DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention

POWER SAVING NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, TERMINAL DEVICE, POWER SAVING NOTIFICATION METHOD, AND POWER SAVING NOTIFICATION PROGRAM

Technical Field

[0001]

The present invention relates to a power saving notification system for supporting electric power saving of a terminal device, a terminal device, a power saving notification method, and a power saving notification program.

Background Art

[0002]

In recent years, some of terminal devices (cellular phones, etc.) are equipped with a power saving function such as the ECO mode and the power saving mode.

[0003]

As a related technology, Patent Document 1 has described a system which generates an advice message for appropriate operation of electric instruments in a house based on the operating status of the electric instruments and notifies the user of the advice message.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004]

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2008-136334

Summary of Invention Technical Problem

[0005]

However, in the general power saving functions of terminal devices, the settings have to be made on the user's own initiative. Thus, when the user keeps on operating the terminal device without noticing the power saving function, no power saving can be achieved as a result. In such cases, providing terminal devices with the power saving function is almost useless and meaningless.

[0006]

Further, the system described in the Patent Document 1 just attempts to reduce the electricity charges, etc. by reconsidering the operation of each of the electric instruments. Therefore, it is impossible to configure a single terminal device to achieve electric power saving by directly employing the technology of the Patent Document 1.

[0007]

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a power saving notification system, a terminal device, a power saving notification method, and a power saving notification program capable of notifying the user of settings allowing for electric power saving.

Solution to Problem

[0008]

A power saving notification system in accordance with the present invention comprises: power saving possibility judgment means which judges whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and notification means which notifies the user of the result of the judgment when the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible.

[0009]

A terminal device in accordance with the present invention comprises: power saving possibility judgment means which judges whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of the terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information; and notification means which notifies the user of the result of the judgment when the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible.

[0010]

A power saving notification method in accordance with the present invention comprises: judging whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and notifying the user of the result of the judgment when electric power saving is judged to be possible.

[0011]

A power saving notification program in accordance with the present invention causes a computer to execute: a power saving possibility judgment process of judging whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and a notification process of notifying the user of the result of the judgment when electric power saving is judged to be possible in the power saving possibility judgment process.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0012]

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to notify the user of settings allowing for electric power saving.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013]

[FIG. 1] It depicts a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a power saving notification system in accordance with the present invention.

[FIG. 2] It depicts a table showing an example of data stored in a terminal device.

[FIG. 3] It depicts a flow chart showing an example of a process executed by the power saving notification system.

[FIG. 4] It depicts an explanatory drawing showing an example of screen transition in the power saving notification system.

[FIG. 5] It depicts a block diagram showing an example of the minimum configuration of the power saving notification system.

Description of Embodiments

[0014]

The present invention provides a terminal device having a function of determining setting values that are more capable of achieving electric power saving than the current setting values (setting values currently set by the user) based on history records (logs) of operations performed by the user in a prescribed period and notifying the user of the setting values. The present invention enables the terminal device to prompt the user to change the setting values to those more capable of achieving electric power saving. Thus, even when the user remains unconscious of the setting values leading to electric power saving in the daily use of the terminal device, it becomes possible to let the user notice a method for extending the duration of the battery.

[0015]

Further, the terminal device notifies the user of only setting items allowing for electric power saving that are related to the operations recorded in the user's operation history records based on the operation history records stored in the terminal device. Therefore, even after the user has changed setting values to those capable of achieving electric power saving according to the notification, the user can use a new application, etc. (used by the user for the first time) with no restrictions on the displaying, operations, etc.

[0016]

Two methods are assumed as means for letting the user check the setting values capable of achieving electric power saving: automatic notification from the terminal device to the user after the elapse of a prescribed time period (step S21 shown in FIG. 4) and manual checking from the user's side (step S22 shown in FIG. 4).

[0017]

Referring now to the drawings, a description will be given in detail of an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a power saving notification system in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the power saving notification system comprises input means 1, operation history/setting information storage means 2, usage time calculation means 3, power saving effect calculation means 4, power saving possibility judgment means 5, notification means 6, display control means 7, and setting change means 8. This exemplary embodiment will be described below by taking an example of a terminal device employing the power saving notification system. Specifically, the terminal device is implemented by a cellular phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) terminal, a personal computer, etc.

[0018]

The input means 1 is implemented, specifically, by an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. The input means 1 has a function of inputting data according to the operations by the user.

[0019]

The operation history/setting information storage means 2 is implemented, specifically, by a storage device such as a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device or a memory. The operation history/setting information storage means 2 stores history records (logs) about the user operations on the terminal device, setting information on each function, etc. The information stored in the operation history/setting information storage means 2 will be described in more detail later in an explanation of a specific example.

[0020]

The usage time calculation means 3 is implemented, specifically, by a CPU of an information processing device operating according to a program. The usage time calculation means 3 has a function of calculating the usage time of each function. For example, the usage time calculation means 3 stores the time at which the user started using a prescribed function (start time) in a storage unit and calculates the usage time upon the ending

CLAIMS

[Claim 1] A power saving notification system comprising:

power saving possibility judgment means which judges whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and

notification means which notifies the user of the result of the judgment when the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible.

[Claim 2] The power saving notification system according to claim 1, comprising:

usage time calculation means which calculates usage time of the prescribed function based on the operation history information; and

power saving effect calculation means which calculates the degree of power saving of each setting value settable in the prescribed function in comparison with the current setting value based on the usage time calculated by the usage time calculation means,

wherein the power saving possibility judgment means makes the judgment on whether electric power saving is possible in the prescribed function compared to the current setting value or not based on the degree of power saving calculated by the power saving effect calculation means.

[Claim 3] The power saving notification system according to claim 2, wherein the power saving effect calculation means calculates expected power consumption for each setting value of the prescribed function based on the usage time calculated by the usage time calculation means and power consumption per unit time previously determined for each setting value and then calculates the degree of power saving of each setting value by comparing the calculated expected power consumption with the expected power consumption at the current setting value.

[Claim 4] The power saving notification system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the notification means notifies the user of the degree of power saving of each setting value calculated by the power saving effect calculation means together with the result of the judgment.

[Claim 5] The power saving notification system according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible in regard to the prescribed function on condition that the usage time calculated by the usage time calculation means is not 0.

[Claim 6] The power saving notification system according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible in regard to the prescribed function on condition that a setting value having the highest degree of power saving as the result of the calculation by the power saving effect calculation means differs from the current setting value of the function.

[Claim 7] The power saving notification system according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the notification means notifies the user of the result of the judgment at prescribed periods or according to an operation by the user.

[Claim 8] A terminal device comprising:

power saving possibility judgment means which judges whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of the terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information; and

notification means which notifies the user of the result of the judgment when the power saving possibility judgment means judges that electric power saving is possible.

[Claim 9] The terminal device according to claim 8, comprising:

usage time calculation means which calculates usage time of the prescribed function based on the operation history information; and

power saving effect calculation means which calculates the degree of power saving of each setting value settable in the prescribed function in comparison with the current setting value based on the usage time calculated by the usage time calculation means,

wherein the power saving possibility judgment means makes the judgment on whether electric power saving is possible in the prescribed function compared to the current setting value or not based on the degree of power saving calculated by the power saving effect calculation means.

[Claim 10] A power saving notification method comprising:

judging whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and

notifying the user of the result of the judgment when electric power saving is judged to be possible.

[Claim 11] The power saving notification method according to claim 10, comprising:

calculating usage time of the prescribed function based on the operation history information; and

calculating the degree of power saving of each setting value settable in the prescribed function in comparison with the current setting value based on the calculated usage time,

wherein the judgment on whether electric power saving is possible in the prescribed function compared to the current setting value or not is made based on the calculated degree of power saving.

[Claim 12] A power saving notification program which causes a computer to execute:

a power saving possibility judgment process of judging whether electric power saving is possible in a prescribed function of a terminal device compared to a current setting value of the function or not based on operation history information on the terminal device; and

a notification process of notifying the user of the result of the judgment when electric power saving is judged to be possible in the power saving possibility judgment process.

[Claim 13] The power saving notification program according to claim 12, wherein the program causes the computer to execute:

a usage time calculation process of calculating usage time of the prescribed function based on the operation history information; and

a power saving effect calculation process of calculating the degree of power saving of each setting value settable in the prescribed function in comparison with the current setting value based on the calculated usage time,

wherein the judgment in the power saving possibility judgment process on whether electric power saving is possible in the prescribed function compared to the current setting value or not is made based on the calculated degree of power saving.