-APL list 76 that the user's desired
`application can start, notifies the APL starting means 72 of
`the determining result to start the application (in step S110).
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`When the data in progress of editing is not stored in step
`S108 or when the user does not select the communication
`application for ending in step S112, a dialog screen indicat
`ing that the application can not start is displayed by the GUI
`means 75 as shown in FIG. 5 (in step S114).
`As mentioned above, when applications over the limiting
`number start, the application to be ended is automatically
`selected from among the started applications based on the
`predetermined priority and thereafter the application newly
`designated by the user starts, thereby omitting the trouble
`Someness for selecting the application to be ended by the
`user upon starting the application. Thus, the operability is
`improved.
`The priority of application may be determined depending
`on the types of functions installed on the terminal or main
`purposes of the terminal. For example, in the case of a
`mobile communication terminal mainly functioning as mul
`timedia, the priority is given to multimedia applications such
`as a moving image or music play.
`Further, the list of APL priority may be set by the user
`depending on the user's favor.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a mobile phone
`terminal according to the second embodiment.
`A control unit according to the second embodiment shown
`in FIG. 6 differs from the control unit 7 shown in FIG. 1 in
`that a value indicating the using situation of the started
`application is calculated to create the list of ending priority,
`and the application to be ended is selected based on the list
`of ending priority.
`Referring to FIG. 6, a control unit 8 comprises GUI means
`81 which instructs to display a menu screen in accordance
`with the button operation of the user, notifies APL start
`determining means 82 of a user's selected result, and the
`APL start determining means 82 which determines, based on
`a started-APL list 87 and a predetermined limiting number
`of applications (the maximum number of started applica
`tions) upon receipt of a notification of the start of applica
`tion, whether or not the user's designated application (APL)
`should start.
`Further, the control unit 8 comprises APL starting means
`83 which performs the start processing of the application
`determined to be started and which instructs to register the
`application to the started-APL list 87: APL ending means 84
`which performs the ending processing of the application to
`be ended and deletes the ending application from the started
`APL list 87; ending-priority list creating means 85 which
`calculates a value indicating the using situation of the started
`application and creates an ending-priority list 88 when the
`APL start determining means 82 determines that the appli
`cation does not start; and ending-APL selecting means 86
`which select one of the applications to be ended from the
`upper application in the ending-priority list 88 when the APL
`start determining means 82 determines that the application
`does not start.
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operating example of the
`control unit 8.
`With reference to FIG. 7, the operation of the control unit
`shown in FIG. 6 will be described in connection with the
`mobile phone mainly having a communication function by
`way of example.
`The user operates a button to start his desired